Ruger 10/22 Compact and stock refinish

[David LaPell]

I was in the market for another small gun for me and the wife and I had a Ruger 10/22 takedown, which was ok but I had to sell it to make some bills. So I went and picked out a 10/22 compact this time. I like the sights better on this gun and the takedown feature is nice but since it will be at the house most of the time I don't really need it. I do like the short 16 inch barrel. The finish on the gun was awful, at least as a clear coat. It was dead flat and not very smooth, in a couple spots like sandpaper.

I got the gun for a good price, $60 less than the takedown and I took it home and gave it three coats of Tru-oil which not only makes it nicer to look at but also to grab on to. I hope to get to the range in the next couple of days.

 

[HAWKEYE#28]

Love that short barrel! Have "upgraded" with "shorty" on a couple of Sport walnuts(No damn barrel band, you know) and congratulate you on the finish upgrade to that stock of yours! Looks great :wink:

 

[Mobuck]

Your piece-your choice.
Personally, I wouldn't make the effort. I took a pretty nice walnut stock off my old 10-22 because Tom thought I was foolish for beating the stock up. I put a plastic take-off on the 10-22 I'm using just so the "use" doesn't show so much. Re-finish a birch(or whatever they use now) just for looks? Not me.

"No damn barrel band, you know"
This is another place many 10-22 users disagree. If there is an accuracy issue, I haven't seen it. The barrel band serves a couple of useful purposes on a rifle that gets USED. It stabilizes the barrel taking some stress off the somewhat weak barrel/receiver lash up and makes a great sling attachment location.
Maybe my ideas are off center but to me, a 10-22 is a TOOL. There are nice ones and there are grubby ones. The one that lives in my pickup/UTV is kind of rough on the outside but there's nothing wrong with the inside of the barrel.

 

[HAWKEYE#28]

SOUNDS LIKE THE SCIENCE OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES TO ME........... 8)

 

[Ol'Freak]

The stock is all that remains of the original Compact, and it's had the channel opened up to accept a 17" Green Mountain Heavy Taper. :mrgreen: