The object of this build was to make a lithe, light weight rifle, to use for teaching marksmanship skills with Florida Project Appleseed. The rifle had to be able to be used effectively by students young or old and small or large. The rifle had to be able to be quickly configured for the shooters body geometry and sighting preferences (irons, scope or dot)
I've built a few Liberty Teaching Rifles (LTR) for myself and for other friends specifically for their build and shooting style. But this rifle is different, it wasn't designed to be a perfect fit for everyone, but a better than stock fit for anyone. Another thing was that the rifle had to be kept as close to stock as possible. Project Appleseed is built around the premise of the 4moa Rifleman. A person using a good stock rifle with good standard ammunition and a GI Sling will be adequate to engage a 4 moa target at 500 yards, the traditional 'Rifleman's Quarter Mile'.
The rifle had to be kept mechanically as close to stock as possible. This would reinforce the 'shooter skill', 4moa Rifleman concept of Appleseed over the Hollywood/Advertiser brainwashing, $$$ equal hits, version of marksmanship.
The base was a Ruger 10/22 birch stock 50th Anniversary Model with an 18in barrel. cost $180
Four reasons for this choice.
1st It's is the most common rifle at an Appleseed.
2nd It is the Chevy 350 of the rifle world, parts are cheap and readily available.
3rd Reliable - Rugers and Marlins are rifles that will work all weekend (500rounds) without cleaning.
4th Ease of cleaning (1 screw).
As an Appleseed Instructor many times I'll get home after 2 days of teaching marksmanship with 4 filthy, wet, sand covered rifles to clean and I didn't get to shoot one round. Ruger 10/22s and Remington 597s are easy to completely strip down to the individual components. The Marlins, not so much, so it was eliminated from my considerations. The Remingtons were eliminated because in my experience they wont constantly go the full weekend with out cleaning. (YMMV)
Modification to the Ruger (Remember the object is to keep as stock as possible)
Trigger & Bolt Group
The stock trigger was as about as bad as I've ever had on a Ruger gritty, creepy and broke well past the 8lbs that my trigger Gage reads to.
Cleaned and stripped the components.
I polished the trigger spring strut ball end, which had a rather sharp edge to it.
I also modified the lawyer designed bolt lock/release and did modify with a dremal/fine diamond file for one handed operation. For instructions go to
( http://www.instructables.com/id/Ruger-1022-DIY-Auto-Bolt-Release/?ALLSTEPS ).
Then I cleaned the pins and metal parts (not springs), gave them a light coat of Miltech-1 then baked at 150 in the oven for 30min. Applied a second coat while still warm and repeated.
The rest just a good clean and light lube with CLP.
Results Trigger break 4 3/4lbs, 85% of the creep gone with a fairly decent break. At a minimum this is what it should have been shipped with from Ruger. Cost 0$ + time
Next installed a drifted the front sight out and installed a TechSight front with longer National Match post (#TRS210) (Blue Loctight all sight screws) Cost 22$ = time
Followed by installing a UTG Ruger 10/22 (MNT-22TOWL) scope rail (I did not use the supplied Ruger rail mainly to get more for/aft adjustability for proper scope eye relief) Cost 10$ + time
I'm still waiting for the UTG Sub-compact adjustable Rear Sight (MNT-910) (locks to scope rail) Cost 25$
(see **Addendum** below)
I also added a NCstar Comp/Flash hider but not for the usual reasons.
I put them on 1st to keep out a possible bore obstruction, 2nd to protect the muzzle crown and 3rd this particular break doesn't have any ports pointing to the ground. Helps keep the dust and sand down.
(don't forget to Blue Loctight it) Cost 10$ + time
Appleseed shoots a lot from the prone position and many times our firing lines are on the dirt. The new shooters are concentration on rifle operation, proper sling use and steady hold factors sometimes lose a little muzzle awareness and go what we call 'Worm Diggin', with the barrel. The comp helps to prevent a muzzle obstruction and a "bad Thing".
STOCK ASSEMBLY
I've used a lot of different 10/22 replacement stocks and ended choosing the Blackhawk KNOXX AXIOM R/F Ruger 10/22 Stock in color tan.
(black stocks get HOT in Aug in Florida on an uncovered firing line - a new shooter will not get good cheek weld on a stock if it is the temp of the Sun) Minor cheek weld adjustment are handled with pipe insulation and vet wrap.
1 Screw Disassembly (like stock 10/22) for cleaning
Light Weight
Free Floated Barrel Assembly
Sling swivel mounts factory installed
Smallest diameter pistol grip (easier for smaller hands to grip)
Pistol grip close to trigger, easier to achieve a good C-shaped trigger position
Stock Length of Pull (LOP) 9 3/4 in - 13 1/2 and just by slipping on a M-4 butt you can increase this to 14 1/4 inch and add a GI rubber recoil pad you' re up to 14 3/4 inch LOP. With that kind of range you can fit just about any size humanoid.
Added to stock A pair of TALON 1 1/4 swivels the one piece style Cost 10$
Finally a M1/M14 GI canvas sling Cost 15$
The Blackhawk - KNOXX AXIOM 10/22 Adjustable Stock Cost 65$
So for right around 300$ you get a very adjustable LIBERTY TEACHING RIFLE to help you teach the next generation of shooters both young and old.
******ADDENDUM******
Finally recived the UTG Sight it looks to be very durable and does work with my TechSight Ft Sight. It does not have "click" style adjustments of the TechSights but the adjustment mechanism works well. I will post the adj = moa when I get a chance to give it a thorough range session.
*******ADDENDUM to ADDENDUM ********
The Weaver/Picatinny friendly UTG Micro-Sights work great with the TechSights target Front sight
(Item #TSR210 - Front Sight Tower Assembly for Ruger - Steel
* Replacement Front Tower Assembly for TSR200. This includes the base, extended target post
(.050 inches taller than standard post) spring & detent, and mounting hardware. )
After ascertaining the adjustments, the next 5 were top of the black. This was acceptable as the indoor range I was using only went out to 20 yards, not the usual Appleseed 25 meters. Shots 6 and 7 were just to verify the 1.33MOA adjustment for the elevation of the rear sight.
You might have noticed the removable cheek pad. Smaller faces are a tad low for good cheek weld. It's made from 1/2 black pipe insulation ($1.50 for 10ft at Lowes/Home Depot) and Camo Gorrilla Tape. Cut to length, split down the middle and cover with the duct tape. Easy On, Easy Off, the duct tape adds stiffness to the pad and holds it in position. It usable on many rifle stocks.
Please feel free to add questions or comments. I've had quite a few students ask about a flexible Family Teaching Rifle and would appreciate your ideas ( to steal ;) ).
