Gunsmithing Bedding a .22 Volquartsen

[STR]

I bought this little rifle about 8 months ago because I always wanted a nice .22. While I'm happy with the rifle, I don't care for the little Houge stock they put it in. It is more for a 9 year old than a full grown man. I looked around for a better stock, but just didn't care for the looks of most, plus I wanted quality without spending much money. Sound familiar? I have never worked with .22s, so don't laugh too hard ok. I pulled a McMillan HTG stock out of my stash that was already inletted for a Remington action, and Badger bottom metal. I took some measurements, and stuck it in the mill. After inletting all material that was in the way, I tried the action, and I thought it would work. There were a lot of voids, but nothing some Marine Tex couldn't fill. After taping, clay filling, and applying release agent, I mixed up some Marine Tex and made a big mess. This is going to be a post as I go, so I really don't know how it will turn out. The idea is to have a full size feeling rifle in a mini me package for training.

 

[Turd in the Pool]

Love your idea! Be careful coming out. They tend to chip behind the receiver if you don't come straight up.

 

[STR]

Thanks. I have a feeling that I will be making a few repairs as I move along. It feels just like one of my regular centerfire rifle now. Maybe it will beready to try out by next weekend.

 

[Gray]

Ozzie,

That is my dream rimfire setup, keep us posted.

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Ozzie, I did something similar, but started with a 10/22, and put it in a McMillan stock, that I bought off the overrun page at Mcmillan. While it was out, I threaded the barrel, removed the front sight and put a pic rail on it, with a 2x10 Leopold. Squirrels and rodents are not safe from my nephews any longer! I used it last year to head shoot a tree rat about 100 yards, offhand, much to the boys delight! I'd like to get it as quiet as the integral 77/22 Ruger, but am not ready for another 6 month wait on another can. Thinking it's time to send in a pile of Form 1s.....

Like you I was tired of the too small size, and a poor cheek/eye position for using a scope. The Mc stock was perfect for fixing that, the HTR is also a great stock and it ought to get you where you want to be.

 

[biner626]

Interesting Oz! I like it. Question on your clamping method. Are you just putting light pressure on the receiver so it doesn't move.

 

[STR]

Ok, I just popped it out this morning, and I was suprised that it came out somewhat easy. I cleaned it up with some sand paper and a little mill work. It fits like a glove, but that's not really good. What I mean is that this rifle only has a front action screw. The rear is held down by a lip in the stock it self. The action has to come in at an angle if the trigger group is in place. I will get around that later, got to go see mom now. I'll get back to this tonight. Thank you.

 

[STR]

Answer on the clamp question. I knew it would be asked but forgot to mention it before. The barreled action fits in the stock contacting all along the squared bottom. The clamp at the rear just keeps it in place with out any pressure while the marine tex sets up. .060 worth of plumbers tape just around the barrel gave me the equal space I want between the stock and barrel. Blue painters tape around the action provides easy in and out of the stock without ugly uneven gaps around the action.

 

[STR]

Before leaving the house earlier, I decided to fill in the already inletted lower area of the stock. I figured it would be easier to rough machine on a newly filled area than to try and bed the trigger group the way it was. I can always bed the trigger group if the machining isn't as precise as I would like it to be since I'm doing it by hand. Here's a couple of pics of what I meant. For the rest of today, it will be a little wine and cheese.

 

[STR]

It's finished. This was a learning experience to say the least. Like I said before, I have never worked on these before this one. First what I don't like. The whole slip fit thing really sucks. They depend on the rear of the trigger housing to rest firmly while loose on a ridge in the stock. As the rifle is tightened down by the one action screw in the front, it puts upward pressure on the rear part of the trigger housing. As much as I filled and milled the rear rest area, I could not get a tight fit once I tightened the action screw. Therefore screw that Idea. I held the action down firmly in the stock, and dilled a hole in the side of the stock going all the way through the other side. Tapped the reciever 8-32 and found some screws that were just perfect. I countersunk thm into the stock, and no more loose fit. The top of the stock had about 3/8 inch removed starting at the rear tapering to nothing at the forearm. Since it was already inletted for a Remington 700, I had to do a lot of filling and machining, plus some hand filing and sanding. I put the action in and out so many times that I marked it all up, so a little Cerakote took care of that. I just came back from shooting it, and It now feels like a full size rifle that can be used for training nd is actually a lot of fun to shoot. Here are a few pics of how it turned out.

 

[Sinus211]

That looks outstanding! Good work finding the weak point and correcting the problem. You should send this info to Volquartsen along with a very smug "you're welcome."

 

[Captain Kirk]

That turned out really nice STR, nicely done!

 

[STR]

Thanks guys!! BTW, here is how it shot with Wolf Target and Wolf Extra. There was an improvement, and I think it has to do with the comfort and new feel.

This target has two groups of ten rounds each. The smaller group was shot with Wolf Extra, and the one on top with Wolf Target. Both shot at 50 yards no wind at all.



The next two pictures show the results at 100 yards with the same ammo as at 50 yards. Not exactly bench rest standards, but I'm super happy with what It can do.

 

[STR]

That looks outstanding! Good work finding the weak point and correcting the problem. You should send this info to Volquartsen along with a very smug "you're welcome."

Considering what they charge for what I consider a gloriflied Ruger 10/22, they should take the time to make it that much better. Sorry if anyone is offended by what I just said, but I just feel that they should give more than a better trigger and barrel for $1300.00.

 

[STR]

That turned out really nice STR, nicely done!

While I'm at it, let me say thank you to you Captain Kirk. It was what you did with the 10/22 wood stock that put this idea into my head. I really liked how you turned it into an A-5. Thanks again.

I'm really liking this whole rimfire thing a lot. My next rifle looks like it will be a CZ 455. I'm going to go look in my safe right now to see what I can sell that I don't use to get my self that CZ. I also kind of like the Ruger 77/22, but I just don't really know enough about that one. Just looks really good also.

 

[mcfred]

That is a NICE 10/22! Thanks for sharing your project!

 

[davkenrem]

Now that the hard work is done, send that stock to McMillan hand have them make a mold so we all can have one...

 

[STR]

Now that the hard work is done, send that stock to McMillan hand have them make a mold so we all can have one...

That's funny, only they don't have to wait on me. They at anytime can take the stock it comes in and write a program for their CNC mills which they use to inlet all stocks. I really don't know why they don't do it. Manners did it with the CZ 455 and it's been a hit. BTW, I'll be buying one of those Manners my self, and ordering my CZ today.