The Liberty Training Rifle

Well, I know that this is a cross-post, but I feel that it belongs here in the Appleseed forum as well as in JonJ's 10/22 Goodness thread. (Please don't send me to the Outer Darkness with Capt Walt and Jellyfish for cross-posting!)

This is excerpted from Nickle's post on building a Liberty Training Rifle out of a Ruger 10/22 from www.appleseedinfo.org from this thread with some modifications by me after building several of these things and seeing how they perform in the real world.

Originally Posted by Nickle

Well, here's what I did (or will do, in the case of a couple items), the cost of the items, and this is a decent priced, working setup. All prices are retail. They are not special or sale prices, nor are they group buy prices. These are 24/7/365 retail prices.

First, I started with Ruger 10/22 Carbines.

Add Tech Sights.
http://www.tech-sights.com/ruger3.htm $59.00
Add DPMS Rapidex knob, for ease of adjusting (optional but highly recommended).
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=353544 $7.99

Install sling swivels studs, detachable swivels and a USGI M1 Garand type sling.
Stud & swivel set: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=705310 $9.49
Sling: http://www.appleseedstore.flyingcart...id=10&cat_id=0 $12.49.

These can be substituted if you can't find the Uncle Mike's above:
Studs: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=366960 $2.49
Swivels: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=156955 $9.99

Add extended mag release (not needed if you have the polymer trigger group 10/22)
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=662086 $6.99

Replace bolt release and hammer (or rework existing ones). I reworked mine. Not for the inexperienced. Note that the polymer trigger group has a different hammer (maybe the sear, too - not sure) and please double-check to be sure that you're ordering the right parts!
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=145851 $44.99
If you're happy with your trigger, then at the very least replace the bolt release (or rework yours. It's not very hard - Ross)
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=688102 10.99 (this is one of the BEST things you can do to your 10/22!)

Add a BoreSnake, sight adjusting tool and spare mags.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=260083 $15.99
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=260328 $9.29
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=252579 $13.99 each. I recommend at LEAST 4 of them as Ruger is only shipping one mag with the rifles now.

My comments after dozens way too many Appleseed Shoots and building 6 LTRs:

1: You want FIVE 10-round mags total. Not two 25 rounders (they get in the way when you're shooting prone, as do the back-to-back magazine clips) but 5 10 rounders. 'Cause Northeastern Appleseed Instructors are, by and large, HUGE believers in the 40-shot rapid fire AQT - 40 rounds in 4 minutes. You do NOT have time to reload mags during that. Plus, the fifth mag is VERY useful if you have a malfunction of any sort - you don't have to fumble with reloading a mag when that 4 minute time limit is bearing down on you. You've got extra rounds right there.

2: there is a TON of good information on working on the 10/22 action on www.rimfirecentral.com. Info on how to lighten up the trigger yourself, info on how to make your own auto bolt release, etc. Use that site; it's a great reference.

3: You can find lots of cheap factory parts for the 10/22 on eBay. People buy new barrels, stocks, etc, and their first thought is "Gee, let me sell it!". That's to your benefit. I picked up a stock in good shape for about $30 total so I could experiment on cutting it down for a shorter length of pull since I'm a short guy. Worked great, and if I'd screwed it up, I could just have put my old stock back on; no harm, no foul.

4: Shooter's Ridge QD sling swivels suck; they do not hold up under usage. Use Uncle Mike's swivels instead - they are much more sturdy.The Outdoor Connection Talon are OK but I'm not terribly enamored of the squared off rings.They do, however, hold up far better than the Shooter's Ridge crap.

5: Volquartsen Exact Edge extractors are a Good Thing - about 700 rounds through two LTRs now, and NO more stovepipes. - update - another several hundred rounds downrange and NO stovepipes. For $11.29, this is the BEST thing you can do to cure your extraction woes. (and it's on sale for $9.99 until 10/31/2011, too)

6: Carry a large screwdriver to keep your action take down screw tight, a small one to keep your Tech-Sights rear sight tight, a 5/64" Allen wrench to keep your front sight tight, and a 9/64" Allen wrench to take your mags apart if you need to clean them.

7: The Rapidex adjusting knob is worthwhile; just be aware you'll need a fine pin-punch to remove the old wheel and install the knob. And the recent production Tech-Sights seem to have that pin in there TIGHT.


Prices and links updated on 10/8/2011 - I note that the price of a lot of this stuff has gone up. Volquartsen seems to have had a major price increase.