So I'm not totally new to shooting, just new to shooting "good". I hunted when I was a kid, shot marksmen when I was in the Air Force (somehow) and have a Ruger 10 22 that I like to go out and shoot cans with. But I'm looking for more now. The first thing I'm doing is having the trigger press lightened. but from there, I'm not sure what I want. What I want is to shoot some distance. So my first question is, what kind of distance do most shooters shoot at with their 10 22s. I have some good property to shoot on, space isn't a problem, but what can I expect to be reasonable? 100yrds or more? I've got about $600 to spend on setting up the gun and would like to build a great target rifle out of it. So I'm not looking at "what parts should I buy" yet, but more of what is capable with the gun. Mark.
I know I've posted this a million times, but I have three words for you: Tech Sights, VQ Hammer & Bolt Kit & Appleseed!!! Okay, that's more than three words, but you get my point. Rather than go out and buy a new gun, for under $200 you can turn your good rifle into a great rifle and training tool that's affordable to shoot, AND receive a weekend's worth of first class training in how to use it.
Tech Sights are the greatest improvement you can make to a 10/22, IMO. 10/22s have terrible factory sights; Tech Sights are military style post & peep sights like you find on the M1, M14 and AR-15. They're super easy to install and fantastic for improving your shooting skills. I think they cost $55.
http://www.tech-sights.com/
The VQ Hammer and Bolt kit is an inexpensive and easy way to lighten your 10/22s trigger pull AND make the bolt release automatically (instead of having to fumble with the release button under the trigger guard). They're drop in parts, super easy to assemble, and the kit costs $35. It brought my 30 year old 10/22's trigger down to a smooth 3lbs.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=145851
Now that you have a new & improved 10/22 for under $100 (actually, use the extra $10 to get yourself a sling if you don't already have one), you need to learn to shoot the rifle (better). Enter Project Appleseed, the best rifle training for the dollar available. Sign up for their Patriot's Day training at Harvard, $70 for the weekend plus $10 worth of ammo, and you'll come away with a completely different perspective on shooting a rifle. If you can't make it to Harvard, they hold a shoot in the region every few months. For more information, see the link below, or check out the threads here on the Forum under Training --> Appleseed.
http://www.appleseedinfo.org/
Once you've completed the above three steps, I think you'll have a much better perspective on how you want to proceed with your firearms education. Maybe you'll want to buy a more expensive, full powered rifle. Maybe you want scoped bolt action, maybe you'll want an AR with modern optics or maybe you'll want a vintage military rifle with iron sights. But no matter what you pursue, you'll do it as a more skilled shooter.