168 Hours of Rimfire - Appleseed Liberty Training Rifle

[Charlie Foxtrot]

This week, I installed a Volquartswhatevah Match Trigger, Sear, and Hammer in my 10/22 Liberty Training Rifle. Quality parts. Spent about 5 hours preparing for the surgery, and about 10 minutes actually performing it. Trigger pull now feels about 2-3 pounds, down from 5-6.  Creep is significantly reduced -- but unfortunately, not eliminated. Still, the trigger is happily MUCH improved. 

I'm now looking at the PWS T3 Mag Release.  It seems to be the perfect ergonomic solution for a quick mag release without shifting the master hand.  Perfect -- if the dang thing actually works. Anyone have any user reports, insight?  I might just drop the $20 on speculation. 

Now for Appleseed. 

[Mudcat]

Have fun but you really don't need all that stuff to be successful at Appleseed. Just a rifle, GI web sling, and some spare mags. A set of tech sights helps a lot. But you will have fun just the same. Where are you going to attend a shoot at?


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[Charlie Foxtrot]

Hey Mud...  

I'm so damn slow, I'm looking to cut out as many therbligs as possible. If this works, I'm going to be able to flick out the mag with my trigger finger without shifting my firing grip. A significant advantage time-wise as well as allowing a possible improvement in accuracy.

We'll see.  I'll let you know.  

And your absolutely right: I don't need all this falderal. But... I'm a frustrated engineer and a compulsive gadget geek. Admittedly, a VERY bad combo around firearms.  ;^)'  But, it beats mucking out the garage.  

I'll probably be going out to Devore, Azusa, CA. Weather's a bit better, it's not Norco (Corona), and they run an all .22LR Appleseed. It's not conductive to accuracy when the guy next to you is throwing hot 5.56 brass in your ear.  

[Edit:] Just ordered one through AIM Surplus.  $20 and no shipping. My Scot heritage is screaming in pain.  However, the Prussian side is saying; "Yaah. Viele bullets through za zame hole! A gut zing, yaah!"

[Mudcat]

I understand but you still have to break you grip with your trigger hand to insert the fresh magazine. Unless you have designed something to do that for you. Just make every shot count and don't get hung up on going fast there is plenty of time.

Good luck my friend!


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[Charlie Foxtrot]

I use the weak/ support hand to insert the new mag and reach over the top to cycle the action. 

Less time futzing with the mags means more time aiming.  I hope.   

Are you an Orange Hat? 

[haskovez]

Looks like we both have the same idea Charlie.  Last week I installed the new sling loop on my Tapco Intrafuse that Tapco sent me for free.  With that on there it now works with my GI Sling that I ordered from the appleseed store.  Then Friday night I installed my Tech Sights.  Let me tell you getting that front sight out of the dovetail is a royal pain in the behind.  I started doing what they said using a brass push to try and drift it out.  It was just mushrooming the end of the punch without moving the sight.  So I switched to a steel punch and was eventually able to slowly walk it out.  Putting the tech sights back on were super easy though.  I am hoping to get it sighted in this week at the range when I go to break in my new DB9 pistol.  Btw when you order the tech sights they aren't super clear on the site that you really need a special tool to adjust the sights otherwise it is a tiny detent pin you have to push so I got those ordered on Friday night as well for convenience, hopefully they show up tomorrow or Wed.

[Mudcat]

I use the weak/ support hand to insert the new mag and reach over the top to cycle the action. 

Less time futzing with the mags means more time aiming.  I hope.   

Are you an Orange Hat? 

Well nice thought but we teach to leave the support hand under the rifle every thing will pivot around that elbow. Once it is placed it is there until you are done firing. With a good position with a loop sling you will be able to release your trigger hand, remove and reinsert your magazine without the rifle moving. The sling works like a 3rd hand, and really does an excellent job of holding the rifle.
I have seen people show up and do AQT shoots that I put on for the guys that are too cool to come to a real Appleseed and shoot, until they see how hard it really is and how much they do not know.  They try this and it just doesn't work out very well. Go there with an open mind and they will take care of you and get you atraight. Plus it is a lot of fun.
I am a Shoot Boss here in Indiana, I usually work in TN, IN, IL, KY. and OH. but you never know where I may pop up. I have been involved with the program for this will be year 4 or 5, i cannot remember lol.   It is one of the best and most rewarding programs I have ever been around. I try to share with everyone I meet or know.
Be sure to let us know about your first shoot. HUZZAH!!

[Charlie Foxtrot]

Oh, well, heck. 

I've taken an Appleseed before, but apparently that particular lesson didn't stick. My fault; definitely not the Orange Hats, who were uniformly excellent. One of my goals is earning the Rifleman's Badge, then the Orange Hat. I'd like to help with the important work the RWVA is doing.   

I think the T3 extended mag release will work -- just not quite as nicely as I hoped.   

Thanks for the help, Mudcat!  Looking forward to more info. 

Appleseeds are great, hugely informative, and a tremendous amount of fun. And yes, by far, the most important equipment is a teachable attitude. 

[Ken Kowalski]

Good job on the mods CF! I'm anxious to hear how they turn out and perform for you at the Appleseed.

Haskovez, if you ever need to drift out another tough front sight, try letting some oil (I used some tapping oil I had on hand) penetrate the dove tail for about ten minutes first. It helps a lot.

[haskovez]

Good job on the mods CF! I'm anxious to hear how they turn out and perform for you at the Appleseed.

Haskovez, if you ever need to drift out another tough front sight, try letting some oil (I used some tapping oil I had on hand) penetrate the dove tail for about ten minutes first. It helps a lot.

Thanks for the tip actually part way through when it wasn't moving I did put some hoppes gun oil in the dovetail.  I am not sure if it helped or not but it made me feel better.

[Charlie Foxtrot]

Good job on the mods CF! I'm anxious to hear how they turn out and perform for you at the Appleseed.

Haskovez, if you ever need to drift out another tough front sight, try letting some oil (I used some tapping oil I had on hand) penetrate the dove tail for about ten minutes first. It helps a lot.

   
I based most to the fire control mods off your 10/22 podcast, so THANKS!  (BTW, I've owned a 10/22 for decades, but learned the most from the few minutes of your podcast.) So far, I'm really satisfied with the feel of the revised trigger. With the installation of the T3 mag release, she'll be essentially done. Only have to mount the sling correctly and install a slip-on wussie pad (to lengthen the pull.) I'll post some pics and a bill of material. The rifle has already been sighted in. Benchresting her with Federal AutoMatch and Wolf Target rounds is in the future.  

I'd like to hear what everyone, especially Mudcat, thinks of my version of the Appleseed Liberty Training Rifle.  

Hask, I've installed the Tech Sights on a couple of 10/22s.  One front sight practically fell out when threatened with punch and hammer.  The other... well: I almost went to a gunsmith to have it pressed out before I hurt the barrel... or, more likely, myself. However, the penetrating oil did the trick.  

[Ken Kowalski]

CF post some pics if you can.

[Charlie Foxtrot]

She's Done! (For the moment)

My version of the Appleseed Liberty Training Rifle (LTR):

•   Ruger 10/22 Stainless Composite Stock Carbine. Manufactured around 2010
•   Tech Sights TSR200
•   Volquartsen Auto Bolt Release
•   Volquartsen Target Hammer and Sear Kit
•   Volquartsen Target Trigger with Overtravel Stop
•   PWS T3 Magazine Release Lever
•   Quick-Detatch 1 ¼” Studs and Swivels
•   Appleseed Canvas Sling
•   Promag Recoil Buffer (Bolt Stop)
•   Limbsaver Small Slip-On Recoil Pad (Not to protect against the fearsome .22LR recoil - but to provide another 1" of length of pull)

Not shown: Two-Vision Shooting Glasses.  Allows these superannuated eyes to see the front sight and the target.  

The T3 Mag Release Lever is pretty cool. A flick of the trigger finger drops the mag. Only thing that worries me is that the pivot hole is very near the edge of the plastic. Of course, it doesn't get much wear... I hope.

Now for Appleseed!

Pix coming.  

[Ken Kowalski]

Sounds like a hell of a shooter CF!
I'm sure it'll be put to good use.

[Charlie Foxtrot]

   
Raining here in LALaLand.  May just have to take her to the indoor range....

[Mudcat]

Sounds awesome CF! I was wondering why I couldn't see the pics though.

Here is one of my favorite 10/22s that just got a rebuild after 3 years on the Appleseed trail as my loaner. This rifle has been trough rain, snow, dust, inexperienced shooters dragging the muzzle through the rocks and generally being treated like a rental. I tore it down and removed all the old layers of paint, removed the barrel and filled the sight dovetails and repainted, all new springs throughout from Ruger, a nice new Volquartzen extractor a new Tuffer Buffer and repainted the wooden stock.  I topped it off with a new Simmons $40 scope. I shot it at a shoot New Years Eve and it did great, I am trying for a perfect 250 but I could not do better than 246 that night at about 2300hrs when I shot 2 AQTs I was pretty beat. I will give it a shot next month.



Here is a picture of the ones who survived the marathon Appleseed on NYE. We are ringing in the new year with some sparkling grape juice. A 16 hour Appleseed may have not been one of my best ideas lol, but it sure was fun.

[Charlie Foxtrot]

Okay, Photos:


My Version of the Appleseed Liberty Training Rifle


Tech Sights and T3 Mag Release


My Very First (And Still Favorite) Rifle - Used In My First Appleseed. Since Corrected The Many Set-Up Errors

[Jerome from California]

Cool pics. I'm interested to know what went wrong with the first rifle, though. Maybe I can avoid the same pitfalls.

[Charlie Foxtrot]

Hey Jerome; what failed on that rifle was the nut behind the trigger.  

I didn't listen to the Appleseed pros and I built the rifle based on what I thought would be best.  As a result, I bought too much scope, with too little eye relief, mounted too far back. Worked fine standing up - but prone... my head went forward and I couldn't see.  I didn't get the canvas sling, rather I tried to make do with a more expensive 1" nylon sling. Looked great, but it would slip under the demanding 'seed conditions.  And I didn't get the Midway shooting mat everyone was recommending.  My Ensolite pad sailed off in any breeze. I bought Tri-Mag adapters, which I quickly had to remove.

I fought my equipment -- and myself -- the entire weekend. And still learned a bunch, and had a great time.      

Now, I've finally accepted the fact that these guys obviously know of what they speak. So, I hope to do much better next time.  

I'm planning on a Devore 'seed in March.  You?  

[Jerome from California]

CF, I'm glad I asked. Those are really good things to know. Not sure if I'll make Devore in March. Things are kinda up in the air at work because we are under staffed and the new guys are still training.

About your new set-up, do you think the barrel band mounted sling mount will cause a point-of-aim shift when tension is applied to the sling?