Came a long way in a little time

MountainRider

MountainRider

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May 20, 2026
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35
City & State/Province
Rigby, Idaho, USA
I've been a 10/22 guy for a long time. They're great guns, no denying that, but over time I became annoyed with certain aspects of the platform. I didn't like the OEM stocks, triggers can be hit or miss, and the magazines can be a pain to rebuild. Can these be fixed, of course, and all of them can be made to be outstanding, I just got tired of fixing them.

I grew up shooting my dad's bolt action Western Field and have lately wanted to get back to bolt action rifles. They're accurate, they don't make you want to see how fast you can shoot the mag empty, and for me they're a relaxing way to spend some time.

I recently came across a pair of Savage MK II's, one, a heavy barrel with a scope and one, a standard barrel without, I decided to buy both. The pair went home with me for a combined $300. The scope was a Vortex Copperhead 4x12x42 and it had some issues, so I contacted Vortex and they had me send it back, it will be back home tomorrow according to FedEx. I had another Vortex 4x12x40 that I kept when I sold my last 10/22, so I mounted it on the heavy barrel gun. That combo is fantastic! On the other I mounted a 3x9x50 Sig Buckmaster, and I can't complain about that one either. I contacted Savage and got owner's manuals and trigger adjusting tools coming for both as well as new parts for the bolt.

Of course, both came with the basic black stocks. Addressing another thread, I went ahead and painted the stock for the standard barrel, and I must say it looks pretty good. At some point I plan on putting the heavy barrel action in a Boyds stock, but since I'm waiting to do that, I went ahead and painted the other stock as well. I may stick with the OEM stocks as they work alright for my needs although one has a crack in it and the stock sits too low for a good cheek weld when using the scopes. For now, I bought a stock cheek pad that I'm trying, if it works, problem solved. I also added a Harris Bipod on the heavy barreled gun. I'm thinking the local ground squirrels are in trouble. :D

So, in just a short time I returned to what I grew up with and fell in love with .22 all over again. These are fun to shoot, accurate, encourage me to take my time, and reasonably inexpensive. At 73 it's like coming home again.
 

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I’m guessing the one with the vortex scope is the one too low for a proper cheek weld, right? I can see why. Has nothing to do with the stock. The scope rings are simply too low. Grab a set of slightly higher rings and it will be night & day difference.

Right on👍, about your excitement with the new shooters.
 
What kinds of ammo have you tried with them?

Of the local stores, I think that "The Gun Shop" on Holmes has had the best selection of Eley match grade stuff, of the places I've managed to visit, though from what I've heard the barrel and chamber have to be tight to make the most of those.

Otherwise, I am still trying to figure out the best local supply. In the past, for my bulk plinking with "good enough" accuracy and good reliability out of various firearms, I've just gotten the ~5000rd packs of CCI/Blazer 40gr from various online retailers, like sgammo.com. But, it looks like Midway.com is the only one that has that right now for ~$400 w/free shipping.

CCI is based out of Lewiston, ID, though they've been owned by some international conglomerate since 2024.
 
ONE-TEN said:
I’m guessing the one with the vortex scope is the one too low for a proper cheek weld, right? I can see why. Has nothing to do with the stock. The scope rings are simply too low. Grab a set of slightly higher rings and it will be night & day difference.

Right on👍, about your excitement with the new shooters.
Click to expand...
Actually, it's with both. Both scopes sit tight to the barrel, so I can't go lower, and the real issue is they sit high enough that my "cheek weld" is more like a "chin weld". With the cheek pad installed my eye lines up much better and I'm not moving around to get everything where it should be. If the pad works, it will probably get moved to the standard barreled gun as I plan on putting the heavy barrel into a Boyds.

It must be a "me" thing because I have the same problem with my Henry Golden Boy. Because of the angle of the butt, I have to raise my head a little to hit the sights just right. On their standard models, everything lines up like it was made for me. Go figure. ;)
 
chronoblip said:
What kinds of ammo have you tried with them?

Of the local stores, I think that "The Gun Shop" on Holmes has had the best selection of Eley match grade stuff, of the places I've managed to visit, though from what I've heard the barrel and chamber have to be tight to make the most of those.

Otherwise, I am still trying to figure out the best local supply. In the past, for my bulk plinking with "good enough" accuracy and good reliability out of various firearms, I've just gotten the ~5000rd packs of CCI/Blazer 40gr from various online retailers, like sgammo.com. But, it looks like Midway.com is the only one that has that right now for ~$400 w/free shipping.

CCI is based out of Lewiston, ID, though they've been owned by some international conglomerate since 2024.
Click to expand...
The Gun Shop is pretty good, but Guns N Gear has a far larger selection overall. So far, I've run some CCI 40gr Real Tree coated, some 36gr Remington Golden Bullet Hi-vel, some 40gr Remington Golden Hunter HP hi-vel, and the last of the CCI mini mags I had in the bag. I have some SK that I haven't tried in these guns yet. Out of both guns, everything shot pretty well, although the Rem Golden Hunter and the mini mags were probably the best. So far, I like the Golden Hunter ammo for a couple of reasons. First, it's minute of ground squirrel accurate or better all day long, and second, it's only $9.99 for a box of 100.
 
XUSNORDIE said:
If you want to "take your time" between shots....try some ARA targets at 50yds. That will really test your accuracy and patience......but I won't say it's relaxing to all ;)......but definitely won't be emptying mags quickly. Not even with semis.
Click to expand...
I understand completely. I have some "tack" driving range game targets I plan on toying with here pretty soon.
 
CoalCrackerAl said:
I put a BX trigger in my 10/22. And the extended mag release. And a auto bolt release.
View attachment 770
Click to expand...
Very nice! One note for you, in the future if you do another 10/22 and want to add the auto bolt release, the stock part is easily modified to release when you give the charging handle a tug. No sense spending ammo money on a part you can fix at home. ;)

The last one I did, I had the barrel cut behind the front sight and had it recrowned, added a new trigger group, modified the bolt release, added a TacSol mag release, installed the action in a Magpul Hunter stock, and topped it off with a Vortex 4x12x42 scope. I could hit a dime at 50 yards. That I could even see a dime at 50 yards with my eyes is a miracle in itself. :D
 
MountainRider said:
Actually, it's with both. Both scopes sit tight to the barrel, so I can't go lower, and the real issue is they sit high enough that my "cheek weld" is more like a "chin weld". With the cheek pad installed my eye lines up much better and I'm not moving around to get everything where it should be. If the pad works, it will probably get moved to the standard barreled gun as I plan on putting the heavy barrel into a Boyds.

It must be a "me" thing because I have the same problem with my Henry Golden Boy. Because of the angle of the butt, I have to raise my head a little to hit the sights just right. On their standard models, everything lines up like it was made for me. Go figure. ;)
Click to expand...

I get ya. Ok. Sorry. I thought you were too low. Seems strange with x40 & x42mm objectives you are still too high to make good cheek weld. But even with a 40mm objective basically touching the barrel, you are still at almost CHIN height on the stock?


Well, unfortunately, it sounds like maybe your particular physical attributes necessitate special requirements? Well, anything light and easily machined really, glued to the stock, can serve as a higher surface for cheek weld. Ir there is adhesive backed hard foam, if you wanted a bit of give.
 
CoalCrackerAl said:
If you come across an older 22. With the long barrel. Shooting CCI Standard velocity sounds like an air gun. These are my vintage Stevens 22's.
The long ones are the quiet ones.
View attachment 772
Click to expand...
You mean something like this? My Glenfield 25. :D
 

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MountainRider said:
I've been a 10/22 guy for a long time. They're great guns, no denying that, but over time I became annoyed with certain aspects of the platform. I didn't like the OEM stocks, triggers can be hit or miss, and the magazines can be a pain to rebuild. Can these be fixed, of course, and all of them can be made to be outstanding, I just got tired of fixing them.

I grew up shooting my dad's bolt action Western Field and have lately wanted to get back to bolt action rifles. They're accurate, they don't make you want to see how fast you can shoot the mag empty, and for me they're a relaxing way to spend some time.

I recently came across a pair of Savage MK II's, one, a heavy barrel with a scope and one, a standard barrel without, I decided to buy both. The pair went home with me for a combined $300. The scope was a Vortex Copperhead 4x12x42 and it had some issues, so I contacted Vortex and they had me send it back, it will be back home tomorrow according to FedEx. I had another Vortex 4x12x40 that I kept when I sold my last 10/22, so I mounted it on the heavy barrel gun. That combo is fantastic! On the other I mounted a 3x9x50 Sig Buckmaster, and I can't complain about that one either. I contacted Savage and got owner's manuals and trigger adjusting tools coming for both as well as new parts for the bolt.

Of course, both came with the basic black stocks. Addressing another thread, I went ahead and painted the stock for the standard barrel, and I must say it looks pretty good. At some point I plan on putting the heavy barrel action in a Boyds stock, but since I'm waiting to do that, I went ahead and painted the other stock as well. I may stick with the OEM stocks as they work alright for my needs although one has a crack in it and the stock sits too low for a good cheek weld when using the scopes. For now, I bought a stock cheek pad that I'm trying, if it works, problem solved. I also added a Harris Bipod on the heavy barreled gun. I'm thinking the local ground squirrels are in trouble. :D

So, in just a short time I returned to what I grew up with and fell in love with .22 all over again. These are fun to shoot, accurate, encourage me to take my time, and reasonably inexpensive. At 73 it's like coming home again.
Click to expand...
Back at .22, I get it, it has its charm. At 73 and still shooting, what a blessing.
 
Well, back to the dynamic duo. I did some scope swapping today. I had a Vortex 6x24x50 Diamondback Tactical in the safe I forgot about, so I decided to standardize the brand across all my .22's. The new Vortex Copperhead 4x12x44 went on my Glenfield, replacing the Bushnell that was on it when I got it. It got zeroed yesterday and I will say, old guns are the best.

20260606_132150.webp


Thing 2 had the Sig Buckmaster 3x9x50 on it, but I wanted a scope that sat a little lower and with a bit more magnification to it, so I moved the Vortex 4x12x44 Diamondback Tactical from Thing 1 to Thing 2. This gives me a reason, not that I need one, to go shoot it tomorrow and verify the zero.

Since the top of Thing 1 was now empty, I installed the Vortex 6x24x50 Diamondback Tactical on it, which again gives me a reason to go shoot and verify zero on it.

Now I find myself with two scopes in need of a gun to go on. Does that mean I need to go out and buy a couple more .22's? ;)
 
CoalCrackerAl said:
Have you thought about a 17 HMR? I love the round. Nice shooting on your part. (y)
Click to expand...
No, haven't even given the 17 a thought. I hate the idea of paying $18 for 50 rounds when I can spend $10 for 100 rounds of .22. That and I've yet to find anything the 17 can do for me that the .22 can't. I would love to get something in 22 mag.
 

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