I was a little hesitant about posting this build because people get off kilter on both sides of the gun debate but I thought it was cool enough that you people would enjoy the build. That said this is about the build so please leave the debate out of it.
I have a rule that every Christmas and every birthday I buy myself a present. This ensures that you always get at least one present that you like. A little over 20 years ago my very first Christmas present to myself was a Ruger 10/22. It was a great little thing and probably the most fun per dollar off any gun I've owned. I wanted to do a kickass custom build but being a poor Airman at the time I couldn't afford to. After I got out of the Air Force I didn't have easy access to a range and sold off most of my guns but I kept that little 22.
This is how she was. Just a basic Ruger 10/22 with a scope.
A couple of months ago I got the itch again to do my custom build. I wanted a light weight fun gun that maybe could double as a close quarters defence gun. I weighed the gun as is and it came in slightly over 5 lbs. I set my goal to get as close to 3 lbs as possible and then came the research.
First I decided on the PMACA lightweight chassis.
It's, as you probably guessed, lightweight. It allows the use of AR15 stocks and grips so I'd have plenty of choices. For a barrel I decided against a bull barrel and instead went with a Beyer aluminum barrel in factory taper. Just the barrel should save me over a pound from the factory barrel.
For a stock I wanted the Battlelink minimalist stock
And grip will be the Magpul MOE-K
I just needed a sight. I really liked the gun better with iron sights but the new barrel wasn't set up for that. I didn't want a scope so I decided a red dot was in my future. I decided on the Primary Arms Advance micro dot mainly for it's 50,000 hour battery life and affordable price.
So now that I had everything picked out the PMACA chassis went out of stock. Not long afterwards the barrel did also. Oh well PMACA has an email list for backordered items so I told them to email me and filed it away in the back of my mind. More to come ...
In reply to Stampie :
Not being too familiar with firearms, how much of the original will remain?
In reply to Pete Gossett :
For now this is all that will remain of the original gun.
Sorry for the poor picture but my tablet didn't want to focus on the matte finish. What is left is the trigger group (lower left), receiver (black part above the trigger) and the bolt (shiny part inside).
On the morning of the 31st I was about to go to work when I heard an email come in. Because I can be a sheep like to many of us I checked it. Woohoo PMACA had the lightweight chassis back in stock. I quickly ordered it then started work. About 30 minutes later I thought to check on the barrel and double woohoo cause it's in also. I quickly order it along with the stock, buffer tube (stock mounts on it), and grip from Brownells. At this point I can build a complete gun so I ordered the red dot sight from Primary Arms.
Few hours later I'm glad I ordered everything as the chassis and barrel again go out of stock. It's unusual for me to order from three different companies in the same industry on the same day so I found the interaction with them interesting.
First PMACA sent me an order confirmation within minutes and shipping tracking within a couple of hours. It arrived a few days later with little fanfare. This is how I like to do business. Take my money and give me what I asked for quickly. I'll recommend them just based off the buying experience. The chassis itself has nice fit and finish and even weighs .15 ounces less than advertised.
Primary Arms followed PMACAs lead with order confirmation and quick shipping but then the emails started. Holy berk I don't need an email every day about your products. I unsubscribed leaving only order updates checked. After it got here I discovered I'm a DA and didn't think about ordering a picatinny rail for it.
Oops. So went back to Primary Arms and they have a rail for me. Ordered it and I'll be dammed if the emails didn't start again. I shouldn't have to unsubscribe again when I've already done so leaving order updates checked. Made my panties chaff a little.
Brownells was an example of how not to ship in the modern world. They confirmed the order quickly but no shipping until the afternoon of the 2nd. Then the shipping initially says it won't get here until the 11th. Berk balls I want to play with my new man toys and that's a long wait. Well it's been updated the 9th so tomorrow I can put it all together.
Last night I decided that I could be productive and polish my bolt. Not the normal thing I'd polish on a Monday evening but it'll do. If you watch YouTube videos on polishing a 10/22 bolt you'll see people spending hours on it. On one forum a guy said if you spend more 5 minutes polishing your bolt then you're wasting your time. Well I spent about 20 minutes but the action is much smoother now.
Until tomorrow this is what I have.
10/22 was my first gun. I ended up making it an AMT Lightning lookalike and havent fired it in forever
So ......when this all comes together we'll witness a AK47 ized(in profile) 10/22?
kant wait.....
Love the 10/22 platform. Mine are boringly plain, but absolute tack drivers.
Been looking for a beat up one or two to do something fun with like an Archangel or a Gatling gun conversion.
Following along!
My most recent one is a magpul backpacker build with different sights and a cowitnessed red dot. Now you can buy em that way off the shelf.
Rodan
HalfDork
1/9/19 2:17 a.m.
Every shooter should own a 10/22! My first one cost $79... 
These days, I shoot my S&W M&P 15-22 more, but a 10-22 Takedown Lite lives in our camper.
That Primary Arms sight is a pretty good unit, especially for the $$. I've had one on an AK for a few years now with no issues.
Looking forward to following the build. 
In reply to Rodan :
My 15-22 is my favorite gun these days! Great trainer, and I can shoot all day for $20!
Looking forward to the build!
How is the feel of the stock trigger? Any plans for an upgrade?
For triggers you can go all in on volquartsen or the ruger bx-22 is an affordable upgrade. Honestly rifle triggers aren’t near the problem pistol triggers pose, especially if you know how to use a rifle sling properly.
fusion66 said:
How is the feel of the stock trigger? Any plans for an upgrade?
It's ok. For a plinker it's fine. I plan on getting the BX22 like Anthony pointed out because it weighs less in addition to being a lighter trigger pull. I didn't get it yet because after dropping $450 in one day the cheap ass in me said no.
In related news I detoured down my street to catch the mail man early.
Oh. I'm a big fan of the 10/22. I have the takedown/backpack model.
I love my my 10/22, it is just a standard model with composite stock. I mainly use it for plinking. I am enjoying seeing where this is going.
Another 10/22 fan. It was my first gun also, still plenty more accurate than I am after God-knows-how-many rounds.
We rushed home after work/school so Lil Stampie and I could put it together. Well Lil Stampie ate his Wendy's while I put it together.
I weighed everything and was pleasantly surprised that everything came in under advertised weight except for the Battlelink Minimalist Stock which was .25 oz over advertised.
All together she weighed in at 60.45 oz or about 12 oz over my end target.
And here she is put together. Sorry we were doing it outside and it got dark on us.
In reply to Stampie :
Wow, it certainly looks much lighter & better balanced too.
In reply to Pete Gossett :
It is but I'm not happy with the stock. No big deal as I knew I wouldn't be. Think it's time to make a broomstick with a handle.
iIn reply to TheRX7Project :
So true. All my rifles shoot better than I do. There is actually a class called “you suck, it’s not the gun,” or something along those lines.
So I know you're sitting there saying well that was boring, all he did was bolt on some parts he paid way to much for. For you guys I bought some metal because well if you don't like your stock why not make your own? Just a tease right now because I'm having trouble finding the die I need.
Stampie said:
In reply to Pete Gossett :
It is but I'm not happy with the stock. No big deal as I knew I wouldn't be. Think it's time to make a broomstick with a handle.
What’s wrong with the stock, and why did you buy it if you didn’t think you would?
Stampie, If you need some threads turned on a lathe for a non-standard size, there are a few folks on the forum that might be able to help. The shipping to you would probably be cheaper than buying a specialty die...
