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Removing barrel band on 10/22
- Thread starter hoosierfishing
- Start date
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I can't think of any problems with the screws. The only thing I learned the first time I was breaking it down to clean was to use the flat screwdriver to open the band a little bit so it didn't scrape along the fore end piece.
memphis_125
Plinker
I removed mine about 6 months ago when I was building up my Ruger 10/22 and don't remember having any issues. The rifle was only about 5 years old so I don't know if they have changed anything since then. I do remember that once the screw came out I had to expand the band to remove it.
As a matter of fact, I too had an issue recently.
I wanted to build a rifle for my GF's grandson to shoot RR Courses. So, I bought an brand new 10/22 in one of those terrible, black plastic stocks. I found a nice laminate stock on EBay.
When I went to loosen the barrel band, I couldn't find an allen wrench to fit. I went through both of my allen wrench sets and could not find a match. Eventually, I used a vice grip set of pliers, clamped it on the pin side of the screw and turned it until it was loose enough to slide the band off. I replaced it with an older, metal band/slotted screw set I had left over from my last build.
I've built a half dozen of these over the last several years for Appleseed and Revere's Rider events, from both older and brand new 10/22s. Ruger should be embarrassed about how cheaply made their new rifles are compared to the older rifles.
I wanted to build a rifle for my GF's grandson to shoot RR Courses. So, I bought an brand new 10/22 in one of those terrible, black plastic stocks. I found a nice laminate stock on EBay.
When I went to loosen the barrel band, I couldn't find an allen wrench to fit. I went through both of my allen wrench sets and could not find a match. Eventually, I used a vice grip set of pliers, clamped it on the pin side of the screw and turned it until it was loose enough to slide the band off. I replaced it with an older, metal band/slotted screw set I had left over from my last build.
I've built a half dozen of these over the last several years for Appleseed and Revere's Rider events, from both older and brand new 10/22s. Ruger should be embarrassed about how cheaply made their new rifles are compared to the older rifles.
grunt soldier
Master
Who cares. Take it off and don't look back. They are useless honestly.
I have built or modified a dozen or so 10/22s but haven't bought one for several years and have never seen one with a barrel band which required a hex wrench. Removing the barrel band used to be a pretty standard practice. Many guys would remove the band then cut off the stock extension it fit over then reshape the front end. Might be hard to do with the plastic stocks. Never had a plastic stock either. However, before you do to much surgery, take a look and see if the stocks still have a little pressure pad at the front end of the barrel channel. They all used to and it was there for a reason. Common advice was if you cut the front end off, you should replace that pad with something to support the barrel. The gun was not intended to have a fully free-floated barrel. The barrel is a piece of steel pipe hanging on an aluminum receiver and those pieces are anchored in the stock with one relatively small screw. Without that pressure pad or some other sort of support, barrel sag/rock could be a problem. Many of the "old-timers" on rimfire central would bed the receiver and about 3" of the barrel immediately in front of the receiver. Free floating the barrel works on most rifles but there's an exception to every rule. 
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MohawkSlim
Expert
I took mine off with a leatherman. Cut right through the plastic.
I swapped on a Stainless side folder once it was out of NJ for good. I remember it was a Allen head cap screw. There are Metric and Standard Allen wrenches / cap screws. I don't remember having any trouble taking it off or the Butler Creek Stock I installed. I wedged a fast food spoon handle in the band to spread it and not cause scratches.
