Tandemkross Ultimate Trigger Kit for the Ruger 10/22

What happens when Tandemkross and Brimstone Gunsmithing collaborate on a project?  You get the Tandemkross Ultimate Trigger Kit for Ruger 10/22 rifles.  This drop-in trigger upgrade kit features components from both companies.  The kit was launched in October 2018 to coincide with Ruger 10/22 Day that is observed every year on October 22nd.  The Ultimate Trigger kit has a retail price of $134.99 and can be purchased directly from Tandemkross through their webstore.

What do you get for $134.99?  A new trigger, hammer, sear, and a trigger return spring system.  You supply a factory Ruger 10/22 trigger for the upgrade.  Converting a Ruger BX Trigger?  No problem, but you need to make sure you let Tandemkross know that when you place your order.  In my case, I also added a Volquartsen Custom Auto Bolt Release and Tandemkross Fireswitch magazine release.  These optional items have no effect on the improved trigger pull delivered by the Ultimate kit, but they do make the trigger more competition-friendly.  I plan to use the trigger for Steel and Rimfire Challenge competitions.

Factory Ruger 10/22 triggers are safe, reliable, and probably just fine for the vast majority of 10/22 owners.  This kit is targeted for someone who wants a competition-grade trigger.  Our factory trigger pull weighed in at about 3.75 to 4 pounds before we Ultimatized it.  Actually, that's a really good factory 10/22 trigger.  I've had some triggers measure in the 5 to 6 pounds range in the past.

Measuring trigger pull weight with a handheld scale is both an art and science.  Having a digital scale helps in the accuracy/science area, but you can greatly influence the measurement by where the scale hook is placed on the trigger at time of measurement.  I did my best to get the hook in the center of the trigger for both before and after measurements.

Installation of the kit was very easy.  I followed the installation video on the Tandemkross website from start to finish.  You can install the kit in 30 minutes, or less, if you follow the video.  I have nothing to add about the installation that isn't covered in the video.  Even if you really know your way around a 10/22 trigger, I'd still encourage you to watch the video before you do your upgrade.

You can't fool the scale.  After completing the upgrade, I consistently recorded pull weights between 1 pound 15 ounces and 2 pounds 1 ounce.  The kit definitely decreased the pull weight of the converted trigger by almost two pounds.  That itself is good, but there is more to a good trigger than just pull weight.

Factory Ruger 10/22 triggers have a bit of take up before they hit a wall of weight.  As you continue to press harder on the trigger it creeps rearward. Eventually it will break and release the hammer.  After the bolt cycles, the trigger is released and resets for the the next shot.

I think what makes the TK/Brimstone trigger worthy of the Ultimate name is how the trigger feels in action.  There is still a fraction of take up present and the same wall of weight as you pull the trigger.  You won't need to apply as much pressure with the Ultimate trigger.  Adjusting the included over-travel stop limits the trigger movement after the hammer is released.  Trigger reset is roughly half the distance with the Ultimate trigger versus the factory trigger.  It should be a great trigger for speed shooting as well as a much improved trigger for general target shooting.

One thing to be aware of that I feel needs to be called out.  Take a look at the trigger shape and position in the before and after photos.  The Ultimate trigger is a flat-faced design that sits forward of the factory Ruger trigger placement.  The reach distance to the trigger will increase by just over 1/4 inch with the new trigger.  This will be most noticeable with pistol-grip stocks, like the Ruger Charger featured in this review.  It's something to consider before purchasing and will be highly dependent on your stock and hand size.

The bottom line for me is the Tandemkross/Brimstone Ultimate Trigger Kit significantly improved my factory Ruger 10/22 trigger.  Not just by reducing the pull weight, but also in the quality of the trigger pull and reset.  I'm really looking forward to using the trigger in one of my competition rifles next season.

My Epic Journey to Build a Rimfire Challenge Limited Class Rifle

When I travel to attend NSSF Rimfire Challenge events it usually involves a significant investment in travel time and related travel expenses. Sure it's great to catch up with old friends, meet new people, and engage in some good old fashioned competition, but the actual trigger time you get at these events is very limited. Setting personal goals for 2016 to attend more Rimfire Challenge events and improve my performance, I decided to build a Limited class rifle and pistol this winter so I could compete in both classes if the shoot organizers allowed me to do so.  I called this my travel once and shoot twice project.

I started my build with some general ideas of things I would like to include on my rifle.  The first requirement was fiber optic sights.  A FO front sight was a must have and also having a FO rear sight would be even better.  The stock had to be adjustable for length of pull and comb height.  I wasn't trying to build the lightest rifle possible, but a lighter rifle would be preferable to a heavier rifle. Finally, I wanted to limit the out of pocket expense to build the rifle by using as many previously acquired components as possible.  I'm not sure about you, but the older I get the more stuff I seem to acquire.  I made fun of my Dad for that when I was young.  I guess this is my payback.

All builds start somewhere and I started with a stripped 10/22 receiver that I scavenged from a generally disappointing Ruger SR-22 Rifle purchased several years ago for Rimfire Challenge events.  I considered reusing the factory bolt and charging handle, but decided against it after polishing on the bolt for a few hours and still marveling at how rough it looked.  Ultimately, I discovered Tactical Innovations while shopping for bolt buffers and decided to give their extra large charging handle and match grade bolt assembly a try.

I previously reviewed ATIs Ruger Charger AR-22 Stock System and liked it.  I picked up their AR-22 TactLite Stock System for 10/22 rifles with the intention of swapping out the shorter Charger handguard for the rifle handguard.  I really liked the fully adjustable stock on the AR-22 TactLite Stock.  The full length picatinny top rail would be a great place to mount the picatinny rail mounted fiber optic sights I finally found available from an airsoft supply house in China. If anyone cares, there is a huge opportunity for someone to make picatinny rail mounted fiber optic sights for rifles.

The barrel installed on the SR-22 receiver was an all steel mid-weight barrel with a seemingly unremovable flash suppressor.  It was replaced with a Tactical Solutions X-Ring barrel.  I also upgraded to the TacSol Performance V-block. While I was ordering these parts from TandemKross, I included their Shock Block bolt buffer, Twister titanium takedown knob, Eagle's Talon extractor, and a Gunsmither Bolt Bar and Extractor Tool.

The green Volquartsen TG2000 replacement trigger housing for 10/22 was something I had on hand. If I remember correctly, it was one of the blemished housings that Volquartsen would occasionally post on a large auction site.  Regardless, it has all the things you want in a match trigger like auto bolt release and extended magazine release.  It also has a crisp 2 pound pull weight.  I really like these trigger assemblies.

The first trip out to the range proved that I had assembled the rifle correctly.  It functioned perfectly, but I could tell the sights were going to be a problem.  Flipped up, the sights are traditional adjustable back up iron sights.  Flipped down, they become fiber optic sights that offered no adjustment.  After trying a few different placements on the rail, I was still 4 inches high and 3 inches left.  I made another range trip and tried various offset risers between the rail and sights, but finally threw in the towel and declared failure.  My limited rifle was a complete bust.

Brian Lawson mentions the Knoxx Axiom stock from Blackhawk! frequently.  This ultra-light stock is a drop in replacement stock for 10/22 rifles.  Before totally giving up on my project, I thought I would give the stock a try.  In place of open sights, I could use the receiver mounted Ruger scope base with a See-All Open Sight and still qualify as Limited class.  Getting this stock was a turning point in the project.

Dropping the barreled action into the new Axiom stock, I was out on the range again with the See-All Open Sight mounted.  I also swapped out the Axiom adjustable stock with the ATI TactLite stock for the adjustable comb feature.  I immediately fell in love with this 4 pound rifle and decided it was my new Open class rifle.  I added a Rimfire Rifle compensator from Allchin Gun Parts and a TandemKross Advantage Charging Handle with picatinny scope base topped off with my Burris FastFire III 8 MOA.

This put me all the way back to square one on the Limited rifle project, but I was much smarter now. I knew exactly what I wanted the rifle to look like and where I needed to go to get all the parts for the second rifle. The only different thing I would need for the new build was a receiver. I decided to try the Elite22 Flat Top Receiver from Tactical Innovations along with the same match bolt and extra large charging handle used in the previous build.

Giving up on front and rear fiber optic sights, I opted again for a Tactical Solutions X-Ring barrel with open sights.  The front sight does come equipped with a fiber optic insert.  The second Volquartsen TG2000 was originally installed in the SR-22 rifle so it was re-purposed for this build.

After a week, I had received all the parts necessary to build the second rifle.  The build came together quickly and I soon had a Limited rifle that weighed in at just under 3.5 pounds.  I've had it out to the range twice for extended practice sessions and it runs like a dream.

It was a long strange trip, but I ultimately ended up exactly where I wanted to go with my Limited rifle build.  Along the way, I found a new Open rifle that I'm very happy with.  Both rifles share many similar components so switching between them should be stress-free.

What I learned from this build process is that I should keep an open mind and be willing to try new things.  I could have given up on the build process many times, but I kept at it and tapped into the collective wisdom of other shooters for their ideas and advice.  I'm really looking forward to using these rifles for the upcoming season.  I'm sure I will see some of you on the firing line.

The Advantage Charging Handle from TandemKross serves two purposes.  It

provides a stable base for optics and allows for left side charging handle operation.

Using similar components on both rifles makes it easy to switch between

 Limited and Open classes.

This simple tool makes 10/22 bolt and extractor removal and replacement a breeze.

Use it once and you will wonder why you didn't get one years ago.  It's awesome. 

Competition Shooter Profile - Brian Lawson

Photo by Oleg Volk

Name:  Brian Lawson
Home State:  Washington
Years Shooting:  22
Years Competing:  3
Competition Types:  Rimfire Challenge, Speed Steel, Trap, IDPA

Notable Awards and Competition Placements:
21st Overall 2015 Rimfire Challenge World Championship
4th Overall 2015 Pacific Northwest Speed Championship
15th Overall 2015 NSSF Idaho Rimfire Challenge NW Championship

NSSF Rimfire Challenge Class Preference:  OPEN!

Gear Rundown:
Pistol – Ruger Mark III Frame with 22/45 LITE Upper “MKIII LITE”
Striplin Custom 90° C-More Mount
16MOA C-More Aluminum Railway
TandemKross Game Changer Compensator
TandemKross Titanium Firing Pin
TandemKross Tool Steel Extractor
TandemKross LCI Replacement Panel
Volquartsen Sear
Volquartsen Hammer
Polished Internals

Photo by Oleg Volk

Rifle – Ruger 10/22 Superlite
Tactical Solutions SB-X Barrel
Striplin Custom 90° C-More Mount
12MOA C-More Aluminum Railway
KIDD Single Stage Trigger
KIDD CNC Bolt
KIDD Buffer
BlackHawk! Knoxx Axiom Stock
JWH Custom Charging Handle
Raven Oversized Trigger Group Pins
TandemKross Titanium Takedown Knob
TandemKross 10/22 Mag Bumpers

Ammunition Preference:  CCI Standard Velocity

Sponsors:  TandemKross / Striplin Custom Gunworks

Please describe yourself in 200 words or less.
I was Active Duty Army for 7+ years as an 11B, Infantry, from 2004 to 2011.  My 1st assignment was with the Honor Guard in Washington DC, performing funerals in Arlington National Cemetery.  I was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2008-09, and medically retired from the Army in 2011 out of Fort Bliss, TX.  When I got back to Whidbey Island, I set the video game controller down and hit the range often.  I stumbled across Speed Steel and have been hooked ever since, chronicling my adventures via YouTube as “Lawson11b”.  In November 2015 I will be 3 years free of video games. Shooting matches, cleaning equipment, and becoming a gunsmith fills my days and makes me happy.

Do you enjoy any other hobbies?  YouTube

How did you get started competing in Rimfire Challenge?  Stumbled across a match one day at the range and came to the next one. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Any advice you would like to give to new competitors just starting out with Rimfire Challenge?  Do not buy cheap optics, and buy a LOT of 22LR ammunition.  When it comes time to upgrade your guns, do your homework and read the reviews.  It will save you a lot of time, energy, and money.

How do you practice and prepare for competitions?  My small local matches I do not prepare for aside from confirming zero.  Bigger matches I tend to practice 4-7 days in a row shooting various stages with the help of a mentor.

Is there anything, or anyone, specific that helped you progress from a good competitor to a great competitor?  Yes, becoming sponsored by TandemKross greatly improved my game.  I also have a great mentor, Steve Mooney, who helps me practice for big matches.  We also carpool to the smaller, local matches as well.

What do you enjoy most about NSSF Rimfire Challenge competition?  The people, and the camaraderie.  Nicest group of people you’ll ever find.

Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize?  Bryan Haaker & Jake Wyman from TandemKross, Steve Mooney, Larry Davis, and Bruce Barchenger.

Want to know more about Brian?  Here are his social media sites.
Lawson11b Facebook: www.facebook.com/Lawson11bravo

Google+: www.google.com/+Lawson11b

YouTube Channel: www.YouTube.com/user/Lawson11b

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/Lawson11b

Website: www.Lawson11b.com

Special thanks to Shooting Sports Photographer Oleg Volk.  http://olegvolk.net/blog/  

Competition Ready Upgrades for the Ruger Mark III 22/45

The 2015 NSSF Rimfire Challenge World Championship is right around the corner.  Do you know what that means for this guy?  It means it's time to build a brand new gun for the event.  I went through a similar process last year with a Ruger Mark III.  You can read all about that project on my other blog if you wish to do so.  I was working on a review of the Ruger 22 Charger Takedown at the time of our NSSF Rimfire Challenge State Championship this year so I used it for the pistol portion of the shoot.  Heading into the biggest shoot of the year with brand new equipment isn't the smartest thing for me to be doing, but I favor curiosity over competitiveness.

This new pistol represents a big change for me.  I've always shot in the Limited Class using a heavy all-steel pistol with the stock Ruger target iron sights or the SeeAll Open Sight.  Now I'm going the opposite way with an ultralight pistol with all the bells and whistles allowed in the Open Class.  My 2015 pistol weighs more than a pound less than the pistol I used at the World Championship last year and will have a Burris FastFire III red dot sight.  I'm curious if this new rig will lead to more consistent, and possibly faster, times than I've had in the past.

For the base pistol, I started with a Tactical Solutions TSP-4.  Tactical Solutions doesn't list this pistol in their 2015 catalog, but I found out there were a limited number of these pistols produced for one of the larger firearm distributors.  Tactical Solutions replaces the Ruger factory receiver with their PacLite receiver.  They add a set of their G10 grips, Ruger Racker bolt handle, PacLite scope base, Compensator, and a SLAM Mag base pad equipped magazine to complete the TSP-4 pistol package.

I was a bit surprised to find that, aside from the G10 grips, the grip frame was entirely stock.  Factory Ruger triggers are fine for plinking, but for competition I would need to make some changes.  I acquired parts kits from Volquartsen Custom and TANDEMKROSS to complete my 22/45.  There were some overlapping parts in the two kits so the parts installed are shown in bold type. 

Volquartsen Custom Mark III Accurizing Kit    Retail Price:  $115.00
Target Hammer
Target Sear
Target Trigger
Extended Bolt Release
Trigger Return Spring with Polished Plunger

TANDEMKROSS High Performance Kit for 22/45    Retail Price:  $99.99
Steel Hammer Bushing for the Mark III 22/45
"Kanewolf" Slingshot upgrade
LCI replacement in black OR stainless steel
"Firestarter" Titanium Firing Pin
"Eagle Talon" Extractor
Extended Magazine Release

TANDEMKROSS Victory Trigger    Retail Price:  $34.99
 "Victory" Trigger with Textured Surface

Setting aside several hours one night, I set about making the upgrades.  Since I only attempt projects like this once a year, I tend to be a little slow and methodical with the work.  Using Gun-Guides for Ruger Mark III Series Pistols, instructions included with the TANDEMKROSS kit, and this excellent website I got through the job pretty quickly, but still managed to install the sear on the wrong side of the sear spring.  I make this mistake EVERY SINGLE TIME I work on a Mark III.  Maybe I'll get it right the next time around.  Just in case I forget, I left a Post-it Note reminder for Mr. Dumass in my copy of the Gun-Guide.  I case you were wondering, Mr. Dumass is my alter-ego that does dumb stuff even when I should know better.

My results were right on par with my expectations.  The Ruger factory trigger pull weight of about 5.5 pounds was reduced to slightly more than 2 pounds.  I didn't notice any issues with parts compatibility when mixing and matching parts from the two different parts kits.  I did need to do some fine tuning and testing of the pre-travel and over-travel adjustment screws on the trigger during my first trip out to the range.  I've included a video from my first range trip to demonstrate how the adjustment of the pre-travel screw can have a huge impact on the reliability of the pistol.

Pre-travel Adjustment Demonstration

Direct Link to Video on YouTube

Even though I've only had a limited amount of trigger time with the pistol, I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  With two weeks remaining before the World shoot, I'll be out on the range practicing and becoming more familiar with the pistol as much as I possibly can. 

I hope to meet some of you at the shoot next month.  I'll be the guy with the 22/45 that still has the pink dot stuck to the side of it.