17 Aquila or 22 high-vel.

[20hornet]

Looking for some help from the experts
I have a 10/22 that has been asking for a new stock and barrel.
This gun will be a walking gun for shooting cans and squirrels. I'm planning on using a light composite stock and a fluted bull barrel. I also want to take advantage of the 22 high-vel ammo.
1. Who makes a good composite stock
2. What rate of twist 1-16 or 1-18(stinger chamber)
3. What length barrel? 16in or 18in Will the 18 reach higher vel. due to ammo?
The Big Question
4. Wait for the 17 Aquila? Unless the wait will be Long.

Thank you for the help in advance http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-bowdown-purple.gif http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-jhp-rocks.gif

[AMMOe]

20 Hornet: Well! that&#39;s a bunch of decisions you have to make. I can offer an opinion or two.

I don&#39;t know who makes 1-18" stinger barrels right now. I got an e-mail from Rick Sanborn at Green Mountain last week saying that the 1-18" barrels are no more. There just wasn&#39;t enough (any?) improvement in accuracy to merit production. In my experience, a 1-16" twist would be more suitable, especially of you decided to do a 180 at some point and switch to low velocity target ammo for your squirrels. (Less damage and just as dead?) As to composite stocks, I think you &#39;ll have to look them all over and see which one takes your fancy. I shy away from composite stocks, especially when a heavy barrel is attached. They are more difficult to balance while carrying and shooting... especially on the stalk. PMI has a skeletonized laminate from Boyds that is light and ergonomic. Balanced with a 16.5" fluted barrel it&#39;s a real pleasure to shoot: I&#39;ve thought about hitting him over the head and running away with it on several occasions. He&#39;s a real pro with 10/22 stocks and barrels and I&#39;m sure he&#39;ll chime in with his saged advice.

For me, that 16.5" fluted barrel is about as cool as it gets. I doubt if velocity loss would be insurmountable between say a standard GM 20" barrel and the shorter tube. How far are our shots going to be?

As to the 17 Aguila. You can buy a "17 High Standard" barrel right now if you have the mind. The "17 High Standard" is basically a 17 Aguila with some free-bore to help handle the back thrust.* I have a 10/22, 17 HS barrel that is quite accurate but there is a clause to add. If you have a tricked out trigger kit in your gun you need to replace the hammer-strut spring with one of at least factory strength. If you don&#39;t, your accuracy will be mediocre and the velocity spread will be mind boggling. This heavier spring will undo most "trigger jobs" folks buy in the form of spring kits and match sears and hammers.

Until you&#39;re willing to live with having to modify your 10/22 you might want to focus on a 22LR. The 17 Aguila should make a great squirrel gun but there is an infinitely wider variety of ammo available for the 22LR right now. You&#39;ll never go wrong choosing the 22LR. ~AMMOe

(*There are other minor dimensional differences but the 17Aguila shoots fine.)

[MarinePMI]

Ha! I knew there was a reason the hair stood up on the back of my neck when AMMOe was behind me on a stalk! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-face-shoot-other-smiley-ani.gif

I&#39;ll have to keep an eye on him from now on (since my suspicions have been confirmed). http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-sideways-laff-aqua.gif

20 Hornet,

AMMoe gave some good advice. As to my "sage" advice (about what it&#39;s worth, the price of wild sage on the side of the road), well...

Personally I&#39;d opt for the 16" fluted heavy bbl for the tube. If you get a hankering for the 17 Aguila it can be had when the barrels and ammo are available (with out having to buy a new rifle).

As to the stock...

If you&#39;re good with a dremel and sand paper, got the patience and have the cojones to take a leap of faith, then Boyd Sihlouette stocks can be had for under a $100 (unfinished) and you can then hack away. As the old stock makers saying goes..."Just take off what don&#39;t look like belongs". Sounds scary (I deliberated over hacking a perfectly good stock for a good two months), but it really is that easy.

If your heart is set on a composite, I hear good things about the Hogue overmolded ones. I had a BC one, but ended up giving it away to a re-tread, born again, gun nut who wasn&#39;t too sure about dropping a lot of coin at the time. He&#39;s now tinkering away, and it has performed well for him (as it had for me).

Until the recent deluge of projects my "shorty" used to be my .22 of choice when heading out AMMOe&#39;s way. Now, it has languished...alone, unloved and unappreciated (No AMMOe! You can&#39;t trade for it! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-clappin-yellow.gif )

At any rate, there are many choices out there 20H. Think about what you want the rifle to do. Handle? Accuracy? Weight reduction? Truck gun? You get the picture. So far though, this combo has been my favorite. Your mileage may vary...

Here&#39;s a pic of it (just in case you want an idea of what I&#39;m talking about).

[wildbirdhunter]

You know GM does make a factory contour barrel that’s 16 ½ “ long that I’ll post a pick this weekend of the one I have both off the rifle and on one. I need a change on my 10/22 and this weekend sounds good.
WBH

[MarinePMI]

You should see the heavy sporter contour with flutes!!! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/afraid_face.gif

Waayyyy to cool! I should have one in a few weeks for a review...

[wildbirdhunter]

sounds cool looking. I just hope it&#39;s not a 22inch barrel.
WBH