I have called Ruger about having a barrel installed (22) the man said that they would only install another 17 HMR barrel as per original sale. Bummer I don't want or need a 17HMR barrel for the type of hunting I will be doing.
So I thought I would sell the gun, almost sold it but guy started to back peddle on the price, so I told him not to worry I decided not to sell it. I bought the gun for walk about hunting in hilly, wooded and brushy country, and a barrel over 18" is a PIA trying to get around with in those type of woods. My woods guns are all 18" or less, be it 357, 44 or 22LR and I wanted a 22 Magnum with an 18" barrel. It will not be a bull or heavy barrel due to added weight, and be iron sights. All I have ever hunted with, with few exceptions, has been 18" or less barrels, so I am wanting to stay with what works for me.
I been in contact with Greg of Rimfire Technologies who will provide me with an 18.5" barrel that was factory Mossberg 18.5" barrel. This reworked barrel will include the chambering, hand lapping, Moly fusion treatment, re-crowning and polishing, with an Adjustable V-Block, the needed convex extractor to match the extractor slot, for $144 delivered. I consider this a very reasonable price, but I am having doubts this is what I really want to do. I would really like a stock barrel to use or one that at least resembled a stock barrel and would switch w/o having to change the extractor(s).
I had installed a GM 22" barrel and it is great for target or bench shooting with a scope, but this gun has a hunting trigger (I've seen better on Ruger rifles, but seen more with lot worse) not a target trigger and it was bought for hunting. So I took it off and now have a barrel to sell for a big loss or to take up room in the safe and never be used again. I can't believe I didn't catch that it was a 22" barrel, thought it was a 20" and was going to make do. Sure looked funny with the 22" Octagonal barrel on the rifle. The GM barrel is for a 77/22 by the way and not really a 96 barrel, although the only difference is the slight difference in length of inserted portion of the barrel by a few thousandths of an inch.
Anyone with any suggestions?
