Ruger 10/22 Upgrade: TacSol Open Sight X-Ring Barrel

With the upgraded trigger we installed in our previous video shown here, an upgraded barrel is a logical next step. Numerous companies offer replacement and improved barrels for the Ruger 10/22, and we’ve chosen the Tactical Solutions X-Ring barrel. Available in a variety of finish options, the X-ring is a lightweight, heavy-barrel option with a standard 1/2-28 TPI threaded muzzle for mounting a suppressor.

Featuring an 11-degree target crown, this 15-ounce barrel also features flutes for increased cooling capacity and a 1:16-inch twist rate. The barrel itself is constructed of 6061-T6 aluminum with a chrome-moly steel liner, resulting in a barrel that’s both strong and light – it’s nearly half the weight of the standard 10/22 carbine barrel. I weighed the original barrel; it’s 29 ounces.

In case you’re going to use the barrel without any sort of optics, green fiber-optic sights grace the front and rear of the X-Ring barrel. Finish options are matte black, which is what we’ve gone with for this build, matte OD Green, silver, “quicksand” and gunmetal gray. If there’s a particular color scheme you’ve selected for your upgrade, chances are one of the TacSol offerings will match or complement. Additionally, the thread protector will wear the same finish as the barrel.

A couple important notes: Before beginning any work on a firearm, whether it’s a simple cleaning, mounting a scope, adding an accessory or performing an upgrade, make sure the firearm is unloaded. Drop the magazine, cycle the action and check the chamber to make sure the firearm is unloaded. Also remember to keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction at all times. Then, double-check to make sure it’s unloaded.

Also, if, for any reason, you’re not comfortable making alterations to your firearm, don’t hesitate to bring it to an expert. Whether you don’t have the right tools, like, say, a sight pusher; a proper workspace or even just that you don’t feel comfortable, enlisting the aid of a qualified gunsmith is never a bad idea. Even if it’s something your buddies tell you is easy, listen to your instincts. If you’re apprehensive about working on something that goes bang, bring in the pros.