Hogue, Inc. has been the “go to” provider of grips and stocks since 1968. I have used Hogue grips and stocks on a few firearms to include Ruger, most 1911-based pistols, and my beloved Mossberg 500 12-guage shotgun that has been with me for a long time.
Recently, I decided to once again try a Hogue product on something different; the Ruger 10/22 Takedown (hereafter referred top simply as the 10/22 TD). Out of many choices of colors, I decided to go with the Ghillie Green, although I really was hard pressed to pass the red Lava version by, but the pattern reminded me of a bowling ball I once had.
First up are the specifications for any OverMolded stock for the 10/22 TD:
- Weight 1.88 Lb
- Drop at comb from center line ¾”, drop at heel is 1 ¼”
- LOP 13 ¾
- Butt pad has hard plastic heel to aid in shouldering
- Stock channel measures .909” at receiver and .682” at tip of forend
Aside from the weight of the stock, the purchaser will notice the longer LOP, which extends the standard 10/22 TD LOP from 13.25 inches to 13.75 inches. At 1.88 pounds, the stock is far more substantial than what comes on the standard 10/22 TD, but it is a good substantial for most adult owners of the 10/22 TD that don’t like the “toy” feel of the firearm.
Since the OverMolded stock for the 10/22 TD is two sections, stock and forearm, I’ll address each section separately.
RECEIVER SECTION:
The receiver section is used to house the action of the 10/22 TD. While the over-molding is of a rubber material, it does not have the “sticky” feel that I have read about in other reviews. In fact, it has a very solid feel to it and is definitely an easy stock to hold.
The grip area provides a very nice gripping surface with a panel of pebbling on each side of the grip. A plastic cap with the Hogue logo adorns the bottom of the grip. The receiver section itself has received a “border” (for lack of a better term) that accentuates the lines of the stock. a pebble texture begins just forward of the front “border” that will blend in with the forearm section.
The Receiver Section also incorporates a sling point at the rear of the stock. A polyurethane butt piece is attached to the receiver section with two screws.
The receiver mounting screw (taken from the original stock) screws into a brass insert that prevents the mounting screw from backing out of the section when the receiver of the 10/22 TD is removed from the stock.
The fit of the receiver and the receiver section is tight. Installation of the receiver into the stock is straightforward. Simply press the fully-assembled receiver into the receiver well with the safety button centered. Once the receiver is fully seated, simply tighten the mounting screw as you would with any Ruger 10/22 receiver. Ruger does not specify how tight is tight, but 15-inch pounds of torque was applied after questioning Ruger about tightness.
I had read one complaint about the Hogue stock not allowing the magazine to fall free; however, that was not an issue. The magazine inserted and ejected perfectly with no sign of binding.
FOREARM SECTION:
The forearm, like the receiver receives the OverMolded treatment.
The forearm section mates almost perfectly with the barrel assembly. I say almost, because there is a slight amount of play at the front of the forearm and the barrel. Apparently, this play is widely commented on. With the Hogue forearm there is no support for the barrel, as the Ruger barrel band cannot be used. Some have called that the barrel is now “free floating” but that is not the case at all; the barrel is still attached to the forearm.
To alleviate as much barrel movement at the front of the forearm as I could, I used a very small piece of Velcro (the soft part) at the very front of the forearm. There is still some movement, but it is less pronounced than before, which was not a lot in the first place.
The pebbling texture carries from the rear almost to the very front of the forearm section, which provides a very comfortable gripping surface. The shape of the forearm slants slightly upward to the barrel, which provides not only a good look but also a place to rest the thumb, if desired.
When I attached the barrel to the forearm, I found that the front half of the 10/22 TD could not be twisted into place. The rubber material of the forearm was preventing me from twisting the barrel. Like I do at times, it simply needed some space. I found that the best way to ensure that the barrel would properly mate with the receiver was to leave the barrel mounting screw slightly loose, attach and secure the barrel assembly, allow the forearm to lightly rest against the receiver assembly, and then tighten the barrel screw. With that said, I did use a feeler gauge to set a gap distance of 0.010-inch, but that was just me and is really not necessary.
The large and unsightly gap that was between the receiver section and the forearm section with the standard Ruger stock is, simply, no longer there with the Hogue stock fully installed.
My only concern with the forearm is any backing out of the mounting screw. I did apply 15-inch pound of torque to the screw, and that should be sufficient, but unlike the mounting screw in the standard stock, there is no way to prevent the screw from falling totally out of the firearm; it is not captivated as with the standard forearm. A bit of blue thread-locker might be in order if the screw loosens under fire, or perhaps a small spring washer might do. I will see if this is even an issue as I use the Ruger 10/22 TD.
The forearm also has a sling mount, although I question the use of a sling with a flexible forearm.
TO SUMMARIZE:
My impression of the OverMolded Stock for 10-22 Takedown Standard Barrel is very favorable. The stock really changes the feel of the 10/22 into more of a “real” firearm instead of feeling like a toy. The Ruger 10/22 TD no longer feels as if it is going to slip out of my hands.
The rubber outer covering feels very good, and surprisingly it does not feel “rubbery” to me.
I had used the Hogue OverMolded stock on my Mossberg 500, and it just so happens that it is in Ghillie Green. The pattern is more of a “marbling” in appearance and is well executed. The Hogue stock blends well with the silver-colored receiver and stainless-steel barrel of the 10/22 TD and also blends well with the black trigger guard with silver-colored extended magazine release, the black charging handle, and the black Picatinny rail.
All that is missing, at this point, is a good optic. You can read about that endeavor in my review of the Ruger 10/22 TD.
RESOURCES:
- Hogue Rubber OverMolded Rifle Stock Ruger 10/22 Takedown Standard Barrel Channel Synthetic: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/772019/hogue-rubber-overmolded-rifle-stock-ruger-10-22-takedown-standard-barrel-channel-synthetic – or – view other color options at http://www.hogueinc.com/stocks/ruger/10-22takedown/standard for the standard barrel stocks.
