I have been to several Appleseeds and I love going. I think that they like to tell people that you don't need a special, modified rifle to learn marksmanship. However, there are some things that I would recommend to everyone taking a 10/22 to Appleseed.
1. Extended mag release. I sanded off the sharp corners of my mags and they drop right out. You have to work on them a little bit.
Edit - Hey, I just noticed that the picture of the rifle that you linked to has the extended mag release on it already. You got it.
2. Auto Bolt Release mod. You can buy the modified part or easily modify your stock bolt release. See internet for instructions.
3. The triggers on 10/22 rifles purchased recently are terrible. They have 8 to 9 lb pull. I installed a Power Custom Hammer and Sear kit. It is now a 2-3/4 trigger.
4. Tech Sights are a great addition.
The easiest way to get the best set up is to buy the whole trigger group from Timney or Kidd. You just drop it in the receiver and put the pins in. Done. You may even find that the cost is pretty fair compared to buying bits and pieces that you have to put together.
I use the same rifle for squirrel hunting and it all works well.
If you do these mods you will be scoring much better the next time you go to Appleseed. Have fun.
Last weekend I taught four more people how to lock and unlock their bolt with one hand, easily, quickly, and it took just a minute. They are part of a long list. When their bolts are locked back, they really are locked back, not just-kinda-maybe-held to the rear until the rifle or bolt handle is bumped accidentally.
YHJ
Sometime you'll have to show me this trick. I moved to the autobolt release only after much struggling and frustration with Bill Rugers original design ... I swear he's a sadist.
Mlzoiss you were doing a great job on the line and you had the teachable attitude. that is the most important thing. What ol'huff and slough are getting at is that a lot of people show up with there 1k kidd race rifles and think that the rifle alone will do all the work for them. they don't actually listen to what the instructors are saying and showing them. they say well I got this 1000 dollar rifle I don't need to worry about my npoa or blah blah blah and they try to ride the out the rifles ability vs taking the time to learn the fundamentals and apply them.
The tech sights would be a great upgrade and are much needed over the stock sights IMO. that v and brass bead are horrible. You have never had the auto bolt release and you weren't struggling with the factory so there is no need for you to get it. your stock trigger is fine and you were doing well with it.
Your fine and your learning the fundamentals and that is what's important. Practice with what you have. Get the tech sights and just continue to practice dry firing and get to another appleseed when you can
Besides the stock sights, I was struggling with the mag installation and release.
Besides the stock sights, I was struggling with the mag installation and release. That was really my main concern, and the problem I was trying to solve/solicit advice for.
The extractors are about the only thing I recommend on LTRs other than Tech Sights or low power optic. The new 10/22s have a decent mag release from the factory. If I have an optic on it I put a buffer in it I've found that it helps them live a little longer without the constant banging of the bolt into the steel pin. The extractor and buffer are reliability mods and can be had for less than $15. A loop sling is an obvious addition. But then again I have become partial to the Marlin 795 over the last year ( another thing I contribute to YHJ) and they only need sights, extra magazine and a sling. A little mod that allows dry fire without a magazine inserted is nice though.
To a Rifleman the rifle does not matter the Rifleman is what matters. I have shot Rifleman with a multitude of different rifles because I am a Rifleman.