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In response to customer demand, Ruger has opened their Custom Shop. There’s been a call for “high-end performance variations of our popular models” – according to Ruger President and CEO Chris Killoy – and the Custom Shop is the answer. They expect to produce “exclusive collectible, competition, hunting and personal defense firearms.”
The initial products reflect that with two of the most-customizable designs in the Ruger catalog. First, the SR1911, Ruger’s variant of John M. Browning’s classic design – very likely the most customized handgun design ever -- with the Ruger touch. And it wouldn’t be a Ruger Custom Shop without the most-customized rimfire rifle ever, the 10/22. And Shooting Wire has both of these in custody.
Going with the first released, the Doug Koenig-inspired (and marked) SR1911 Competition 9mm. Starting with the barrel, it’s precision fitted with polished feed ramp, target crown and (surprisingly) a 1:16” rate of twist – said to “increase accuracy with lighter weight match bullets.” The muzzle is nicely crowned.
The black nitride stainless steel frame has a checkered front strap and mainspring housing. The stocks have a striking appearance and a great ‘feel’ -- Hogue G10 Piranha. The trigger guard is undercut to allow a higher hold. On the bottom, there’s the machined aluminum TechWell magazine well to facilitate a quick refill. The safety levers – it’s bilateral – are extended. The integral plunger tube is a Ruger touch on regular production. The gun also features a beavertail grip safety, extended magazine release and a forged slide stop.
The fire control group is all custom, from the Koenig Shooting Sports low-mass hammer and competition sear to the flat-faced trigger shoe, precision machined disconnector and hand tuned sear spring.
The top is a stainless steel slide. Precision ground slide serrations front and back, a fiber optic front sight matched to an adjustable rear sight and a black nitride treatment atop the slide set the whole piece off. The slide is hand-fitted to the frame.
The gun was received in a fitted hard case – a hit at the receiving gun shop. In the box we found a pair of 10-round magazines, a red Ruger Custom Shop envelope (sealed) and other goodies.
As the gun arrived between “weather events” and other “real life” issues, the SR1911 Competition only made one trip to the range – as the gun was still under wraps and there were other patrons at the range, I was quick and inconspicuous consistent with being fair to the gun and the shop.
I found that three non-competition loads functioned well in the new gun. As I was rushed and didn’t have the option of a machine rest, I failed to make best use of this classy pistol. At that, the best “three of five” that I figure gives close to machine rest results averaged less than two inches at 25 yards. The sights are bright and clear – and Ruger sent a small envelope of extra fiber optic tubes for the front sight as part of the package, a nice touch.
The Koenig-inspired gun locks tightly into the shooting grip, courtesy of Hogue’s G10 stocks and the front- and back-checkering. While the gun is fitting tightly, the slide is very smooth in its travel. The trigger press is sublime. If you wonder at the 1911 format continuing to be the most-winning competition pistol to this late date, a lot has to do with the trigger. Frankly, I’ve felt very few 1911 triggers this nice.
Firm enough to feel and predict, light enough to press through without disturbing your hold, the Koenig hammer and sear provides a crisp break. The flat-faced trigger, something alien to me in dry practice, went unnoticed while shooting.
The SR1911 is a remarkable achievement.
I was late to the 10/22 game – unlikely nearly everyone in America. I still haven’t wandered into the customized 10/22 game, though I know a number of people heavily invested in it. You can make a target-custom 10/22 with parts from many makers.
Or you can elect to have the Ruger Custom Shop do the work.
The 10/22 Competition Rifle has a range of features geared to the target shooter. You can put a magnified optic on it for serious work at distance or opt to put a reflex sight on it for the “steel match” games.
The gun arrived in a Flambeau plastic case, marked with the Ruger logo. It featured hook-and-loop straps to secure the rifle into the case. The rifle has a fluted barrel – just over 16” -- with a muzzle-brake/compensator over the obviously threaded muzzle. The large magazine release paddle, over-size bolt handle, 30 MOA pic-rail atop the receiver and very light, crisp trigger (Ruger BX-Trigger) confirmed the Custom Shop markings. The match bolt release (allows the bolt to be released with a pull and release to the rear) is a welcome addition.
There are components of the piece that I didn’t at first notice. The bolt is 4140 heat treated, nitrided and it runs very smoothly. There’s a second bedding lug as part of the receiver to ensure the receiver is consistently secured in the stock. The barrel is free-floating and the receiver has a rear cleaning port, essential to clean the bore from the chamber end. The chamber is an “enhanced semi-auto chamber,” for accuracy while not impeding function.
The barreled action fits into a painted and textured laminated stock. The stock features an adjustable comb – for height as well as fore-and-aft. If you are running a reflex sight, leave it down. If you’ll run a magnified optic, move the cheek piece up to bring your eye in line with the scope.
I went through the inventory and found a spare RDS that was in the shop, an UltraDot Pan-A-V. It’s a simple device featuring four reticles (cross-hair, dot, dot with circle, cross-hairs with center dot.). It was enough to get the gun to the range, zero and see what it can do -- and was very simple and good to have.
I had time to set up at the closest target line on the Rimfire range, about 22 yards from the bench. I used Federal HV Match to zero, followed by the bulk packed, ‘big box’ Federal 40 grain “275” load as the “plinker” rounds.
I fired an over-sized one-hole group with Federal High Velocity Match, this from a ‘hasty rest.’ It was less than one-inch low and about three inches left. Without changing settings on the optic, but moving over to the next bullseye, I carefully fired 10-shots. Again, an oversized single hole appeared.
I made some adjustments fired more “275” and found they continued to cluster just like the more-expensive HV Match. This is new to my (considerable) experience with rimfires.
The trigger is not so light you couldn’t safely use this gun for hunting or knocking about the timber. The barrel, thick and heavy profile, is fluted to cut some weight but the rifle’s plenty solid enough to assist your hold on a small target. The finish treatment on the stock permits a secure hold.
The additions tend to increase the usability of the 10/22: the magazine release, bolt release, charging handle, the integral pic rail – some of these are things people will add to their existing 10/22 rifles. Taken together, this is an effort worthy of the Custom Shop moniker.
See the Ruger Custom Shop creations at your local gunshop.
- - Rich Grassi