I went with the barreled Supergrade action, and 2 stage trigger. and put it into a Titan stock with the Titan's rear anchor. this is the best setup for a 10-22 IMO. Mine will shoot 0.5 moa out to 150 yds.

Mark

 

Imo your build thoughts arent going to result in a (pleasant) lighter, carry-able field gun, it is going to be quite a chunk. Of course, for you that total weight (do you have the weight figured c/w scope, sling if used and loaded?) may be perfectly acceptable. I know that what I was willing to carry 20yrs ago sure isnt what I want to carry now.

 

As long as we're not much above the estimated 6 lbs or so that Kidd lists for their classic slip-fit lightweight rifle in a Magpul stock, I'm not concerned with weight. I just know I don't want a heavy bench rest configuration, which for me is ruling out the Titan stock and the heavier barrel options. I'm fine with anything roughly 6 lbs or less, the real concern is the issues in the OP.

 

Had a Kidd sip fit and supergrade barrelled actions. Liked the supergrade functionality so much I sold the slip fit and got another supergrade, complete rifle this time.

Be advised that Kidd DOES NOT sell the "bedded, inletted for rear tang" magpul X22 stock separately, it is only an option on complete rifle sale for the supergrade. That is another reason why I bought a complete Kidd rifle the 3rd time around.

The removable barrel feature is phenomenal! Cleaning is so much easier, and you can actually clean everything completely, unlike a slip fit barrel you can get at all the nooks and crannies. It is also faster to clean as well.

Second big advantage of the removable barrel is being able to swap it out for a different profile. I have 3 barrels, 16" SS bull barrel, 18" lightweight, and a 20" tapered SS and am surprised how much I move them around between the 2 receivers. POI doesn't shift when reinstalling the same barrel and the POI shift between different barrels is surprisingly small--it has averaged under a 1/2" between the 3 of them.

The difference in $ between the options is well worth the supergrade upgrades (stock inletting and bedding labor)

 

Hmmm, you don't work for Kidd, do you? You may have a future in sales, it's working on me.

 

One reason I stayed with the slip-fit receivers as I don't want to be limited to a single barrel manufacturer. I'm working on my second Kidd build and both of them are using the rear tang. The first went into a Victor Titan stock:

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1151649

The current build is also morphing into an all-Kidd (other than the barrel) in a Kidd chassis. I'll be changing out one of the Feddersen barrels for a Proof Research carbon-fiber barrel once it's (finally) shipped. It'll likely go in the new, lighter, chassis build.

I really do like the idea of how simple it is to remove the barrel from the new super-grade. It would make cleaning the barrel easier. But it's not really that much of a chore to clean the 10/22 without removing the barrel and I prefer to pull the bolt to clean the entire receiver anyway.

 

That argument for slip-fit--the ability to use any barrel--is the main consideration for me. I see good arguments both ways. The Kidd system fans can argue that Kidd has a great selection of sizes/types of barrels, which is true. But there are specialty barrels they aren't going to have.

The ease-of-cleaning has never been a big issue with 10/22's. I've never needed to disassemble slip-fit barrels merely for cleaning. Have used the Otis pull-thru cables for years, can clean breech to muzzle with no barrel damage, so I don't need rods and cleaning holes.

 

If you want the ability to use every Ruger clone barrel, then the old style slip fit is the answer. I've owned both styles, and the new Supergrade configuration is the best for me. Although I never change barrels, the ease of disassembly for cleaning is a great feature. If you have never had to use a rod and brush on your barrel, then I would say you are lucky. Pull through cleaning is fine for routine care, but when you get some carbon buildup in the leade area, you're gonna have to scrub it. And I've never owned a barrel that was completely immune from it. Powder and primer mixture burn, and that leaves a residue, no escaping it. I recommend the two-stage trigger also. In an auto-loader, it's the only way to achieve a light-pull trigger that is both safe and reliable in the long term. For hunting, I either adjust the two-stage trigger up to a pound or so, or, put in a single stage that's about 1.5 pounds.

 

Thank you, some great insights here.

One question I had in the OP that hasn't been commented a lot, but maybe I'll ask it a different way for those who have owned both Kidd tang, and tang-less setups.

On a quality rifle that does NOT have a Kidd tang--for example, let's say a Kidd-built rifle that is not a supergrade---how much does the lack of a tang impact your accuracy versus a Supergrade rifle that does have the tang? Is it a noticeable difference?

 

My current Supergrade has the tang attachment, and it's the most accurate custom 10-22 rifle I have owned, and I've had several, including Clark, Volquartsen, and another name I can't remember, actually made their own stainless receiver. This is the only one with a tang attachment. To what degree does it aid accuracy? Unknown, any number of other variables could be more causal than the rear attachment. But, it's simply practical that a free floating barrel is better supported by two attaching points at either end of the receiver. With only one attachment, the barreled action has to be pulled into tight contact at some second point. Some do it with a front barrel pressure pad, an inherently bad idea. Others contact at the rear and/or the small pad in front of the stock screw. In order for these areas to add support, the screw has to be pulled tight, which, depending on stock material and bedding precision, is considerably more at risk of changing tension with conditions, which can affect both accuracy and POI. With two attachments and good bedding, the screws need be only snug, leaving much less risk of changing pressure. So, a long-winded way of saying, I don't know, but it is a well-proven design used for years in bolt guns, so why not?

 

Agree with the above..
Over the years I have built/assembled many KIDD's.. some ended up complete KID and some a mix of components/hybrids using OEM and other aftermarket components .. bought several complete rifles... some of the complete rifles were the Gen 1 Supergrade and 1 was the new Supergrade 5.0 - I can attest to the fact that with the many variables factored in you really cannot buy or assemble a better Rifle.. and I have tried most there have been on the market the last 15 years. There truly is Nun Beda on the market IMO... can't go wrong no matter what version of KID/KIDD you choose.. take your pick = you will be very happy.

 

The way I look at it If you had a slip fit model that was very accurate are you really gonna mess around with switching barrels. On the other hand with the Kidd system you can have a super accurate barrel switch them out effortlessly with different barrels and not affect the accuracy of the original barrel at all. Like others have stated It becomes that much easier to clean the rifle when you can remove the barrel. I think the Kidd barrel removing system is the biggest innovation since the 10/22 first came out in 1964 .Can you tell that I like it.

 

If you had a slip fit model that was very accurate are you really gonna mess around with switching barrels.it.

Most people? I doubt it. Me? Yup... hence the Proof barrel on order. Will it be more accurate than the Feddersen barrels? Given the cost I certainly hope so. But the Proof has a high standard to beat.

 

After shooting some really nasty ammo that left a thick glob of lead fouling all the way around the chamber of every gun I shot it in - I agree that barrel cleaning has to be taken into account.

Sure - maybe you don't really have to go at a barrel often.... But when you have to do it you have to do it.

I get wanting to do Kidd's barrel system so you don't have to disturb the bedding.... BUT generally you gotta clean the action when you gotta clean the barrel.

 

I have two 10/22s, one with a Kidd slip fit and one Supergrade. I prefer the Supergrade because of how easy it is to remove the barrel for cleaning. I don't use a Kidd stock, but modifying a B&C Anschutz style to allow for removing the barrel was easy enough. I almost never remove the action to clean it (I simply don't find it necessary with the ammo I shoot) so being able to pop off the barrel, run a couple of dry patches, and then re-attach in less than 5 minutes is a big deal.

A couple of other things that might help with the decision: firstly, there is a POI shift every time I remove/reattach the barrel. Period. End of sentence. That being said, with .22LR the way it is, there's a POI shift every time I take any of my 22s out. The Supergrade is no worse, no better.

Secondly, I don't think the Supergrade system has the most accuracy potential; I think the Ruger style slip fit system does. Here's why: my slip fit Kidd is an extremely tight fit with the receiver. I bet I could run it without the v-block attached. The Supergrade receiver has scallops that run parallel to the receiver at 12, 3, 6, and 9 oclock where the tenon fits. My guess is that they are there to make it easier to slip the barrel in/out. The result is that the tenon/receiver fit is loose - VERY loose - and there's no way that's good for harmonics.

I think the reason the Supergrade shoots as well as it does is because, in spite of the sloppy barrel fit, it has the extra long tenon, and also because Kidd makes nice barrels. I don't know if any of the 10/22 smiths make a Supergrade barrel, but it would nice to have an option for one that is longer and better fits the receiver.

 

That is interesting feedback (your ideas about the accuracy potential of the 2 different slip fit systems)--I had not heard that before.

 

I don't believe one really is better than the other. I think it's more a matter of preference. It seems to me the only advantage of going with the interchangeable barrel system is the ease of cleaning. But how hard is it to clean a 10/22 anyway, especially when you have a rear cleaning hole in the receiver anyway. As far as changing out barrels, most people aren't going to be constantly changing barrels. If your barrel shoots great your probably not going to mess with it. And if it doesn't shoot then you find one that does, and when you do you leave it alone IMO. As far as the rear tang, I believe it is fairly significant. Having 2 hold down points is going to prevent your action from being able to rock up and down (however little of this may occur). This may not necessarily make the rifle more accurate but IMO it will make it more consistent which is just as important. Anyway good luck with whatever choice you make. Kidd makes an excellent product and I'm sure you'll be more than happy.

P.S. Go with the 2 stage trigger. Well worth the extra $100.