I did not use the pressure bar/barrel lug, whatever it is called on my magpul hunter x-22 stock when I installed it. My barrel is a 16” Douglas .920 fluted bull barrel. Could using the pressure bar and experimenting with how much pressure I put on the barrel help tighten up my groups any?
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gmantwo
usually, heavy barrels don't need the pressure that I find that the lighter barrels like...but there's only one way to see what your rifle likes...you have to experiment a little and see what some upwards barrel pressure does...part of the fun of rimfire is experimenting with them
I couldn't find the sticky which talks about barrel pressure points, so I'll attempt to explain what I think I know and what I've learned. First, there is no magic setting that works for every rifle. Each is different and each requires a little experimentation.
For the Magpul X22 stock, I'd first experiment with different torque settings on the action screw. One of my 10/22 rifles shoots best at 20 inch-pounds, the other at 25. Most of (around 20-25) the rifles I've worked on shoot most accurately at 20 inch-pounds.
Then the stock. Forget the factory pressure point as it is not moveable. Free-float the barrel and shoot a couple of groups. this will be your baseline and might actually be where it is most accurate.
Next, cut a strip of car/bike inner tube, around 1" wide and 2" long. You might also use a piece of double sided sticky tape, the thick stuff. I usually mark my stock on the inner barrel channel with marks every inch, from the action screw out toward the barrel. This helps when you are placing/replacing the tape. Start at 2" out from the action screw and place the tape in the barrel channel with the barrel on top of it. Shoot a couple of groups. Then move the rubber/tape to the 3" mark, shoot more, then 4", etc. When you determine where the rifle shoots best, replace the 2" rubber/tape with a 1" x 1" piece at that same point and then shift it back and forth by 1/4" at a time. For some reason, most of the rifles that shoot better with a pressure pad seem to do so at around the 7" mark, measuring forward from the action screw.
My experience is limited to the 20-25 rifles mentioned. Of these approximately half shot best when free floated. The others benefited from the pressure pad. After figuring out if and where to place a pressure pad, go back and do some more experimenting with action screw torque values.
Then there's the experimenting with types of ammo....
![Image]()
For the Magpul X22 stock, I'd first experiment with different torque settings on the action screw. One of my 10/22 rifles shoots best at 20 inch-pounds, the other at 25. Most of (around 20-25) the rifles I've worked on shoot most accurately at 20 inch-pounds.
Then the stock. Forget the factory pressure point as it is not moveable. Free-float the barrel and shoot a couple of groups. this will be your baseline and might actually be where it is most accurate.
Next, cut a strip of car/bike inner tube, around 1" wide and 2" long. You might also use a piece of double sided sticky tape, the thick stuff. I usually mark my stock on the inner barrel channel with marks every inch, from the action screw out toward the barrel. This helps when you are placing/replacing the tape. Start at 2" out from the action screw and place the tape in the barrel channel with the barrel on top of it. Shoot a couple of groups. Then move the rubber/tape to the 3" mark, shoot more, then 4", etc. When you determine where the rifle shoots best, replace the 2" rubber/tape with a 1" x 1" piece at that same point and then shift it back and forth by 1/4" at a time. For some reason, most of the rifles that shoot better with a pressure pad seem to do so at around the 7" mark, measuring forward from the action screw.
My experience is limited to the 20-25 rifles mentioned. Of these approximately half shot best when free floated. The others benefited from the pressure pad. After figuring out if and where to place a pressure pad, go back and do some more experimenting with action screw torque values.
Then there's the experimenting with types of ammo....
You also might want to check the length of your action screw. If its too long it will bottom out and push the receiver up out of the stock. This can create a tee toter effect . Fyi, VQ makes a short one, and then you can say VQ when you descibe your build😀
Also you might want to tape bed your receiver into the stock. Little strips of aluminum tape, hvac tape, along the back and sides of the receiver ,below the stock line, so that it stays in the stock , before you put the action screw in.
I used the barrel thingy on my magpul stock , just cause . How could it hurt? Imho the thingy, or any pad doesnt do the harmonics thing ( creates an internal choke) on a bull barrel , but still does the Archimedes thing and leverages the action tighter into the stock.
![Image]()
Also you might want to tape bed your receiver into the stock. Little strips of aluminum tape, hvac tape, along the back and sides of the receiver ,below the stock line, so that it stays in the stock , before you put the action screw in.
I used the barrel thingy on my magpul stock , just cause . How could it hurt? Imho the thingy, or any pad doesnt do the harmonics thing ( creates an internal choke) on a bull barrel , but still does the Archimedes thing and leverages the action tighter into the stock.
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