The Summit Precision SP-22 receiver is the perfect match for their high-quality carbon fiber 10/22 barrels. Whether you’re going all out on a rifle for fun, or building one for competition, this is an excellent starting point. It’s not uncommon for someone to buy a stock 10/22, and upgrade the barrel, trigger, and bolt, then realize that the OEM receiver is not on par with the rest of the parts. Especially if it suffers from barrel droop. The best solution is to start with a quality aftermarket receiver, such as the Summit Precision SP-22. I recently got one for a custom build that I had been wanting to do for a while, and it turned out great.
Summit Precision SP-22 Receiver Specs
Available in either black or clear anodized, each receiver is CNC machined from aerospace-grade 6061-T6 aluminum. As expected, it’s got a cleaning hole in the rear, and an integrated (20 MOA) rail. Picking one up, the first thing you’re likely to notice is the high level of finish. Looking closely, you’re not going to find any machine marks. Smooth edges on the ejection port are contrasted by the sharp, clean cuts on the Picatinny rail. Flip it over, and the inside is as smooth as the exterior.
It’s also not as “blocky” as some other brands. Aesthetics don’t win matches, yet there’s nothing wrong with having a rifle that looks as good as it performs. At the back, it tapers down to your stock or chassis. Up front, the extended rail overhangs the barrel a little bit. But not so much that it covers up the Summit Precision logo (if you’re using a matching barrel, which you should).
Building my Summit Precision SP-22 Rifle
Since I already had a spare Summit Precision barrel on hand, it was just a matter of finding parts of equal quality to complete my rifle. Trading with another local rimfire enthusiast got me a Victor Titan stock, which is an excellent base for a precision rimfire repeater. Digging through my parts drawer, I found a charging handle and match bolt from Tactical Innovations. The timing of this build coincided with Timney offering their Calvin Elite trigger for my review as well. TandemKross KrossPins hold the receiver in place, and their v-block and screws secured the barrel.
This was shaping up to be a solid build, so I didn’t skimp on optics either. Topping everything off is a Vortex Venom 5-25×56 scope in Athlon precision matched rings. The only “budget” item on the rifle is the UTG bipod. Every rifle I build has a bipod on the stock or chassis, as it just makes the assembly process easier. In this case, I left it on there despite using a front bag for much of my shooting. The finished result is definitely an attractive rifle.
Range Trips with the Summit Precision SP-22
I won’t dwell too much on my used scope having issues (props to Vortex for a quick replacement) on the first trip. While waiting for them to swap it out, I mounted a slightly smaller Athlon and went to work on my KYL rack. Using Eley target ammo, I was able to clear the rack down to the 1/4″ target at distances of 40-50 yards. That may have more to do with the barrel and ammo than receiver, but we can’t overlook certain details. An integrated rail provides a solid mount for high-magnification optics. And maintaining high tolerances for both the barrel and receiver means zero barrel droop.
Having 20 MOA built into the rail allows for longer longer shots without running out of elevation on the scope. My longest shots were on golf balls from about 75 to 100+ yards. Using a suppressor and CCI SV, I was able to make pretty consistent hits. Since our range is at the base of a large hill (too small to be called a mountain), we’re limited to about 150 yards. On subsequent trips, I had the Vortex back on there, and tried to shoot some groups, but the wind was not cooperating. I’ll always choose steel over paper anyway, but one of these days I’ll have a full review of the barrel.
Overall impressions so far
I’ve known the owner of Summit Precision for a few years now, and he’s very serious when it comes to quality and good design. So my expectations were already high. And the SP-22 did not disappoint. Great looks, smooth function, solid performance. Current retail is $220, which includes free shipping to your FFL. That’s in line with other aftermarket receivers of similar quality. If you’re looking to build a precision 10/22, casual plinker or hunting rifle, or even a custom 22 Charger, this is a great option. Especially when paired with the excellent barrels that Summit Precision offers as well. Check them out at Summit-Precision.com.