Pete Moore is no stranger to a good weapons system. He’s tried and tested loads of shooting sports rifles and more, with a balance of expertise and honesty viewers have come to appreciate.

This time (in a YouTube video posted to his PCM Guns channel and featured below) he’s testing something he hasn’t tried before.

“It’s not actually a gun, it’s more of an external chassis system for what is probably one of the most famous 22 semi-auto rifles out there,” he explains at the start of the video. “It’s the Ruger 10/22, but like you’ve never seen it before…”

What makes it different? A new Desert Tech TREK-22 exoskeleton. This accessory is a lightweight way to customise the Ruger 10/22 and change its whole look. Check out the video for yourself to see just how much it alters the look and feel of the Ruger, functionally turning it into a bullpup semi-auto rifle (or as Pete calls it in the video’s caption, “a cool looking, butt-less wonder”).

If you’re curious about the specs on this combo, Pete’s got you covered. He explains that on the standard 18 and a half inch Ruger barrel he’s using, the Desert Tech TREK-22 adds another nearly 10 inches, bringing the total length up to 27 and a half inches. He’s got a moderator attached as well, which he says most shooters like to add, and the exoskeleton has got 13 M-lock slots on it which make it easily versatile for adding your choice of accessories.You don’t need to add a rail for mounting your optical accessories, though, though- Pete shows the camera that a picatinny rail is moulded right into the left hand side of the shell.

WATCH NOW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1nGvlbdHvM

If you’re worried that an exoskeleton like this one might block your access to some of the rifle’s features, don’t be. Pete shows that all the controls are just as accessible as they would be without the Desert Tech TREK-22 attached. It also has the right ergonomics to be used comfortably with this Ruger model.

“The butt is slightly angled back so it sits well on your shoulder,” he shares. He shows how Desert Tech have put a small textured ridge toward the end of the barrel fitting that helps keep your hand from sliding forward and getting burnt or injured, a real concern for rifles that are on the shorter side. He recommends fitting a moderator or small rail with a grip on the end anyhow for maximum safety.

One small drawback: The shell includes two storage pieces that can hold only 10 round magazines, which Pete calls ‘cute,’ but for most people wanting to shoot this rifle down the club they may as well take advantage of Ruger’s high capacity magazines. The Ruger BX25 and BX15 magazines are high capacity options that can attach straight into the rifle with the same locking system as the 10 round magazines, but you’ll have to keep them in a pocket or bag like he does because they don’t fit in the Desert Tech TREK-22’s storage pieces.

That doesn’t seem to put Pete off, though. He says as bullpups go, this system performs excellently. Bullpup rifles aren’t for everyone, but if you’re interested in bullpups, you really can’t knock it.

“You do have to get your head around using a heavy trigger that’s perhaps not the same as something like on a Ruger M77 bolt action where the triggers can be as sweet as you like, so that’s really down to you pick[ing] the system.”

For help finding a sport shooting rifle and weapons system that suits you best, reach out to the team at Viking or explore our armoury. To see how Pete actually performed on this unique Ruger 10/22 system, watch this space for his next video instalment!

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