Last updated June 2026 · By Nick Hall, covers rimfire rifles and the .22 world for USA Gun Shop
Quick take: TANDEMKROSS pulled the wraps off the new TKX22 Light Rifle at GunCon 2026, and it’s a real first for the company. For years they’ve sold upgrade parts that make other people’s rimfires shoot better. Now they’ve built a rimfire light rifle of their own. This was a first look at the show floor, not a full spec sheet, so treat everything below as early information.
- What it is: A new rimfire light rifle, the TKX22, shown for the first time at GunCon 2026. It’s TANDEMKROSS stepping out from parts and offering a full platform of their own.
- Why it matters: TANDEMKROSS is a household name in Ruger 10/22 upgrades. A ground-up rifle from them is a big move worth watching.
- Also shown: New takedown barrels for Ruger rimfire platforms, aimed at folks who want a pack-and-go .22.
- Who it’s for: Rimfire enthusiasts, plinkers, and the NRL22 and steel-challenge crowd who already trust the brand’s parts.
Who TANDEMKROSS Is
If you shoot rimfire, you’ve almost certainly run into TANDEMKROSS. They built their name making aftermarket upgrade parts for popular rimfire guns, the kind of stuff that turns a stock plinker into something that feels custom.
Think triggers, compensators, magazine releases, and a long list of small bits for the Ruger 10/22 and the Ruger Mark series pistols. Their whole business has been making other companies’ rimfires shoot and handle better. So a rifle wearing their own name on it is a real shift, and that’s exactly what showed up at GunCon 2026.
What We Know About the TKX22
The TKX22 Light Rifle is a new rimfire light rifle, and GunCon 2026 was its first public showing. The name tells you the intent. Light rifle means they’re chasing a trim, easy-carrying .22-class gun rather than a heavy bench piece.
And here’s the honest part. This was a reveal, not a launch. We saw the rifle and got the headline, but TANDEMKROSS didn’t hand out a full spec sheet at the show. So while it’s tempting to start guessing at numbers, we’re not going to put words in their mouth. What’s clear is the direction: a brand that knows rimfire inside and out is now building a complete rifle instead of just parts to bolt onto someone else’s.
The New Ruger Takedown Barrels
The TKX22 wasn’t the only thing on the TANDEMKROSS table at GunCon 2026. They also showed new takedown barrels for Ruger rimfire platforms, which fits the brand’s bread and butter perfectly.
Takedown barrels are all about packing small. The idea is a barrel that comes off quickly so the rifle breaks down into a shorter package for a backpack, a truck, or a range bag. It’s a natural play for a company that’s spent years upgrading Ruger rimfires, and it pairs nicely with the kind of lightweight, grab-and-go shooting a lot of steel challenge and casual plinkers enjoy.
What We Still Don’t Know
Plenty, honestly. A first-look reveal answers the big question of “is this real” while leaving most of the details for later.
TANDEMKROSS did not release an exact caliber, weight, barrel length, magazine capacity, or price for the TKX22 at the show, and we’re not going to invent any of those. Pricing and availability for both the rifle and the new Ruger takedown barrels weren’t announced either. Until the company puts out full specs and an MSRP, the smart move is to file this as promising and wait for the real sheet before judging it against the rest of the rimfire field.
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Related Reading
- Ruger 10/22 Review (2026): America’s Best Rimfire
- 11 Best .22 Bolt Action Rifles (2026)
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