Tandemkross, a company known for improving other manufacturers' rimfire firearms for over 14 years, has introduced its first full product family with the new ADX line. Following the TKX22 Light Rifle, the ADX series includes the ADX Race Rifle, ADX SBR, and ADX Pistol, with barreled actions also available. All ADX models utilize the same ADX receiver and Manticore X lower, and are designed to accept standard Ruger 10/22 magazines. For competitors in disciplines like Steel Challenge, Metal Madness, and SASP, the ADX Race Rifle is positioned as a purpose-built platform designed to optimize performance in timed rimfire matches.
One of the most notable departures from traditional 10/22-pattern rifles is the ADX Race Rifle's left-side charging handle. This design choice addresses a common ergonomic challenge for right-handed shooters who typically must reach over or under the receiver to manipulate the bolt on most 10/22 derivatives. With the ADX, competitors can operate the bolt with their support hand, allowing the firing hand to remain on the grip and the shooter's focus to stay fixed on the optic. This single-hand operation extends to the integrated bolt lock-back feature. Instead of holding the handle back with one hand while simultaneously manipulating a small lever with the other, as is common on factory 10/22s, the ADX system allows the user to pull the handle rearward and lift it into a steel-reinforced notch to lock the bolt open. Disengaging the bolt from this position involves a simple downward knock on the handle, a motion familiar to those who have operated an MP5. This streamlined process simplifies showing clear to a range officer at the conclusion of a stage.
Tandemkross has also re-engineered the cleaning process, a frequent point of frustration for rimfire competitors given the dirty nature of rimfire ammunition. On a typical 10/22, bolt removal often involves separating the action from the stock and contending with recoil spring tension. The ADX receiver, conversely, features a removable rear cap secured by a self-retaining pin. Once this pin and cap are removed, the recoil spring, charging handle, and bolt assembly slide directly out the back of the receiver. For more thorough field stripping, two additional self-retaining pins allow the rifle to split into upper and lower halves, echoing the disassembly method of an AR-15 platform. Full field stripping requires the manipulation of just three pins, achievable with any readily available tool such as a punch, hex key, or the end of a chamber flag. This open receiver design facilitates running a solid cleaning rod from the breech, ensuring proper bore maintenance.
The ADX receiver itself features an integral extended Picatinny rail along its top, incorporating a skeletonized channel to reduce overall weight. The receiver is finished with a Teflon-impregnated hardcoat anodize, a treatment chosen to minimize bolt friction and enhance durability against the rigors of competition use. The Manticore X Lower further integrates several features critical for performance. It combines the trigger group, stock, and chassis into a single assembly, offering an enlarged bolt lock, a bi-directional magazine release, and an ambidextrous rotary safety. The lower also includes a reversible QD sling mount and a trigger with adjustable pull weight and overtravel. Each ADX Race Rifle ships with a Die Free Co Kung-Fu grip.
Stock adjustability is another key aspect of the ADX Race Rifle's design. It comes equipped with the Rim/Edge folding Picatinny buttstock, configured from the factory to be inline and fold to the left, a setup that accommodates tall sights or optics mounted on risers. For shooters utilizing low-mounted red dots, the stock mount can be angled down by 12 degrees to better align the eye with the bore line. The stock's position can also be adjusted along the Picatinny rail to fine-tune comb height, and it can be configured to fold to the opposite side. Tandemkross also includes a buffer tube mount in the box for competitors who prefer a telescoping AR-style stock. When folded, the ADX Race Rifle measures 25¼ inches long.
Up front, the rifle incorporates Tandemkross's 16½-inch Spitfire barrel, characterized by a tensioned design with a 1:16-inch twist, a sporting chamber, and 1/2x28 threads, allowing for the attachment of compensators or suppressors. Both the barrel sleeve and the fore-end are M-LOK cut for accessory mounting. The complete ADX Race Rifle, unloaded, weighs 55.4 ounces. This weight is approximately 1.4 ounces more than the TKX22 Light Rifle, even with the integrated folding stock and full Manticore X lower.
The ADX Race Rifle carries a price of $1,899.99, and it ships with one DoubleKross magazine, the buffer tube mount, and a cable lock, backed by the Tandemkross lifetime guarantee against mechanical failure. Tandemkross also offers compact versions of the ADX at $1,699.99, which feature a 10.2-inch Comet barrel. The ADX SBR maintains the Race Rifle’s folding, adjustable stock, measuring 27¼ inches open and 19 inches folded, at 52.1 ounces. The ADX Pistol, designed with a Picatinny brace mount instead of a stock, is 18½ inches long and weighs 41 ounces unloaded. Regarding potential future NFA regulatory changes, Luke Dimond from Tandemkross stated in a video that the company is “hoping for the best.” Prospective buyers should also note that Tandemkross will not ship any ADX model to 14 specific states or to Washington, D.C.
