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4 Best 10/22 Trigger Upgrades [Video & Split Times]

Want to bring out the best in your Ruger 10/22? We tested the most popular triggers for pull weight, split times, and travel.

Looking for the best 10/22 mod to increase your accuracy and firing speed?

It’s gonna be a new trigger.

10/22 Triggers with FAB Defense Stock
10/22 Triggers with FAB Defense Stock

We got four of the most popular drop-in triggers and trigger kits to test their feel, pull weight, and shooting split times.

By the end you’ll know which 10/22 trigger upgrade is the best for you and your budget.

Summary of Our Top Picks

  1. Best Bang-For-The-Buck Trigger

    Ruger BX Trigger

    Drop-in from Ruger that's a steal of a price.

  2. Best Trigger Kit

    Tandemkross Ultimate 10/22 Trigger Kit

    Crisper than the BX and utilizes your factory trigger.

  3. Most Adjustable Trigger

    Timney 10/22 Calvin Elite Trigger

    Strong clean break coupled with a strong reset.

  4. Editor's Pick 10/22 Trigger

    Volquartsen Ruger 10/22 TG2000

    Overall best-feeling 10/22 trigger tested.

Best 10/22 Triggers

1. Ruger BX 10/22 Trigger

The most affordable and very popular option is Ruger’s BX Trigger.

Ruger BX 10/22 Trigger
Ruger BX 10/22 Trigger

I have Tandemkross’ extended mag release on it…but the trigger mechanics are untouched.

And they bring my old 10/22’s trigger from a gritty 6 lb 9 oz pull down to a consistent 2 lb 4 oz measured on my old Wheeler trigger pull gauge.

All Trigger Pull Scales
All Trigger Pull Scales

The pull is still little spongy but so much better than stock…which for some reason never became better for me even after several thousand rounds.

There wasn’t a lot of pre-travel (amount of movement before the trigger fires/breaks).  But there was more post-travel (movement after the trigger breaks) than I would have wanted.

Reset has some movement but ends with a nice click.

The trigger and the housing is plastic and there’s some side to side movement…but everything is reliable and great value for under $100.

I shot this trigger the fastest out of all the tested ones with a split time average of .136 seconds.

For comparison…I shoot a stock AR-15 trigger with .22 second splits and .136 is in the range of a nice upgraded AR trigger.

Best Bang-For-The-Buck Trigger
94
at Cabela's

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Available Coupons

My most worth-it pick especially when you’re looking for something easy to drop-in and doesn’t break the bank…especially when a 10/22 itself only costs around $250.

What’s your take on the BX Trigger?

Readers' Ratings

5.00/5 (1757)

Your Rating?

2. Tandemkross Ultimate 10/22 Trigger Kit

Looking for something a tier above Ruger’s option?

Tandemkross 10/22 Ultimate Trigger Kit
Tandemkross 10/22 Ultimate Trigger Kit

Tandemkross has a trigger kit they made in conjunction with Brimstone Gunsmithing that comes with an upgraded trigger shoe, sear, pin, and hardware.

You need to almost completely take apart the stock trigger housing, but Tandemkross has a nice tutorial video.

If you aren’t mechanically inclined…I’d check it out first before deciding to go this kit route.

I set it up in about 30 minutes and tweaked the post-travel to be as minimal as possible and ended up with a 2 lb 14 oz trigger pull.

There’s slight pre-travel that reaches a nice wall before a clean break.

And you get a crisp reset…but somehow I couldn’t shoot it as fast as the other triggers with a .185 second split time.

If you’re looking for something crisper than the BX that will aid in precision applications…you can’t go wrong with Tandemkross’ kit.

Just keep in mind you’ll have to do some minor gunsmithing.

Best Trigger Kit
135
at Tandemkross

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Available Coupons
135
at Tandemkross

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Available Coupons

3. Timney Calvin Elite 10/22 Trigger

Timney’s Calvin Elite is the brainchild of their head trigger designer who was given free reign to create the best trigger possible.

Timney Calvin Elite 10/22 Trigger
Timney Calvin Elite 10/22 Trigger

The Calvin Elite is my favorite AR-15 trigger and it continues Timney’s tradition of awesome triggers with their 10/22 version.

There’s almost no pre-travel and very little post-travel.

Combined with a glass-rod break and the strongest reset out of all the triggers tested.

Mine also had a super consistent 2 lb 6 oz pull and a split time of .155 seconds.

How about adjustability?

You can change the horizontal and vertical aspects of the trigger to your heart’s content.  I like mine to the back and up so that I get a near perpendicular trigger pull to minimize extra movement.

Plus there’s 3 extra different types of trigger shoes to suit your pull style.

Timney Calvin Elite 10/22, Extra Trigger Shoes
Timney Calvin Elite 10/22, Extra Trigger Shoes

But because there’s two Torx screws holding the adjustments together…you’ll want to properly torque them and use blue Loctite so they don’t loosen.

And although I really like the mag release…it doesn’t work well with pistol grip stocks.

Most Adjustable Trigger
240
at Brownells

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Available Coupons

My pick if you value trigger placement/choice over post-travel adjustment…and love a strong clean break coupled with a strong reset.

4. Volquartsen TG2000 10/22 Trigger

We’re in the big leagues now…and Volquartsen is the reigning champ of everything 10/22 upgrade.

The TG2000 is made out of aluminum so has some heft and just feels quality.

Volquartsen 10/22 TG2000 Trigger
Volquartsen 10/22 TG2000 Trigger

Trigger pull?

A hair-trigger weight of 1 lb 13 oz which was the same every time I measured it.

Plus there’s adjustable post-travel (easy to access) and pre-travel (you have to take everything apart).

After adjustment and about 45 minutes to take it apart and back together…I ended up with no discernible pre and post travel.

Reset is a little weak but it works reliably.  And I ended up with a .163 second split time.

Oh…and it gives your 10/22 auto-bolt release too.

258
at Optics Planet

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Available Coupons

My choice if you want the best feeling adjustable trigger…but it’s going to cost you about a new Ruger 10/22 and some elbow grease to adjust the pre-travel.

Conclusion

We’ve gone through four of the most popular 10/22 triggers and kits out there.

Tested 10/22 Triggers
Tested 10/22 Triggers

The most affordable and fastest shooting one for me was Ruger’s BX Trigger.

Best Bang-For-The-Buck
94
at Cabela's

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Available Coupons

If you are looking for something a little higher-end and adjustable…get Tandemkross’ kit.

135
at Tandemkross

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Available Coupons

And if you value trigger adjustment and a nice extended mag release (if you don’t have a pistol grip), get the Timney Calvin Elite.

240
at Brownells

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Available Coupons

Now…how about the best in terms of adjustability and trigger pull lightness?  That award goes to Volquartsen.

Editor's Pick
258
at Optics Planet

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Available Coupons

What 10/22 trigger do you plan on getting?  If you want to mod your Ruger some more…check out our Best 10/22 Upgrades.

Fully Upgraded 10/22 with Magpul Stock and Tandemkross Upgrades
Fully Upgraded 10/22 with Magpul Stock and Tandemkross Upgrades

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17 Leave a Reply

  • Commenter Avatar
    Keith P

    Clark Custom Guns 10/22 trigger. Jim Clark was a truly legendary gunsmith. You might know his daughter Kay Clark Miculek, wife of Jerry Miculek. His company is still producing quality work, and the 10/22 trigger kit I got from them is significantly better than the Ruger BX trigger on my other rifle, which I bought at the same price.

    June 27, 2021 7:21 pm
    • Commenter Avatar
      Keith P.

      E. Arthur Brown Co. also makes a drop-in trigger kit priced even lower at only $55 with a 2.75 pull weight. I'm super happy with my Clark Custom Guns kit which was only $75, but if your budget is really tight you won't find a lower priced drop-in kit than EABCO.

      August 5, 2021 1:37 pm
  • Commenter Avatar
    Joel

    I also like the Kidd triggers. They are pretty easy to install and they just feel great. Same goes for Kidd bolts and barrels.

    March 7, 2020 10:04 pm
  • Commenter Avatar
    Curt Hu

    This review lost all cred with me by not including either the Kidd trigger or the Kidd “trigger job” kit.

    November 28, 2018 2:42 pm
    • Commenter Avatar
      Eric Hung

      Thanks Curt, we'll be looking to add that in a future update.

      November 28, 2018 3:40 pm
      • Commenter Avatar
        Teachu2

        And the Kidd two-stage is in a class of it's own.

        September 7, 2020 10:09 am
  • Commenter Avatar
    Mike Bartelt

    Randy @ CPC is the John Paul of the 10/22 world, you should get one of his trigger jobs to add to the mix, and a Kidd as well.

    November 28, 2018 2:36 pm
  • Commenter Avatar
    Lou

    I truly believe that KIDD triggers should have been in this evaluation as well!!
    They are as reputable as Volquartsen nowadays if not even a notch better.

    November 16, 2018 2:19 am
    • Commenter Avatar
      You will love it

      YES !!! , Have one , TOTALY excellent !

      November 16, 2018 11:24 am
    • Commenter Avatar
      J kushrer

      Why would they not include it ???? I have heard and seen first hand and they are by all means better then some of the others on the list ....

      March 31, 2019 5:08 pm
  • Commenter Avatar
    Gary Burns

    I have a BX trigger installed in the wife's takedown, and I just got a Powder River Precision trigger (As yet unopened and un-installed, too many unfired guns to go first) I like the looks of the PRP trigger, It will go in my wood stock takedown. hope it works and I have a spare BX if it does not.

    November 15, 2018 10:12 pm
    • Commenter Avatar
      Eric Hung

      PRP is new to me, let me know how it goes.

      November 16, 2018 12:12 am
  • Commenter Avatar
    Ray

    Yes sir KIDD triggers are hard to beat. Ultra nice.

    November 15, 2018 7:12 pm
    • Commenter Avatar
      Eric Hung

      Yes, I don't have one...yet!

      November 16, 2018 12:13 am
  • Commenter Avatar
    Abraham eysakhanjacobb

    Tony Kidd!!!!

    November 15, 2018 6:44 pm
  • Commenter Avatar
    Dave

    Send your stock trigger to Brimstone. I’ve sent two of mine and they are tuned up great. Well worth it and way better than the BX Trigger.

    November 15, 2018 4:28 pm
    • Commenter Avatar
      Eric Hung

      Definitely heard of them! Tandemkross' trigger is in conjunction with them.

      November 16, 2018 12:13 am
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