Looking for the best 10/22 mod to increase your accuracy and firing speed?
It’s gonna be a new trigger.
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.
THE QUICK LIST
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Best Bang-For-The-Buck Trigger
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Best Trigger Kit
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Most Adjustable Trigger
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Editor’s Pick 10/22 Trigger
Best 10/22 Triggers
1. Ruger BX 10/22 Trigger
The most affordable and very popular option is Ruger’s BX 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.
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.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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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?
2. Tandemkross Ultimate 10/22 Trigger Kit
Looking for something a tier above Ruger’s option?
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.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products – OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
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.
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.
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.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
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.
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.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
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.
The most affordable and fastest shooting one for me was Ruger’s BX Trigger.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products – OAKLEY25
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If you are looking for something a little higher-end and adjustable…get Tandemkross’ kit.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products – OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
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.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products – OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
Now…how about the best in terms of adjustability and trigger pull lightness? That award goes to Volquartsen.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products – OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
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.
20 Leave a Reply
All those HEAVY trigger pull weights! Doesn't anyone make a 10/22 trigger that has a proper pull weight, say 8-16ozs? I saw that Kidd has one at 1.5#, and I'd bet that Volquartsen will go that low, but for a good competition rig, 8-16ozs is the most common, gauging from what everyone is running in F-Class and PRS. (Some go with benchrest triggers, but that's another story!)
So, do any of you know if any of these be dialed down that low, or should I call the mfrs?
Forget the last email I sent about Ruger Bx trigger. Just realized,i was sent the wrong trigger. Will send back and hope for the right one to be sent. Apologize for the email.
I love Volquartsen for my MK Ruger pistols ....... but the winner for my 10/22s is KIDD ...... beats everything out there IMHO ......
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.
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.
I also like the Kidd triggers. They are pretty easy to install and they just feel great. Same goes for Kidd bolts and barrels.
This review lost all cred with me by not including either the Kidd trigger or the Kidd “trigger job” kit.
Thanks Curt, we'll be looking to add that in a future update.
And the Kidd two-stage is in a class of it's own.
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.
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.
YES !!! , Have one , TOTALY excellent !
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 ....
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.
PRP is new to me, let me know how it goes.
Yes sir KIDD triggers are hard to beat. Ultra nice.
Yes, I don't have one...yet!
Tony Kidd!!!!
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.
Definitely heard of them! Tandemkross' trigger is in conjunction with them.