24 Best 10/22 Upgrades [Hands-On]: Stocks, Triggers, & More

Got a Ruger 10/22 and want to make it shoot (and look) better?

Since it’s one of the most popular rifles out there… there are so many options and ways to get overwhelmed.

But don’t worry, we’ll guide you through all the best upgrades from stocks to internals, optics, and even cosmetics.

We’ll cover both full-sized 10/22s as well as the shorter 10/22 Chargers.

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to modify your 10/22 to meet your exact needs and budget.

Summary of Our Top Picks

1. 

   Affordable Stock

   Hogue Rubber Overmolded 10/22 Stock

   Just the right amount of rubberized feel at a price that can't be beat.

   $68 at OpticsPlanet Jump to Details
2. 

   Best Overall Stock

   Magpul Hunter X-22 Stock

   Look and shoot better with the Magpul stock that adds some modern features like MLOK.

   $102 at Brownells Jump to Details
3. 

   Best Folding Stock

   Fab Defense R10/22 M4 Foldable Stock

   Great AR-feeling stock that folds back.

   $148 at OpticsPlanet Jump to Details
4. 

   Best Bang-For-The-Buck Trigger

   Ruger BX Trigger

   Straight from Ruger, the BX trigger is light and crisp.

   $69 at Primary Arms Jump to Details
5. 

   Best 10/22 Trigger

   Volquartsen Ruger 10/22 TG2000

   Light trigger pull, glass rod break, and adjustable for minimal overtravel.

   $266 at OpticsPlanet Jump to Details
6. 

   Best Picatinny Rail

   UTG 10/22 Picatinny Rail

   Adds a top Picatinny rail for optics and other accessories.

   $20 at Amazon Jump to Details
7. 

   Best Red Dot Sight

   Sig Sauer Romeo5

   Our go-to sight recommendation for the AR-15 works great on the 10/22.

   $119 at Palmetto State Armory Jump to Details
8. 

   Best 3-9x Scope

   Simmons .22 Mag 3-9x32mm Scope

   Affordable 3-9x scope that mounts easily and is clear enough for .22LR.

   $42 at Amazon Jump to Details
9. 

   Best Mag Release

   Tandemkross Extended Mag Release

   Large mag release that works both directions for faster reloads.

   $49 at Tandemkross Jump to Details
10. 

    Best Charging Handle

    Tandemkross Skeletonized Charging Handle

    Easier to manipulate the bolt at speed, plus left-handed options as well.

    $25 at Tandemkross Jump to Details
11. 

    Best Compensator

    Tandemkross Game Changer Compensator

    Helps with rapid fire and transitions.

    $33 at OpticsPlanet Jump to Details
12. 

    Great Barrel Upgrade

    E.R. Shaw 10/22 Target Barrels

    Affordable 10/22 barrel upgrade for increased accuracy.

    $99 at Brownells Jump to Details
13. 

    Best Barrel Upgrade

    Volquartsen Carbon Fiber Barrels

    When you've got money and want the lightest and most accurate barrels.

    $331 at OpticsPlanet Jump to Details
14. 

    Best 25-Round Mags

    Ruger BX-25 Magazine (2-Pack)

    A two-pack of Ruger's own 25-round magazines.

    $45 at GunMag Warehouse Jump to Details
15. 

    Best Rimfire Suppressor

    Silencer Central Banish 22

    Super quiet, light, and tiny. Plus purchase straight to your door.

    $499 at Silencer Central Jump to Details

Show more (10 items)

Why You Should Trust Us

Hi, I’m Eric, and I’m the founder of Pew Pew Tactical. I’ve loved firearms since forever and have been professionally testing and writing about guns since 2015.

Like most people, I love plinking with .22s, and between my team and I, we’ve owned, shot, and hands-on tested a ton of the products that are on the market.

This is the culmination of our knowledge and we strive to update this article every quarter based on our real-world experiences.

Ruger 10/22 Background

My first gun (and favorite rimfire rifle)…after I shot it the first time…I knew I was hooked.

It’s gone through a couple of iterations as my needs and tastes have changed.

Here was the first mod. Go easy on my rattlecan paint job!

Almost all my friends have one and we’ve all got the modding bug. So, we know what works and what doesn’t.

There are a lot of different models of the 10/22 on the market. To find the one that is right for you, take a look at the 9 Best 10/22 Models!

Without further ado, let’s dive into all the best upgrades you can do to your Ruger 10/22.

Best 10/22 Stocks

Stocks are the biggie in determining the overall feel and look of your rifle. I used the standard synthetic one for a couple of outings before I wanted to go with something different.

But here are some that build upon the standard look, while others take it to more tactical, competitive, and even bullpup configurations.

1. Hogue Overmolded

Another favorite of people who want to keep it simple is the Hogue Overmolded Stock. This stock feels great in the hand with just the right amount of rubberized grip.

Even more affordable than the Intrafuse above…the Hogue comes in regular and takedown varieties.

2. Volquartsen Thumbhole Silhouette

The Volquartsen Thumbhole Silhouette is the go-to for precision shooting with its thumbhole stock. A lot pricier but worth every penny!

3. High Tower Armory Bullpup

This super-cool bullpup stock comes to you from High Tower Armory.  

Expensive, but now you get a sweet .22 LR P90 clone.

4. Magpul X-22 Hunter

My previous personal favorite, Magpul’s X-22 Hunter has a great grip angle and overall feel.  

It comes with adjustable inserts to match your length of pull.  Plus multiple sling mounting options.  

And finally…it will fit regular or bullpup barrels.

And how about install? Easy with just a few screws and lifting the receiver out. Tip…keep the safety button in the middle.

5. FAB Defense

How about another great stock? It’s the R10/22 M4 Foldable Stock from the Israeli company FAB Defense.

It folds down so you meet the 26-inches overall length laws for CA with the stock barrel.  

Please be sure to check your local laws for length.

There are plenty of rails up front, the stock collapses and extends, and some spacers to fit both bull and normal barrels.

I figure if it’s good enough for the IDF’s less lethal weapon of choice, it’s good enough for me to plink and sometimes shoot Steel Challenge.

Stay tuned for a more in-depth review as I run it more.

Best 10/22 Triggers

If you want better accuracy…you better change the stock trigger.

Having a trigger with a lower pull weight…plus one that breaks like a glass rod, is almost guaranteed to up your precision game.

We hands-on review four of the most popular triggers out there in Best 10/22 Triggers…but here are our favorite two.

6. Ruger BX Trigger

Straight from the Ruger source.

The BX Trigger is Ruger’s upgraded trigger.

Normally I’m pretty *meh* about factory upgraded triggers…but the BX is great. It lives up to its 2.5- to 3.0-pound trigger pull (mine is 2.4 pounds). Check it out in my short clip:

The break is clean and has minimal over-travel.

It’s what I have in my upgraded 10/22 since it’s the best bang for the buck, in my opinion.

What’s your take? Rate it below!

7. Volquartsen 10/22 Trigger

If you’ve been reading up on 10/22 upgrades…Volquartsen has to have come up.

They make some great stuff that’s worth the high price tag if you’re looking at the best.  

Light trigger pull, glass rod break, and adjustable for minimal overtravel.

Plus, it comes with an auto bolt release and an extended magazine release (two other upgrades we recommend).

Best 10/22 Sights & Scopes

The sights that come stock on a 10/22 are ok for plinking…but what about when you want to get serious with groups/precision or speed?

8. Techsights

What I first installed on my 10/22.

The GI-style Techsights allow much more precise shots and also windage adjustment.

Plus, you don’t need to install third-party scope mounts.

9. 10/22 Picatinny Rail

If you want some newer optics, such as red dots or scopes like in the rest of the upgrades list…you’ll need to add a Picatinny rail.

10. Sig Sauer Romeo5

If you want to get the fastest sight acquisition…you’ve got to go red dot.

My current vote goes to the Sig Sauer Romeo5, which is my best bang for your pick.

Check the view-through video:

Plus, you can mount it low on the rail (very important for the 10/22 compared to an AR-15).

I cover a variety of red dot sights in my Best Red Dot Sights article.

11. Simmons 3-9x Scope

Planning to reach out and touch something?  

Get yourself an affordable and super highly-rated rimfire scope like the Simmons 3-9x.  

Be sure your mount will work with the provided dove-tail attachments.

Looking for more magnified options? Check out our new Best 10/22 Scopes article.

Best 10/22 Accessories

12. Tandemkross Titanium Takedown Knob

This titanium takedown knob saves you a LOT of time since you can use hand power to enable a quick takedown.

Like how Volquartsen holds the ground for big upgrades…Tandemkross rocks for the accessories.

Just make sure you’re using the correct models for it. It holds on my Magpul stock but isn’t super tight.

13. Tandemkross Extended Mag Release

If you’re taking your time plinking at the range…you probably won’t need this.  

But if you want some speedier reloads…especially during competitions…I’d take a look at getting an Extended Mag Release.

I love it since you can either push OR pull to release the mag.

14. Tandemkross Charging Handle

I also like having an extended charging handle.  

Again…makes it much easier to manipulate the bolt during competitions. Plus, it looks super cool being skeletonized.

And if you’re a lefty…or share your rifle with a lefty. This combo charging handle + Picatinny scope base might be for you.

I have it installed, and my left-handed buddy raved about it.  

It’s a little more difficult to pull than having the extended charging handle…but much easier than having to change hands or go underneath.

15. Tandemkross Game Changer Compensator

Since the recoil is so minimal…there’s not a true need for a compensator when compared to larger calibers.  

But it still helps with rapid firing and engagement of multiple targets.

I don’t have one installed since my barrel is unthreaded…but I’ve tried my buddy’s and it does help when you’re double-tapping.

Best 10/22 Internal Upgrades

These are the internal upgrades that will add some much-needed capabilities to your 10/22. It’s kind of odd that these weren’t added from the factory in the first place…especially given how much they help!

16. Tandemkross Bolt Release

So the 10/22 bolt release…it’s pretty annoying, especially for newbies. The Guardian Bolt Release affordably solves this problem.  

Now all you have to do is pull the bolt back when it is locked…and it will spring forward upon release.

17. Tandemkross Eagle’s Talon Extractor

Sometimes your 10/22 fails to extract correctly and you jam up. Getting an extended extractor will fix it right now.

18. Volquartsen Bolt Tune-Up Kit (Extractor + Firing Pin)

This Volquartsen tune-up kit adds the extended extractor plus a firing pin, which will help improve ignitions if you aren’t using the best rimfire ammo.

Because of the way rimfire ammo’s primer is all around the bottom…sometimes you need a better geometry firing pin…which you’ll get right here.

Best 10/22 Barrels

When you’re dead serious about making your 10/22 the most accurate rifle it can be…you upgrade the barrel. I personally haven’t reached this point yet…but the most accurate 10/22s I’ve seen have…

19. E.R. Shaw Barrel

Heavy contour barrels are available in stainless steel, 18″, and even fluted varieties.

20. Volquartsen Carbon Fiber Barrel

These carbon fiber barrels are ultralight with match chambers. Threaded and non-threaded versions are available.

21. Faxon Firearms Barrel

Faxon Firearms is well-known for its high-quality parts and barrels — so it’s no surprise the company made our list.

Expect to get some really cool colors to trick out your build, all backed by Faxon’s top-tier quality.

We love their stuff for AR-15 and Glock barrels.

Best Miscellaneous 10/22 Upgrades

22. Tandemkross Double Kross

If you can’t buy higher capacity mags…but still want to rock and roll. The Tandemkross Double Kross magazine body is the answer. Couple this with the Tandemkross extended mag release, and you’re good to go.

23. Ruger 25-Round Magazines

10-rounds is just too fast…

You’ll want a 25-rounder straight from the source.

24. Banish 22 Rimfire Suppressor

We fancy our Silencer Central Banish 22 for its ease of purchasing (you can complete everything from your home).

It’s easy to install, clean, and makes .22LR almost whisper quiet like in the movies (if you’re using sub-sonic ammo). Check out our video:

But we’ve also reviewed a couple of other of our Favorite Rimfire Suppressors.

Plus, with Silencer Central, you don’t even have to leave your house. Check out our Best Places to Buy Suppressors.

Best 10/22 Ammo

I cover a lot in my Best .22LR Ammo article, but I’ve found my 10/22 to be a little finicky with ammo…especially before I did some of the upgrades I listed above.

But CCI varieties have always been the best.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it…all the best Ruger 10/22 upgrades to make yours the best it can be.

This versatile and venerable firearm can be modified to an extreme degree and is a great choice for those who want to tinker and toy with a new gun or get into some light-to-moderate gunsmithing.

Is there anything that might find a home on your 10/22? Anything I missed? Let me hear about it in the comments below. Ready to add another 10/22 to your arsenal? Check our recs over at the Best Ruger 10/22 Models.