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

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.

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.

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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

Ruger BX-Trigger

$67

at Primary Arms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$67 at Primary Arms

Brownells (see price)

OpticsPlanet (see price)

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?

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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.

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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

Tandemkross Ultimate 10/22 Trigger Kit

$135

at Tandemkross

Prices accurate at time of writing

$135 at Tandemkross

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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.

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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.

Most Adjustable Trigger

Timney 10/22 Calvin Elite Trigger

$240

at Brownells

Prices accurate at time of writing

$240 at Brownells

Optics Planet (see price)

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.

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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.

Editor's Pick 10/22 Trigger

Volquartsen Ruger 10/22 TG2000

$266

at OpticsPlanet

Prices accurate at time of writing

$266 at OpticsPlanet

Brownells (see price)

Natchez (see price)

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.

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

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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.

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

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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.