It has often been said that the trigger is the heart of the rifle. The saying is true for any firearm for that matter whether it is a rifle, shotgun or handgun. You can have the best stock, the finest ammunition, the highest grade of materials and craftsmanship in your firearm, but if your trigger is not right, none of it means anything. Quite simply, the trigger makes or breaks the rifle.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Ruger 1022 Triggers
- OUR TOP PICK: BX-Trigger
- BEST DROP-IN TRIGGER: TIMNEY Drop-in Trigger Assembly
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: VOLQUARTSEN Trigger Guard 2000
Best 10/22 Trigger Comparison Chart
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Why is the 10/22 is a Great Gun to Upgrade the Trigger On?
The Ruger 10/22 is perhaps the most common rim fire rifle in America and one of the reasons for its popularity is its ease of customization. Whether the shooter builds a rifle from a stripped receiver or simply adjusts parts to suit his or her own needs; the rifle is very easy to work on. Rugerโs award winning rifle has the distinction of being the first semiautomatic rimfire rifle geared toward adult customers as opposed to a starter rifle for children to learn the basic fundamentals of target shooting and hunting.
In the old days, most shooters would not attempt to fine tune or otherwise adjust the trigger on their own rifles. This was mostly due to the horror stories of other well-meaning shooters who completely butchered their own rifles or created some other calamity by filing, sanding and dremeling parts that they should not have or otherwise did not know what they were doing.
BX-Trigger
The correct answer then was to โTake it to a gunsmithโ.
A competent smith would use water stones and files to precisely fit each of the critical components by hand. The sear would be polished painstakingly and new springs installed. Most of the time the original factory parts would be used, but when the work increased enough for certain gunsmiths, they made their own with some of them becoming powerhouses in the aftermarket parts industry.
Fortunately technology has caught up with the Ruger 10/22 with regard to its trigger. A number of these companies now make โdrop inโ kits to improve the trigger on their Ruger 10/22s.
The Best Trigger Kits for Your Ruger 10/22 Rifle
Next we will take a look at some of the best trigger kits on the market for your 1022 rifle. There a good amount of different variations to choose from and it could become confusing choosing the right one. You can find the quick and dirty list below:
That is the goal of this article, to help you find the right trigger for you and your gun. Continue reading below to see the top of the line options for you.
Best Overall Trigger:
Ruger โ 10/22 BX-Trigger
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
The BX-trigger boasts the reputation of having absolutely no negative buyer feedback. 100% buyers of this trigger love it and appreciate its ease-of-installation, lightweight pull, perfect compatibility, and outstanding performance. However, the USP of this trigger is a light and clean pull, along with the appropriate pricing.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Probably the most recent product to hit the market is the BX Trigger made by Ruger. This drop-in unit has very little over travel and is constructed from lightweight space age polymer. The module is set at the factory for a light 2.5 to 3 pound breaking point and will fit both the rifle and the Ruger Charger pistol which is based on the same action as the 10/22.
The BX-trigger features almost half trigger pull compared to the OEM trigger. The pull is crispier and limits overtravel significantly. This allows the shooter to improve their accuracy and fire quick follow up shots. This is an excellent replacement trigger for the 10/22, especially if you are maintaining a budget and more effective trigger upgrade.
Ruger should make this standard in all of their rifles at the factory, but it would undoubtedly raise the MSRP of the relatively low-priced 10/22. The fact that they are making them in house might mean that these could come in certain special editions of the rifle in the future and more importantly shows that Ruger listens to its customers.
Read our full BX-25 trigger review.
Who Will Use This Most
Anybody who uses their 10/22 for anything else than plinking. The drop-in installation eliminates the need for gunsmithing and any expert help. The lightweight trigger pull reduces trigger-fatigue and helps with quicker shots. Which can be a good feature while hunting varmints. This trigger is also useful for competitive shooters.
Bottom Line
The BX-trigger is no-doubt the best replacement trigger for 10/22. Anybody who wants a better trigger can afford it. The lightweight pull and zero overtravel make shooting much more accurate and fun. Additionally, the installation literally takes a few minutes and the trigger functions reliably under all conditions.
Best Drop-in Trigger:
Timney 10/22 Drop-in Trigger Assembly
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Users appreciate the high quality and durable construction of the trigger. It is very easy to install and offers an awe-inspiring difference in performance compared to the OEM trigger. The auto bolt release is fantastic and the magazine release is also an admirable factor.
Why it Stands Out to Us
A company known as Timney has been making match grade triggers for decades and know exactly what they are doing when it comes to building almost perfect triggers. Their 10/22 design is nothing short of exceptional.
The Timney trigger has a lightweight pull of about 2 lbs which improves the overall handling. Plus the extended magazine release makes it easy to use and somewhat ambidextrous. The bolt catch is more user friendly and the trigger reset is perfect. The trigger breaks perfectly and performs up to its expectations.
Each and every component in a Timney trigger assembly is built by hand, calibrated and tested to exacting specifications. Critical components such as the hammer, trigger and sear are EDM cut from steel and hardened, while the body is CNC milled from 6061-T6 billet aluminum. The factory setting is 2 pounds and breaks like glass with no slack whatsoever.
The assembly includes an easy to use replacement magazine release button and an improved bolt hold open feature.
Who Will Use This Most
The trigger is perfect for competition shooters, given the lightweight pull, crisp break, and extended mag release. A suitable upgrade for your 10/22 for Appleseed events, tactical use or shooting lessons. The trigger is quite versatile and also suitable for hunting and SHTF uses.
Bottom Line
The Timney trigger is a useful addition to the 10/22 for competition and tactical uses. The trigger has a featherlight pull weight of 2 lbs complemented with a crisp and clean break. Although the trigger assembly is quite expensive for a 10/22. The resulting performance is definitely worth it.
Best for the Money:
Volquartsen Ruger 10/22 Trigger Guard 2000
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Users seem baffled with the performance of this trigger. It has a crisp and clean break and almost zero creep straight out of the box, and allows the user to make further adjustments for it. The wide trigger shoe suits people with bigger fingers and the auto bolt release is a good upgrade.
Why it Stands Out to Us
While Ruger may have been content to sell an average semiautomatic rim fire rifle, there was another company that practically dedicated their business model to making improvements on the Ruger 10/22 platform: Volquartsen. Volquartsenโs trigger uses CNC machined housings with all internal parts precision cut by EDM with +/- .0002โณ of tolerance.
Volquartsen has been renowned for manufacturing high-end firearm accessories, and this trigger sits well on those expectations. This high-end trigger allows the user to adjust pre-travel / overtravel and has all the components packed in a wobble-free housing. The average pull weight is about 2.5 pounds, and it works flawlessly with all 10/22 models.
A bit pricier than the Ruger trigger mentioned previous, the Volquartsen unit makes use of a hardened stainless steel hammer in their trigger pack with properly cut notches for a precise and consistent angle. The plunger is redesigned to depress rearward for an improved trigger pull coupled with reduced power springs for the hammer and sear.
The unit also includes improved bolt and magazine releases as well as oversized pins for a perfect action job.
Who Will Use This Most
Given the tight tolerances, adjustable travel and zero-creep, this trigger is perfect for competition uses. The crisp and clean break allows the shooter to pull the trigger at the right moment for immaculate accuracy and consistent precision. It is also suitable for people whoโd like to hone their accuracy skills with the 10/22.
Bottom Line
The Volquartsen trigger might seem to be an expensive deal. But the trigger itself is worth it. The user can make significant or subtle travel adjustments to get the right break. Plus, the lightweight pull, zero crisp, and smooth break makes it great for applications requiring extreme accuracy.
4. Power Custom - Deluxe 10/22 Trigger Module
Pros
Cons
This Ruger 10/22 trigger module from Power Custom features a housing made entirely from aluminum. The trigger has a simple drop-in design so you donโt have to mess around with disassembling those minor parts. This single stage trigger has a pull weight of 2.25 pounds, which can be adjusted between a range of 1.75 to 3 pounds using an internal setscrew.
It has a wide aluminum shoe with Garand-style safety in the internal trigger guard, along with an extended magazine release for smooth changing. The safety and mag release have been placed close to the trigger for quick operation during competitions and in self-defense situations.
Additionally, the pretravel and overtravel time of the trigger can be adjusted. The aluminum housing of the trigger assembly has a removable side plate, which helps you with its disassembly, in case you want to clean it. The trigger is available in a couple of different models with different magazine compatibilities.
Bottom Line
This trigger assembly from Power Custom is an all-in-one trigger replacement for your 10/22. The trigger is easy to install, and adjustable in every way possible.
5. Volquartsen Ruger 10/22 High-Performance Action Kit
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
The Volquartsen trigger action kit features components precision machined from high-grade material. The quality of the kit is impeccable and the performance even more impressive. The trigger kit is quite easy to install. However, users reported that the instruction manual included in the package isnโt very helpful.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This trigger kit features individual components which allow the user to assemble the trigger as per their taste. The overtravel is adjustable to offer more precise tolerances to the user. Plus the significant reduction in pull weight(as low as 2.25 lbs) is also a great feature. Additionally, the kit is available in normal and magnum caliber variants to eliminate compromise.
Who Will Use This Most
The kit is ideal for competition with 10/22 rifles. Especially because competitive shooters tend to have their own tastes for the trigger assembly depending upon the situation. Additionally, this is a high-end assembly kit and wouldnโt prove very economical or suitable for a casual plinker or occasional hunter.
Bottom Line
The Volquartsen trigger kit is a great upgrade for people who want extensive customizations with their trigger assembly. This kit allows you to adjust the metrics and has a feather light weight of pull for precision uses. A suitable product for competition shooters. Plus the extra buffer helps reducing wear and tear of components inside the receiver.
Honorable Mention:
CLARK CUSTOM โ RUGER 10/22 DELUXE HAMMER/TRIGGER KIT
Rather than a drop in trigger pack, Clark Custom Guns offers a drop in parts kit that requires a complete disassembly and replacement of your Ruger 10/22โs hammer, sear, sear spring, trigger and disconnector. The Clark trigger is adjustable for over travel and gives the shooter a crisp consistent 2.75 to 3 pound trigger.
All of the parts are finished in a matte blue with the exception of the trigger, which is black anodized aluminum.
The skill level to install the Clark kit is a bit higher than the others we have mentioned, but it is in no way an unsurmountable obstacle for the average to advanced hobbyist.
7. KIDD Single Stage Trigger Unit for Ruger 10/22 (Ebay)
The KIDD trigger is a single stage trigger that has a 1.5 pound to 4 pound break. This is fully adjustable and can be tailored to your needs and wants. Many people have also said that they are zero creep with this trigger.
This trigger is easy to install and will be able to be put into use right after it arrives. This is one of the top triggers currently on the market for the Ruger 10/22 rifle and will be a great purchase for anyone looking for a way to easily upgrade your rifle.
How to Install a Ruger 10/22 Trigger
The installation of a trigger inside a weapon is always the most difficult part, whether on a 10/22 or any other rifle. You need to have the right information and knowledge about the different parts of the trigger assembly, their function, and proper placement. Installing a Ruger 10/22 trigger is no different. Weโll break it down into certain steps, to give you an overview.
- Once you have disassembled your rifle to obtain the trigger assembly, the very first step is to remove the magazine release pin, using a small punch.
- Next, remove the pin, which holds the bolt lock in place. Once done, hold the trigger down and push out the hammer spring and its pin.
- Now remove the trigger and youโve completely disassembled your trigger.
If you have a drop-in type trigger assembly for installation, you just have to follow step one, mentioned above.
If these steps have flown over your head, make sure to check out this video for detailed instructions on how to install the trigger in your Ruger 10/22. Since all the triggers reviewed here are drop-in assemblies, it wonโt be difficult to install them into your rifle.
Trigger Assembly and Disassembly Video
Check out the video below to see how to assemble and disassemble your Ruger 10/22 trigger:
Conclusion
Twenty years ago it was almost unheard of for an average gun owner to produce a safe two to three pound trigger job for a Ruger 10/22 rifle in their home workshop or kitchen table.
With advances in manufacturing and materials it is now possible to achieve a custom trigger job on a Ruger 10/22 with the only tools being a set of punches to remove the old pins in order to replace the trigger components. Thank you for reading and I am hoping that it was of some use to you. Good luck and safe shooting!
