Best Ruger 10/22 Triggers | Outdoor living

Buying an aftermarket Ruger 10/22 trigger is one of the best ways to improve the performance of this iconic semi-auto rimfire. Swapping the stock trigger for a quality replacement can improve accuracy and help with faster, accurate follow-up shots, as well as provide a more enjoyable shooting experience.

Installing a replacement trigger is also easy. To access the trigger, simply loosen the single clasp that holds the stock and action together. It is located right in front of the magazine. After loosening, place the 10/22 crossbolt safety in the center position and pull the stock and barrel action apart.

Two drift pins hold the stock trigger in place. Tap them out, remove the trigger assembly, install the new trigger and reinstall the drift pins. That’s all there is to it.

When it comes to selecting a good Ruger 10/22 trigger, there are many options to choose from. To get a meaningful performance upgrade, you’re typically looking at triggers that cost around $250 to $350, depending on what you specify.

How we selected the best 10/22 triggers

We took a handful of basic Ruger 10/22s and modified them with numerous upgrades. We tested them with new stocks, new barrels, and of course, replacement Ruger 10/22 triggers.

We rated these upgrades on ease of use, performance improvement, ergonomics and value. The Ruger 10/22 triggers on this list are the ones we liked the most and that we felt provided the best bang for your buck.

Best Ruger 10/22 Triggers

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• Trigger pull weight: 2 pounds, 10 ounces (measured)
• Cost: $299

Main features

• Two color housing
• Six trigger colors
• Extended magazine release under the trigger guard

This is a simple drop-in replacement trigger for the Ruger 10/22 from Timney. Like the other triggers in this collection, it attaches to the receiver via two drift pins that slide in and out with ease.

When you order one from Timney, you can specify a black or silver housing cover and choose from six different trigger colors: black, blue, red, gold, green and silver.

Timney sets the triggers at 2 ¾ pounds at the factor. Ours was right on the money at 2 pounds, 10 ounces.

The trigger break is crisp with no discernible pickup or creep. It’s everything you want in a quality replacement Ruger 10/22 trigger.

At $299, it represents a good value, and mine has endured hundreds of rounds without issue.

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• Trigger pull weight: 2 pounds, 5 ounces (measured)
• Cost: $328

Main features

• Available in one- or two-stage configurations
• Trigger shoe can be adjusted according to the pull length, throw and height
• Extended magazine release under the trigger guard
• Two color housing

The Calvin Elite Ruger 10/22 trigger is easily recognized by its adjustable trigger shoe. Where the trigger shoe on the standard Timney Ruger 10/22 trigger assembly is fixed in place, the trigger shoe on the Calvin Elite is mounted on a post with two set screws.

The lower adjustment screw allows you to adjust the height and tilt of the trigger shoe, while the upper adjustment screw allows you to adjust the reach of the trigger. Adjusting these dimensions allows the shooter to choose a custom fit. Both adjustment screws use a Torx T10 driver.

Timney also sets the pull weight on the Calvin Elite Ruger 10/22 trigger lower than on the standard Timney drop-in. They advertise a draw weight of 1.5 to 2 pounds on the Calvin Elite. The weight on our sample was 2 pounds, 5 ounces.

You can also choose between a single-stage trigger and a two-stage trigger. Both cost the same, at $328. We tested the single-stage trigger and while it has a bit of take-up, there’s no gritty creep. The break was clean and bright.

The only way the Calvin Elite lags behind the standard Timney Ruger 10/22 trigger is in the available colors. All Calvin Elite triggers have a red shoe. The only color option is on the housing. You can choose from black or silver.

See it

• Trigger pull weight: 1 pound, 10 ounces (measured)
• Cost: $339

Main features

• Adjustment for forward and overtravel
• Includes magazine release under trigger guard
• Magazine release wings are removable
• Housing available in multiple finishes

The quality of the Volquartsen TG2000 Ruger 10/22 trigger is evident as soon as you see it. The trigger body is made of 6061 aluminum that has been anodized and not only looks good, but also gives an impression of precision.

For example, the trigger guard is milled with angled flats on the outside that are attractive and will match well with many aftermarket Ruger 10/22 stocks from an aesthetic standpoint.

Like the other replacement Ruger 10/22 triggers here, the TG 2000 features an ergonomic magazine release located below and in front of the trigger guard. The magazine release, which the company calls the TG2000 Rapid Release, comes with wings that extend from either side of the trigger guard for easy access. The wings are attached to the main release with 3/32-inch allen bolts, allowing you to remove one or both if desired.

Another way you can adjust the trigger is by adjusting the pre-travel and overtravel. Overtravel is the distance the trigger moves after the sear breaks, and pretravel is the amount of movement in the trigger before it encounters the sear.

Although the Volquartsen TG2000 is not technically a two-stage trigger, the pre-travel adjustment gives the user the ability to create a degree of absorption that nearly mimics that found in a two-stage design. Or the user can minimize the amount of pre-travel, giving it a more classic single-stage trigger feel.

That adjustment is made via a 1/16-inch Allen wrench inserted through the front of the trigger housing.

The overtravel is adjusted with a 5/64-inch hex wrench. There is an adjustment screw on the back of the trigger that controls the depth to which the screw in the trigger guard reaches. The deeper that screw, the less overtravel in the trigger.

Full quartz does a page with a video which describes how to adjust these specifications.

The trigger comes from the factor with an advertised trigger weight of 2.25 pounds that is not adjustable. The pull on our sample was 1 pound, 10 ounces. This is obviously a lot lighter than the specified pull weight, but I didn’t mind. The break was crisp and extremely consistent.

I selected the bright blue anodizing on my trigger, but it is also available in other colors including black, silver, bright orange, flat-dark earth, and OD green.

Final thoughts on the best 10/22 triggers

The triggers listed here are all high-quality upgrades that will improve any Ruger 10/22. They improve accuracy, provide faster and smoother reloading, allow you to shoot with precision faster and add a bit of visual bling to your rifle, making it stand out from the crowd.

Because the installation process is so simple, anyone with a minimal level of mechanical skill can take their Ruger 10/22 to the next level in just a few minutes.