10 Best Ruger 10/22 Upgrades: Trigger, Scope, & More

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The Ruger 10/22 is one of the most popular rifles in the world and is made for one of the most popular rounds in the world, .22LR. 

One of the happy side effects of this popularity is that the market for third-party 10/22 upgrades is massive. In fact, it’s so massive that you can actually build a 10/22 exclusively from third party parts. 

However, all those options can be very overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the world of upgrades and custom builds. Fortunately for you, we’ve put together this list of some of the best 10/22 upgrades currently on the market.

Whether you’ve bought a 10/22 and are looking to improve it or want to start a custom build from scratch, the parts and accessories we’ve included here will help you take your 10/22 to the next level. 

I know that, because I’ve used many of them myself, and the rest have been used by other shooters that I know and trust. Now let’s dive right in.

Here Are the Best 10/22 Upgrades (Our Picks)

Best Ruger 10/22 Upgrade Stock: Hogue Overmolded Rubber Stock

Hogue Overmolded Rubber Stock

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One of the single biggest changes you can make to the overall feel of your 10/22 is updating the stock. If I had to choose one stock above all others for upgrading the 10/22, it would be the Hogue Overmolded Rubber Stock

This stock upgrade is pretty simple, very similar in shape to the factory 10/22 stock. However, it adds a rubberized, textured grip that makes the stock much more comfortable to hold and makes it easier for you to shoot accurately. 

The stock is easy to install, with just a single bolt that can easily be hand-tightened. It’s a little bit heavier than the factory synthetic 10/22 stock, which does help cut recoil. 

The Hogue Overmolded Rubber Stock is available for both the standard 10/22 and the takedown.

Takeaway

If you’re looking for a quick, easy upgrade for your Ruger 10/22 that will also make a big difference, the Hogue Overmolded Rubber Stock is a great first choice. 


Best Ruger 10/22 Upgrade Barrel: Volquartsen Carbon Fiber Barrel

Volquartsen Carbon Fiber Barrel

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If you really want to take your Ruger 10/22’s barrel to the next level, you’ve got to go with a Volquartsen Carbon Fiber Barrel.

The carbon fiber sleeve over the stainless steel bore makes these barrels ultralight but durable. The standard length is 16.5 inches but weighs just 15 ounces. Even many shorter barrels aren’t that light and that’s about half the weight of the factory barrel.  

This reduced weight does take some adjusting to if you’re used to the heavier factory barrel. It makes your gun noticeably later, so your target transitions and such can easily happen much faster than you’re used to. 

The lower weight does mean that you’ll feel the recoil a little bit more, but it’s still just .22. There’s only so much kick possible. 

Other than reducing weight, the carbon fiber sleeve also resists vibration, a problem common in many firearms, including Ruger 10/22s. Reducing that vibration helps improve the accuracy of your shots. 

Still, Volquartsen only guarantees the barrel for 2 MOA (and in my experience, you actually get a little better than that), but a 10/22 isn’t a high accuracy weapon in the first place. 

You can get them with a threaded muzzle if you’d like to use a muzzle device (like the TandemKross Game Changer Compensator that we recommend below). It also comes in versions without threads or with a built-in compensator, so there’s an option for whatever configuration you prefer. The threaded version comes with a thread protector for when you aren’t using a muzzle device. 

Takeaway

While all of the upgrades on this list are great options, these Volquartsen barrels are one of my favorites. They make a huge difference in the performance of your 10/22 by dramatically reducing its weight, plus reducing vibration in the barrel. 


Best Ruger 10/22 Upgrade Trigger: Ruger BX Trigger

Ruger BX Trigger

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Along with the stock and the barrel, one of the most impactful upgrades you can make to your Ruger 10/22 is the trigger.  And with this one, it’s actually made by Ruger.

The Ruger BX trigger is overall quite similar to the factory 10/22 trigger. It’s a polymer trigger, like the factory one and the trigger shoes appear to be virtually identical. The BX trigger has a crisp, clean break without much over-travel, creep, or take-up.

The main difference?

The trigger weight. The trigger pull of the Ruger BX trigger is 2.5 to 3 pounds, compared to the 6-pound weight of the factory trigger. I will say that the BX trigger does feel a bit heavier at first, but once you’ve broken it in a bit, that goes away.

The Ruger BX trigger is a drop-in style trigger, so installation is a breeze. You should be done in less than 20 minutes and shouldn’t need any special tools. It’s compatible with all the different versions of the 10/22 rifle, plus the 10/22 Charger pistol.

The Ruger BX trigger is also pretty affordable, especially for a trigger upgrade. If you’re looking for a single upgrade that will make the biggest difference in your 10/22’s performance for less than $100, look no further. 

Takeaway

If you’re one of the not inconsequential numbers of people who don’t like the heavy trigger weight of the factory 10/22 trigger, you’ll love the Ruger BX trigger’s dramatically lower pull weight. Other than that, though, the BX trigger is quite similar to the factory trigger.

Also read 7 Best .30-06 rifle.


Best Ruger 10/22 Upgrade Bolt Release: Tandemkross Guardian Bolt Release

Tandemkross Guardian Bolt Release

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Other than the heavy trigger, one of the more common complaints about the Ruger 10/22 is the bolt release. Locking the bolt is easy, but pulling the bolt handle rearwards at the same time you operate the bolt lock to release the bolt is much trickier, especially if you’re new to the 10/22.

With the Tandemkross Guardian Bolt Release, you can fix all that for only about $10. 

Once you’ve installed this bolt release plate, all you have to do is slightly pull back the bolt and it will release automatically. Locking the bolt in the first place works the same.

Other than just eliminating the annoyance and inconvenience of trying to finagle the factory bolt release, this bolt release helps drop the time between shots. The difference is going to be bigger for less experienced shooters. With that said, every little bit counts if you’re shooting competitively. 

The drop-in bolt release is very durable, made of strong steel with a black oxide finish. 

Takeaway

The Tandemkross Guardian Bolt Release is a simple, easy, and affordable way to fix one of the more common complaints associated with the Ruger 10/22, the factory bolt release. 


Best Ruger 10/22 Upgrade Extractor: Tandemkross Eagle’s Talon Extractor

Tandemkross Eagle’s Talon Extractor

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The Tandemkross Eagle’s Talon Extractor is a similarly affordable way to fix another relatively common inconvenience with the 10/22’s factory design. 

The factory extractor can be prone to failure, leading to failure-to-eject and stovepipe malfunctions when you try to cycle a spent casing. 

The Tandemkross Eagle’s Talon Extractor has a positive hook which allows it to hold onto the casing more securely. In turn, that allows this extractor to more reliably cycle spent casings. It also helps you eject the casing more quickly to decrease cycling speed. Finally, it also ejects the spent case further away from the rifle.

Takeaway

The Tandemkross Eagle’s Talon Extractor is an excellent extended extractor for preventing the malfunctions that the factory extractor can sometimes be prone to. If you’re looking for a cheap way to make your 10/22 more reliable and efficient, the Eagle’s Talon Extractor, along with the Guardian Bolt Release, will help you accomplish just that.


Best Ruger 10/22 Upgrade Firing Pin: Volquartsen SureStrike Firing Pin

Volquartsen SureStrike Firing Pin

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While you’re upgrading your extractor, you might want to go ahead and upgrade your firing pin as well with the Volquartsen SureStrike Firing Pin.

An upgraded firing pin helps resolve an issue that’s not so much with the 10/22 as it is with .22LR itself. This little rimfire round can have a problem where the firing pin doesn’t reliably strike the rim of the case hard enough to cause the round to fire.

With an upgraded firing pin, you can help prevent that. Higher-end firing pins usually have a surface ground head. They are also generally thicker so they travel more consistently and predictably. These features ensure that the firing pin hits its target basically every time and that as long as there’s primer there, it will react. 

Specifically, the Volquartsen SureStrike Firing Pin is .004 inches wider than the Ruger 10/22’s factory firing pin. Sure, that doesn’t seem like much, but it’s enough to eliminate the wiggling that can cause the firing pin to hit in the wrong place. 

It’s manufactured from A2 tool steel with EDM machining for high precision. It’s hardened to prevent deformation and wear, making it also more durable than the factory firing pin. 

The Volquartsen SureStrike Firing Pin is also very easy to install.

If you’re replacing the firing pin and extractor at the same time, you may want to look into the Volquartsen Bolt Tune Up Kit which includes the SureStrike firing pin and the Volquartsen Exact Edge extractor. This is another great extractor that can be used as an alternative to the Tandemkross Eagle’s Talon Extractor. 

Takeaway

Thanks to the surface ground head and wider metal, the Volquarsten SureStrike Firing Pin is a great way for casual and competitive shooters alike to improve the reliability of their 10/22.


Best Ruger 10/22 Upgrade Magazine: Ruger BX-25 Magazine

Ruger BX-25 Magazine

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Now let’s move on to some upgraded accessories, starting with magazines. Simply switching the magazine you use is one of the simplest ways to upgrade your Ruger 10/22.

The Ruger 10/22 comes with a detachable, 10-round magazine. The factory magazines are good, even great. They capacity is decent and they feed reliably. But I like a higher capacity option and the Ruger BX-25 gives me precisely that. 

Ruger BX-25 magazines have a 25-round capacity and, because they’re made by Ruger, you know they’ll fit into your 10/22 properly. They feed well via the still feeding lips. You can even take them apart for cleaning, but I’ve never had a performance issue that’s caused me to need to.

I have a few of these magazines so that I can really extend the time between reloads. After all, .22LR and the Ruger 10/22, in particular, are so fun to shoot, I want to be able to enjoy it for as long as possible before I have to stop to refill my magazines. 

The Ruger BX-25 magazine is available in opaque and clear-sided versions. Both perform the same, but I do like that the clear allows you to quickly and easily visually confirm how many rounds are in the magazine. 

You can also buy the opaque style in a two-pack to save a bit of money. With the two-pack, they’re actually cheaper even than Butler Creek 25 round 10/22 magazines, which are the other most commonly recommended 10/22 magazine upgrades due to their affordable price. 

(For the record, I prefer the Ruger-made ones over the Butler Creek because they’re more reliable and I think they’re worth spending a bit more for).

Now I know some of you have to deal with magazine capacity limitations and I haven’t forgotten about you. If that’s you, you can instead opt for the Alangator TriMag Coupler

Rather than giving you a higher-capacity magazine, the Alangator TriMag Coupler provides you a central clamp that attaches three factory 10/22 mags for faster reloads with a total of 30 rounds. 

To switch magazines, simply release the magazine and rotate the next magazine into position. 

Takeaway

Making the switch to Ruger BX-25 magazines is one of the simplest upgrades you can do to your Ruger 10/22. These quality magazines up your capacity to 25 rounds so you can enjoy longer shooting sessions before you have to reload. I recommend getting at least a couple.


Best Ruger 10/22 Upgrade Muzzle Brake: TandemKross Game Changer Compensator

TandemKross Game Changer Compensator

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Our next upgraded accessory recommendation is the TandemKross Game Changer Compensator, a compensator designed specifically as a 10/22 mod.

For the uninitiated, a compensator reduces recoil by redirecting gas and heat as it exits the barrel, countering pushback. 

Honestly, recoil with .22LR is so light that a compensator isn’t exactly a necessity. Still, it does make a difference when you’re trying to make shots as quickly as possible, especially across multiple targets. With a compensator, there’s less time and effort needed to realign your shots since there’s less movement away from them after your shot in the first place.

And this one retails for only about $35, so it’s not exactly a huge investment. 

Of course, to use the Game Changer compensator, you’ll need a threaded barrel. If you opted for one of the 10/22 models that comes with a threaded barrel, great! You’re ready to install the Game Changer right away.

Otherwise, you’ll need to upgrade your barrel. (If you weren’t already sold on the carbon fiber barrels from Volquartsen that we recommended above, here’s just one more reason to consider them).

The Tandemkross Game Changer compensator is made from T6061 aluminum, so it’s durable but lightweight. Tandemkross designed the compensator so the vents direct gas up and to the side. This counteracts muzzle rise in addition to pushback. It was designed specifically with the performance of the Ruger 10/22 in mind.

Takeaway

While a compensator isn’t an essential Ruger 10/22 upgrade, the Tandemkross Game Changer compensator was designed specifically for the 10/22 and does make a difference in the speed of your follow up shots. And it’s so affordable that why wouldn’t you give it a try?


Best Ruger 10/22 Upgrade Scope: Vortex Optics Crossfire II

Vortex Optics Crossfire II

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Depending on which model of the 10/22 you have, it may either have bead sights or come drilled and tapped for a scope.

If yours falls in the first camp, you still may want to upgrade for shooting over long distances. If yours is in the second camp, obviously you’ll want a scope to go with it.

Regardless of which camp you fall into, I suggest going with the Vortex Optics Crossfire II riflescope to really help you get the most out of your Ruger 10/22’s range. 

The Crossfire II is one of the most popularly recommended scopes for virtually all weapons and purposes, only in part because it comes in a bunch of different magnifications for you to choose from. The rest of it is just that it’s a darn good scope, balancing quality and price. But let’s start by talking magnification.

For the Ruger 10/22 I suggest going with one of the 1-4x, 2-7x, or 3-9x options depending on what sort of shooting you’ll be doing. My particular favorite for the Ruger 10/22, however, is the Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Rimfire Scope

This particular model has features that are optimized for rimfire, like a second focal plane V-Plex reticle and a 50-yard parallax setting.

Whichever version of the Crossfire II that you go with, however, it will feature capped turrets, 3.9-inch eye relief, ¼ MOA adjustment graduation, and fully multicoated scratch-resistant lenses. All models of the Crossfire II are also waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof.

Takeaway

The Vortex Optics Crossfire II Rimfire is my top pick for an 10/22 scope because it has rimfire-specific features, plus it’s an all-around high-quality scope that’s also a great value.


Best Ruger 10/22 Upgrade Picatinny Rail: Evolution Gun Works 0 MOA Picatinny Rail

Evolution Gun Works 0 MOA Picatinny Rail

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Of course, mounting optics like the Crossfire II scope is made a lot easier if you have a picatinny rail to mount them on. A few 10/22 models have one already, but most do not. 

If yours doesn’t and you want to add a rail to your Ruger 10/22, I recommend the Evolutionary Gun Works 0 MOA Picatinny Rail

There’s really not much to say about it though.

Like other Picatinny rails, it’s made to military specifications with evenly spaced slots that make accessory mounting easy. Also like other Picatinny rails, it will allow mounting of most things designed for Weaver rails. 

So why do I like the EGW picatinny rail in particular? Well, for starters, EGW designed it specifically for the 10/22, so you know it will fit. Furthermore, EGW made sure that the height of the rail tops out at 0.4 inches, ensuring that it won’t block the factory sights. 

The rail measures 6.276 inches overall with slots extending the entire length, so it should work with most scopes or optics. At the same time, it weighs just 2 ounces, so it won’t add a ton of weight to your rifle. 

Ther’s also a 20 MOA version for longer ranges, but that’s generally overkill for the 10/22.

Please note that this rail is not compatible with takedown 10/22 models.

Takeaway

The Evolution Gun Works 0 MOA Picatinny Rail is a lightweight, simple way to ensure that your rifle is ready for scopes, red dot sights, and other top-mounted rifle accessories. 


Final Verdict

Given the opportunity, I could probably go on forever about all the different awesome 10/22 upgrades available on the market. Alas, I do have to bring things to a close at some point and now seems to be the time.

Whether you’re building a 10/22 from the ground up, are just trying to fix some complaints you have about your factory 10/22, or fall somewhere in between, all of the upgrades we’ve recommended here are great options.

And the best part is that you can mix and match them however you like to create the 10/22 that’s just what you want.

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