No gun on earth has a deeper aftermarket than the Ruger 10/22. Since 1964 it has been the rifle America learns to shoot on, and an entire industry exists to let you rebuild it into anything from a featherweight backpacking plinker to a tack-driving competition rig. Better still, the 10/22 is modular in a way few rifles are: with a punch and a screwdriver you can swap the stock, barrel, trigger, and small parts on your kitchen table, no gunsmith required.
Below are the Ruger 10/22 parts and accessories we would buy first, from the upgrades that change how it shoots to the small parts that make it a joy to run. Everything here fits the standard 10/22 (match the Takedown or Charger where noted), and each pick is backed by a live price check across the retailers we track.
How we tested: Every pick here was run through our testing methodology. Minimum round counts, accuracy and reliability protocols, the failures that disqualify a gun. If we haven't shot it, we don't recommend it.
Ruger 10/22 Upgrades at a Glance
| Category | Our Pick | Why It Makes the List |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | Ruger BX-Trigger | Drop-in 2.75 lb trigger, the best cheap upgrade |
| Barrel | Volquartsen Lightweight | Match accuracy and a big weight cut up front |
| Stock | Magpul Hunter X-22 | Modern ergonomics, adjustable, rock solid |
| Magazine | Ruger BX-25 | The iconic 25-round rotary mag — buy several |
| Optic | Vortex Crossfire II Rimfire | Rimfire-calibrated scope that punches above its price |
| Charging handle | Tandemkross Spartan | Extended, skeletonized handle for a positive rack |
| Extended mag release | Aftermarket paddle | Faster, easier magazine changes |
| Extended bolt release | Tandemkross Guardian | Ends the fiddly factory bolt-lock dance |
Best Trigger: Ruger BX-Trigger
The factory 10/22 trigger is heavy and creepy, and it is the first thing that holds back an otherwise accurate rifle. Ruger’s own BX-Trigger is the answer: a genuine drop-in module with a crisp 2.75-pound pull and minimal overtravel that installs in about a minute with two pins. It is the highest-value upgrade on this list and the one we would make first every time.
Best Barrel: Volquartsen Lightweight
A match barrel is where a 10/22 goes from plinker to precision. Volquartsen’s lightweight barrels wrap a stainless liner in a carbon-fiber or aluminum sleeve, dropping weight up front while delivering the tight, consistent accuracy that makes a rimfire fun at distance. It is a premium upgrade, but on a rifle you will keep forever it is money well spent. Tacsol and Kidd offer excellent alternatives.
Best Stock: Magpul Hunter X-22
The factory stock is fine; the Magpul Hunter X-22 is transformative. It gives you modern ergonomics, an adjustable length of pull and comb, M-LOK slots for accessories, and a rock-solid bedding block that squeezes more accuracy out of any barrel. It is the single upgrade that most changes how the rifle feels in your hands, and it looks the part of a serious build. A Backpacker version folds for the Takedown.
Best Magazine: Ruger BX-25
The 10-round factory rotary magazine is a marvel of reliability, but for a day of plinking you want the Ruger BX-25 — a genuine 25-round rotary mag that keeps the same flawless feeding in a much bigger stick. Buy several; nothing kills range fun faster than reloading a 10-rounder every 30 seconds. Coupled and 50-round versions exist too.
Best Optic: Vortex Crossfire II Rimfire
A 10/22 deserves glass calibrated for a rimfire’s arcing trajectory. The Vortex Crossfire II in a 2-7×32 rimfire configuration is a longtime favorite: clear, tough, backed by Vortex’s no-questions warranty, and priced so you can afford good rings too. It is ideal for small-game hunting and casual target work. Add a set of rings and you are zeroed in an afternoon.
Want to compare glass? See our best rifle scopes guide.
Best Charging Handle: Tandemkross Spartan
The factory charging handle is small and can be fiddly with cold or gloved hands. The Tandemkross Spartan is an extended, skeletonized replacement that gives you a bigger, more positive surface to rack the bolt, with a machined look that fits a custom build. It is a small part that you appreciate every single time you load the rifle.
Best Extended Magazine Release
The stock 10/22 magazine release is a tiny lever tucked behind the mag well. An extended paddle release replaces it with a large, easy-to-reach lever you can hit without breaking your grip, turning fumbly mag changes into a quick, natural motion. It is a few dollars and one of the most quality-of-life upgrades on the platform.
Best Extended Bolt Release: Tandemkross Guardian
Anyone who has owned a 10/22 knows the awkward factory bolt-release dance — pull back, push up, let go, hope. The Tandemkross Guardian bolt-release plate fixes it so the bolt drops with a simple pull, the way it should have from the factory. Paired with the extended mag release, it makes running the rifle dramatically smoother for a handful of dollars.
How to Prioritize Your 10/22 Build
The beauty of the 10/22 is that you can build it a little at a time. If we were starting fresh, this is the order we would spend money in:
- A BX-Trigger and some BX-25 mags first. The trigger transforms how it shoots; the mags transform how much fun a range day is. Together they cost very little.
- An optic. A rimfire scope unlocks the accuracy the little rifle already has.
- The small parts — extended charging handle, mag release, and bolt release — for a few dollars that make the rifle a pleasure to run.
- A stock when you want modern ergonomics or a build platform.
- A match barrel last, when you are chasing precision or a weight cut.
Looking at the bigger rimfire picture? The 10/22 Takedown is a mainstay of our best survival rifles guide, and the platform anchors rimfire competition — see what NRL22 is and our best Steel Challenge guns. Round out your setup with the right glass in our best rifle scopes roundup and quality .22 LR ammo to feed it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best upgrade for a Ruger 10/22?
The Ruger BX-Trigger. The factory 10/22 trigger is heavy and creepy, and the drop-in BX-Trigger replaces it with a crisp 2.75-pound pull in about a minute for a modest price. It is the single upgrade that most improves how the rifle shoots. A few BX-25 magazines are the next-best money you can spend.
Do you need a gunsmith to upgrade a Ruger 10/22?
No. The 10/22 is famously easy to work on. The trigger group, barrel, stock, and small parts like the charging handle, magazine release, and bolt release all swap at home with a punch and a screwdriver. That do-it-yourself modularity is a big part of why the platform has such a huge aftermarket.
Are aftermarket 10/22 magazines reliable?
Ruger factory magazines — the 10-round rotary and the 25-round BX-25 — are the gold standard for reliability. Aftermarket brands vary; some are excellent and some are not, so many shooters stick with genuine Ruger BX magazines for trouble-free feeding and reserve budget aftermarket mags for casual plinking.
Will a Magpul X-22 stock fit any 10/22?
The standard Magpul Hunter X-22 fits standard 10/22 rifles with a standard-profile or bull barrel, depending on the version. The Takedown model requires the Backpacker or Takedown-specific stock, and the Charger pistol uses its own chassis. Always match the stock to your exact 10/22 variant and barrel profile.
Is it worth putting a match barrel on a 10/22?
If you want precision or a lighter rifle, yes. A quality match barrel from a maker like Volquartsen, Kidd, or Tactical Solutions noticeably tightens groups over the factory barrel and can shed weight with a carbon or aluminum sleeve. For casual plinking the factory barrel is fine, so make the barrel a later upgrade once the trigger, optic, and mags are handled.
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