Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com
Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Sharp and detailed images will guide you through the disassembly and reassembly of the Ruger 10/22 trigger group. Use this as a reference to aid you with trigger jobs and/or installing custom parts…

Before you start, make sure that your gun is unloaded and all ammo is removed from the work area. Then, field strip your rifle as shown in these instructions.

The Tools Required:

  1. A small punch (around 3/32″) to remove the cross-pins
  2. A pair of needle-nose pliers to hold small parts
  3. If available, a small padded vise to hold the trigger housing
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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

____________________________________________________________________

DISASSEMBLY PROCEDURE

Step 1: Remove the hammer main spring…

With the safety off, hold the top of the hammer with your thumb while you pull the trigger to release the hammer and swing it forward. Caution: Hammer spring under tension. Hold hammer firmly to avoid injury.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Pull the top of the strut to remove the hammer main spring. (Below)

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

If you wish to remove the spring from the strut, compress the spring with your fingers while you slide the retainer clip off in the direction shown (below). Caution: Don’t let the parts fly away.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Step 2: Remove the ejector…

Use your punch to push out the cross-pin. Caution: Spring under tension.

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Remove the ejector from the trigger housing…

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Step 3: Remove the hammer assembly…

Use your punch to push out the hammer cross-pin.

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Remove the hammer assembly from the trigger housing.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Step 4: Remove the bolt stop/release…

Use your punch to push out the cross-pin.

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Pull the plate up and to the rear of the housing to remove.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Step 5: Remove the trigger/sear assembly…

Use your punch to remove the cross-pin.

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… then pull the trigger/sear assembly up and out of the trigger housing.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Step 6: Remove the trigger return plunger/spring…

Pull the plunger straight out of the hole in the back of the trigger guard and replace the spring if necessary.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Step 7: Remove the magazine catch/release…

Use your index finger to depress the magazine retainer piston while you pull the mag release lever out of the bottom of the housing. You may need to wiggle the mag release a little to get it out.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com
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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Great work! You have successfully stripped down the fire control group to a bare trigger housing.

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ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE

Before you begin assembly, make sure you clean and lightly oil all of the parts in the fire control group. Do not leave excess oil on the parts, as it will only serve to attract excess dirt. Replace any of the unwanted or worn parts with new or custom parts and follow the steps below.

Step 1: Install the magazine catch/release…

Insert the retaining piston and spring into the hole on the front face of the trigger housing.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Use your index finger to depress the piston while you insert the magazine release lever from the bottom of the trigger housing.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Make sure the top portion of the mag release lever is in the correct position in the rear of the piston (below).

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Test the function by pressing upwards on the mag release lever. It should depress the piston (below)…

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Step 2: Install the trigger return plunger/spring…

For steps 2 and 3 it helps to clamp the trigger housing vertically so that gravity keeps the trigger return plunger/spring in place.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Step 3: Install the trigger/sear assembly…

First, piece together the trigger and sear using the cross-pin to hold it all in place. Make sure the spring is in the proper position in its retaining holes.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com
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Carefully remove the cross-pin from the trigger/sear assembly, but don’t let it fall apart (above). Carefully insert the trigger/sear into the top of the trigger housing (below; double arrows) and align it with the correct cross-pin hole (below; single arrow). Insert the cross-pin.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Once it is installed, it should look like this (below)…

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Step 4: Install the bolt stop/release…

Place the bolt stop/release plate into the trigger housing from the top. Make sure the plate is flat against the shooters left side of the housing, and ease it into position so the bottom portion comes through in front of the trigger guard.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Align the cross-pin hole in the bolt stop/release plate with the hole in the trigger housing and insert the cross pin.

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Make sure the top, flat part of the bolt stop/release plate aligns with the top of the trigger housing (below).

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Step 5: Install the hammer assembly…

Place the metal bushings into the hammer axis hole, and place the spring in the correct position on the shooters right side of the hammer (below).

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com
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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Install the hammer assembly into the top of the trigger housing by lifting the rear of the bolt stop/release plate and sliding the hammer bushing under it (below). Align the cross-pin hole on the trigger housing with the hammer axis hole and insert the cross-pin.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Make sure the lower arm of the spring is correctly positioned inside the notch on the bolt stop/release plate (below).

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Step 6: Install the ejector…

Place the ejector into the notch on the top/front of the trigger housing.

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Align the ejector’s axis hole with the cross-pin hole and insert the cross-pin.

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As you insert the cross-pin, compress the top arm of the spring so that it goes under the cross-pin (below).

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Step 7: Install the hammer main spring and strut assembly…

With the safety off, pull the trigger and manually push the hammer into the forward position.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Insert the hammer main spring assembly into the retaining hole in the lower rear of the trigger housing.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Align the top of the strut with the groove on the back of the hammer.

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Use your thumb to retract the hammer back into the cocked position, and engage the safety.

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Copyright 2010 Brasstard.com

Congratulations! You have completed the fire control group assembly procedure. You may now reinsert it into the receiver. Have fun and stay safe out there with your Ruger 10/22.

The Brasstard

Ruger 10/22 Trigger Group Disassembly/Reassembly – Detailed Tutorial & Images

49 thoughts on “Ruger 10/22 Trigger Group Disassembly/Reassembly – Detailed Tutorial & Images

  • January 29, 2012 at 18:25
    Permalink

    Thanks for your excellent instructions. It really helped me figure out installing my Volquartsen hammer without a lot of stress.

    Reply
  • January 25, 2012 at 20:06
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    Tallie: I’m not sure what you’re asking. When you pull the trigger, it releases the hammer to strike the firing pin. The recoil energy of the cartridge causes the bolt to fly back, and the radius at the rear of the bolt pushes the hammer down to cock it again for the next shot.

    Reply
  • December 26, 2011 at 11:08
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    very very interesting. I know very little about rifles.
    Question: Once it is loaded can you just pull the trigger like a revolver?

    Reply
  • December 5, 2011 at 15:04
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    Wow! Great instructions and pictures. Now my gun is nice and clean and it was soooo easy! Thanks!!!!

    Reply
  • December 3, 2011 at 20:28
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    Great guide. Working on my third 10/22.

    Reply
  • October 9, 2011 at 07:37
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    Took mine apart to replace a couple of pieces and could not remember how it came apart. A couple of other guides I read were terrible. Thanks for a great job in description and photos.

    Reply
  • July 31, 2011 at 20:16
    Permalink

    Many thanks for the notes, been many years ( maybe 20??) since I last worked with a 10/22. I just now had to “assist” my son after his detailed dis-assembly.
    Odd, seems more difficult now since the last time I did it….something about 20 years gone by?!!

    Reply
  • June 19, 2011 at 16:57
    Permalink

    Thank you for giving such detailed instructions. I found a lot of stuff for how to take it apart but not a lot of detail on how to put it together. The explicit step by step instructions with pictures were extremely helpful

    Reply
  • April 10, 2011 at 14:26
    Permalink

    Thanks for the simple instructions. Also, a #14 AWG wire cut to just shy of the length of the trigger/sear pin works great to hold the assembly together for installation. Use the pin to push the wire out when the assembly is aligned.

    Reply
  • April 3, 2011 at 17:00
    Permalink

    thanks for the information. I took mine apart and the exploded picture in the instruction were usless. thanks again

    Reply
  • April 3, 2011 at 10:18
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    An Excellent set of clear and concise instructions that I really needed to complete this task. Thank You.

    Reply
  • March 6, 2011 at 23:59
    Permalink

    Excellant step by step instructions! Would not have got it right without your help. Only thing I did differently to reassemble was cut off a 1/8 inch welding rod the exact length of the trigger/sear hole to replace the long cross pin while I assembled it and placed it in the housing. Push the long cross pin in & the short welding rod out at the approprite time & it is installed. Thanks for your time & interest to help others.

    Reply
  • March 2, 2011 at 17:25
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    Thanks for the help. Love this site!

    Reply
  • March 2, 2011 at 15:06
    Permalink

    I wish I could help you with that Mack, but there are several specific reasons why I did not cover the removal of the safety.

    Just keep trying… I’m sure you will get it in there. It helps to put everything in a clear plastic bag when assembling items with springs under tension. That way, they don’t fly off into the next zip code when you slip.

    Best of luck.

    Reply
  • March 1, 2011 at 23:27
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    I need more help… I got the safety button and detent spring out. Now I can’t get it back in!!! Keep launching spring across the kitchen trying.

    Reply
  • February 13, 2011 at 14:48
    Permalink

    Thanks! I was just about ready to trade off my Mini 30 due to its inability to fire Wolf/Tiger ammo. I had acquired a stronger hammer spring (from Wolff) but had NO idea how to install it! Thank you for the effort you put into this!

    Reply
  • January 16, 2011 at 17:03
    Permalink

    Thank you. I could not have installed my trigger kit without your help. Thanks again.

    Reply
  • September 22, 2010 at 13:04
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    Randy,

    Glad you like the instructions. All of the instructional materials I have so far are under the “How-to Tutorials” on the upper right side of the website. More will come in the future. If you have something specific you want covered, let me know and I’ll see if I can swing it.

    Regards

    Reply
  • September 22, 2010 at 12:35
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    Hey much thanks it was a huge help, Do you have more instructions for other guns as well?

    Reply
  • September 19, 2010 at 15:51
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    Thanks – the instructions I had were OK, but I didn’t really understand how the magazine plunger was supposed to work until I found your version – I’m not sure I would have figured it out otherwise!

    Reply
  • April 27, 2010 at 06:03
    Permalink

    These instructions are great. Went together and didn’t have
    any problems. Now that I’ve done this, it is really simple.
    Thanks so much for this site. It was a real help. I have it
    bookmarked.

    Reply
  • April 26, 2010 at 19:03
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    EXCELLENT guide with fantastic pictures and instructions.

    Thanks very much!

    Reply
  • March 31, 2010 at 10:48
    Permalink

    KBP,
    Good question. These cross pins are not tapered or notched, so it does not matter which way your take them out… they can come out in either direction. The direction in which I have removed them in the photos above was chosen because that was most comfortable to me. However, you may remove/install them from whichever direction you chose.

    Thanks for the feedback!

    Reply
  • March 30, 2010 at 13:07
    Permalink

    Impressive – The best step-by-step manual re. 10/22! One question only (I could have missed the instruction): Is there a particular direction the way cross-pins should be removed and reassembled? For example, the GLOCK cross-pins are removed from port to starboard and reassembled in the opposite direction.
    Thanks again for the outstanding instruction article!

    Reply

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