Taurus TX22 Upgrades: FRT Trigger, Optics, Mags & Holsters Ranked

Upgrade priorities depend on which TX22 variant you own. The standard TX22 is the 4.1-inch full-size pistol that ships with a 16-round magazine, factory thread adapter, and an optic-ready slide cut for the RMSc footprint. The TX22 Compact is the 3.6-inch concealment variant that uses dedicated 13-round and 16-round magazines (NOT cross-compatible with the full-size). The TX22 Competition is the 5.25-inch long-slide with a factory compensator and an RMSc cut that ships ready for Steel Challenge. The TX22 T.O.R.O. is a current-production variant with a 4.6-inch heavy threaded barrel and direct 1/2x28 muzzle threads, no adapter collar required.

Cross-platform note: The Mars Pulse22 FRT, TANDEMKROSS Victory trigger, TANDEMKROSS fiber-optic front sight, Eagle's Talon extractor, and Wingman +5 mag bumper all fit every TX22 variant in the table above. Magazines and holsters are the only categories that fork between standard and Compact frames. For a full rimfire pistol shopping comparison see our best .22 LR pistols guide.

The order that gets the most fun and hit-probability out of a TX22 for the lowest total dollar. Mags first, sight upgrade second, then trigger and optic. Most TX22 owners burn 200+ rounds per range trip, so capacity and sight pickup move the needle more than a $300 red dot would.

Pick a trigger lane: The FRT and the Victory shoe solve different problems. The Mars Pulse22 is for shooters who want to dump magazines as fast as the slide cycles, the Victory is for shooters who want a clean adjustable trigger pull for Steel Challenge or NRL. Do not stack them together; the lightened spring that pairs with the Victory can cause inconsistent FRT cycling. Use our builder tool to compare the TX22 against alternatives like the Ruger Mark IV and S&W Victory for plinking and trainer roles.

The Mars Pulse22 is a single-part swap, no fitting and no permanent modification. Total install time is under five minutes once the gun is field-stripped. You need a 3/32 inch roll-pin punch, a small mallet, and a soft mat to catch parts. Follow the steps below in order; do not skip the function check at the end.

1. Clear and field-strip the pistol. Drop the magazine, lock the slide back, visually and physically confirm the chamber is empty, then field-strip the TX22 per the Taurus owner's manual. Separate the slide from the frame and set the slide assembly aside on a soft mat.
2. Drift out the trigger pin. Place the frame on a soft mat with the right side facing up. Use a 3/32 inch roll-pin punch and a small mallet to drift the trigger pin out from the right side of the frame, moving the pin left. Catch the pin so it does not fall into the magazine well.
3. Remove the factory disconnector. Lift the trigger and trigger bar assembly out of the frame as a single unit. Identify the factory polymer disconnector seated against the trigger return spring at the rear of the trigger pack, separate it from the assembly, and set the factory part aside in case you want to revert later.
4. Install the Mars Pulse22 disconnector. Drop the Pulse22 316 stainless steel disconnector into the same location the factory part occupied. Confirm it seats fully against the trigger return spring with no binding. Lower the trigger and trigger bar assembly back into the frame.
5. Reinstall the trigger pin. Hold the trigger and trigger bar in alignment with the frame holes and reinstall the trigger pin from the left side, driving it right with the punch until it sits flush. Check that the trigger moves freely with no drag.
6. Reassemble and function-check. Reinstall the slide on the frame and complete the Taurus reassembly procedure. With the gun pointed in a safe direction and unloaded, rack the slide and dry-fire to confirm the trigger resets cleanly. Test live with at least 50 rounds unsuppressed of your preferred ammunition before adding a suppressor or running the FRT in competition.

Suppressor users, read this: The forced reset relies on the slide cycling far enough to reset the disconnector. Some suppressor and ammo combinations generate enough back-pressure to reduce slide travel and prevent the FRT from engaging, in which case the pistol continues to function in standard semi-auto mode (still safe, just not FRT). Test the FRT unsuppressed first with your preferred ammo, then add the suppressor and retest. CCI Mini-Mags, Federal Champion, and Aguila SuperExtra all run reliably in our unsuppressed testing. For the broader suppressor compatibility picture see our suppressor compatibility guide.

The single highest-ROI upgrade for any TX22 owner is more magazines, not a red dot, trigger, or holster. The TX22 is a high-volume range pistol; a typical session burns 200 to 500 rounds, which is 10 to 22 factory mags. Without a stockpile you spend half your range trip standing at the bench refilling .22 instead of shooting. Factory Taurus mags are the gold standard for reliability, and the TANDEMKROSS Wingman +5 base pad lets you convert existing 16-round mags to 21-rounders for a fraction of the cost of buying more factory 22-rounders.

Minimum mag count by use: EDC carry on the Compact: 3 (one in the gun, one on body, one rotating). Range and training on the standard TX22: 6 to 8 mags. Steel Challenge or rimfire NRL competition: 8 to 10 because course-of-fire reloads and shoot-throughs eat magazines fast. Suppressor host: 6 minimum, all loaded with the same ammo brand the suppressor was tuned on.

Variant compatibility: The standard TX22, TX22 Competition, and TX22 T.O.R.O. all share the full-size 16-round and 22-round magazines. The TX22 Compact uses dedicated 13-round (flush) and 16-round (extended) mags that DO NOT interchange with full-size. Buy the right mag, not a cross-fit assumption. The Wingman +5 base pad fits both the standard and Compact 16-round mags and converts each to a +5 capacity.

The Taurus TX22 is one of the best rimfire suppressor hosts on the market because Taurus ships the factory threaded barrel with a 1/2x28 thread adapter collar in the box. Most US 22-cal cans (YHM Mite, Dead Air Mask 22, Bowers Bitty, Banish 22, SilencerCo Sparrow 22) thread on directly without buying anything extra, and the polymer frame keeps total weight low enough that even a heavy steel can does not upset the muzzle index. The TX22 T.O.R.O. variant skips the adapter collar entirely with direct 1/2x28 muzzle threads.

Suppressor + FRT pairing: Test the Mars Pulse22 FRT unsuppressed first with at least 50 rounds of your preferred ammo. Some suppressor and ammo combinations increase back-pressure enough that the slide does not cycle far enough to reset the FRT, in which case the pistol continues to function in standard semi-auto mode. CCI Mini-Mags and copper-washed bulk ammo run consistently in our testing. Standard-velocity match ammo and very dirty bulk ammo are more likely to cause inconsistent FRT cycling.

Tax stamp note: Suppressors no longer require the $200 NFA tax. The OBBBA legislation zeroed the suppressor tax, and 2026 eForm approvals are running a few days, not the 6-12 month wait that used to define suppressor purchases. Plan on a quick turnaround when you order a can to pair with the TX22.

What a fully upgraded TX22 costs at three tiers. The Plinker tier covers the cheapest meaningful upgrades; the Range tier adds a red dot and laser; the Competition tier swaps the FRT for the Victory shoe and adds the lightened spring kit for Steel Challenge legality.

Plinker ($182): Mag stockpile, FRT, fiber-optic front sight, and the hardened extractor. Buys you a TX22 that runs all day on bulk ammo and cycles fast enough to make every range trip fun. Range ($481): Add a Holosun 407K dot and a holster for shooters who want to train holster-to-target reps. The 407K is the cheapest credible RMSc optic on the TX22 plate. Competition ($835): Swap the FRT for the Victory trigger and lightened spring for adjustable trigger pull (FRT is not allowed in most Steel Challenge division rules), upgrade to the 507K X2 for the MRS reticle, and add the Viridian green laser for low-light training drills.

Best .22 LR Pistols 2026 - Eight rimfire pistols ranked for training, plinking, and suppressor host roles. Covers the TX22, Ruger Mark IV, S&W Victory, and Browning Buck Mark side by side.

Best Ruger 10/22 Upgrades 2026 - The rimfire upgrade companion guide for the most popular .22 LR rifle, useful for shooters who want a TX22 pistol / 10/22 rifle pair.

Best First Gun for Beginners 2026 - The TX22 ranks as the best value first pistol; this guide compares it against the alternatives for new shooters.

Suppressor Compatibility Basics - The suppressor reference for shooters running a TX22 + can setup. Covers thread specs, mounting interfaces, and host gas tuning.

Best Pistol Red Dot Sights 2026 - The full red dot footprint reference. The TX22 OR uses the RMSc footprint covered in detail here.

Rifle Configurator Builder - Compare the TX22 against the Ruger Mark IV, S&W Victory, and other rimfire pistols with the builder tool.