An 8 lb. trigger is very stiff for a 10/22T. Sounds like the hammer or sear may have a burr or they are not mated corectly. Did you check it with a trigger pull guage? Mine also came with a good trigger, good but not great. The pull was around 3 1/2 lbs. I have installed a Volquartsen hammer and sear and it is now around 2 1/4 lbs. That one change improved my 50 yd groups at least .3 inches.