Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles AR 15 Trigger

Hey All,

I am trying to figure out which replacement trigger I want to try in my AR 15. I have a S&W M&P Sport II and the trigger pull is north of 7lb. I would like to get something which would have a pull weigt somewhere between 2 and 3.5 lb. I am not sure if I want a single stage or double stage trigger. I would like the installation to be easy and the trigger reliable. What would you suggest?

https://www.joeboboutfitters.com/CM...ngle-Stage-Drop-In-Tri-p/cmc-91501ar.htm

I installed this trigger in my sons AR. It is crisp and would recommend it. There are others on here that are more knowledgeable than me on the AR triggers. I just cannot stand a creepy trigger, I’ve been shooting bolt actions for so long that the stock AR triggers are unacceptable to me.

That makes it more difficult for us to make suggestions, if you don't know if you want a single stage or 2 stage trigger. My own personal preference goes to the 2 stage, but most of mine are precision built AR's. I know most here are going to suggest the Larue tactical MBT2s, without even questioning your wants and needs. However, For the money, the MBT2s is damn hard to beat. The same can be said for the RRA 2 stage varmint match trigger. The RRA is a 3.5 pound pull weight 2 stage trigger and I have quite a few of them. They are excellent, but some of them have had to have a minor amount of polishing done to them to equal the feel of the Larue MBT2s. It seems like the first stage can be gritty on the RRA, in my own personal experience. Hence the need for a small amount of polishing. For $80.00, its hard to complain about either of these triggers and would be my suggestion if you are on a strict budget. The next step up might be a Geiselle SSA or SSA-E. I also have some buddies that swear by the Geiselle G2S, but I seriously doubt they have tried the $80.00 Larue tactical. They would probably throw their G2S away... Now, you are looking for a very easy trigger to install. Nothing is easier than a drop in unit like the CMC single stage trigger maddog suggested. I have one in one of my AR's and I have no complaints about it at all. The only difference between mine and the one maddog suggested is the one I have has a flat shoe. Something the OP should be aware of is, in general an AR trigger (of any kind) is extremely simple to change out.

Thank you for the suggestion.

I have changed triggers on several bolt actions and I just put a Wild West trigger in my Marlin 1894. I have some mechanical ability, I just wanted something I couldn't make a mistake and end up with something which would be unsafe or something you had to constantly mess with to stay adjusted. I did not want to pick single or two stage until I heard some reasons why people chose one over the other. It's a new platform for me.

I would not use a 2# AR trigger on a bet!

Personally, I'd get a 2 stage - they are safer and more reliable. A 2 stage can have a 4.5# pull overall and still have a safe, crisp, 2# final pull. Without doubling or slam firing.

Thanks. Do you have a favorite manufacturer for 2 stage triggers?

Geissele SSA-E. Little pricey at regular price, but you might be able to pick one up on sale with Black Friday.

I have several of the Rock River 2 stage AR triggers, and I will highly recommend them.

I will keep an eye out for Black Friday deals.

Thank you, JamesJr.

I have been looking at all of the triggers recommended and some more. Has anyone used Triggertech? If so, how did you like their triggers?

I got 2 of the TT's last year on Black Friday. I think they're doing it again this year. So far they've been great, but the only thing I have to compare them to is a cmc...

Awesome!!! Thanks for the heads up on the Black Friday sale. I will be watching for it.

Another vote for the Geissele SSA-E

Perfect Storm to get what you want, really, with Black Friday right around the corner.

Thats always the best time to look for a good trigger. Prices are much better. However, I wonder with this year being different how things are going to be? I was on Geiselles's site and they say the SSA-E's are out of stock... Right to bear arms usually has triggers marked way down on their deal of the day sales too, but not too much going on there either.

You dont' know me from squat. RRA NM or Varmint depending on weight. They sometimes need a tiny bit of tuning or a few hundred rounds but for the cost you can't beat em. You have to get used to 2 stage but thats really the only way I feel comfortable with light weight in an AR unless its a total cartridge trigger.

La Rue has the same out too. Not sure of the model. I personally know both groups and I have personal issues with La Rue so I stick with the guys at RRA.

So far.

Yeah, Jeff, I've been rockin' a couple RRs for almost 20 years. Tune them up once every decade or so. The LaRue MBT2S is another good, popularly priced trigger. I've only had that one a couple years. No problems.

But if you want to all-out trigger, the Geissele NM trigger in match rifle configuration is the one to get. It's adjustable.

Do you have guys have any preference between curved and flat blade triggers?

Yes

No

Someone forgot to say maybe.

I run Hiperfire triggers in mine. Mind you, they're hunting guns. The triggers are set for about 3lbs with the slightest bit of creep.

Hiperfire Hipertouch


Dan

I'll say it!

Lol

I have a Velocity trigger in my DPMS. Single stage, 3lbs pull weight, non-adjustable. It breaks relatively clean - maybe a slight hint of creep, though I have not measured it's actual pull weight. Feels more like a bolt gun trigger to me than the other two AR triggers I've used (factory DPMS and factory Stag). No hiccups to date, but I'm not shooting it a lot either - about 200 rounds over it so far.

Kaiser Norton

https://velocitytriggers.com/product/classic-ar-trigger-curved/

Geissele SSA-E is my favorite so far. I have a CMC 2.5 lbsthat I really like. I have given away a few RR 2-stage as I couldn't see myself putting them back in. I saved one just in case the Franklin binary has to come out.

Another plug for the Geissele SSA/SSAE

I’ve got one in a colt 6920 and an FN patrol carbine.

Love them and couldn’t imagine anything being better.

Jeff, have you ever tried the Geiselle SSA-E? There are a lot of guys saying thats the one they prefer. Some guys even saying they tried the RRA 2 stage and pulled them out. What say you?? Just so I don't have to say it...

So what do you guys do with the terrible, awful, gritty, crunchy, stock triggers you pull out?

Give them away mostly. I keep a RR in a ziploc just in case.

Brownells has Triggertech adaptable limited editions for $159 (pre-order, supposed to start shipping in a few days). That’s $50-$75 off the regular “non limited edition” price..


https://www.brownells.com/rifle-par...rigger-adjustable-curved-prod138518.aspx

Also, these are adjustable weight. Not like the fixed weight limited editions on the Triggertech site. Heck of a deal.

Save them. Sometimes people actually use them on cheap builds. Ive given a few triggers away. I save all the parts like grips, charge handles, safeties, etc.

You can buy a spring kit from Brownells.

Guilty as charged.

My first rifle was a Marlin-Glenfield 75 semi-auto 22 LR. I did not know the trigger was awful, I just learned to keep squeezing till it went off. The trigger on the Colt M16A1 I shot expert with in boot camp was not much better. After 30 years of shooting rifles and shotguns with good triggers, the trigger on a new AR15 was a bit rude. After a little careful stoning, and a grip screw pre-travel adjustment, I find the ~4 pound let off to be acceptable. For a knock-around rifle the massaged mil-spec triggers work fine for me. I am tempted to try one of the TT triggers, but then I would probably have to put one in all of the others...

Saw that also. I put in an order. Was going to order another Velocity, but decided to give the TriggerTech a go for $10 more. Will give a report when I receive delivery and when I get it installed....Hopefully it lives up to their hype.

Kaiser Norton

I have several (5) RRA Match triggers and sent two of them to White Oak Precision for Mr. Holliger to do his magic on, one for my RRA Varmint and the other my Armalite AR10. Might be better triggers but for the money you can't beat RRA triggers even without doing anything to them.

Steve.........

What was the combined cost of the trigger and Mr. Holliger's magic?

I'm with you on that one. No need to send it to WOA to polish them out though. They are easy enough to work on.. If I were incapable of working on a simple trigger, I'd either give it up or buy a Larue tactical MBT2S...

I used one in a 7.62x39 build with a JP spring kit in it. Honestly, I like it quite a bit.

TAG

I have a sweet shooting AR that had a sloppy stock trigger. I ordered a RRA 2 Stage NM Trigger and had a quality gunsmith install it. Since I plan on shooting CMP and Pres 100 with it, it needs to pull at least 4.5 pounds to be legal. After considerable work, it wouldn’t pull more than 3 pounds 12 ounces. My gunsmith had to order an $11.00 springs kit, and finally found one that pulls right at 5 pounds. I shouldn’t have to spend $40 in gunsmith labor, $11.00 for parts and 52 miles of back and forth mileage to get a trigger that will operate the way it is advertised to work in the first place. Granted, it’s a sweet trigger now but only after a major pain in the butt.

You are right, you shouldnt have to. You should be able to do that simple chidt yourself.

bsa: You miss my point. The RRA NM Trigger is advertised as pulling 4.5 pounds and it won’t. Whether I was capable of working on the trigger myself or not is a moot point. The trigger doesn’t perform as advertised. Having shot competively for over 40 years and being a Distinguished Rifleman for 35 years, I know my limitations. I don’t know how to safely adjust the poundage on a Match trigger so I need to depend on the manufacturer to build a quality trigger that performs up to spec. When it doesn’t, I’ll use a trained gunsmith rather than botch the job myself.

Bought a couple of JP Enterprises 3.5 # spring kits for use with the stock trigger doesn't cure all the ills but is less poundage and they use the stock trigger pins fine so you don't have to buy anti walk pins extra. 12.69 a set. Mb

Update to my original post: I got the Triggertech and it was super easy to install and it has a great feel to it.

I bought the ssa-e on sale, its is my fav out of the ruger 452, larue mbt, and a couple other cheaper ones i have.

That being said, it is not 100-125 dollars better than the larue mbt, the mbt is great trigger for the price. I heard great things about the RRs too, but never tried one.

Rock River was what I had a looong time ago in my White Oak service rifle.

They don't suck, but their not a G

LaRue is, IMO, the best buy. I've got maybe a dozen. I've got a few G triggers, and the LaRue is 90+% the trigger for half the money.

My favorite that I've tried so far is the three pound Velocity. It's a heck of a nice trigger.

Thinking about trying a 2.5 pound CMC in a future 6mm or 22 Grendel build. I don't like the idea of no tensioning adjustments though. Seems like for the money it costs, you shouldn't have to jam stuff under the trigger to get it stable.

Yeah, the Timney and Trigger Tech’s I have do have the tensioning adjustments. I have several of the CMC’s, and while they don’t come with tensioning screws, I haven’t personally noticed any movement due to the lack of them.

The CMC triggers DO come with anti-walk pins. These are $15 if you buy them separately from CMC. They USED to be some pins with c-clips that were easy to lose. The last few I’ve bought have had pins with screws on each end, instead, and come with the needed wrenches to install them.

Joe Bob Outfitters still has them for $139 each.

Thanks, I might go that direction.

Are most trigger pins now the "small" size?

My own experience is somewhat limited but if you put in a drop.in after market trigger, tension screws or not you need the anti walk trigger pins period. Mb

Did you get to Shoot your rifle with the new trigger installation yet?

No, I have not done so. What little time I have right now I have been spending rabbit hunting before it goes out of season next month. I might be able to squeeze out a few shots to check function. Are you thinking slam fires or pins getting loose?

Single stage go with a Timney 3lb. Two stage go with a Geissele SSA-E. I have both triggers and they are nice.

No just curious on how you like the trigger, live fire. I do not own a trigger tech but I’ve heard good things about them.

I've only used 2 stage but I've never had the need to use anti walk pins. I have swaged pin holes a bit on a few lowers though.

Rost I didn t do anything to the pin holes but tighten the tension screws per instructions. Rise armament 140 trigger by the end of the first mag the pins were drifting. Installed the anti walk pins done deal. Mb

like I said only 2 stage triggers for us. And some of the original milazzo ones too.
But I've never had a pin walk out. Thats a loose pin hole IMHO.

If it fixes it with a AW pin it does but its about like carrier weights, adj gas blocks and so on, a cure for a fix that never should have been needed in the first place

I agree other than the adjustable gas block.

What is perfect with my can on an 10.5" carbine gas barrel is not perfect when I take the can off.

I will report back when I get a chance to shoot it. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

Velocity 3pd curved shoe《$$$$
Elftmann 3 pd curved shoe 》$$$$$$$

Single stagers.

YMMV..


People busted my chops on here about single stage triggers.
And polishing/ Tuning mil spec ones also.

Now both subjects:
single stage drop ins and polishing in general seem to be the cats meow to some now.


TFF!!!!

Just bought a Midwest Industries 3.5 # single stage. Seems nice, but I’m no AR expert.

Must have been before I started posting again, but I would have agreed with you - the single stage ar triggers I've tried are damn nice.

#prophetinthewilderness

I have a RRA trigger on my duty rifle and have been very happy with it with no problems. They are.probably one of the lesser expensive options for a decent trigger.

Velocity ..good 3#
Rise armament..good 3#
CMC advertised 2.5# .. scale 1.5 # love it in my Areo Precision 6.5 grendel.
Then there is my rare breed .. whole different animal ...