Trigger test - Which trigger is "best" for you?

[Shihan]

i was using the timney drop in ar15 unit @ 3lbs. i'd like to get my hands on an ar10 trigger and add it to the test. if and when i do, i'll update here.

i'm also tossing around adding review of grips to compliment this. i posted this at snipershide as well, and a discussion there got me thinking the relationship between the grip and trigger shoe in terms of placement make a large impact on trigger control. moreso with precision shooters than door kickers, but still the grip is a personal choice just as the trigger is.

any thoughts? would this be worthy?

"He suggested that if you intend on using military grade ammunition, that a person buy the AR10 trigger Timney offers, as it provides heavier springs and a higher mass hammer for certain ignition. To verify his guidance I ran a handful of nearly every .223 ammo I had lying around, and I didn’t have a failure. Problem solved. "

Thanks, the way this is worded I thought you were using the AR10 trigger after the AR15 didnt work. I had some light primers as well so im heading down to Timney this week to get fixed up.

[septic-tank13]

"He suggested that if you intend on using military grade ammunition, that a person buy the AR10 trigger Timney offers, as it provides heavier springs and a higher mass hammer for certain ignition. To verify his guidance I ran a handful of nearly every .223 ammo I had lying around, and I didn’t have a failure. Problem solved. "

Thanks, the way this is worded I thought you were using the AR10 trigger after the AR15 didnt work. I had some light primers as well so im heading down to Timney this week to get fixed up.

i just got off the phone with jason regarding an AR10 trigger. i was using the AR15 trigger on all kinds of ammo and ran into trouble with surplus stuff in 5.56... as a result i continued the test with ONLY 223rem ammo and no more troubles existed.

he's sending me an AR10 trigger and we'll give it a whirl. i'll be adding it to the line up when i'm finished.

thanks!

[jmart]

Very nice writeup!

Question on the Armalite, what is the span of weight ranges achievable given you can adjust the diconnector spring to three different settings? And what stage does that affect, just the first?

[militarymoron]

understood, septic - makes sense and thanks for the response.

[Tikkatac]

Great write up and answers a lot of questions I had.

[septic-tank13]

Very nice writeup!

Question on the Armalite, what is the span of weight ranges achievable given you can adjust the diconnector spring to three different settings? And what stage does that affect, just the first?

we're adding the overall trigger pull weight, so you'll feel the change in weight for the first stage. the second stage, in which to break the sear, will remain constant.

each setting is advertised to reflect around 8oz in felt pull weight. however, in most cases the change per setting is closer to 4 or 5 ounces in actual pull weight. as we coil the spring tighter, we add weight. so to add weight set the spring closer to the floor, to lighten weight take spring up closer to the disconnector.

does this help?

[jmart]

we're adding the overall trigger pull weight, so you'll feel the change in weight for the first stage. the second stage, in which to break the sear, will remain constant.

each setting is advertised to reflect around 8oz in felt pull weight. however, in most cases the change per setting is closer to 4 or 5 ounces in actual pull weight. as we coil the spring tighter, we add weight. so to add weight set the spring closer to the floor, to lighten weight take spring up closer to the disconnector.

does this help?

Yes it does. So you have about a 10oz span; the baseline, baseline +5oz, and baseline +10oz, correct? And it only affects the first stage portion.

By any chance, did you test a Tactical 2-stage trigger? Armalite sells two versions, they look the same, the only thing I can think is the NM are finished better on bearing surfaces and maybe have tuned springs. The NM goes for about $150 street price, the Tactical version goes for about $100. The Tactical is their stock trigger they put in all of their carbines if I'm not mistaken.

I'm running two triggers right now (actually, one, with another awaiting to be tested/broken in), a RRA NM two-stage and a Bill Springfield-tuned CMT trigger. Bill's is a single stage, but the difference between the gritty stock trigger and his tuned version is pretty remarkable. I asked for him to give me the 4lb trigger, I don't have a pull gauge, but it feels pretty kick ass during dry firing. He does all this while retaining stock springs. As I get more time on it, I'll report out.

Thanks again for performing this comparison.

[septic-tank13]

.....and a Bill Springfield-tuned CMT trigger. Bill's is a single stage, but the difference between the gritty stock trigger and his tuned version is pretty remarkable. I asked for him to give me the 4lb trigger, I don't have a pull gauge, but it feels pretty kick ass during dry firing. He does all this while retaining stock springs. ...

i think i've heard of this fellow. is he the guy doing this in a turn around for $35? somebody on ar15.com may have mentioned him, or it may have been another chap...

either way, i will caution anyone against a scenario where we take mil spec hammers and sears and we begin grinding and polishing. the surface hardening on most of them is a few thousands, and you can easily move past this threshold in a hurry while doing your polish job. i recognize that this will work fine for some folks as their rigs don't see enough use to wear past surface hardening and become problematic. or they simply don't put enough rounds down range to wear too much even though the surface hardened portion of the engagement points may be already gone. either way, you're set up for a pending disappointment. plinking out the back door isn't a tough spot to be in when the firearm doubles and/or quits. kickin' down doors for a living would make me reconsider my choice of triggers quick, fast, and in a hurry.

food for thought.

i don't want to have anyone think i'm condemning this fellow considering i don't know his process. i'm speaking generally.

[jmart]

There seems to be some debate as to whether or not current FCGs are surface-hardened or through-hardened.

Bill's work came well recommended from many folks at TOS, some who have used his triggers in 3-day classes w/o issue. Bill provided some of his thoughts on his work, status of quality of triggers, hammers and disconnectors, need to properly lube/maintain trigger, maintenance intervals for parts replacement, etc.

This is for a fun gun, I'm not terribly worried about problems based on the number of favorable reports I've read, but I'll be vigilant.

[doramide7]

Very nice writeup!

Question on the Armalite, what is the span of weight ranges achievable given you can adjust the diconnector spring to three different settings? And what stage does that affect, just the first?

understood, septic - makes sense and thanks for the response.