My statement was simplistic, but I stand by the general comment - that the slick coatings provide a modest improvement, if any, at significant cost, and some random GI triggers are better than the coated triggers I’ve tried (while other random GI triggers are worse).
I’m also not aware of any of the $150-300 match or 3-gun triggers having special coatings, and cost is certainly no object with those.
As for corrosion, I don’t live in a hot and humid area, much less by the ocean, but hasn’t the M16 been on US Navy ships since the early 1970’s? If corrosion of the sear surfaces was an issue, I imagine that I’d be reading about it here and the military would have spec’d a stainless steel or chrome plating way back by the time the A2 was configured. And the sear surface on the M16 trigger is HUGE - compare it to the sear surface on a 1911, which is typically a non-stainless steel and more exposed to rainwater, immersion, heavy sweat, etc.
For a build, the cost adder of the ACT to a stock FCG of say about $30. That gets me a consistent, safe combat trigger right out of the box, without paying a good gunsmith to smooth it up. (I prefer not to “smith it” myself)
As far as whether the coating is worth it, to you, obviously not,
to BufordTJ, me, and others, the coating gives a bit more insurance for corrosion resistance (more than likely a “non” problem) and consistant pull for a long time.
The real price bargain is the QWS, but I went the the ACT.
So far, I’m too cheap to drop the $'s on a Geissele, I’ll be getting a JP yellow trigger spring on the way if i want a little lighter pull.
Not sure on the Spike’s but glad so far I got the ACT.
It is good to have so many options to suit one’s needs and some wants.
To me a lot of would come down to brands, I do think the ALG is the better trigger.
However I would rather support ALG over spikes. Spikes still deserves punishment for thier previous post election antics. Spikes has never made a part for a .mil end user and I am confident they will never be offered that opportunity.
To me Geiselle and ALG defense mind as well be the same company. Geiselle has made parts for tier one and two mil end users. They have a reputation of a company that treats their customers very well, and their stuff is proven to be top notch.
I also loathe Spike’s branding, it is just so lame.
However neither trigger interests me or seems worth it over a normal quality mil spec trigger. I think if you are going to upgrade the trigger a full jump to something like an SSA, which is my personal preference, is worth it.
