I have been running all milspec single stage triggers in my AR’s and now have one with a Wilson Combat single stage which is awesome but I have a question. What is the advantage of a 2 stage trigger if any? Mostly for a DMR type rifle.
thanks guys
A two stage trigger allows you to take the slack out of the trigger, control your breathing perfectly and break the shot at the proper respiratory pause.
A single stage trigger is usually either “on” or “off”.
A agree 100% with Magsz.
My experience is has been that the 2 stage triggers have a longer, less defined trigger reset as well.
For me, single stage for quick CQB work where your on the trigger and pre loading. 2 stage for precision/long range work. I personally do not like 2 stage triggers in fighting guns.
Until that day,
Darkop
Most of my longer range stuff is with a precision bolt rifle and fine tuned trigger, so that is where I am coming from.
For up close stuff and even out to medium ranges I like a single stage, normally a standard USGI type. For gas precision rifles, one might think I would opt for a good single stage because of my bolt rifles but for some reason with the longer range precision type gas guns I can go with either a good single or two stage. I obviously don’t prefer the heavy pull of a stock USGI type of trigger in a long range weapon where the rifle is more accurate and has magnified optics. I get more out of this type of rifle by using a better trigger.
Being a big fan of the GI trigger, or at least a longtime user who has grown accustomed to it, I don’t get much into the various aftermarkets in terms of the “why”, but I can say that my experience matches much of what the others have posted when it comes to go-fasters. I made the mistake of putting a two-stage in a go-faster gun and actually found it gave me some issues when, well, going faster. I’m sure it’s largely a learning curve issue and one of being used to something else.
The NGA X7 that I have for T&E, and that I ran last night at a match, has the S3G optional Geissele trigger in it. I found it a much easier trigger to get used to when “running & gunning”.
I’m going to reserve my SSA for the “precision” gun and probably sell off the spare SSA that I have.
Oh this is good info. I have been giving some thought to upgrading my MRP trigger to a Geissele but have been on the fence. It is interesting what your saying Rob about it being “To Fast” I wanted smother and am not looking to shoot faster than I can think.
But my rifle is dual duty so I’m interested in that spare SSA if you decide to part with her Rob.
Jon
Jon, I just have to echo what Rob is saying. Much has to do with what you and your finger are used to. For guys like Rob or myself who prefer a USGI type trigger, this is what we mostly run and are proficient with or used to this type.
For myself it may be splitting hairs on a timer, but I am faster and more reliable with a good USGI type trigger. When I switch to my SSA or other two stages I often miss a beat when pushing the upper limits of my speed. It is not a fault of the trigger or design but just what I am used to running. But in reality all things being equal when I am on the money with a two stage, I am still a hair faster with just a stock USGI type single stage. In all fairness I will also say that I am not any faster with a match type single stage vs a stock type trigger either.
I did a video comparison of a stock Colt USGI trigger vs an SSA. Ironically this phenomenon of fumbling a trigger pull actually happened on my first attempt with the SSA. Of course I had just ripped off a quick 10 rounds on a stock trigger and then switched to the SSA but I didn’t hit a trigger pull correct just out of feel. Two stages are just not what I am used to or is not my preference for running a trigger on my own ragged edge of speed. Again not a fault of the trigger, just not what I am used to or what I prefer.
Colt USGI vs SSA w/ trigger fumble on the SSA at round the 1:30 mark 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbOct0zf6_M
Any trigger can be run well up close.
I run my SSA’s faster than any single stage trigger out there including the S3G.
Learn your trigger and run it accordingly.
I will say that for longer range shots i much prefer being able to stage the trigger so that i can press through the shot when i want to.
Its easier for me and i find i am more accurate.
Thoughts guys?
Surf, I remember that video when you first posted it. Matches my experience pretty exactly. Since we’re posting videos, this is the 1/2 & 1/2 drill. Last segment is 10 rounds in under 2.5 seconds. IIRC it was under two flat. That’s <0.2 second splits +/-. A .14 split like Surf posted would be a 1.4 second time on the last portion. My run was a 14.5" midlength BCM with PWS FS556 and GI trigger.
There reaches a point where one is outrunning the gun. In many cases, and for all shooters after some distance “X”, you are manipulating the trigger faster than the sights come back on target, or faster than the barrel is coming back on target. Advances in tech with brakes, buffers, gas systems, etc. have helped this to some degree. But this is more “range laboratory” stuff to some degree.
I also suspect that the OP may have been asking for recommendations based on precision, not speed, but he’ll have to help us out with that.
These are mine exactly. Ed McGivern could run an even longer pull double action revolver with accuracy as fast as many machine guns. This does not mean that I can do that, but it does mean that reasonable results are possible for someone who puts forth the effort.
The huge advantages of a 2 stage trigger are reliability and safety. It has these advantages because it has much more engagement in the sear surfaces. To paraphrase someone, accuracy is fine, but being able to shoot is even better.
Thanks all
I hope the OP got his question answered. I have had some custom triggers on a few of my bolt guns but droped them for fine tuned factory ones as they where not any better IMO.
I was thinking of upgrading not for speed but for precsion and the duality of my platform the MRP.
Thanks for the great first hand experiences.
Sorry I posted the abbreviated version of my trigger comparison. The longer version has me rambling off my reasoning about speed, distance, and accuracy in relation to rifle, optic types and triggers.
With those exact same two rifles, I can pretty much relate that 7 yard comparison all the way out to around 450 yards taking ultimate speed out of the equation. If I were to shoot at increasing distances on the same sized targets looking for pure accuracy you will absolutely tell no difference in which trigger I was running. My accuracy is more limited by the accuracy of the weapon and the non-magnified red dot as opposed to being able to blame the influence the trigger and my trigger finger has on the rifle. So in essence on a battle type rifle with a red dot optic, I find no advantage of a match or two stage trigger on these rifles out to about these distances.
On the flip side, if I am going for extremely small groups and ultimate precision AND I have a rifle capable of great accuracy AND a magnified optic, I would definitely want a much better trigger. From my experiences only at this point can I actually see a noticeable difference in my shooting that I can directly relate it to the trigger and my trigger press.
So basically speed is not the only thing I take into account as I can do a non timed accuracy test and the results from those 2 rifles would be similar or more correct the accuracy would be more directly related to the actual accuracy of the rifle rather than due to the trigger and my trigger press. So on a precision weapon a good trigger is a must have. I will say that I do put a lot of time behind a USGI type trigger even out to distances so maybe that helps, but these are the things that I find in my own shooting experiences. Of course mileage may vary so to speak. 
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Thank You!!! I was looking for something like this!!! I am looking at buying one and have been leaning towards the new SD 3 Gun after reading about them here.