I’m just starting putting together an AR for the first time and I’m having a great time doing so. I’ve decided to build up the lower myself and already have an upper, my question is which trigger set up do I need? This rifle will be purely tactical in purpose, home defense, range, training hopefully. I’m not sure the difference between a two and single stage trigger and the advantages of each. If you guys could give me any info it would be much appreciated!
What’s not okay with the standard trigger setup?
That’s sort of what I’m wondering, there’s a lot of options out there. If the standard is a good choice then that’s what I’ll get just curious of the difference.
2 Stage is for a match/precision gun. Single stage is what 99% of people use for a “combat” weapon.
But…
…if you decide to get a “better” trigger, whether it is single or two stage, be sure to get a trigger that is designed to be a “battle trigger” not an adjustable.
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Cool thanks a ton guys, single stage milspec it is.
throwing another log on the fire… not all “milspec” single stage triggers are equal. colt and LMT seem to make really consistent GI trigs… i’ve had almost as consistent experience from CMT. armalite, bushmaster, and RRA trigs seem to be decent, but a little more hit-or-miss, and DPMS produces the single most inconsistent single stage trigger on the market. unfixable, a lot of the time… i generally polish every trigger i install, but i’ve come across several DPMS triggers that couldn’t be helped even with severe material work. this is why DPMS is basically the only LPK i simply will not use anymore.
I started out my first few years in the Space gun game using only Colt G.I.(mil spec) single stage triggers and I must say looking back I wish I had seen the light earlier in running a high quality, clean breaking, and predictable trigger in my ARs.
Obviously the gun still goes bang w. a 8-10lb. unpredictable and gritty stock trigger, however why short change yourself and your build when a good trigger can exponentially improve your accuracy and trigger control…I honestly believe any shooter no matter how much time behind a gun they have can benefit from a high quality trigger.
2 stage triggers tend to intimidate folks who have never used one before including myself but they are imho the better trigger to achieve accuracy as well as trigger control since you have the 1st stage to align sights and then the 2nd when you are set. You can “slap” through high quality 2 stage triggers like Geissele SSA’s, KAC 2stage match triggers or even LMT’s 2 stage trigger for the times when you are firing large volumes of successive fire and in this manner these 2 stage triggers are equally adept for cqb or duty/shtf applications as any single stage trigger would be.
I would personally look at the Geissele SSA 2 stage, KAC’s 2 stage trigger or LMT’s 2stage…all three of these are great triggers that have been proven to be extremely reliable and all are predictable and clean breaking.
love my timney’s
Has anybody got the Wilson Combat New Tactial single stage 4.0 lb.match grade trigger /drop-in unit?
I would just go with the standard GI trigger from a good quality LPK. It is the least expensive option yet the most proven trigger available on an AR
Very interesting, so the two stage triggers can also be used capably in a home defense or battle rifle scenario?
Also are there any high quality single stage triggers I should look for? DD? Lmt?
I’d highly recommend a high quality standard GI trigger for starters, you can always add a more sophisticated trigger later if you want one, but I wouldn’t even consider one unless it was for a precision rifle setup. If you really want to do it right, contact Grant at GRTactical and you can buy a high quality LPK for your lower build with exactly the parts you need and no extra parts you don’t need. You won’t go wrong with CMT, LMT, or Colt, but avoid DPMS at all costs. Good luck.
not to mention the strong merits of learning marksmanship on a single stage. you’ll be a better shooter for the rest of your life if you can master the 8lbs GI trig.
and i wouldn’t recommend a $200 trigger to anyone for their first build, “precision” gun or not.
Thanks a ton I will contact GRtactical and get something ironed out.
I suspect many who do not see the use of a quality trigger in an AR are folks who opted to spend their trigger budget of products like AFG’s, VFG’s, some $400 weaponlight, $100-$400 muzzle device, $300 set of irons…etc.
Every time my guns go boom I am cashing in on my investments in quality triggers…triggers just don’t look that cool:)
I agree completely. This is exactly what I feel and why I asked the question here, I don’t feel like I need the best but I do want something high quality.
What about the Geissele SSA trigger? I hear it touted as a non adjustable 2 stage trigger and if the 2 stage fails it reverts back to a singe stage trigger. I was pretty sure I was going to go with this trigger to replace my crappy DPMS trigger from the LPK that I used. However, I have been seeing a few of these pop up on different marketplaces and didnt know if it was not worth the price or something.
It’s ironic that so many shooting ARs have the idea that 2 stage triggers are for “match/precision” shooting while the single stage is for combat.
The 2 stage trigger is a battle trigger and a better design than the single stage trigger for reducing unintended discharges during high stress situations and from rough handling. For many years, folks derided the military 2 stage triggers found in surplus 03 Springfields and Mausers because of the long take up of the first stage and the heavy pull needed to fire the weapon. Most folks “in the know” back in the day recommended replacing them with crisp breaking single stage “match” triggers by Timney & Canjar which were adjustable to minimize creep and backlash while reducing pull weight.
I suspect that the two stage pull of the Geissele is a design parameter to allow a smooth, crisp release trigger for the AR that will stand up to rough handling and the long reset is to eliminate doubling, especially when the shooter milks the trigger. As I recall, one of the first problems to arise in the early days of using ARs in National Match and other disciplines was the difficulty of tuning the trigger to be crisp and reliable. That’s why the first modular drop in triggers for ARs were developed.
Pull weight isn’t the most important factor in a good trigger. A shooter is better served by a reliable, predictable, heavy trigger than an unpredictable, unreliable, light one. The long, smooth pull of a good trigger on a double action revolver is better than a single action trigger that while has a lighter, crisper let off, is gritty and may not feel the same with each pull.
Yes, the average and even the beginning shooter is better served by a good trigger. As long as it’s remembered that a good trigger is reliable, predictable and smooth and does not have to be fancy or expensive
Wilsons TTU is an excellent single stage trigger.