Single Stage AR-15 Trigger Recommendations?

For single Stage I like:
Gieselle 3 gun
KE Arms SLT-1

link to KE Arms:
http://www.kearms.com/slt-1-sear-link-technology-trigger.aspx

Crisp single stage at 3 or 4# for a home defense AR? You'd be much better off with a standard single stage AR trigger. PSA standard single stage triggers have the normal amount of creep, but they're smooth and consistent, a much better choice for home defense than a crisp single stage.

I run POF. Can't recommend them enough.

They have these polymer feet to keep it tight in the action and I like the break and reset as much as an Elf.

I have both the 4.5 and 3.5# with the curved and straight blade, respectively.

I recommend looking at them.

All of my triggers are light. My heaviest rifle triggers are 4.5lbs, only because Service Rifle rules require it. My hunting bolt guns and AR’s are all under 3lbs, my match rifles are 4-6oz.

Give me an 8lb mil-spec trigger in a high stress situation, after shooting 6oz to 3lb triggers for thousands of rounds all year long, year in, year out, how well do you expect I’ll manage? I can tell you, it ain’t pretty.

Geissele Super 3 Gun and Single Stage Precision are the two which get my money for single stage AR triggers right now.

js8588 said:

Obligatory "the super 3 gun isn't really a single stage trigger" comment, but yes, it's a very, very nice trigger. I've messed with one and Geissele HQ is about a 45 minute drive from where I live. I'm not wild about their 2 stage triggers (my wife likes them, though), but I've almost universally standardized on their charging handles.

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I have Geissele Hi-Speed National Match triggers in almost all of my personal AR’s. A couple Rock River Varmint 2 stages, and a couple old Bushmaster National Match 2 stage triggers, and I still have a Geissele G2S-E hanging around, but when I build one for myself, it’s a 2 stage, and usually a Geissele Hi-Speed NM 2 stage. I’ve tried lots of AR triggers, I prefer them to feel as similar as I can get, and feel GREAT.

js8588 said:

Yes, I'll grant for self defense, a milspec-ish trigger is adequate if not in point of fact preferable. Given that this gun will be used at the range (and maybe for hunting after the move next year to a state which permits MSRs to be used for such) with far more certainty than it will ever be used for HD, I'd much rather have a trigger I enjoy than one that is Marine-proof.

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I think he was recommending the PSA clone of the ALG triggers.

The ALGs are mil spec but cleaned up. They’re actually really nice and a great value. And if you want to lighten them up, yo7 can swap out the springs with a set from JP.

I have an ALG in a budget build that I did and it’s very nice.
I’d highly suggest you look into them for a self defense gun as an option.

ALG's ACT trigger is a great product for the price. Comes with standard MilSpec and light weight springs for you to choose from.

Are the ALG’s neutral sears? They’re one of a short list of AR triggers I have not handled much.

I'll say it again and again, you can massage your milspec trigger into a really nice trigger with minimal work. I recently posted a long how-to. Aftermarket triggers are mostly you exchanging money for convenience.

Varminterror said:

Are the ALG’s neutral sears? They’re one of a short list of AR triggers I have not handled much.

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What do you mean by "neutral sear"?

js8588 said:

Obligatory "the super 3 gun isn't really a single stage trigger"...

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The Super 3 Gun is a single stage trigger, just one with longer than normal sear engagement (what it's commonly known as "creep").

LaRue makes a single stage trigger since the OP has used their two-stage and presumably likes them...but 5.5lb pull. https://www.larue.com/products/larue-tactical-mbt-1s-trigger/

I started with the Jard non-adjustable and wished I had gotten the adjustable as the creep was too much for me. I modified it myself and made it semi-adjustable by running a screw through the grip to take up a lot of the creep and then adjusted the sear. Even with that the trigger was never icicle-like break, it just didn't feel crisp. I recently upgraded to an Elftmann SE and love that trigger. It has no creep, quick reset and is more the icicle break that I was looking for. I would recommend the Elftmann in a heartbeat.

MistWolf said:

What do you mean by "neutral sear"?

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The sear engagement angle. Mil spec triggers are a positive sear angle, while many of the enhanced mil-spec triggers offering lighter pulls over the years have simply been well polished triggers with neutral sears.

Last weekend, a buddy assembled two PSA ARs under my guidance. The triggers were smooth and neither felt like pull weight stacked. However, I didn't check to see if the sear was neutral or not during testing.

MistWolf said:

Last weekend, a buddy assembled two PSA ARs under my guidance. The triggers were smooth and neither felt like pull weight stacked. However, I didn't check to see if the sear was neutral or not during testing.

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If the hammer didn’t withdraw slightly with a mil-spec trigger, then the trigger is technically out of spec.

You generally won’t feel stacking like you might in other trigger designs unless you pulled the trigger a great number of times without the hammer installed, or measured the weight without the hammer, and then again after.

I personally wouldn’t complain if they WERE out of spec, as long as they were neutral, because it does reduce the trigger weight considerably.

I like cmc flats myself

Varminterror said:

If the hammer didn’t withdraw slightly with a mil-spec trigger, then the trigger is technically out of spec.

You generally won’t feel stacking like you might in other trigger designs unless you pulled the trigger a great number of times without the hammer installed, or measured the weight without the hammer, and then again after.

I personally wouldn’t complain if they WERE out of spec, as long as they were neutral, because it does reduce the trigger weight considerably.

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The PSA triggers are good enough that I wouldn't bother to replace them unless I wanted a two stage in that particular AR. If they do have the standard positive angle sear (I'm thinking that they do) , it doesn't have a negative impact on pull.

Myself, I currently prefer a trigger that breaks around 4.5 to 5.5 lbs. After decades of working on aircraft, my hands aren't as deft as they once were and lighter triggers are no longer practical.

The AR trigger I prefer is the KAC two stage. It's a pricey trigger and isn't as crisp as an SSA, but I got mine for next to nothing. What I like about the KAC is that its reset is shorter, much like the reset on an M14 or Garand trigger group. The next trigger I'm going to try is the two stage Sionic. From what I'm told, its reset is similar to the KAC.

I am always budget minded so when I built my ar15 I used a velocity trigger. They make them in 3, 4, 4.5 lbs pull weights with both curved and straight trigger. I know it is not on your list but have been very pleased with mine.

“Home Defense” means shots being fired, people going to the hospital or morgue, lots of cops investigating and asking questions, your AR going into evidence and the Lab checking your ammunition, function of your gun and weight of trigger pull.

If it is a straight up clear cut case of self-defense then a 3# trigger pull probably will not be a factor with the D.A. filing criminal charges against you. However if there are things that might make the police investigate further (Facebook comments, etc) then a light trigger pull might stack the deck against you.

I have at least 4# trigger pulls on all of guns that I might use for self-defense. My favorite self-defense AR at the moment (favorite because it is the most accurate) is a PSA rifle kit I installed on a Anderson Lower. I have not measured the trigger pull but I can tell it is heavier than 4#. Over 5# will not surprise me but because the let-off is crisp I do not feel handicapped. I keep considering installing a J P trigger spring but then I remind myself of what the Police will do to it Lord forbid I have to use it. Real world experience has me convinced that a heavier crisp trigger will not be a factor in me hitting the target.

I have one AR and it has a Timney 3 lb trigger I’m very happy with.

I really like my CMC trigger. A good price on a very nice trigger.

BKings has several different options, even colors for those who must match.
Sometime they can be had for even less.

https://bkingsfirearms.com/shop/triggers/cmc-ar-15-match-trigger-flat-2-5lb/

I do love my Elftmann Match. It was fiddly to install, but is a very fine trigger, even for it's weighty price.
Overkill in every sense, a gift to myself.

The two other FCGs are "enhanced". (Insert eyeroll.)
One was a nameless reuse, and while terrible in one lower, is completely smooth in an Aero genII.
The other trigger, an Aero, is a smooth but rather stiff five or six pounds. I do not consider that enhanced. But it is in a defense weapon and I will only know the difference on the range.

Over all I will prefer the cartridge trigger in the future for their performance and ease of install.