Most reliable AR15 trigger upgrade?

For about $120, you can get a RRA two stage that has ben tuned by John Hollinger from White Oak Armament. I have one, and really like it. It has been %100 reliable.

John doesn't do the RRA trigger clean-up any longer.

OP can look at Bill Cunningham's web site to get a nicely cleaned up 4# pull on a stock single stage for about $32 - 3 day turnaround, nice guy and good work. Otherwise it's into the after market for Timney, Jewell, Gieselle, etc.
/Bryan

Take a look at the Geissele SSA two stage combat trigger. Not cheap but supposed to be worth it. I've got one of their high-speed trigger in my AR15 match rifle and love it.

You should be OK with any of the modular triggers out there. I have a McCormick on a carbine and really like it. Recently got a Timmney on a full size and it is nice and crisp. Check out the trigger section for AR's on Midway.

For single stagers, I would look at Timney and JP, both are great, the price is high, but worth it, IMO.

Buy 4 or 5 standard trigger sets. Mix-match the one that gives the best feel in your lower. Sell the extras.

Pretty much any aftermarket trigger assy I've seen has a reliability downside. BSW

Also consider a Jard 2 stage adjustable. I bought one for a rifle that I intended to sell because it was the lowest priced aftermarket trigger available. Turned out that I liked it enough to buy another one for my carbine. It's not a modular drop-in type though, if that's important to you - it has to be installed pretty much like an original setup.

If I were going to put together another rifle for my own use I think I'd probably go with the Geissele SSA two stage combat trigger. It wasn't out there when I cared a lot but I fired a rifle with one and for target use the lock speed is noticable if you do any match type shooting.

If you're a 'plinker' or don't really care the idea expressed by briansmithwins above would probably serve you well and save some useful bucks. They're making killings selling triggers these days.

I like the geissele SSA triggers also.

+1 to taliv

taliv said:

i don't think any of them are as reliable as the standard trigger.

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Can you define "reliable" in this context. I'm not trying to start an argument or be a wise a$$ but I think it could be beneficial ... for me at least. In what ways do aftermarket triggers, such as a drop in Timney, become unreliable? In other words, what sort of problems are people encountering with aftermarket triggers that don't show up with factory "standard" triggers.

Thanks.

In other words, what sort of problems are people encountering with aftermarket triggers that don't show up with factory "standard" triggers.

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If it has a screw or an adjustment, it will unscrew or become maladjusted. Usually at the worst moment or with the greatest number of witnesses.

The stock trigger is 3 fairly beefy pieces of steel and 3 springs. Adding parts or making them less robust probably isn't going to help reliability. BSW

The geissele SSA is supposed to last as long as the standard triggers. It is a well known and documented fact that it is replacing the KAC 2 stage triggers in military m4s used by elite military units. The KAC has a known service life of around 3000 rounds, and bill geissele and others have quoted the geissele SSA as being good for 50,000 rounds due to the fact that it is a non adjustable, simple design. There have been a number of documented cases of RRA two stages breaking as well as timneys and cmcs especially in carbine courses. Do a google search on the subject instead of just relying on the posts from this thread. OP: Do you want a "good" trigger with a nice clean break or do you want a "combat grade" trigger with a nice clean break? If a combat grade two stage is what you seek, go with the SSA. I have not regretted getting mine. Below is one of many threads from someone who actually sends large amounts of ammo downrange range each year, and forms his opinions about certain products accordingly.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=389851

wow, that's a great thread on arfcom...

If you haven't read it, it definitely deserves a click.

Flyboy, could you point me to your documentation regarding elite units and the Geissele?

Owen- The military version is called the SSF. If you do a search on the SSF and read about it on various sites, you will eventually come accross the information that states that it is replacing KAC triggers.

Here is a link that says the NWSDG (naval warfare special development group) ordered a solicitation(meaning they want them) of the SSF triggers for m4s and hk 416s. http://www.thegunzone.com/556dw-18.html About half way down the page, it says this in green writing. This happened in april of 2008 mind you. They most likely have them in the weapons by now.


Also read this: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=23&t=254548&page=1

Please check out post number 7 by "bigbore". He is a rep for ADCO firearms and knows bill geissele personally. He is a respected member and if he says something, I regard it as fact. There are many other sites that confirm the fact that SSFs are replacing KACs in the military, but these are just a few that I found after a quick search just to show Im not just talking out of my ass. Hope this helped.

Send your trigger and $50 to

http://www.triggerwork.net/ar15s.html

Then in one week you will be sending the rest of your AR triggers to him.

I have the $200 Timney and Bills work is almost as good. I wasted $150.

Good luck.

flyboy1788, thanks for the links ... I learned a lot from them. In fact, I may end up ordering a Geissele SSA trigger for my carbine.

I have a 3lb single stage Timney (drop in) in one of my ARs which works very well and has been 100% reliable, but then again, that AR isn't set up for carbine classes. With a 24" heavy fluted barrel and 3.5-10x scope, I use it for 200, 300 and 600 yard matches where I'll shoot at most 80 rounds in a day.

taliv, I wasn't really planning on changing the trigger for my current match rifle since I'm happy with it. I was thinking more along the lines of a trigger for my carbine ... POF upper/ Bushmaster lower. It has the standard BM trigger that isn't great ... although it may be reliable.

No problem For defense and durability reasons the SSA is the way to go, but if you are shooting matches, Taliv is right, the geissele hi speed is the way to go. My SSA breaks very clean, but it is around a 4# break. That suits my needs perfectly as I will not be shooting quarters at 100 yards or even attempt to.

Everyone says the Bushmaster Varminter 2-stage is great. I dont know who makes it though.

I have RRA 2 stage NM triggers in all three of my AR's and wouldn't use anything else,they have always served me well.