Best Trigger in a Centerfrie Semi-Auto

[gringobaba]

The biggest drawback I see to semi-automatic rifles is that I've never found one with a trigger that holds a candle to a bolt-action. Even the HK sporter that used to be imported had a pretty heavy trigger pull. Are there any custome triggers in the two-pound range for the AR-15 or similar guns without enough recoil to cause much risk of an accidental bumpfire? Any factory semi-autos coming triggers less than four or five pounds? Semi-autos always look like fun until I start pulling the trigger; then they start looking like a waste of ammo. I'm not saying their a waste for anyone else, just that the ones I've shot so far don't work very well for me.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

A semi-auto trigger has to hold in recoil -- something a bolt action or other manually operated weapon doesn't have to do. Too light a trigger often means too little sear engagement, which can cause the weapon to double (fire two or more rounds with a single pull of the trigger.)

Don't conclude a lighter trigger is automatically a better trigger. A trigger that has an acceptable weight of pull (5 lbs or under for me) plus minimum creep and backlash and a crisp release is ideal.

Under those criteria, the M1 Garand has a superb trigger.

 

[rbernie]

AR15 with a Chip McCormick single-stage.

 

[mordechaianiliewicz]

I agree with you very much Vern. By extension, all the Non-Chicom M1As have good triggers. The HK and FAL copies have horrendous triggers by comparison (although FAL sights more than make up for it)

 

[Mad Bodhi]

The M14/M1a and Garand have superb two stage triggers.The Ar has available match triggers.But why a 2 lb pull? That's awful light on anything but a bench gun,IMHO.You say the semi-auto's youv'e shot don't work well for you,what exactly is the issue your'e having?

 

[AZRickD]

What is that trigger for AR15s? The JP?

Also, doesn't Timney make an AR trigger?

Rick

 

[Gewehr98]

I've been quite pleased with my JP Enterprise single-stage AR trigger.

I have it set to a nice 2.5 pounds, no takeup, no creep, and no overtravel.

There is the Milazzo-Kreiger version, using M1 Garand/M14 trigger geometry, if one appreciates the trigger in those rifles. Jewell now makes an adjustable trigger for the AR-15, too, albeit a bit more expensive than the JP or Chip McCormick versions.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Believe it or not, I've had very good luck with AK triggers. Actually, this shouldn't be too surpising if you look at a diagram of an AK trigger mechanism and compare it to a diagram of a Garand trigger. They're more than a little similar. The Romanian, Egyptian, or Chinese guns may have icky triggers, but you can easily swap the OEM parts for a Tapco G2 FCG and will be very pleased, I think. OTH, my Arsenal, Inc. milled Bulgarian AK has a great OEM trigger.

In contrast, my Colt AR-15A3 could use a trigger job.

 

[Drakejake]

I have a MAK-90 (Chinese AK) which has an excellent trigger--no take-up and light enough. My Saiga .308 has a quite decent trigger. Neither of these has a hair trigger or match trigger, but they do not give you an excuse for poor marksmanship.

Drakejake

 

[swampdog]

I recently installed an ACCURACY RIFLE SYSTEMS trigger in my mini-14.
It's not perfect by any means, but it is a vast improvement.
I have a 3 year old BAR in 30/06. It's trigger isn't that good, but it's
much better than my buddy's 20 year old BAR. I think they're chroming
part of the sear now.
Brownell's lists about 20 different triggers for ar-15 type rifles, btw.
I've learned to shoot some truly awful triggers in the past. Airguns
have been the worst, with semi-auto 22's being a close runner up.
If you treat the initial movement as a two stage take up, you can get
good results. What I really hate is an inconsistant trigger.
Those timney triggers sure have spoiled me, though.

 

[carnaby]

I tried the "diamond" trigger on a Les Baer AR-15 ($2000). The trigger was pretty dern sweet, if I recall correctly.

 

[Gewehr98]

That's odd...

I have a 3 year old BAR in 30/06. It's trigger isn't that good, but it's
much better than my buddy's 20 year old BAR. I think they're chroming
part of the sear now.

I have a Belgian BAR in .30-06 that was made in 1969. The trigger is factory original, and breaks like the proverbial glass rod on Timken roller bearings. I've compared it to the newer Mark II BAR triggers, and felt blessed to have it. Maybe something happened between the Belgian BAR, the Portuguese BAR, and wherever they're made now?

 

[Farnham]

After shooting my AR's (plain ole triggers, not the nice two stagers) my M1A trigger feels like a contact switch. Just touch it and BOOM! Outstanding trigger.

It's not really that sensitive (I have no idea what the weight is) but it sure feels like it. Of course, if I shoot my Savage with the Accutrigger or K-31 after that, every shot is pretty much an accident.

S/F

Farnham

 

[lycanthrope]

My two stage Jewell has a crisp second stage of about 1.5 lbs. Adjustable for overtravel........

 

[swingset]

The RRA 2-stage in an AR is wonderful, reliable, and cheap.

Sig 550's have very good triggers, for stock ones, so did the SigAMT.

 

[swampdog]

Gewehr98
I'll see my friend tomorrow and check on where his BAR was made. I had to
do some serious scrubbing just to get it to feed reliably. Maybe some
further detailing would improve the trigger. It really is terrible.
Many thanks.

 

[Hawk]

Who's tried a Benelli R1?

I've been curious about that one.

 

[Rockstar]

Hmmmm, trying to decide if this thread is a statement of the threadstarter's lack of experience with semi-autos or a statement on the triggers of semi-autos. There are a number of match triggers available for ARs. Thirty seconds' research will reveal all.

There's nothing unsafe about a 2# trigger on an AR, if the trigger's set up correctly, any more than there's a danger to a 2# bolt action rifle trigger. As a matter of fact, the mechanics of most bolt action triggers makes them more subject to "spontaneous" firing when misadjusted than do AR triggers.

 

[Father Knows Best]

I have experience with M1's (USGI), FAL's (DSA SA58) and HK's (HK 91, CETME and JLD PTR-91's). The M1's have the best trigger. The SA58 isn't bad, and is certainly adequate for a battle rifle. Every HK 91, PTR-91 and CETME trigger I've tried has been awful -- heavy, creepy and gritty. Luckily, they can be fixed. My PTR-91's trigger now breaks cleanly at 5.5 pounds with no creep. I still prefer the triggers on my USGI M1's, however.

 

[T.R.]

Gun column writers tend to be snobby. I've read many times about superior triggers, jeweled bolt handles, custom checkering, engraved scope mounts and such. As if hunting success is based upon deluxe gear. Hunting success is based upon hunting skills and marksmanship. Gear is NOT.

Remington semi-autos and slide action rifles have the same trigger parts. They're often described as "spongy" by snobby writers. I have a couple of these rifles and love 'em for hunting and target shooting. It takes less than 10 shots to get the feel of this so-called spongy trigger. Anyone who is trying can master this trigger in a short time with just a little practise.

In contrast, Ruger 77 rifle triggers are anything but friendly. They're heavy and stiff at best. Yet column writers typically slather all over themselves in reviews, especially when Ruger attaches a free hunt with the "test rifle". Ever wonder about the validity of these so-called reviews?

You can count on me, at least, to tell the truth. No one paying me off.

TR

 

[gringobaba]

You say the semi-auto's youv'e shot don't work well for you,what exactly is the issue your'e having?

I am used to shooting bolt actions and target pistols with 2-3 lb. triggers. even my "wondernines" (CA, Glock, Sig, etc.) have triggers under four pounds - sometimes they took some work to get that way, but usually not much. Most semi-autos I have shot have had triggers in the five -lb plus range, often six to eight. This is way too heavy for me to shoot with as much accuracy as I can get in a rifle with a ligher trigger.

Like the other guy said, perhaps its just inexperience with semi-autos: I haven't shot any target AR-15s. It sounds from what people are saying that there are good two stage triggers available for the AR-15. So I guess I need to read up on AR-15s. I would much rather own a rifle with a light two-stage trigger than one with a heavy single stage, and there is nothing especially unsafe about a light two-stage on a semi-auto (or else thousands of target shooters worldwide would have killed each other in accidents by now). (So as not to seem flippant, I guess I should add that I shoot paper almost exclusively.)

I thought by asking my question, I would get some food for thought, and I have. Thanks to all who replied.