Is the RRA NM 2-stage trigger worth it?

[halfded]

I want to put a better trigger in my AR but, as usual, don't want to break the bank doing it. SPending 300 smackers on a trigger for a gun that I only paid a little over $600 to build is not going to happen.

I've been looking at all the different options and the RRA NM seems to be what I'm looking for. I want a 2-stage over a single stage for the added safety benefit (I don't like the idea of walking around with a 2 or 3 pound trigger all the time). I don't want an adjustable trigger, don't want to have to worry about adjusting it properly or loctiting everything in place. I don't want reliability issues either, as the rifle serves a defensive role in my home.

The Rock River is a drop-in 4.5lb improvement over the stock trigger from what I understand; no muss, no fuss, no fiddling. The only problem I've heard of is the pins might be a little oversize for some lower receivers. Nothing a little drill bit action won't fix.

So, I'd like to hear from THOSE THAT HAVE OR HAVE USED this trigger kit. What do you like/dislike about it? Was it a big improvement over the stock trigger or just a nice little addition that could be left out?

Any other pros or cons you'd like to add would be appreciated as well.

 

[Orlando]

It was a huge improvement over the standard RR trigger

 

[minutemen1776]

The RRA 2-stage trigger may be the very best $100 you can spend on an AR15. I love mine. There's no way I'd revert to the standard trigger.

 

[KW]

They certainly do feel nice for the price. My big dislike was when the hammer broke with under 1000 rounds on it, leaving me with with a gun that wouldn't fire. I'd read of a couple cases of this and other reliability problems before I bought mine. Not the most durable piece out there. So that said if it's more of a fun gun - go for it. If it's something you're going to depend on I'd look at some of the other options.

 

[Avenger29]

I don't want reliability issues either, as the rifle serves a defensive role in my home.

Then you need to stick with the standard trigger.

 

[halfded]

Aren't some service rifles issued with a two-stage trigger of some kind?

 

[Avenger29]

Aren't some service rifles issued with a two-stage trigger of some kind?

I think the rifles such as the SR-25 (or variants) may have a two stage trigger (Knight's, I think). They still must be serviced/replaced at appropraite round count intervals, and are considered more reliable than the RRA trigger kit.

The RRA trigger kit is a great, affordable upgrade. For a range gun. But since you depend on it for a HD gun, then you don't want to put in something that isn't as durable/reliable as the standard trigger.

Yes, I know, the standard trigger is no fun. But it works and is reliable.

 

[otrman]

Google Bill Springfield or go to www.triggerwork.net. What this man can do with a stock mil-spec trigger is amazing. I just installed one in a current build and it is almost as good as the 250.00 Timney trigger in my other rifle. All stock parts are retained so reliability should not be an issue, creep and over travel are eliminated and pull is a crisp 4.5 lbs(4 lbs. 10.5 oz to be exact on this one). Complete LPK with trigger work was 120.00. You can also buy the trigger assembly with the work done or send him yours.

 

[halfded]

I don't depend on it solely as my HD weapon, just part of the lineup. I guess I'll stick with the standard trigger.

So I guess the next question would be:

What to spend the $120 I had set aside for the RRA trigger? Just got a bunch of Pmags in the mail, a case of ammo in the closet. Any other tinkering I could do?

Standard A2 setup with carry handle.
Polished the trigger parts.
Yankee Hill 2-piece handguard (see my post about cheap ladder rail covers)
Hogue grip.
Tapco (came with the kit) collapsible stock
2-point sling

 

[Avenger29]

Whoa, wait a minute- you polished the trigger parts? Aren't the AR-15 FCG components surface hardened?

You may be spending part of that money to replace your trigger parts if you wore through that surface hardening and exposed the soft metal, which will wear faster.

 

[halfded]

I'm well aware of the surface hardening. Just a light hand polish, nothing crazy. I've put 100 rounds or so through it since then and all is well. No signs of deterioration on any parts.

The Bill Springfield idea might be a good way to go. He has a 3.5lb option as well.

 

[otrman]

He has a 3.5lb option as well

Unless you have extensive experience/training I would stay away from the lighter trigger. My varmint/bench AR has a 3 lb. trigger and if you are not careful it will put a round down range at the twitch of a finger. The 4.5 lb clean trigger will be like night and day compared to the stock trigger. I wouldn't go lighter than 4 lbs. on a general plinking/fun/HD gun.

 

[Avenger29]

Oh, I just figured out a use for that $120. Put it in a coffee can and save some more money until you can buy a CMMG or Spike's Tactical drop in .22 kit.

 

[federalfarmer]

Buy another lower?!

 

[taliv]

you're halfway to an NRA life membership

 

[navajo]

trigger

I have a RRA heavy barrel with their 2 stage. Pretty decent but I prefer the McCormick drop in. Not cheap but real good.
Had a AR -10 with a JP. That one was nice also.

 

[P-32]

I have 2 RRA 2 stage trigger groups. Both are White Oak Precision tuned. When I bought my first lower (RRA NM) it came with a RRA 2 stage. I had bought another RRA 2 stage from WOP. The dealer I bought the lower from was thinking he wanted the non tuned RRA 2 stage on his shelf but then chaged his mind. So....I sent the trigger that came with the gun to WOP for tuning.

Now, the RRA 2 stage is a good trigger with out tweeking but just because I could have John at WOP tune it I did. I shot the tuned trigger long enough to about wear out one barrel shooting matches and started on a 2nd barrel. There was for reals about 40 to 45 88 shot matches plus pratice on the trigger when it stopped shooting a 2nd shot. Stuck in the spare trigger and continued. 2 years later I decided to build a second lower and sent the bad trigger back to WOP for a tune. While I was on the phone with the help at WOP, I bought a Geissle 2 stage.

There is a differnce between a $120 dollar trigger and a almost $300 dollar trigger. The Geissle in very nice and I do not wish I had passed on it but the RRA's do just fine. I think I'm going to lend the spare RRA to a newby until he can get his own. The Geissle is in my "A" gun which has a Kreiger Barrel.....a whole nother subject.

 

[BNAllen]

The difference between the RRA NM trigger and the standard trigger is significant. I shot competitively for years and I much prefer a light, smooth trigger and I am willing to sacrifice some durability.

I shoot my AR's at the range and I hunt with them. One a Colt and the other a RRA. The Colt has the standard trigger that I just do not like. But, it always shoots.

I own firearms that have rough triggers that I will not modify ... frankly, I know those triggers and I know what they feel like. Sometimes, at the range, I have to come up for another breath, but, I am too cheap to modify every part of every firearm.

At the end of the day, I would suggest that you shoot what you have. Try it for a while. See how things go. You may decide that you are okay shooting the standard trigger. Besides, a heavier trigger in a home defense firearm may not be such a bad thing.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[Jon Coppenbarger]

the rra's triggers are very easy to keep tuned up once you know how. I have several and a few of them have over 20k plus lots of dry firing on them. they have lightened up on the wieght a few times. a simple easy fix. just take them out put the legs of the springs even again and you should be back in bussiness.

 

[Brimic]

Is the RRA NM 2-stage trigger worth it?

Yes.

 

[carbine85]

I have 2 RRA 2-stage triggers. You can't go wrong with them. As far as reliability goes that won't be a problem unless you are planning on getting into a fire fight and shooting 5,000 rounds. I probably have 5,000 rounds between the 2 rifles and neither one show any wear to speak off.
As far as cleaning up the standard trigger to lessen the trigger pull, there shouldn't be any problem there as long as you are only smoothing the surface slightly. All you are doing is replicating usage and wear. Again unless you are planning on a firefight it shouldn't be a problem.
In my Bushy I cleaned up the surfaces a small amount and went with a new spring from Brownells. This dropped the weight down to around 4.5-5 lbs.

 

[halfded]

unless you are planning on a firefight it shouldn't be a problem.

At the risk of sounding silly, while not planning ON a firefight, I do plan FOR a firefight. One never knows when one's rifle shifts from fun plinker range toy to a serious defensive role. I won't accept ANY compromise in reliability.

On a side note, CDNN has the CMMG conversion kits in stainless with 2 26 round mags for $189, got mine shipped for $197. I hope it's as good as I've heard. I'd like to be able to shoot my rifle a lot more without dipping into my stash or breaking the Christmas bank.

 

[minutemen1776]

At the risk of sounding silly, while not planning ON a firefight, I do plan FOR a firefight. One never knows when one's rifle shifts from fun plinker range toy to a serious defensive role. I won't accept ANY compromise in reliability.

Actually, that does sound a bit silly. Note that carbine85 did not say the RRA trigger is unsuited for a firefight. He said the RRA trigger "won't be a problem unless you are planning on getting into a firefight and shooting 5,000 rounds." I don't think any of us want or intend to sacrifice reliability with a defensive weapon. However, even though I have planned for a firefight, I've not planned to expend 5,000 rounds in one. In fact, I would have exhausted all my AR15's ammo before then, and I would have emptied all my available mags much earlier (and I have quite a few). My point is, for a defensive carbine and the number of rounds one might be called upon to fire even in a high-stress engagement, I think there's nothing to doubt the durability of the RRA trigger under any realistically foreseeable scenario. If you think 5,000 rounds may be needed, you may want to look into something belt-fed.

 

[minutemen1776]

Since reliability/durability is at issue, there's one other thing I'd add to this. That is, the very reason I looked into getting a RRA 2-stage trigger in the first place was because my stock AR15 trigger went down while shooting at an Appleseed event. After a few hundred rounds that day (and under 1,500 rounds total for the rifle), the trigger repeatedly failed to reset. I think it was a spring issue, but I lost all confidence in that trigger and opted for the RRA upgrade. So, we can't necessarily assume that the standard AR15 trigger is the benchmark for reliability.

 

[taliv]

interesting minutemen. who made your stock trigger? i assume you hadn't messed with it...