Single stage vs two stage AR triggers?

[Zerodefect]

All of mine are single stage. Thinking of useing a LMT two stage trigger for my next AR build.

My single stage triggers work fine and have been perfectly reliable. I'm accurate with them. Sometimes it feels like my groups should be off because of my trigger pull when I hurry, but they still group really well despite my sloppy trigger technique.

So can a two stage trigger be as reliable on a Ar as the simple mil-spec triggers, or are they too risky? It would possibly be a defensive rifle for me or someone else so reliability is key.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

Depends on the trigger. I have a Geissele SSA which is a two-stage trigger, very smooth and crisp, but it is by no means a fragile target trigger since it is still a 4-5 # trigger and is non-adjustable. The non-adjustable triggers are generally considered to be more reliable (less parts, screws that come loose/back out).

I have said trigger installed in my AR for maximum reliability combined with a much-better-than-mil-spec trigger. Mil-spec triggers are horrible (especially on Uncle Sugar's M16s), so anything you drop in your AR will an improvement over the OEM trigger.

 

[Gary G23]

If reliability and durability are issues the only 2 stage I would consider is the Geissele SSA.

 

[Zerodefect]

Interesting, I'll look them up. Thanks.

 

[Zak Smith]

Another option is a high-quality short-throw single-stage, such as the JP 4# trigger. I've been running these since 2003 and they are 100%.

 

[SwampWolf]

I've found the RRA two-stage match trigger to be reliable, durable and affordable. Most of my AR shooting is on the range, competing in Service Rifle matches, so my assessment should be taken in that context.

 

[jem375]

Another option is a high-quality short-throw single-stage, such as the JP 4# trigger. I've been running these since 2003 and they are 100%.

right on, we have the JP trigger on all 3 of our AR's....

 

[jkingrph]

I have a fewel Jewell's, that predate the Giessell and like them. Put a couple of the JP single stages on some new builds, they are ok but nothing special, then tried the RR 2 stage"national match" Not quite as good as the Jewell, but at roughly half the price they are excellent.

 

[Zak Smith]

I have found that for action shooting, I pull through the first stage on a two-stage trigger anyway, and then the reset is annoyingly long; then at the reset point it still has take-up. Note that this is similar in trigger-manipulation style to shooting fast with a 1911, with the exception that a 1911 has no more additional take-up once reset occurs.

 

[MCMXI]

I'm also a proponent of the Geissele SSA trigger. I have a couple in a pair of POF ARs (AR15 and AR10) and will be buying at least one more. I also have an adjustable two-stage Jewell trigger in an AR that I use in matches. The Jewell is a very nice/smooth trigger but theoretically less reliable because it's adjustable. As others have mentioned, the SSA trigger isn't adjustable which is fine by me since I see no need to change the 2-1/2lb first stage and 2lb second stage. "Torture" tests have indicated that the SSA is sufficiently reliable under harsh conditions ... reliable enough that SOCOM is using it.