Posted by on 10/4/2021 to
After optics, a trigger is probably the best thing you can upgrade on your AR. At least if you are going for accuracy, which is probably the best thing to go for in regards to your firearm. A close second is making it look badass, of course.
The standard mil-spec trigger generally works fine, and some say that’s where you should start anyway. But getting one that works even better for you can be worth the effort. There are many considerations when choosing a trigger. Do you want it to be one-stage or two-stage? How much weight do you want on the pull? What style do you want? Does it need to be curved or are you ready for a flat trigger? Everyone seems to differ on almost everything. It turns out that trigger preferences are highly subjective. This means you should try everything out as much as you can before you finalize your decision.
It’s hard to say what is the most important aspect of the trigger when you are looking to upgrade, however, pull weight is pretty high up there. This is because if your trigger is too heavy on the pull, nothing else really matters. If you have to press too hard to get the gun to fire, there is no finesse, and it can be very hard to know where the break is. You can also throw off your aim if you’re struggling with the trigger. You might have had the perfect shot lined up at the moment your trigger should have fired, only to have lost it by the time it actually did fire. It doesn’t take much to move the barrel that fraction of an inch, or minute of angle, and miss your target.
One stage or two? This is a good question as there are pros and cons to each. One stage triggers used to be used primarily on precision rifles. A mil spec single-stage trigger comes standard on most AR’s and in your average Lower Parts Kit. The pull weight on these tend to be a bit high, usually over 5 lbs. If they are working properly they should have a smooth consistent pull throughout. Generally, the two-stage is great for people who are learning to shoot accurately. This is because the break, or the moment when your firearm fires, is very predictable. The weight of two-stage triggers is divided, so a 4 lb trigger might have 2 lbs in the first stage and 2 lbs in the second stage.
Styles vary widely from trigger to trigger, and many of the drop-in versions have a lot of style. It is important that you get one that works well for you over getting one that looks the best. Or, maybe it’s not. Maybe the only thing you want your AR to do is look bad-ass, making you look like a bad-ass yourself while you’re holding it. But if you want to improve your AR and your ability to use it as you spend money on it, make sure you are getting a trigger that improves your overall experience.
As for trigger curve, it’s interesting. Some people swear by the flat or other than classically curved trigger and they’ve got some great points. Having more surface area to engage the trigger can be a plus. Being able to engage the trigger with your finger on any part of it is a plus. Straight triggers also seem to give you more leverage and lower perceived weight. However, there is a reason that classic curve has been around for so long and persists despite all of the new shapes. Becoming more accurate has a lot to do with practice and having a set place where your fingertip always goes EVERY time you fire your firearm can help you get familiar and help you get used to the good habits that come with accuracy. If you have a heavy pull weight, though, curved triggers aren’t going to make it feel any lighter where straight triggers might. So though different shaped triggers can give you different options, tried and true might work best for you.
You may have heard of match grade triggers, these are basically high-quality triggers that are of superior quality. Like such good quality, you would want to use one if you were in some kind of competition or match. In fact, our best selling trigger is a match trigger and also our own, Davidson Defense Super Match Drop In. It is a single-stage trigger that features a 3.5 lb pull weight, a curved trigger, and easy installment into any standard AR. Perhaps the reason this one is so popular is due to all the great features you get at such a great cost. It is a product that finds that great place where quality and value meet.