AR-15 Triggers

[Todd_ID]

I've got a new AR-15 coming in the mail (at least the upper is: lower goes through FFL).  It's a straight Mil-Spec unit from Bravo Company in 16" mid-length configuration.  My question is about the trigger.  I see plenty of upgrade aftermarket triggers available for ridiculous prices, but is there a need to upgrade the stock trigger?  Can a gunsmith tune the trigger that comes stock with the rifle to help increase accuracy?  Or am I worrying about a nonexistent problem?

[CAMPMEAT]

I have a Rock River. The trigger was nearly 8 lbs. I had the trigger replaced with a 3 lb. one. I could find out the brand if you want ? I think it was $70

[Heredoggydoggy]

The standard AR15 trigger can not be modified.  Don't even try.  The only result will be an unsafe trigger.  All my ARs have the Rock River two-stage National Match trigger which is a great improvement.  Timney and Jewell also make replacement triggers and guys that have them like them.  None of them are cheap, but accuracy is improved over the military standard trigger.

[BlackRidge]

+1 for Timney, heard nothing but great things about their drop-in kits

I personally haven't put one in my AR, the trigger weight was never something I noticed enough to change, though if I used it exclusively for varmint hunting/etc, I'd probably do the upgrade

[FC]

The standard AR15 trigger can not be modified. 

Not strictly true there, I have one that I "modified" down under 2 lbs before I started getting light strikes, no argument on the Rock River NM trigger though, I ended up putting one in mine since I needed to replace the old after over-modifying  and the RRA NM is a very consistent and dependable 2 stage trigger.

[chrisb]

Drop $9 on JP springs, the yellow ones. It will make your trigger about 50% of factory and is an easy 10 minute job.... IMO I'd stay away from the '15 minute trigger job' that is internet famous

[timberghost72]

+2 for Timney. If you don't know anything about how triggers work and how to modify them it is best and safest to put a drop in trigger. It only takes a few minutes to do on the AR. I found it cheaper to go straight to Timney than buy it at other places. Usually its the other way around.

[CoryTDF]

+3 Timney. I jsut ut one into my R-15 and I love it. There is one on Midway for like $113 that gets really good reviews. Can't recal the name right now. Also, if you youtube ar-15 triggers there is a few little mods that you can make to the one you have. I did them to my back up Ar-15 and they seem to help. If you have the $200 to spend get the Timney.

[DRobnsn]

Drop $9 on JP springs, the yellow ones. It will make your trigger about 50% of factory and is an easy 10 minute job.... IMO I'd stay away from the '15 minute trigger job' that is internet famous

Just curious what you don't like about it? I used this technique for my original springs, keep in mind I had already ordered the JP springs after all there only 9 dollars. I did not use the technique on the sear though I pulled it out of the gun and used a polishing wheel on a Dremel with a very light polishing compound. As to not remove any metal just polish what was there. With both these modifications my S&W M&P went from 7-8 lbs unpredictably to a consistent 4.25 lbs. Still has some creep in it but its much smoother. The JP springs are in the mail so there not in it yet.

I agree you can't go wrong with a Timney aftermarket trigger. Wish I had the money to put one in every gun I have.

[chrisb]

Just curious what you don't like about it? I used this technique for my original springs, keep in mind I had already ordered the JP springs after all there only 9 dollars. I did not use the technique on the sear though I pulled it out of the gun and used a polishing wheel on a Dremel with a very light polishing compound. As to not remove any metal just polish what was there. With both these modifications my S&W M&P went from 7-8 lbs unpredictably to a consistent 4.25 lbs. Still has some creep in it but its much smoother. The JP springs are in the mail so there not in it yet.

I agree you can't go wrong with a Timney aftermarket trigger. Wish I had the money to put one in every gun I have.

I'm just not comfortable with the long term reliability of bent/shortened springs. The polishing of the sear and hammer are not really a concern to me as that makes sense, but the bending or cutting of springs doesn't sit well with me.

[FC]

bending or cutting of springs doesn't sit well with me.

It really doesn't hurt anything, the worst possible outcome of this with an AR's trigger is light strikes.

[Straight Shooter]

+4 for Timney.    I dropped one (#3) in my heavy-barreled AR.  The difference is night and day... lighter pull, crisper pull, zero creap.  Definitely worth the $200.00 investment... now, I can consistently shoot .50 MOA or better.   Probably, going to drop a #4 Timney in my "M4" build.

[Big10gauge]

I've got 3 Timney triggers sitting in a drawer, Went back to the RR 2 stage national match. Just depends, A lot of people have a tough time getting used to a 2 stage. I think they break over better than the timney.

[sooperfly]

These are hands down the best trigger for an AR-15 I've ever owned.  The military is probably their biggest customer. 
Just fantastic, never heard a single bad thing about them....  Some of their models are rather expensive, but in my opinion worth it.

http://geissele.com/

[chrisb]

It really doesn't hurt anything, the worst possible outcome of this with an AR's trigger is light strikes.

True... and the same exists with the JP springs if using commie surplus ammo, but it's just one of those things that i'm not comfortable with for an unexplainable reason.

[CAMPMEAT]

My gunsmith said he got my trigger from Rock River Arms for $75 dealer cost for my RRA. So I'm thinking one of the mfgrs that make good aftermarket kits probably made this one. Ya think ?

[dontgetcrabs]

The standard AR15 trigger can not be modified.  Don't even try.  The only result will be an unsafe trigger. 

Not true... But you had better know what you are doing.  


Bill Springfield can modify yours or I believe you can buy a drop in.   www.triggerwork.net

[undertoad]

I did the set-screw mod to mine. It worked very well and cost about $0.30.

[Heredoggydoggy]

My gunsmith said he got my trigger from Rock River Arms for $75 dealer cost for my RRA. So I'm thinking one of the mfgrs that make good aftermarket kits probably made this one. Ya think ?

No, The RRA two stage NM trigger is a completely different animal from the Timney or Jewell triggers.  They integrate with the stock parts to make a stock AR legal in the military class rifle matches.  The other options are self-contained trigger/hammer units that are not National Match legal.  3 of the 4 AR lowers I own are ones I built from stripped lowers and using RRA complete parts kits.  The parts kits at the time were $130, with the NM trigger components.  But if you already had a complete lower, you could get just the NM trigger parts for $70.  I haven't looked on the RRA website to see what the cost of the parts are now.  I got mine a couple of years ago.

[CAMPMEAT]

My gunsmith said he got my trigger from Rock River Arms for $75 dealer cost for my RRA. So I'm thinking one of the mfgrs that make good aftermarket kits probably made this one. Ya think ?

No, The RRA two stage NM trigger is a completely different animal from the Timney or Jewell triggers.  They integrate with the stock parts to make a stock AR legal in the military class rifle matches.  The other options are self-contained trigger/hammer units that are not National Match legal.  3 of the 4 AR lowers I own are ones I built from stripped lowers and using RRA complete parts kits.  The parts kits at the time were $130, with the NM trigger components.  But if you already had a complete lower, you could get just the NM trigger parts for $70.  I haven't looked on the RRA website to see what the cost of the parts are now.  I got mine a couple of years ago.

The cost for mine online was $125, but my buddy is a dealer so it was $70 he told me. I bought the RRA from him complete and I wanted a lighter trigger. He said it was the whole trigger and not parts. I no nothing about these rascals. Load, shoot, clean.

[Heredoggydoggy]

You will love the NM trigger.  Vast improvement over standard issue.  I'll bet you'll notice it in your groups right off.  Takes a bit of getting used to though.  If you aren't careful and don't completely release the trigger between shots, it's easy to "double-tap" the target. 

[CAMPMEAT]

The gunsmith that put it in is an Armorer for the Border Patrol here. He really liked the feel of the trigger and wants 1/8 groups or bullseyes all the time. Double tap up near the border will scare off the greenies I'm sure. It's only a coyote gun ( for now ).

[GreyWolf]

 ++1 for Bill Springfield!
I have sent 2 of my AR triggers to him & they came back GREAT! If you send him your trigger group it will cost about $50. I have a 4 lbs & a 3 lbs and you can really feel the difference between the two. They defiantly helped me get a tighter shot group.
http://www.triggerwork.net/
I will eventually send every trigger group of every gun I own to him. Not only is his work great, he knows EXACTLY what he is doing & he is a nice guy.
 

[FC]

The gunsmith that put it in is an Armorer for the Border Patrol here. He really liked the feel of the trigger and wants 1/8 groups or bullseyes all the time. Double tap up near the border will scare off the greenies I'm sure. It's only a coyote gun ( for now ).

Haha, next time you should take the 5 minutes to put the trigger together yourself! It's a really simple operation and would give you a greater understanding of how your rifle works. Nothing to it with an RRA NM, just assemble, hose it out to make sure you haven't left any grit, put a couple drops of oil in it and slap the upper on.

[CAMPMEAT]

I'd probably put it in assbackwards. Not really. It only cost me beer to have a pro put it in. Besides, he's got all the cool tools and stuff.

[GregMcFadden]

I've got several of the rock river 2 stage triggers.  I like them while they work but sooner or later they wear and need to be reground.  rock river will do that for you under warantee if you can get through to them on the phone.

[actionshooter]

These are hands down the best trigger for an AR-15 I've ever owned.  The military is probably their biggest customer. 
Just fantastic, never heard a single bad thing about them....  Some of their models are rather expensive, but in my opinion worth it.

http://geissele.com/

These are some of the better triggers on the market, I'm runnung RRA national match triggers in my comp guns right now, but if I were to switch.

[luv2shoot]

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=12&t=366464

This is a pretty good write up on after market triggers for AR's

[snowranger]

Timney is the best i have one and the difference is amazing you won't be disappointed.  As long as you try your stock POS trigger first..  And modifying is out of the question.  Right about the time you get the stock trigger to perform the way you want it with send multiple rounds down range and you'll never know when it will decide to do so. Buy a timney!!

[vmkeith]

Don't forget about Bill Springfield...I've heard nothing but good things about his work.

http://triggerwork.net/index.html