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Posted: 12/20/2012 3:44:10 PM EDT
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I only have experience with the mil-spec trigger that came installed on my rifle so I am looking for more knowledgable opinions. I will be shooting only Target, what ever it is you shoot during SHTF and Zombies but want something smother, more accurate and cooler looking if possible.
The biggest concern is between single and two stage. Is a single really "Hair" like? Would a two stage be "safer" as there are two stages to complete instead of one? One side of brain says get the cool looking Timney but the other is worried about practicality and safety. I am considering, Timney 4LB. Love the skeletonized look and set screws to lock it and the pins in tight but only comes in single stage. Wilson Combat. They have one and two stage and a pin locking system but plain jane looking trigger. Geissele SSA. Two stage only and no pin securement along with a in between the other two looking trigger. Thanks for your help. |
| Cosmetics really ought to be a secondary concern. The Geissele SSA is excellent. Just right for all around trigger. It is much lighter, crisper, and more precise than a stock trigger, but still has a good margin of safety. I have played with a few other triggers, including the Timney, but the SSA is the best "do it all" trigger I've tried. You can just smash through the first stage if you need to shoot fast up close, or take it the "wall" of the second stage gently when you want long-range precision. The second stage is reasonably crisp and light. After getting used to an SSA, you'll think something is wrong with the gun the next time you try a stock trigger. It is one of, if not THE, best upgrades you can make. |
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Who cares how a trigger looks.
I have both the Timney trigger and the Geissele trigger. My Geissele trigger is select fire, but it still gives me something to compare to. In the end my conclusion is that the Timney is crisper, and the Geissele trigger is more durable and very nice as well. |
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Geissel is fantastic. I have two--the SSA in my base rifle and SSA-E in my 308 AR. Both are very nice compared to stock triggers (DPMS was horrible on the 308 and the old Bushmaster was around 45 lbs I think lol).
If you want crisp go SSA-E. Timney I've heard good things too, but Geissel is all the rage nowadays. |
| I was in the same boat as you as far as knowledge on triggers goes. Read my ass off and talked to those who were more experienced than myself. Last month I dropped in a Geissele Super Dynamic -Combat trigger and haven't looked back. I use it on an all around rig. Target, drill and an occasional hog. I am totally happy with it and will put it in all my rifles. |
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I have a timney skeletonized 3.5# trigger in my bench/varmint rig. It's perfect for that set up where i want minimal travel and weight with a crisp break. It's not unsafe by any means but if you're concerned about too light/short of a trigger pull you may want something else. i personally prefer single stages. two stages feel too long and creepy to me.
I also have a CMC flat trigger in my middie that i really really like. The trigger pull is a bit longer than the timney and feels kinda funny with the flat shoe until after you go through a mag or two but once you get use to it going back to a regular trigger shoe just feels wrong. i think the pull weight it around 4-4.5# on it. tried the ALG combat trigger which is a milspec type set up. def smoother and a bit shorter of a pull than a run of the mill milspec trigger. had next to zero overtravel and a nice reset. for the money it's not a bad little unit. i ended up liking it best with some jp 4.5# springs. still have yet to try a giessle due to them mostly being two stages although there's the 3 gun one out that they said is sort of a "hybrid".... sounds interesting. |
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Quoted: I have two Gieselle SSA, one in my 308 I just bought my first Timney 4#, and am waiting on an Upper that may never freaking arrive from (guess who) I have one more Gieselle SSA on order for my newest build. They will spoil you! Don't buy an SSA-E, then you'll really be spoiled.
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2 stage vs 1 stage has no bearing on safety. I have a 2stage trigger on my Walther UIT and it is what you would call a "hair trigger" 6oz pull and maybe 3/32 of trigger movement. Most people never even feel the stages and are just stunned because they didn't mean to shoot it yet!
In comparison, I've shot single stage triggers that were so long and heavy I thought the safety was on All the aftermarket triggers in the 4lb range are going to be about the same "safety" wise. All are going to be a marked improvement over the mil-spec. So just pick the one that appeals to you the most |
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Wow! Thanks for all the great responses.
To the people who half joked about form should follow function and I think one asked, are you going to show it or shoot it? I will say, how often are looks not involved in any decision you make? Did any of you choose your wife just because they cook and clean well with out any regards to looks??? no because you have to be attracted to them too and if they happen to cook and clean well then thats just an added bonus 
I know I can't go wrong with any of the 3 and they will all be great quality, funny that no one mentioned Wilson. But I am just unsure which will help me shoot better, single or two stage. I guess if the ugly girl gives the best head then we have a winner  The Geissele sounds good but will I have to get those trigger pin retainers? Is there any worries about upper wear in the pin holes?
This is what I am kind of afraid of, "Most people never even feel the stages and are just stunned because they didn't mean to shoot it yet!" I don't want to be the guy who shoots his load prematurely! |
| Have you considered a Hogan Gold Standard? I have had a Timney, an SSA and I still prefer the Hogan. I love all three as they are all great, but still prefer the Hogan. |
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The only reason I ask the following is that there has been an absolute flood of new categorical AR owners, rifle and first firearm owners so I'm haunted by the nightmarish idea of it.; I will not digress to explain why I find this nightmarish. I'm not intending to patronize or be the biggest swinging d*** but speak entirely towards preventing a costly purchase and overall help your growth and love of this art form that we enjoy unlike our other English speaking brethren.
If you're looking for and ONLY for a POE for these 3 triggers then the other members have thoroughly answered your question with good sense in the choice of the Geissele SSA. I would only further second another member in suggesting the SSA-E. For target shooting you will most definitely be able to tell the difference and for SHTF and the z word, which has become one of the longest sustained, obnoxious running joke in recent memory, then the difference is not going to really matter. Also, your 50 extra bucks will also allow you to sneer most joyfully when you can retort that you have the SSA-"ENHANCED". Target shooting competition being one of the few sports where the more educated and knowledgeable you become, the larger the gap in the loss of reality. It sounds, however, that you are not one of large firearms experience as: you have just joined an AR forum in the most fashionable time; you mention z****** versus target shooting, safety versus aesthetics; you advertise being an MG ;). If you're just looking for an improvement over stock then this is your road along with the inevitable involvement of your new best friend, your gunsmith; http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/triggers-bottom-metals/trigger-parts/trigger-springs/index.htm . This is the most cost effective path for a newcomer. Sidenote; when the hell did AR 15s start commanding a market that would support a $250 trigger!? Perhaps, I have been spoiled by my local gun club as I usually get the occasional upgraded part for next to nothing as someone is always going on to the newest, hottest rifle, leaving lots of match grade carcasses. When you safety do you mean a failure to fire or an accidental fire. The first, to me, is the most deadly because if you are in my sights then I most certainly want you dead and unfiring weapon is the most UNSAFE weapon. An accidental fire with these triggers is going to be 9/10 an operator error To further assist you if you are undecided, one would need to know your previous weapons, what level of experience you have in general and especially in the target shooting competition realm and what your current AR is in full. Welcome to the insanity. |
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Quoted:
This is what I am kind of afraid of, "Most people never even feel the stages and are just stunned because they didn't mean to shoot it yet!" I don't want to be the guy who shoots his load prematurely! As I said though, that is a 6oz trigger on a dedicated single shot target rifle. Stay in the 3.5-4lb range and you won't have any concerns, I was just giving an example that one stage, two stage, etc doesn't have an impact on "safety". It is solely a user preference. Personally I like a two stage for target rifles and single stage for everything else. Geiselle has a fanatical cult-like following on this board and will get the majority of recommendations, though I wonder how many of it's die-hard followers have tried other triggers as well. *I am not saying they do not make a fine trigger, haven't shot one so I cannot comment* I would recommend reading this thread that seems to pertain directly to your question http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_12/366464_Trigger_Fire_Control_Groups_tested_and_evaluated___the_and_34_BESTand_34__trigger_for_you___.html My condolences to your lady friend if you shoot your load early |
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Quoted:
Wow! Thanks for all the great responses. To the people who half joked about form should follow function and I think one asked, are you going to show it or shoot it? I will say, how often are looks not involved in any decision you make? Did any of you choose your wife just because they cook and clean well with out any regards to looks??? no because you have to be attracted to them too and if they happen to cook and clean well then thats just an added bonus
I know I can't go wrong with any of the 3 and they will all be great quality, funny that no one mentioned Wilson. But I am just unsure which will help me shoot better, single or two stage. I guess if the ugly girl gives the best head then we have a winner The Geissele sounds good but will I have to get those trigger pin retainers? Is there any worries about upper wear in the pin holes?
This is what I am kind of afraid of, "Most people never even feel the stages and are just stunned because they didn't mean to shoot it yet!" I don't want to be the guy who shoots his load prematurely! The SSA is the semi-auto version of a proven design used by the military. There is a lot of personal preference in picking single or two stage in a FCG. The SSA is not as light as a competition FCG, but it is not as heavy as the stock FCG. In a high stress situation having your finger on the trigger is more than halfway to firing the weapon. Trigger pin retainers are not needed. AFAIK the SSA setup does not wear out the pin holes any faster than the stock setup. I have several and have installed several SSA FCGs for others. When all things are considered I think the SSA is hard to beat unless a person has special requirements it cannot meet. |
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originally posted by dejavecu "It sounds, however, that you are not one of large firearms experience as: you have just joined an AR forum in the most fashionable time; you mention z****** versus target shooting, safety versus aesthetics; you advertise being an MG ;)."
Dude...weird post! Im not sure what you think MG means but it is my initials. Why are you trying to Sherlock Holmes my posts? I have nothing to hide and my rifle was purchased back during the summer and I have been slowly upgrading it ever since. The unfortunate circumstances of last week have no bearing on my decisions to do or not to do anything. ManMan, Thanks for the link it was some good info. PFC and Alaska511 thank you as well. After doing some reading the Geissele Hi-Speed National Match - Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) Trigger is starting to sound good. These two features "Trigger bow moved forward 3/16” to reduce finger crowding" "Short 1st stage pull with exceptionably clean and sharp 2nd stage let-off" sound really good. The trigger being just a bit more forward along with my MOE+ should give a nice roomy feel. I also like that the pull weight is right in the middle. Opinions? |
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Last night I installed a Geisselle SSA in my Sig Sauer 400. It went easy enough, except that in my first attempt I got the hammer spring on bass-ackwards. I realized it right away, so I easily corrected it. The whole install was pretty easy, but the hammer spring is a bear to overcome. My fingers are still sore. I highly recommend watching some of the YouTube vids on the install, unless you're already familiar with it. Bill Geissells vids on YouTube are excellent.
The SSA is a sweet crisp 2 stage trigger. I have no experience with his other models. Good luck! & Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!! |
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