AR15 After market drop-in triggers,which one?

629man

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I have decided to buy a drop in trigger for my M&P. I'm looking for a 3 to 4 lb. creepless trigger. Lot of them out there to chose from, which one did you buy, what is your opinion?
 
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I put a Chip McCormick trigger in mine. Took more time to take the stock parts out than it did to install the CM unit.

It comes with longer pins and c-clips to lock them in, but I did not use them. They are ugly and create snag points, while providing little utility for the average shooter. I used the stock pins to retain the unit and they have yet to walk out.
 
Jard is probably best bang for the buck. I used the adjustable model which takes extra time to set up but it's not hard and seems worth the effort.

Bruce
 
+1 on the Chip McCormick unit. I installed one in my Bushmaster and it works great and was easy to install.
 
Depends. I've put lots of different brands and styles of fire control group parts in ARs. If you want the very best trigger for the money, get a JP group. It is not "drop-in," but it comes with excellent written instructions and a CD with video instructions and demonstration by John Paul. I recently put a JP kit in my 6.5 Grendel, and it set up at 3lbs. 2oz., with minimal creep. It will settle in at just under 3 lbs., most likely. (By the way, a "zero creep" AR trigger won't last long before it starts doubling. Fact of life.)

My current favorite "drop-in" is the Rock River 2-stage unit. It costs a bit less than the JP, but is truly a drop-in. However, how light the pull winds up is pretty variable, kit to kit and rifle to rifle. The first one I ever installed came out at 4 lbs., on the nose, and a couple others were in the 4.5 lb. range. The last one was 5lbs. 2 oz.

I've installed JARD units on a few, and they start out nice, but in my experience, will start to fire on release sooner than other setups. I've not used a McCormick kit, but have mostly heard good reviews.

I will not use the c-clip or e-clip anti-walk pins. Even the cap screw pins that JP includes protrude and snag on things. The slightly oversize pins that Rock River includes work well. JP includes an option to use a D-clip that fits on one end of the hammer axle, taking the place of a J-pin. I use that, with milspec or slightly oversize pins. Besides, with many thousands of rounds fired through ARs, I've yet to have a pin walk out, using milspec parts. In fact, other than in full-auto fire, I don't think I've heard of a hammer or trigger pin walking out.

From what I've recently heard, the unit sold by PACT and made by American Trigger Corp. may be the best drop-in extant, but at $300 retail and $267 dealer, it should be!
 
I have a Jard in a precision gun, it's great if you need that level of adjustment. I've tried a CM, it was no better than what I could do with a stock trigger group. I have a Timney that I like a lot.

If you are brave enough to check out arfcom, you can find a guy by the name of Bill Springfield who will take your stock FCG and get down to 3-4 lbs with a clean break. Lots of good feedback from his customers.

And, if money is no object, the trigger du jour is Geissele. Supposedly the best, in terms of quality and adjustment that won't change.

Bravo Company USA, Inc. AR-15, M16, M4 Tactical Gear, Parts, Accessories.


You can also google up "the 15 minute trigger job" and see if you might want to improve things yourself. I would recommend that you have a spare FCG if you go this route, but I have (with some practice) been able to get clean breaking, fast resetting triggers in the 3-4 lb range with the techniques shown.

Void where prohibited by law, gunsmith installation only, ymmv, etc, etc. ;)
 
I have wondered about the Geissele units. Good to hear that they work well, since they are almost as expensive as the PACT setup!
 
Thanks for all your help. I watched the video on utube, then modified my trigger. Surprisingly this made a huge difference. If I decide that I still don't like, I will use your advise to purchase an aftermarket. Thanks again. 629man
 
If you're going to go with an RRA NM 2 Stage, might as well get a tuned one from White Oak. For not a lot more money WOA improves the stock RRA NM. Adco sells a beefed up RRA NM trigger where the rivet for the disconnector, known to fail and result in a long mushy single stage, is replaced with a hardened steel pin. Otherwise, Geissele SSA if you don't want or need the adjustability.
 
I just installed a Giessele SSA in my M&P-15A and it is a noticeable improvement. It is a two stage trigger and is without creep. I really didn't want to install an adjustable trigger as this rifle is for work (and anything that can be adjusted can go out of adjustment).
 
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