Ever seen a trigger fail?

[Rastoff]

More specifically, have you ever seen an AR fire when dropped or bumped?

I've seen AR triggers malfunction under two occasions. First is an improperly modified trigger. Lots of "shade tree" gunsmithing going on in the AR world and not everyone knows how to adjust a trigger properly. Secondly, I've seen triggers accidentally double, but all of those are most likely attributed to poor trigger technique or just inexperience.

However, I've never seen an AR trigger fail. I've seen plenty of ARs dropped while loaded. I've seen them unintentionally slammed into trees or posts or door frames. None have ever fired.

 

[otisrush]

I've only owned one AR (the one I have now - a Sport I) so my experience in the AR ecosystem is extremely minimal. I've never seen one fail - but that's not saying much given my (lack of) experience in the space.

But count me in as one of those that have had doubles/triples from poor trigger technique. I have a Geissele SSA-E in my Sport and on two occasions I've had that happen. In both instances I was so focused on being relaxed during the trigger pull I didn't pull it deliberately enough. Both times it scared the you-know-what out of me.

 

[bigggbbruce]

Did this happen to you? Or are you questioning a second hand experience?

I have never seen an AR15 factory trigger that I liked..

That said I'm sure there are lots of Bubba AR15 trigger jobs out there.

 

[Smith357]

I can tell you back in the late 70s early 80s I hung out for 3 years with 100 crazy Marines, we did some wild stuff with our m16s and never once did I see or hear of a discharge due to a trigger failure.

 

[vonn]

My experience pretty much matches Smith 357 with rifles falling 50 feet or more onto granite rock, from choppers and trucks at road speed and never saw or was told of any malfunctions. Any mechanical device can fail when produced by the cheapest bidder though.

 

[Rastoff]

Did this happen to you? Or are you questioning a second hand experience?

As I said in the OP, I've never seen one fail through rough handling.

I've seen hundreds of ARs in use. Both in my personal life and in the military. I've seen many dropped, banged, thrown, etc., and have yet to see a trigger sear fail to keep the hammer from falling.

In another thread, some were questioning the amount of sear engagement and how it affected the safety of the gun. I was just curious to hear if anyone has seen one fail. I mean any trigger whether GI or Wilson or Geissele or whatever. I haven't and I'll be no one else has either. It's just a good design, safety wise.

 

[bamashooter]

Never seen "mil-spec" discharges from dropped weapons. Seen quite a few M4s to include me that have tumbled down rocky mountains on safe and fire to no avail. Seen a few tumble from vehicles and no discharge.

 

[nachogrande]

SEEN IT???

YES, with an AR, no,(I try and not watch them.) Most have come from guns being "worked/accurized /tweaked/modified/retrofitted/IMPROVED, or whatever Bubba esque term you chose. Mainly S&W revolvers and any mfg 1911's. One just old & worn S/S 16 ga double trigger, that went off when bumped.

 

[TomkinsSP]

Just a little work with a file can make any firearm unsafe if you know how to do it. Or if you don't...

It is impossible to make anything idiot proof, because idiots are so ingenious.
-Corollary of Murphy's Law

 

[Fishinfool]

Never on an AR-15 / M-16, but a long time ago I had an old Marlin model 60 .22lr that would empty the tube with one pull of the trigger. After a short spell of fun, my father insisted it go to the local gun shop and get "fixed"....

Larry

 

[agksimon]

It's ironic that this thread started the same time when a friend came over with his fairly new M&P Sport 2, with about 300 rounds through it. He wanted me to install a JP trigger spring set, to drop the pull a little. When I took it apart, I found the sear portion of the trigger already slightly worn with chips, on the top edge. It makes me wonder if it was hardened properly. Not wanting to take chances, he ordered a Blackhawk Blaze SSD trigger set.
I tried to take a photo, but my camera phone and the lighting, couldn't quite make the worn part clear.