What happened to a 'Good' Trigger Pull?

[Silversmok3]

After trying on a brand new Sigma in the case two days ago I had a thought-are gunmakers, with the exception of the 1911s, deliberately trying to make guns with fecal grade triggers?

This isn't a slam on the Sigma-as a matter of fact if I legally had to own a polymer handgun that's the one id buy.Its trigger is stiff and consistent,which to my finger is better than the soft and noodle-y feedback I get from the other guns.

The Glock,M&P, SR9/SR40,all of them feel like im unscrewing a valve cap on my tire.Thank goodness the gunfire covers up the feel of the striker breaking, because otherwise that feeling of a pen clicking in the slide would get old real fast.The best trigger on a striker fired gun is a tie between a 3.5lb SR9 ghost trigger and an M&P45 with a modified trigger- because the painful trigger pull ended faster .


Im not saying that those guns can't get the job done for self defense, but after shooting my 5906 I can't fathom owning a factory striker fired handgun.

So is the modern 'era' going to be defined by guns with trigger pulls comparable to squirt guns?What say you all?

 

[Dragon88]

You're generalizing all modern guns based on just one segment of the market. If you don't like striker fired guns, don't shoot them. "What happened to a good trigger pull"? There are plenty of new guns out there with nice triggers, possibly some of the best triggers ever made. If you aren't finding them then you should look harder.

 

[Silversmok3]

You're generalizing all modern guns based on just one segment of the market. If you don't like striker fired guns, don't shoot them. "What happened to a good trigger pull"? There are plenty of new guns out there with nice triggers, possibly some of the best triggers ever made. If you aren't finding them then you should look harder.

These new guns you're referring to wouldn't be 1911 models would they?

 

[Cruiser RN]

Comparing a striker firing mechanism to many of the other available semi autos is a apple to orange comparison.My 3rd Gen Chief's Special has a beautiful DAO trigger pull.I had the TDA converted and the DA trigger worked on by S+W because I am a old time DA Revolver shooter and I like it this way.Comparing a Sigma or a Glock to a S+W 3rd Generation and complaining about trigger pull is the adage,"You get what you pay for".The Glock,M+P,and Sigma are tools and function well in that capacity but you give up a nice smooth trigger when putting out a reliable gun designed to be produced in mass quantity for maximum profit for primarily LE use

 

[scooter123]

The 1911 isn't the only example of a good trigger, lot's of semi's have had very clean breaking triggers over the years. However, today trigger quality has taken a back seat to "Tactical" and cheap. Now we have 6 lbs rifles you can load up with probably 20 lbs. of hardware on the quad rails, pistols with hooked and knurled trigger guards no good shooter would ever use, and light rails that are just PLAIN UGLY. Personally, I blame it on the pimply faced Mall Ninja's but I'm a grumpy old fart and we always blame the generation behind us.

 

[Dragon88]

These new guns you're referring to wouldn't be 1911 models would they?

Yet again, 1911s are only one segment of the market. 1911s have been made with good triggers and with bad ones for 100 years now.

 

[Titegroups]

Plastic guns in general have pretty sorry triggers. It already has defined this generation of plastic guns. Most can be modified with aftermarket parts to improve their performance. If you want a great trigger then look towards quality 1911's and revolvers.

 

[FirebirdV8]

Trigger pull is all a matter of what you train on and prefer. If you train on 1911s other guns won't feel right to you. If you train on a Colt revolver the S&W DA trigger won't feel right. Personally on a Semi-auto I prefer the 3rd gen TDA over a 1911s SA trigger pull but that is just me.

The trick is finding a gun made today that fits your definition of a good trigger pull.

 

[Brass Nuggets]

Dare I say it... I do like my M&P Pro, and 1911's but...

Got Sig 226? rocks

 

[Helderberg]

I have to agree with the striker fired gun triggers. I had a FS M&P 45, & 9mm. Got a Apex sear, spring kit, installed the kit. The trigger broke better but the front end play was not my taste. I ended up re-installing the stock sear and it worked better but still not what I wanted. I talked to the people at Apex, during the conversation she kept referring to the new things they were building as making it more 1911 like.
It finally sunk in, traded in the two M&P's and bought a 1911 E Ta.
Now that is a trigger. As some have said before, keep looking and you will find the right gun. I have, and I could not be happier.
Be safe, Frank.

 

[Badkarma 1]

I too have dumped all if my striker-fired pistols and gone back to TDA autos, with one exception my Smith 5946 which us blessed with a smooooooth 8lb. pull.
As for a plastic pistol with a great trigger, try a HK P30 sometime! Dale

 

[18DAI]

Good trigger pulls went away with good looking well built handguns.

Todays manufacturers are putting out low cost, cheaply made junk, at scalpers prices and todays firearms enthusiasts are lining up to buy it.

Those of us who know good triggers and can use them, are evidently in the minority now. As long as people buy the current products, the good trigger is a thing of the past - unless you know a talented gunsmith and want to fork over additional dollars.

I do see modern polymer handgun fans advocating after market parts installation to make their plastic guns triggers adequate. Why anyone would fork over $500 + for a plastic handgun only to have to ad parts to make it useable is beyond me. PT Barnum was evidently on to something.

As far as new striker fired tupperware goes, the only one worth a flip, IMO of course, is the Walther PPQ. A decent trigger on a compact tack driver. Regards 18DAI

 

[TAROMAN]

Dillon's little "Blue Press" magazine had an excellent essay on this subject. Simply put, there are many (casual, not well trained, etc) shooters for whom a target grade trigger would be a dangerous liability. They call them "non-dedicated personnel". In the Army, there are plenty of folks (technicians, etc) who are not in the close combat business. They are served best by a trigger that takes a definite pull (and movement) to fire.
Sigmas and the like certainly fit into this category. I purchased a new M&P 45 and traded it away quickly because of the trigger. All the local police forces, however, are gobbling them up as the perfect guns for their cops/deputies. I would guess that many of these folks are not "shooters" per-se, but personnel for whom the weapon is merely another piece of their equipment.

 

[perrazi]

one solution might be to quit looking at the plastic junk and look at well built guns built on proved platforms. there are several out there. the problem is they cost more money than the plastic fantastic. try one of the older model sig's. as stated earlier,1911's, although not all are good. any s&w revolver built before the 70's. colt revolvers built pre ww2 if you really want good triggers. good luck on your quest.

 

[bmcgilvray]

And a generation arose who knew not the goodness of the trigger pull of its fathers, and going forth after the sorrowful DAO triggers of ALL kinds, they in their pernicious temerity, proclaimed them to be good.

Thus did the later generation serve the abomination of the evils of the DAO trigger upon mankind, afflicting all ignorant handgun-shooting inhabitants of the land with wretchedness, because of their lack of knowledge.

So the land suffered the bitterness of gall in its ignorance because it knew not the benefits of the goodness of the single action trigger of its fathers and appreciated not the crispness of the design, nor did they have the faith to be able to operate the safety of convenience, crying: "it's too hard... I might not be able to disengage it under stress... I might forget... It seems so unsafe... It has to be simple for me..." and other such cries of the faithless who had need of starch in their drawers and practice under their belts.

And accuracy was defined downward for all times.

 

[fiasconva]

While in total agreement with the above poster, I think that the proliferation of small, concealable, self-defense handguns has done the most harm. Shooting in a SHTF situation has given rise to the spray and pray attitude rather than anything close to trigger pull and accuracy. Since those situations are up close and personal why is a good trigger even needed? I just hope this isn't the direction all gun manufacturers are headed for.

 

[Ranch Hand]

My 2 cents worth..
Trigger pull on a Sigma is my favorite because its consistent and REQUIRES considerable pressure and INTENTION TO DISCHARGE the weapon. I have guns for self protection only ..
The Sigma is like my revolvers- 642 with Crimson Trace and A 686 2 "
with CT also.. All shots are in a 3 inch group at 21 ft. all because of the trigger pull the same ALL the time.. I can also put all shots in a
8 " group at 75 ft. -25 yds. I taught a friend of mine about trigger pull using snap caps ( dummy rounds) and his Crimson trace 642.. He agreed his improvement in shooting was due to practice at trigger control PULL.
I HOWEVER carry CCW a Shorty .45 (4516 by Performance Center SW) Love the 1st shot trigger pull dead center in the center bulls eye.. the following shots I tend to pull the gun off center but still manage to group all shots in 4 inch circle same area..
The worst gun for me was a Springfield Armory xd-45 Trigger pull resistance was so very soft I fired off 2 rounds BY ACCIDENT..
I am 64 so I do what works for me.. I suggest all others do the same..