Better Trigger and charging handle

PRSnewbie

Private
Minuteman
Feb 15, 2021
21
3
Maine
I am very new to shooting. I have a new Sig 716i and it takes a seismic reaction to break the trigger! The manual says somewhere between 5.5 and 9 pounds! I am thinking a hammer and cold chisel! I am looking for recommendations on a very good upgrade and price is no object. It also requires a wide charging handle so your guidance with that replacement would be appreciated.
 
Geissele SSA/E or Hi-Speed if you want adjustable and don't mind the screws (which should be blue loctited in place anyway, never had a problem with one coming undone). There may be one or two that come close, perhaps even better, but not in my experience.

Their single stage is pretty nice too. I'd shy from a 3gun though on most applications unless you wanna risk doubles.

Geissele used to go on sale at Brownells a few times a year but don't expect it this year...

KAC makes a good one too but it ain't cheap.

I use PRI gas buster charging handles. But I doubt you need to change that. You CAN drive out that pin in yours and install a new latch most likely, cheaper and will do the same thing.
 
I am very new to shooting. I have a new Sig 716i and it takes a seismic reaction to break the trigger! The manual says somewhere between 5.5 and 9 pounds! I am thinking a hammer and cold chisel! I am looking for recommendations on a very good upgrade and price is no object. It also requires a wide charging handle so your guidance with that replacement would be appreciated.
+1 on the LaRue MBT-2S trigger. Can't beat it for the money.
 
+1 for Geissele SSA-E, or Hi-Speed National Match if you want adjustable. For a charging handle, Radian Raptor ambidextrous. Radian also has a vented version if you plan on going suppressed.
 
if you are "very new" to shooting i would stay away from super light match triggers like the SSA-E and stuff and if the Sig trigger is THAT bad then just upgrade to a high quality milspec one with the added benefit of being able to put that saved $$$ into ammo.

ALG defense makes good ones.
BCM makes a solid milspec trigger.

a top notch match trigger is only going to cover up deficiencies in your technique if you are THAT new.
 
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I am very new to shooting. I have a new Sig 716i and it takes a seismic reaction to break the trigger! The manual says somewhere between 5.5 and 9 pounds! I am thinking a hammer and cold chisel! I am looking for recommendations on a very good upgrade and price is no object. It also requires a wide charging handle so your guidance with that replacement would be appreciated.
Triggers:
I have a couple of Geissele SSAs. They are "nice" triggers, but I have come to prefer single stage triggers (Geissele does make some single stage triggers, too). One of my gripes with the SSA is that after the reset, there is a slight take up, which messes with my cadence if I'm trying to shoot faster (controlled pairs, failure drills, etc). I like a bit stronger of a reset than what the SSA offers. But a 4-5 lb single stage would be good for me.

If you want to try different stuff for yourself, go with LaRue (or similar) for around $70 to see if you like a lighter two-stage trigger. If you still feel the need to get a Geissele after that, go for it. But there are great triggers out there other than Geissele.

For example, I like the stock BCM trigger enough for a general purpose self defense tool that I won't ever change it (it's just a polished mil-spec trigger).

Charging Handles:
This is one of those things that I can't really justify from a practical stand point, and yet I find myself "upgrading" the charging handles on all my rifles. Of the ones I've tried, I like Geissele the best. But, IMO, no charging handle is worth $100. I'd wait for one of Geissele's sales (I got all mine on their Black Firday deals) before getting a charging handle (if the one you have now isn't broken). FWIW, the Geissele ACH is my "go to" for what I consider to be luxury upgrade. Others will say that a charging handle is a "must have" upgrade.
 
Triggers:
I have a couple of Geissele SSAs. They are "nice" triggers, but I have come to prefer single stage triggers (Geissele does make some single stage triggers, too). One of my gripes with the SSA is that after the reset, there is a slight take up, which messes with my cadence if I'm trying to shoot faster (controlled pairs, failure drills, etc). I like a bit stronger of a reset than what the SSA offers. But a 4-5 lb single stage would be good for me.

If you want to try different stuff for yourself, go with LaRue (or similar) for around $70 to see if you like a lighter two-stage trigger. If you still feel the need to get a Geissele after that, go for it. But there are great triggers out there other than Geissele.

For example, I like the stock BCM trigger enough for a general purpose self defense tool that I won't ever change it (it's just a polished mil-spec trigger).

Charging Handles:
This is one of those things that I can't really justify from a practical stand point, and yet I find myself "upgrading" the charging handles on all my rifles. Of the ones I've tried, I like Geissele the best. But, IMO, no charging handle is worth $100. I'd wait for one of Geissele's sales (I got all mine on their Black Firday deals) before getting a charging handle (if the one you have now isn't broken). FWIW, the Geissele ACH is my "go to" for what I consider to be luxury upgrade. Others will say that a charging handle is a "must have" upgrade.

For shooting fast try the 3-gun trigger. Agree on the charging handle but it may be a necessary upgrade if shooting suppressed and gas to the face is an issue...could also just tune the rifle. I prefer the SCH vs ACH but again all personal preference.
 
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For shooting fast try the 3-gun trigger. Agree on the charging handle but it may be a necessary upgrade if shooting suppressed and gas to the face is an issue...could also just tune the rifle. I prefer the SCH vs ACH but again all personal preference.
I actually have a Geissele single stage that is "waiting" to go into a build... bought it on Geissele's last Black Friday shenanigans 2019, and had planned to buy a Geissele lower to put it in... however, they took the lowers off their site and have not had them back since... kinda bummed... might put it in something else.

Also, you have PM.
 
if you are "very new" to shooting i would stay away from super light match triggers like the SSA-E and stuff and if the Sig trigger is THAT bad then just upgrade to a high quality milspec one with the added benefit of being able to put that saved $$$ into ammo.

ALG defense makes good ones.
BCM makes a solid milspec trigger.

a top notch match trigger is only going to cover up deficiencies in your technique if you are THAT new.

Get good with a bad trigger.

You guys are dickheads.

Why make the experience miserable with the biggest link between the shooter and the rifle?

Your advice would lead to that rifle sitting in the corner gathering dust since it just feels shitty to shoot.


OP: the larue works, it's a good place to start.
I'm not a fan of Mark, but the triggers are the one good thing he sells.
 
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You guys are dickheads.

Why make the experience miserable with the biggest link between the shooter and the rifle?

Your advice would lead to that rifle sitting in the corner gathering dust since it just feels shitty to shoot.


OP: the larue works, it's a good place to start.
I'm not a fan of Mark, but the triggers are the one good thing he sells.
It really depends on what the OP's goals are.

I learned to shoot handguns on an M9 with a 4-ton D/A trigger pull. Spent hours doing single shot, from the holster drills de-cocking after each shot. When I picked up a Glock some years later, it was like magic.
 
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You guys are dickheads.

Why make the experience miserable with the biggest link between the shooter and the rifle?

Your advice would lead to that rifle sitting in the corner gathering dust since it just feels shitty to shoot.


OP: the larue works, it's a good place to start.
I'm not a fan of Mark, but the triggers are the one good thing he sells.

You make it seem like a good mil-spec trigger is some god awful 10 pound brick.

Its actually not a bad trigger the only thing that kills it is the cheaper ones sometimes have inconsistent grittyness which will mess you up. Or in this case it sounds like the OP might have gotten a really stiff one.

As long as the trigger is CONSISTENT however it will do just fine and the heavier pull will force you to practice good trigger discipline.

I learned on and shot a quality milspec trigger for years and it defenitly helped.

The only exception I can think of for this is if you have a medical condition that makes it hard to pull a trigger like arthritis or something.
 
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You make it seem like a good mil-spec trigger is some god awful 10 pound brick.

Its actually not a bad trigger the only thing that kills it is the cheaper ones sometimes have inconsistent grittyness which will mess you up. Or in this case it sounds like the OP might have gotten a really stiff one.

As long as the trigger is CONSISTENT however it will do just fine and the heavier pull will force you to practice good trigger discipline.

I learned on and shot a quality milspec trigger for years and it defenitly helped.

The only exception I can think of for this is if you have a medical condition that makes it hard to pull a trigger like arthritis or something.

Milspec MOJO is a pretty damn fast with a milspec trigger.
 
You guys are dickheads.

Why make the experience miserable with the biggest link between the shooter and the rifle?

Your advice would lead to that rifle sitting in the corner gathering dust since it just feels shitty to shoot.


OP: the larue works, it's a good place to start.
I'm not a fan of Mark, but the triggers are the one good thing he sells.

Starting off with heavy stock triggers on milsurps made me a better precision shooter.
 
I am very new to shooting. I have a new Sig 716i and it takes a seismic reaction to break the trigger! The manual says somewhere between 5.5 and 9 pounds! I am thinking a hammer and cold chisel! I am looking for recommendations on a very good upgrade and price is no object. It also requires a wide charging handle so your guidance with that replacement would be appreciated.
the Larue triggers are great for the money but Larue has been dropping the ball on QC.
Or you can polish your stock trigger and add jp enterprises reduced power spring kit for 11.00
 
You make it seem like a good mil-spec trigger is some god awful 10 pound brick.

Its actually not a bad trigger the only thing that kills it is the cheaper ones sometimes have inconsistent grittyness which will mess you up. Or in this case it sounds like the OP might have gotten a really stiff one.

As long as the trigger is CONSISTENT however it will do just fine and the heavier pull will force you to practice good trigger discipline.

I learned on and shot a quality milspec trigger for years and it defenitly helped.

The only exception I can think of for this is if you have a medical condition that makes it hard to pull a trigger like arthritis or something.


I have shot more than one battle rifle trigger that I kept checking the safety. 3-4lbs is fine, so long as it's clean. I've yet to feel one that wasn't gritty and 6+lbs.
For that matter, the "polished mil spec" triggers still feel like gritty garbage to me.

Starting off with heavy stock triggers on milsurps made me a better precision shooter.

How? Going from a crappy heavy trigger to a nice trigger just makes you relearn the break and how to pull.


I was lucky enough to grow up shooting rifles that had good triggers. Polished with springs, full drop-ins, whatever it took.

A heavy gritty inconsistent garbage trigger is just a huge distraction from focusing on the target.
 
I have shot more than one battle rifle trigger that I kept checking the safety. 3-4lbs is fine, so long as it's clean. I've yet to feel one that wasn't gritty and 6+lbs.
For that matter, the "polished mil spec" triggers still feel like gritty garbage to me.



How? Going from a crappy heavy trigger to a nice trigger just makes you relearn the break and how to pull.


I was lucky enough to grow up shooting rifles that had good triggers. Polished with springs, full drop-ins, whatever it took.

A heavy gritty inconsistent garbage trigger is just a huge distraction from focusing on the target.
Not saying a nice trigger is bad. How you describe a trigger is not.

I'm saying shooting a heavy, creepy trigger made me better because if I shot it well it translated to guns with better triggers, inherent accuracy, etc. I grew up shooting milsurps with bad triggers, and my groups improved with a better trigger, but the biggest improvement was from shooting less accurate guns. More so when shooting steel vs paper targets.

Semi autos accentuate the difference because they tend to be less accurate and harder to shoot.
I shoot pcp airguns with sweet triggers, but with limitations from real slow muzzle velocity, wind, etc also improved my groups and practical accuracy.

I later committed to a spring powered air gun and it was again beneficial.

It needs to be approached from a what can I do with what have approach vs this device will shrink my groups if I buy it view.
 
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