Duplicating AI Trigger Feel?

[Destmiker]

Since I acquired my AI/AT, I've discovered that I shoot it better than any other rifle I own. While I know the stock AI trigger isn't a match trigger I love it.

I'd like to try duplicating that feel in one of my Remington 700 builds. What's the best aftermarket Remington 700 trigger to use to capture a similar feel?

 

[b6graham]

Probably a BnA Tacsport Pro 2 stage

 

[Supersubes]

For me the geissele super 700 is dang close. I like them a lot, and run them on hunting rifles. Per the book adjustment instructions, they adjust down to about 1lb first stage and 3/4 lb second on a remington. You can go lower but they say bench-rest only applications if you do.

 

[Kiba]

Probably a BnA Tacsport Pro 2 stage

My choice as well for getting an AI-like trigger feel in a 700 style action.

You can set it up for a long first stage plus some second stage over travel like the factory AI trigger. The springs in the BnA won't allow you to adjust it quite as heavy as a factory AI (non-comp) trigger, but you can get it close.

When you set the BnA up to have an AI-like long first stage pull, the twin first stage springs in the BnA end up giving the trigger a "2 stage first stage" feeling where there are 2 distinct pull weights in the first stage since one of the springs won't have any tension on it until part way through the first stage travel. The fix is to remove one of the two first stage springs, then the long first stage pull will have a nice uniform pull weight all the way through.

I also like you can easily disassemble and clean the BnA triggers as well as get different height sears.

I've heard good things about the geissele 2 stage R700 trigger but have never tried one.

The Tubb 2 stage triggers are supposed to be very good too, but certain actions and stocks pose clearance issues.

 

[Winny94]

Since I acquired my AI/AT, I've discovered that I shoot it better than any other rifle I own. While I know the stock AI trigger isn't a match trigger I love it.

I'd like to try duplicating that feel in one of my Remington 700 builds. What's the best aftermarket Remington 700 trigger to use to capture a similar feel?

If it was anything like my AI trigger, the stock trigger would suffice....

 

[chevy_man]

Why would you want that?

What you want is a better trigger. There are plenty of them out there.

 

[Conrad]

Tubb T7T.

Have heard good things about the Geissele.

Returned a BnA. Didn’t play with adjustments much but seemed a bit light duty compared to my T7Ts.

 

[The King]

The Cadex or the Geissele.

The CADEX blow dick if you don’t adjust it a fair amount.

 

[MarkLeupold]

I have been told (*I have no experience with an AI myself) that the XTSP Mod.22 is very close. I have one on my rifle and it is a good trigger

 

[Kiba]

I have been told (*I have no experience with an AI myself) that the XTSP Mod.22 is very close. I have one on my rifle and it is a good trigger

The XTSP Mod 22 isn't really close to a stock AI trigger-- while it is a 2 stage the travel is much shorter and the weight is much lighter than the AI trigger. However, it is nearly identical to the AI Comp trigger (XTSP makes the AI Comp triggers.)

I had an XTSP Mod 22 for about 2 years and liked it quite a bit, but it had draggy sear issues when I changed actions leading to a very heavy bolt lift and also was dragging the cocking piece enough to cause lots of light strikes. I found this out about week before a 5 day varmint hunt and didn't have time to send the action and trigger off to Tom to swap the sear to fix the dragging sear issue, so I swapped the Mod 22 out for a BnA. Ended up preferring the BnA feel over the XTSP, so sold the Mod 22 and kept the BnA.

One thing to note is the XTSP and Tubb T7T are both true 2 stage triggers (like the AI factory trigger) where the sear is normally over engaged for safety reasons and the first stage takes up that sear over-engagement, whereas the BnA is a "pseudo 2-stage" where the sear contact is constant (like a single stage trigger) and the first stage is really only spring loaded free rotation of the trigger shoe until it pivots back far enough to contact the sear lever.

Have about 5000 rounds now on the BnA 2 stage with no issues and zero complaints. Next rifle I build will likely be getting another BnA 2 stage, although I may try a Tubb T7T or a Geissele to see what I'm missing.

 

[Black max]

The trigger on my AXMC was terrible!