I just ran through a personal comparison of the various two-stage and single stage triggers in my AR15s and LR308s. For the two stage triggers, I looked at the Geissele Hi-Speed DMR, LMT two stage, and RRA National Match. The single stages included the Timney 3lbs single stage, the Timney 4lbs single stage AR10 trigger, and a Wilson Combat TTU 4lbs trigger. For precision tactical or bench semi-autos, I prefer the two-stage setups. But for combat and run-n-gun, a single stage is simply much quicker (again IMO).
The Geissele is definitely a nice trigger and for those applications where a two stage is preferred (ie. long range precision semi-autos), is the best of the bunch. The DMR setup has a total pull of about 3.5lbs with a 1.5lbs second stage break. I put this in an LMT SPR style rifle (18" SS barrel in an MRP), an LR308 (22" 308 barrel), and an LMT MWS (16" 308 barrel). I had previously compared the DMR to the LMT two stage trigger, and an RRA national match 2 stage. The Hi-Speed DMR handily beat all of them for creep, crisp break, and trigger fit and function.
The Timney triggers are nice single stage triggers with a very crisp break but my 3lbs triggers really came in around 3.6lbs (I tested 4 different ones) and the 4 lbs was closer to 4.5lbs. I went with the solid trigger shoe which is flatter than most normal triggers which wasn't something I preferred (personal preference of course).
While I liked both Timney triggers from a functionality standpoint (creep and break), what I didn't like was the setup in the rifle and the potential for problems down the road. Yes, it's a drop in unit but there are no pins supplied and there is no way for the drop in unit to capture the pins. Instead, the Timney unit uses two sets of set screws (one on top of the other) to secure both the pins and the unit into the receiver. The set screws are fairly easy to install by moving the spring legs aside, but I found the whole hex wrench install with double set screws a bit klugey.
The Timney trigger requires that the grip and safety be removed as there is no way to physically get the unit into and out of the receiver without doing so. There are also a number of areas where a popped primer could easily drop that would cease function of the rifle. If this were to occur, without tools, there is no way you could simply pop the trigger pins and remove the trigger unit to get you up and running. Even with tools, if your lower was caked with the typical DI carbon that collects in the trigger pack (and in this case, into small hex screw holes), you would have a much tougher time removing the trigger. The above had me thinking that this would be fine for a 3 gun rifle, but not for a hard use offensive or defensive weapon.
The Wilson Combat TTU has a nice flat trigger face with a traditional shoe curve, the unit is a drop in unit without any set screws to mess with (there are springs on the bottom that secure it tightly in the receiver which I thought was a clever alternative to set screws). High quality mil-spec .1540" pins are supplied with the trigger and the single piece housing includes small D rings that secure the pins into the receiver positively to prevent any sort of pin walk from side to side.
The break on the TTU is an extremely crisp 4lbs and was exactly what I found by testing with a Lyman digital gauge. The reset is just as short as the Timney but there is a more substantial click when doing so (which I personally liked better).
There are also fewer gaps on the TTU for a popped primer or dirt/grit to get into that would jam up the trigger.
The trigger can also be installed and removed without removing the grip and safety which is a real nice install and maintenance bonus. If one needed, you could pop out the pins using a bullet tip, remove the trigger, fix any issues, and get back into the game. Tool-less service and maintenance capability was a big plus one in my book for the offensive or defensive rifle.
So for two stage triggers, the Geissele DMR definitely gets the my thumbs up between the triggers I evaluated.
For my tactical carbine and 3gun rifles, the Wilson TTU is now my favorite single stage and I have swapped out all Timney's in favor of these. It is a combat worthy trigger that can easily serve double duty as a 3gun trigger with ease without any real deficiencies (sans saving about 1/4lbs on the break). With this handling both equally well, standardizing my triggers across these different rifles will be a big plus. In addition, it looks like the TTU would handle LR308 rifles as well instead of a separate trigger pack for those like with the Timney.
I plan to pick up a few more once my retailer has them back in stock. I hope you appreciate the review.
The Geissele is definitely a nice trigger and for those applications where a two stage is preferred (ie. long range precision semi-autos), is the best of the bunch. The DMR setup has a total pull of about 3.5lbs with a 1.5lbs second stage break. I put this in an LMT SPR style rifle (18" SS barrel in an MRP), an LR308 (22" 308 barrel), and an LMT MWS (16" 308 barrel). I had previously compared the DMR to the LMT two stage trigger, and an RRA national match 2 stage. The Hi-Speed DMR handily beat all of them for creep, crisp break, and trigger fit and function.
The Timney triggers are nice single stage triggers with a very crisp break but my 3lbs triggers really came in around 3.6lbs (I tested 4 different ones) and the 4 lbs was closer to 4.5lbs. I went with the solid trigger shoe which is flatter than most normal triggers which wasn't something I preferred (personal preference of course).
While I liked both Timney triggers from a functionality standpoint (creep and break), what I didn't like was the setup in the rifle and the potential for problems down the road. Yes, it's a drop in unit but there are no pins supplied and there is no way for the drop in unit to capture the pins. Instead, the Timney unit uses two sets of set screws (one on top of the other) to secure both the pins and the unit into the receiver. The set screws are fairly easy to install by moving the spring legs aside, but I found the whole hex wrench install with double set screws a bit klugey.
The Timney trigger requires that the grip and safety be removed as there is no way to physically get the unit into and out of the receiver without doing so. There are also a number of areas where a popped primer could easily drop that would cease function of the rifle. If this were to occur, without tools, there is no way you could simply pop the trigger pins and remove the trigger unit to get you up and running. Even with tools, if your lower was caked with the typical DI carbon that collects in the trigger pack (and in this case, into small hex screw holes), you would have a much tougher time removing the trigger. The above had me thinking that this would be fine for a 3 gun rifle, but not for a hard use offensive or defensive weapon.
The Wilson Combat TTU has a nice flat trigger face with a traditional shoe curve, the unit is a drop in unit without any set screws to mess with (there are springs on the bottom that secure it tightly in the receiver which I thought was a clever alternative to set screws). High quality mil-spec .1540" pins are supplied with the trigger and the single piece housing includes small D rings that secure the pins into the receiver positively to prevent any sort of pin walk from side to side.
The break on the TTU is an extremely crisp 4lbs and was exactly what I found by testing with a Lyman digital gauge. The reset is just as short as the Timney but there is a more substantial click when doing so (which I personally liked better).
There are also fewer gaps on the TTU for a popped primer or dirt/grit to get into that would jam up the trigger.
The trigger can also be installed and removed without removing the grip and safety which is a real nice install and maintenance bonus. If one needed, you could pop out the pins using a bullet tip, remove the trigger, fix any issues, and get back into the game. Tool-less service and maintenance capability was a big plus one in my book for the offensive or defensive rifle.
So for two stage triggers, the Geissele DMR definitely gets the my thumbs up between the triggers I evaluated.
For my tactical carbine and 3gun rifles, the Wilson TTU is now my favorite single stage and I have swapped out all Timney's in favor of these. It is a combat worthy trigger that can easily serve double duty as a 3gun trigger with ease without any real deficiencies (sans saving about 1/4lbs on the break). With this handling both equally well, standardizing my triggers across these different rifles will be a big plus. In addition, it looks like the TTU would handle LR308 rifles as well instead of a separate trigger pack for those like with the Timney.
I plan to pick up a few more once my retailer has them back in stock. I hope you appreciate the review.
