Good Field Trigger for AR15 - Both Reliabile and G

JTinIN

JTinIN

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 15, 2003
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Indiana
www.issmc.com
#1
Looking for ideas and experiences on options to consider for a very good field trigger that combines the pull of the Timney and the reliability of the stock Colt triggers, if such an thing even exists. Finding after using the Timney, what use to be an ok trigger, now just feels bad.

The Timney is getting fixed, but not sure it is ever going to be as reliable due to the way the pins are held in plus being a little finer built (then again could just be because I had an issue with the disconnector). Now customer service at Timney is great and for bench guns, is the way to go. Reference Timney Trigger Issues - Sniper's Hide Thread

Have played with Rock River "match" triggers but was looking for something a little nicer - maybe a KAC or one of the many Geissele (which one and how do they compare to the Timney?) or ????

Thanks
 
#3
Re: Good Field Trigger for AR15 - Both Reliabile and G

On my carbine I use a stock trigger, nothing added. I shoot with that during carbine courses etc. When I get overseas I don't get anything fancy so I practice with stock.

On my SPR, National Match Ar and .308 SASS I have Geissele High speed national Match Service rifle triggers, same trigger across the board on my custom guns.
 
#4
Re: Good Field Trigger for AR15 - Both Reliabile and G

Any of the Geissele non-adjustable triggers will offer you an excellent lightweight trigger pull combined with the strength/endurance/safety/reliability of a "stock" AR trigger. I say the non-adjustable ones because no matter how you set them up (loctite or otherwise), there is the potential for adjustment screws to work/come loose and cause problems in the adjustable units. The Geissele SSA-E is about the best bang for the buck on the market in my opinion with a total pull weight of only 3.5lbs (roughly a 2.3lb 1st stage followed by a very crisp/clean 1.2lb 2nd stage break). HOWEVER...you will have to go from the single-stage operation of the Timney to a 2-stage operation. Simply put, trying to go lighter than 3-3.5lbs in a single stage trigger in an AR can cause safety problems that just don't apply to the 2-stage units which is why you can get a lighter, 1.2lb pull once you have "staged" the Geissele trigger.
 
#6
Re: Good Field Trigger for AR15 - Both Reliabile and G

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BCP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What happened to the timney? Was an actual break or more of a wear issue?</div></div>

After a few rounds the trigger started to fail to return every time (don't know if was fifty to a couple hundred rounds that a friend was shooting, working up loads for the new Compass Lake Eng upper). When I took out the trigger, after a good cleaning did not help, noticed was most likely catching of the disconnector.

Trigger is back at Timney's for a look and upgrade to a newer version.
 
#8
Re: Good Field Trigger for AR15 - Both Reliabile and G

Wilson TTU
tr-ttu-1.jpg


Geissele SSA-E
ssa-lg.jpg


Thanks now to decide on single vs two stage .....
 
#11
Re: Good Field Trigger for AR15 - Both Reliabile and G

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sespe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I like the Geissele SD-C a lot. The last 'custom' trigger I had tended to double - not good.</div></div>

At least not with out the selector, disconnector plus need parts including the tax stamp or manufacturing entry ;-).
 
#12
Re: Good Field Trigger for AR15 - Both Reliabile and G

I have a Geissele SD 3 Gun trigger in my carbine that is sweet - a weird pull to get used to, but very fast and very nice for carbine type work. have Jard single stage in my 20" rifle that I am digging....gonna buy another Jard for next build.
 
#13
Re: Good Field Trigger for AR15 - Both Reliabile and G

sometimes i quote myself





as most here are of the bolt gun persuasion.....them that opt for the gassers tend to want to replicate the tweeked bolt gun trigger....so , its been my experience that the jp trigger with yellow 3.5 lb springs best do that.......almost match the bolt gun trigger......not their one piece,as i have no time with one,,,,but the adjustable trigger,,,,then you may also wish to investigate their high speed low mass hammer....


this lash-up has worked for me for years to some regaled success .
 
#14
Re: Good Field Trigger for AR15 - Both Reliabile and G

I have the Rock River Match Trigger in my new Rock River AR.

It's light.

Break is crisp but there's some creep after the first "empty" stage takes up. It's not terrible, but I did notice today that the rifle can move around a touch between the time you want the trigger to go off and the time the rifle actually fires.
 
#15
Re: Good Field Trigger for AR15 - Both Reliabile and G

Geissele is the way to go. I have the 3 gun trigger, and it is has a super short reset which is awesome for follow up shots. It's a little hard to get used to because it has the travel of a 2 stage without the light take up, but like I said it has a short reset unlike a 2 stage. If your not shooting in a comp then one of the SSA's is the way to go.
 
#18
Re: Good Field Trigger for AR15 - Both Reliabile and G

Since this thread got revived from the dead from a year ago, Geissele is still a good alternative to fussier triggers. Geissele has continued their reputation as a fantastic-feeling trigger and absolutely bombproof. You can search the web for various drop-in triggers and find a lot of problem threads turn up on various websites but you'll find very few on the big G.

If you're on a budget, Bill Geissele's wife started ALG Defense, which also sells triggers. She has streamlined the manufacturing so they aren't as crisp, but they're no more than $65 and an affordable, and reliable upgrade to the factory one.

Folks on hard-use AR forum like M4C or lightfighter aren't very fond of the RRA 2-stage triggers. Either a bad batch got out or they're softer, but there are reports of the triggers losing the 2nd stage over a few thousand rounds. Folks complain about the Geissele price. I own one and I still complain about the price
grin.gif
and I'll gladly buy another and bitch some more!
 
#19
Re: Good Field Trigger for AR15 - Both Reliabile and G

try the new ALG triggers. cheap as far as triggers go, but a very nice upgrade with reliability.
 
#20
Re: Good Field Trigger for AR15 - Both Reliabile and G

Ya I brought it back from a year ago. Figure time to close out the factory repair and get a fresh updated.

Had heard that about the RRA 2 stage triggers, a little bit after I got a couple ;-)

For $65 sounding like the ALG might be the way to go for nearly any "beater" AR, any down side besides the Geissele's is nicer?
 
#21
Re: Good Field Trigger for AR15 - Both Reliabile and G

I like the geissele SSA-E because it's "match grade" but has the same number of moving parts as a Milspec (for simplicity). Rock rivers are nice too, my brother has one, but there are additional moving parts...

A cheaper option for a single stage, Bill Springfield.
 
#22
Re: Good Field Trigger for AR15 - Both Reliabile and G

JTinIN, for your application either the Giessele SSA or one of the new ALG triggers seem like they work the best. For me, I will never use another trigger but Giessele in my gas guns.
 
#23
Re: Good Field Trigger for AR15 - Both Reliabile and G

Bill designed the SSA to meet .mil contract requirements, which included removing any user adjustments.

One of the contacts he was bidding required the trigger to be tested to failure and the cycle count provided back to the solicitor. He built an automated fixture to cycle the trigger and record the cycles. After 60,000 cycles, it had not failed and showed no signs of impending failure. He had to run it dry, then load abrasives into it, to get it to fail so he could be compliant with the bid. Not sure what the final cycle count was.

My flat range match rifles are fitted with Giessele match triggers, but my go-to field rifle? SSA.
 
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