There are a lot of crucial components needed to complete an AR build. Parts like the BCG serve as the heart of the rifle, responsible for extracting and chambering ammunition, while the barrel guides the bullet itself. While the list of crucial components is quite extensive, one of them is absolutely necessary for the rifle to function at all, even if the rest are present—the trigger.
While many AR-15 accessories can enhance the feel of your rifle, its trigger is what ultimately gives you control of the rifle. As its name suggests, it ‘triggers’ the firing process, allowing the hammer to strike the firing pin. While all AR triggers carry out the same task of starting the firing process, not all triggers are equal.
They can range in type and feel, making them better suited for a wide array of different applications. And depending on your rifle’s intended purpose, one trigger may serve you better than the other.
Understanding AR-15 Triggers
As we mentioned before, not all AR-15 triggers are the same. Despite looking similar most of the time, triggers are available in a few distinct variations.
Mil-spec triggers are the most basic type of trigger you can go with. Produced by many manufacturers, they’re some of the most affordable triggers on the market that use a single-stage design (something we’ll touch more on below).
Still, they often leave something to be wanted in terms of feel. They have a heavy trigger pull, usually between 5.5 to upwards of 8 pounds. For most enthusiasts, this is a heavy trigger pull, which is why the trigger is one of the first parts swapped out on a rifle. Still, they’re a solid trigger that’ll get the job done when needed.
Aftermarket triggers, on the other hand, offer much more variety, coming with different pull weights, trigger bow shapes, and different types of trigger pulls. Despite there being several options available, each trigger will either be single-stage or two-stage, and they can have either a drop-in or standard design.
Single-Stage and Two-Stage Triggers
All triggers are designated as either single-stage or two-stage. But what does that mean? Both are terms used to describe the trigger pull itself. A trigger’s pull has four distinct characteristics: take-up (the amount of travel in the trigger before hitting the wall), the trigger wall (where the trigger stops moving before the break), the break (the point where the hammer drops), and the reset (the point where your trigger is ready to be pulled again after firing).
Single-stage triggers have no take-up, meaning your trigger is always at the trigger wall. Because of their design, whenever the trigger resets, it’s immediately back at the wall, or breakpoint, making them great for applications where you need to put multiple rounds on target quickly.
Two-stage triggers differ significantly from single-stage ones. Whereas single-stage triggers have no take up whatsoever, two-stage triggers do. They have one stage where there is slight take up until you hit the trigger wall, and then a second stage where you finally pull through the wall and break the trigger (hence the name ‘two-stage’). By design, these triggers are more often used on precision builds such as SPRs and RECCE rifles, but if you’re on the fence about which you should get, our guide, “What is a Two-Stage AR-15 Trigger?” goes more in-depth on the characteristics of these triggers.
Drop-in vs. Standard Triggers.
If you’ve already done some shopping for different trigger packages, you’ve more than likely come across one of the various triggers labeled “drop-in”. Drop-in triggers are just as their name suggests, a drop-in replacement for your standard mil-spec trigger. Standard triggers are made up of two main components, the trigger and the hammer. These are two separate components that are held in place with a set of springs and pins and can be tricky to install for new enthusiasts. Instead of having all the parts separate from one another, drop-in triggers have all the major components housed within a single package, making their installation as simple as dropping it in and securing it with trigger pins.
If you plan to use a standard trigger, our guide on how to assemble an AR-15 lower provides a step-by-step guide on how to install these types of triggers.
Best AR-15 Triggers
We’ve hinted at it throughout this article so far, but there are a lot of different trigger manufacturers to choose from, with each one producing some high-quality options. Below are some popular brands to consider—just keep in mind that this is only a brief glimpse into the world of aftermarket trigger options.
Geissele Automatics
Few manufacturers have garnered a renowned status like that of Geissele Automatics. Although they’re known for producing incredibly high-quality parts and rifles today, they initially got their start as an aftermarket trigger manufacturer, so it’s no surprise that they still make some of the most popular trigger options available. Of all the Geissele trigger options available, easily, one of their most sought-after options is the Super Semi-Automatic (SSA) trigger series.
A two-stage trigger, it offers a light pull weight of 2.75 to 3 pounds during the first stage and only 1.5 to 1.75 pounds in the second, making it a solid trigger for all purposes. It’s also worth noting that the SSA trigger is available in different variations as well. SSA-E (Enhanced) triggers offer a lighter trigger pull of only 2 to 2.5 pounds in the first stage and .9 to 1.3 pounds in the second. SSA-X triggers keep the pull weight of the standard SSA trigger but come with Geissele’s enhanced nanocoating for better performance. Lastly, the SSA-EX (Enhanced X) is a combination of the two.
Being one of the more premium manufacturers around, Geissele triggers aren’t always the most budget-friendly per se, but there is no denying the quality of these triggers. That said, SSA triggers typically range in price from $245 to upwards of $330. Also, as we mentioned, Geissele produces a lot of triggers, and it wouldn’t be possible to mention them all here. Our Geissele trigger guide goes in depth on each of their options, so we recommend checking it out if you plan to go with a Geissele trigger in your AR-15.
Timney Triggers
Timney Triggers is another well-known aftermarket trigger manufacturer that needs little introduction. For nearly a century, they’ve been producing triggers for a wide range of rifles and pistols, and today, they seemingly have every firearm platform covered ranging from bolt-actions to AR-15s.
Their AR triggers are by far some of the most popular trigger options they produce, with their Impact AR Trigger and AR-15 Competition Trigger being the most notable ones. Their Impact trigger is a great affordable drop-in trigger with a non-adjustable 3- to 4-pound single stage trigger pull. Their AR-15 Competition Trigger is also a drop-in trigger designed specifically for competitive shooting, and can be configured with either a 3-, 4-, or 4.5-pound pull, plus, it installs easily.
Both triggers are offered with either a curved, straight, or skeletonized trigger, and depending on which one you look at, they vary in price too. The Impact Trigger costs around $130, and their competition Trigger costs anywhere from $230 to upwards of $290, depending on the configuration.
TriggerTech
TriggerTech is known for producing top-tier triggers for a myriad of rifle platforms, and even crossbows. Focusing on their AR triggers, their lineup consists of a plethora of single-stage and two-stage triggers.
They currently offer four distinct trigger series: Duty, Competitive, Adaptable, and Diamond. Duty triggers are a budget-friendly choice and have a 3.5- to 5-pound pull weight. Their Competitive-grade triggers are designed for competition and come with a fixed pull weight of 3 to 3.5 pounds. Adaptable triggers come with an adjustable pull weight that can range from 2.5 to 5 pounds. Lastly, their Diamond series are the most premium trigger options in their lineup, complete with an adjustable pull weight of 1.5 to 4 pounds and an extremely short reset.
Each of their triggers are available in either a single-stage or two-stage configuration, and they can also come with either a flat or curved trigger facing. Additionally, every trigger they offer comes with TriggerTech’s Zero Creep Technology®, giving each trigger a consistent pull and overall feel. TriggerTech’s triggers vary in price depending on the model, with them commonly being found between around $130 to $300+.
American Trigger Corp
American Trigger Corp offers incredibly popular aftermarket triggers for the AR-15, garnering a solid reputation amongst enthusiasts of different shooting disciplines. Out of the brands listed, ATC doesn’t have as many trigger options available, but despite this, they’ve quickly become a favorite among many.
Currently, ATC’s only offering is their AR Gold Trigger. Although this is the only trigger in their lineup, it’s offered in a few variations to make it better suited for unique needs and preferences. Notably, it’s available in either a fixed or adjustable configuration. Fixed Gold triggers come standard with a 3.5-pound pull weight, while their adjustable triggers are, like their name suggests, adjustable. Both are drop-in triggers and are available with either a flat- or curved-faced trigger bow. Also, each trigger is designed to have a crisp and clean trigger break and an extremely fast reset, plus, they’re drop-safe as well.
Even though ATC doesn’t have the most abundant lineup of trigger options, their AR Gold Trigger is still worth considering if you’re looking for a high-quality aftermarket trigger option. That said, their triggers are typically found around $250 to $280, depending on whether you opt for their fixed or adjustable trigger variant.
Which is Best?
To put it bluntly, it’s impossible to determine which trigger is the ‘best’ one, since at the end of the day, trigger preference falls completely on an enthusiast’s individual needs. While aftermarket triggers are some of the most crucial AR-15 upgrades for improving accuracy and performance, selecting just one out of a near-endless number of options would be an impossible task.
Consider the following: Are you building a rifle for fast paced and dynamic use where agility is of the utmost importance? Or is your AR-15 designed for taking more precise shots at longer distances? Knowing this, along with your other needs and preferences, is paramount to finding the best possibility for you.
Conclusion
A well-made trigger is an essential piece for any AR-15 build that plays a key role in determining how your rifle performs in your preferred shooting discipline. As we noted above, there are several high-quality trigger options to go with, each with their own unique advantages for various applications like home-defense, competitions, or precision shooting.
Although we’ve gone over a few of the industry’s notable trigger manufacturers, the list above is only a brief look inside the world of aftermarket triggers. There is a plethora of brands to choose from, so we recommend continuing to do your own research when choosing one. At the end of the day, so long as the trigger you’ve chosen aligns well with your needs and preferences, you can rest assured knowing it will perform when needed.
