Trigger Pull-Weight for AR-15’s
Trigger Pull measures how many pounds of force have to be applied to pull the trigger. The higher the number, the harder it is to pull the trigger which often results in less accurate shots.
The mil-spec requirement for the trigger pull on the M4A1 (military version of the civilian AR-15), taken directly from MIL-C-71186 states that the trigger pull weight shall be within the range of 5.5 to 8.5 pounds.
With that said, not all AR-15’s use Mil-spec triggers and therefore can be as low as 2.5 pounds of trigger pull.
What is the Best Trigger Pull-Weight for AR-15’s?
The “best” trigger pull weight greatly depends on how you intend to use your rifle. For competition shooting, you may want to go with a “match grade” trigger assembly that has very light trigger pull. For uses like close-quarters combat or home defense, it is better to go with a trigger with a little more pull weight since a lighter trigger is easier to accidentally fire.
Trigger Pull-Weight Considerations
- A lighter trigger pull can result in more accuracy since you don’t have to try as hard to pull the trigger, however it can also result in accidental discharges if you aren’t careful.
- Lighter trigger pulls are also more susceptible to “doubles”, meaning that the recoil of the rifle will bump your finger causing a quick unintentional follow-up shot from the first.
- Light triggers are often referred to as “match triggers” because they are typically used for competitive shooting matches, or long distance shooting.
- Some light trigger pulls use smaller springs which could be a problem with ammunition using hard primers, such as most steel cased ammunition. I had this problem with the light replacement springs sold on ebay.
- Typical trigger pull is between 3.5 to 6 pounds. Around 4 pounds is the best choice for a multi-purpose rifle setup.
Mil-Spec
In very general terms, AR-15’s use a fire control group (trigger, hammer, and springs) that are either Mil-Spec or non-mil-spec. Mil-spec refers to many things, among them is the finish requirement, dimensions tolerances and surface treatment of metals used in the manufacturing of parts for the US military.
Most Mil-spec triggers will generally be less expensive and have a heavier trigger pull, but like anything else, there is a range in quality when it comes to Mil-Spec triggers.
Reducing Your Mil-Spec Trigger Pull with a Trigger Job
The first AR-15 I built used an inexpensive Mil-spec trigger that was gritty and heavy. I wanted to improve the feel and pull weight of my weapon and soon discovered that trigger jobs completed by non-gunsmiths were taboo in the firearm community.
Think Twice About Trigger Jobs
The general story is that the bearing surfaces are case hardened and any attempt to smooth what is generally considered a rough action would penetrate the hardened surfaces. This would, in turn, result in an even coarser action than before. The other concern is that you may compromise the function of the trigger and therefore safety of the firearm.
Despite the warnings, I was able to smooth out my first trigger a bit and reduced the pull weight a tad by polishing the bearing surfaces of the trigger and hammer while slightly bending the springs. With that said, I know many people that have damaged their triggers attempting to improve them, so here is your warning if you decide to try it!
With a proper warning in place, here’s an example of what you can do to polish and smooth things out on a cheap mil-spec trigger, although my recommendation is to save some money for a quality upgrade.
Inexpensive Mil-Spec Trigger Recommendation
A polish job can improve your trigger pull, however, over time I learned that a polish job pales in comparison to a good trigger upgrade. I ended up replacing my cheap mil-spec fire control group with a mil-spec nickle-teflon coated upgrade which turned out to be one of the best and inexpensive decisions I made to improve my rifle and my shooting.
For less than $40 you will have a very clean and smooth trigger pull, I would suggest this nickle teflon trigger assembly from Brownell’s.
These work great for a smoother pull but still have a pull weight over 5 pounds. If you want a quality trigger with a lighter pull you will need to buy a more expensive assembly like the ones recommended below.
As a side note I have also tried using the lighter trigger springs off ebay (JP etc.) to reduce my trigger pull, which worked, however, the springs were so light it failed to fire a lot of my cheaper ammunition with hard primers.
High-End Trigger Recommendations
If you want to save up a little more money to dramatically improve the feel and function of your rifle, you may want to consider some of the options below. A quality trigger is one of the best ways to improve your shooting and overall enjoyment of your rifle.
Geissele Hi-Speed National Match Trigger
Possibly my favorite trigger for the AR-15 is the Geissele Hi-Speed National Match Trigger which can be set for three separate pull-weights depending on your application.
What makes this trigger worth it? First is the adjustability of the trigger that it is an extremely thoughtful design. Besides the first stage weight, all aspects of the trigger are adjustable even while you are on the range by using some allen wrenches.
The edges are perfect, there is no machining marks visible anywhere, the trigger/sear surfaces are glassy-smooth; the trigger itself is even perfectly clean under a light coat of translucent grease.
If you do any research on AR-15 triggers, you will not be able to avoid reading about Geissele Triggers since they are the gold standard of AR-15 triggers. Once you buy one, it’s all you’ll want.
Geissele SSA
Probably the most popular Geissele Trigger is the SSA. It has a set 4.5 pound pull-weight and is smooth as silk. Like the National Match Trigger it also is a two-stage trigger.
Single-Stage vs. Dual-Stage Triggers
- Dual-stage triggers have 2 different stages when pulling the trigger – usually the first stage has a stronger trigger pull, followed by an intermediate area of travel with slight resistance (stage 2), followed by trigger break. Basically the trigger has a section of gentle resistance before it “breaks”.
- Single stage triggers have no intermediate area – you just pull until the trigger “breaks”
- This choice really comes down to personal preference, but many people believe that dual-stage is better for long range accuracy, and single-stage is better for close-quarters or fast firing, because it resets more quickly
Drop-In Trigger Recommendations
Drop-in triggers are self-contained assemblies that you drop into your lower receiver and start shooting. Very simple to install and have been factory tested and set, often times adjustable to your needs.
TriggerTech Drop-In
The TriggerTech drop-in trigger can be adjusted from 2.5 to 5 pounds of pull-weight in half ounce increments. The adjustment clicks are very audible with very pronounced feel.
The design on this trigger is incredibly robust and will last a lifetime of shooting without showing any signs of wear.It has a super smooth and clean break with an incredibly short reset, it gets my vote as the best drop-in trigger on the market.
Timney AR-15 Drop-In
Another drop-in trigger that always has excellent reviews is the Timney AR-15 Drop-In. This is another trigger with an extremely clean break that you should expect with the Timney name.
Velocity Trigger
Another high-quality trigger maker breaking into the low-cost market is Velocity Trigger. These are arguably the best drop-in AR-15 triggers for those on a lower budget. I love the 3lb version shown below but you can get heavier pulls from Brownell’s if you choose. Built and designed by Tom Vehr who has over 27 years of experience with trigger design, you won’t be disappointed.
HiperFire
Lastly, you may want to consider the HiperFire trigger especially if you prefer single-stage triggers. There are so many great triggers on the market now it can be difficult for a company to stand out, but the Hiperfire is doing a great job considering. It has a very light pull that is adjustable from 2.5 to 3.5 pounds and with virtually no creep.
With the unique design of different springs, the lightest trigger pull actually yields the hardest primer strike. So if you are wanting to blast a ton of cheap surplus ammo with hard primers you will be good to go.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that shooting AR-15’s will always be a blast regardless of your trigger. Often times an inexpensive mil-spec trigger is a great entry into the world of AR-15, but as you shoot more you begin to notice the subtleties and nits of your firearm. If you plan to shoot for the long-term or just what to improve your shooting and overall enjoyment on the range, you should really consider an upgrade with a lighter trigger pull.
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