Author Topic: AR 15 Trigger job? (Read 1975 times)

rugerfan.64 · « **on:** September 03, 2012, 12:26:46 PM »

So I have a AR 15, Shoots good 3/4" groups at 100 yds. The trigger is TERRIBLE! I have been reading around the net, read the 15 min trigger job, the .50 Cent trigger job, trigger job in a bag,,,,,,,,,,,, you name it I've probably read it. So my question is who has experiene with any of these trigger fixes? I aint gonna spend the big bucks on a Timney or something else when I can do the work myself and have a good trigger. Thanks in advance. Did I mention the trigger on MY AR IS TERRIBLE?

Cleburne · « **Reply #1 on:** September 03, 2012, 12:54:48 PM »

The factory trigger on my Bushy felt like it had been dropped in the sand at the beach, it was sooo gritty. I can't speak about home remedies, but I bought a Rock River match trigger from John Holliger a few years back and love it. I haven't looked for him in awhile, so you may want to check out White Oak Precision online. I think that's where I found him. At that time, his price for a tuned trigger was $115.00, which is much more reasonable than a Timney drop-in unit. Nothing derogatory towards Timney, I bought one of their triggers for son-in-law's Savage Model 110 a few months back. Installation was a breeze and he's well pleased with its performance.

cjclemens · « **Reply #2 on:** September 03, 2012, 06:46:53 PM »

I spent the money on a Timney. To me it was worth every penny. If you do some research, you can probably find instructions on how to polish contact surfaces on that stock trigger, but its my understanding that there's only so much you can do with standard issue parts. The Rock river 2 stage national match trigger seems to be very popular, so Im assuming they give good performance for the price. My problem is that I never did like the feel of the 2 stage triggers....

rugerfan.64 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 04, 2012, 02:40:45 PM »

First, thank you for your response. I have been researching the net and have found a couple of trigger jobs that interest me. The 15 min trigger job and the .50 $ trigger job. I was hoping someone on here had done one or both of these trigger modifications to offer some insight into those. I am also checking out the web for Timney, Giessele, CMC, and a host of others as a last resort. I hate to spend $$ on something that I can do for myself. I am not looking for a match grade trigger, just something thats alot better than that gosh awful trigger it left the fatory with. Any further opinions are welcome, as I am new to this AR stuff. They're a dang site better than they were in the 80's, except for the trigger.

cjclemens · « **Reply #4 on:** September 05, 2012, 06:57:00 AM »

I agree - it is a shame that so many AR's leave the factory with such god-awful triggers on them. My DPMS and Del-Ton rifles are a couple of the biggest perpetrators. After replacing the triggers, they were like shooting completely different rifles. Just an example - the Del-Ton 20" A2 I use for coyote hunting went from 1.5" groups to 0.75" groups @100 yards. The potential of these rifles is amazing, and I hate to see people frustrated by such a simple fix. Its also surprising to see so many people spend big money on extra gadgets for that 'tacticool' look and still run the stock trigger. Like I said, I spent the money on Timney triggers, and the results were totally worth it to me. There are other options, too - the Rock River 2 stage trigger sells for $120, and there are lots of people who absolutely love them. If you don't like the 2 stage action, JP also makes a trigger kit that is a lot more reasonable. I don't know much about it yet, but I just ordered one for $115, so I hope to find out soon.

Good luck with your trigger work and happy shooting!

Old Syko · « **Reply #5 on:** September 05, 2012, 07:51:28 AM »

Cjclemens is right on many points. You can only do so much with stock triggers and I too am no fan of the 2 stage setup. Turns out to be a case of getting what you pay for. The two extremes are 0 cost by doing it yourself and spending the money for quality. I've used guns whose standard triggers have been professionally done that were pretty good. I've done them myself that turned out pretty good. I'm yet to see anything that compares to the consistent quality of a Jewell. Timney, Giessele, and others offer quality but the Jewell has long been my choice. A year from now you likely won't miss the money but you'll still reap the benefits of a quality trigger for years to come.

patw · « **Reply #6 on:** September 05, 2012, 10:06:45 AM »

This may be a less expensive alternative.
http://www.triggerwork.net/ar15s.html
"AR-15, AR-10, all makes, standard small and large pin Colt, stock single stage - 4lbs pull, very short, smooth, clean break. $39, add $5 for "speed hammer" modification. New stock AR trigger spring kit available for $4.50 per set if needed."

I got the three pound trigger and I am happy with it.

Dezynco · « **Reply #7 on:** September 08, 2012, 05:52:09 PM »

I have done a couple of the "15 minute" trigger jobs that came out great. Rather than cutting one leg of the hammer spring off, I bend both legs into a slight hook. I tweak the trigger spring just like the article instructs, then squirt Colgate toothpast onto the contact areas and work it a while. After you cock and decock the rifle several dozen times, wash it out thoroughly with water, dry it out and then reoil with Lucas gun oil.

Also, you have noticed by now that the pre-travel on stock trigger groups is a mile long!! Take the pistol grip off and run a set screw up against the bottom of the trigger and tighten it until the hammer falls. Back the set screw out about one half turn or so. Now screw a nut onto the pistol grip screw to make it "shorter" so that the grip screw won't bottom out against the set screw/pretravel screw that you just installed.
Works great!!! I may never buy another high priced trigger group again! As with all advice you get from the Internet, proceed with caution and at your own risk.

Bugflipper · « **Reply #8 on:** September 08, 2012, 07:45:44 PM »

I have heard a lot of good things about Bill Springfield's work on the various black rifle forums ( patw posted a link to). HK 91 triggers are about the worst to get tamed down and the fellow does a good job according to peoples' feedback.

With the 15 minute it really doesn't give a super light trigger with stock springs. I dremeled the sear and trigger with jewelers rouge and the feel was excellent. Started clipping the other side little by little and it really never got to where it felt right to me. It was reduced but the trigger spring was still too stout. About the time it started feeling right I ran out of oomph for hard primers. So I went with a yellow jp enterprises hammer and trigger spring. Modded like the 15 minute. That was superb. Maybe a 2-2 1/4# and it fired russian ammo reliably. Put in a 22 conversion and it was a no go. So I had to put that on another one. It has a modded yellow trigger spring and a red non modded hammer spring. It's probably around 3.5#. Not a bad compromise. I imagine they have a little over travel but I don't ever pay attention to that. As long as they break clean and aren't heavy that's good enough for me.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #9 on:** September 10, 2012, 01:17:49 AM »

bills did every ar in my safe. He does good work for less then ive seen anyone else charge.

SharonAnne · « **Reply #10 on:** September 18, 2012, 07:16:15 AM »

I had a retired Airforce "gunsmith" build an AR15 for me. He did his super duper trigger job.

On another AR15 I had Accuracy Speaks install their trigger group. $100 more than the AF 'trigger job'. $1000 better trigger.

I don't care how much you finagle the standard AR15 trigger group. You will never get as good a trigger as you will with purpose built parts, whether Accuracy Speaks or JP or if you go to the trigger group modules.

It is the old 'silk purse out of a sows ear' proverb. No matter what you do with standard AR15 trigger parts, you still have a pigs ear.

rugerfan.64 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 14, 2012, 04:45:43 PM »

Ok folks, I did it. I did the 15 min trigger and the $.o50 trigger in combination on my AR. I got the trigger down to 3.75 lbs and took alot of the travel out of it. Travel = CREEP. I didnt have to grind down the trigger itself for the safety to work properly, nor did I have to cut the pistol grip screw off for the grip to tighten up properly. I havent shot it yet but should be able to tomorrow. I know its a darn sight more manageable than it was. Its actually very consistent too. So far I am pleased. I am a tight ass Scots descent, and just cant fathom spending near $300 dollars for a dang trigger. I might not have the best ever trigger on the planet,but its a darn sight better than it was.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #12 on:** October 15, 2012, 02:55:14 AM »

I talked with a good smith and he said that anyone can do a trigger job but needed to understand that removing much surface metal will also remove the hardning . What happens is you get a great trigger that can wear to a point of being dangerous if not done correctly. His adsvice is to only polish not remove metal or change angles unless you can re harden the part.

rugerfan.64 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 15, 2012, 12:58:37 PM »

Polishing was done with Crest toothpaste, I dont think I took any of the hardening out of the trigger / hammer engagement. I shot it today and am very happy with the results. Shorter trigger travel, lighter weight, dependable, safe. I would recommend these two trigger fixes to anyone with sense enough to do it. So I am a happy camper.

Swampman · « **Reply #14 on:** October 15, 2012, 02:04:53 PM »

Modern gun metals are through hardened.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #15 on:** October 16, 2012, 01:06:15 AM »

Why would one thru harden a part like that ?

SharonAnne · « **Reply #16 on:** October 16, 2012, 11:38:28 AM »

rugerfan.64 Would you please tell us where you found the "15 minute trigger job" and the "50 cent trigger job". I just installed the GI trigger group in a bare AR15 lower. The trigger pull is 'terrible, horrible, no good and very bad'.

I would very much appreciate the locations of those posting.

Please and thank you.

Swampman · « **Reply #17 on:** October 16, 2012, 12:10:29 PM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on October 16, 2012, 01:06:15 AM

Why would one thru harden a part like that ?

Beacuse it's easier and cheaper than surface hardening.

rugerfan.64 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 16, 2012, 02:26:51 PM »

http://www.junkyardgenius.com/firearms/ar-15/ar08.html
http://www.sargenthome.com/15_Minute_AR_Trigger_Job.htm
Hope this helps.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #19 on:** October 17, 2012, 02:15:12 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on October 16, 2012, 12:10:29 PM

Quote from: SHOOTALL on October 16, 2012, 01:06:15 AM
Why would one thru harden a part like that ?

Beacuse it's easier and cheaper than surface hardening.

I don't think I would agree with that 100%
check sites listed above if you don't care to believe me.

SharonAnne · « **Reply #20 on:** October 17, 2012, 08:18:45 AM »

rugerfan.64

I have each site in my bookmarks and printouts of each.

Thank you.

John R. · « **Reply #21 on:** October 18, 2012, 02:52:17 AM »

I put JP triggers in both of mine, like shooting a new rifle!