Are Aftermarket Triggers Worth It?

Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy want to go over aftermarket triggers. The purpose of this blog post is to discuss the various ins and outs of these types of triggers and whether or not they are for you. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

What is An Aftermarket Trigger?

Simply put, an aftermarket trigger is a replacement fire control group for a firearm. These units are available in a variety of forms, often tailored towards specific use cases or types of shooters. Typically, aftermarket triggers will reduce or alter the trigger pull of an existing trigger to make it more appealing to a shooter’s preferences. Aftermarket triggers will generally differ from factory offerings in terms of trigger weight and when it comes to actually pulling the trigger. Triggers of this category are available in a variety of trigger weights, ranging from light to heavy. Typically, shooters engaged in competition or recreation will opt for lighter triggers while others may opt for heavier triggers for duty use. Some triggers will even be optimized for use in pistol caliber carbines (PCC) and feature spring and hammer setups which are conducive to igniting harder pistol primers. At the end of the day, there are a variety of triggers available for shooters of all types. These triggers are also available in a variety of price points, making them accessible to customers in all price ranges.

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Single Stage vs Two Stage

Triggers will typically be found in either single stage or two stage form. These aptly-named triggers reveal their natures quite literally with their names. A single stage trigger features a single stage which must be overcome to break a shot. Two stage triggers feature a distinct initial stage which is immediately followed by a definitive wall which must be overcome prior to the trigger breaking. Essentially, one can take the names of these types of triggers quite literally. A single stage trigger has one stage to overcome before firing. A two stage trigger has two distinct stages which must be addressed prior to the trigger breaking. Single stage triggers tend to appeal to a wide audience and are enjoyed by recreational shooters and competition shooters in particular. The single stage nature of these triggers allows for end users to quickly send shots down range with the potential for fast follow up shots. Two stage triggers are well-suited for precision work, especially when utilized in scoped rifles. These triggers allow an end user to get a crisp, consistent trigger pull without and slop when engaging farther targets. An end user can examine their intended use case(s) and preferences to determine which trigger type is best for them. At the end of the day, both types of triggers are versatile and can be pressed into many use cases effectively.

Traditional Style Triggers

Traditional style aftermarket triggers are available from a variety of manufacturers. For the purposes of this category, we are mainly focusing on AR compatible triggers due to their common use in the United States. Companies such as Geissele, LaRue Tactical, and ALG Defense produce AR style triggers in a traditional style. These triggers are to be installed into a lower receiver in the same way a standard fire control group is. Simply put, if you can install a standard AR style trigger, you can install a trigger of this type. These types of triggers are available in a variety of trigger weights and in either single state or two stage form.

Cassette Style Triggers

Triggers of this type will also be referred to as “drop-in” triggers due to their self-contained nature. These types of aftermarket triggers will feature a housing which contains the hammer, springs, and trigger components. These units can easily be placed into a compatible lower receiver and installed painlessly. One will not have to wrangle springs and use slave pins to install a drop-in unit like they would on an unruly traditional trigger. Cassette style triggers are available from companies such as Blackout Defense, Timney, Rise Armament, Elftmann, and POF to name a few. Like traditional triggers, one will be able to find these units in a variety of pull weights and in single stage or two stage form.

Other Options

Of course, firearms besides ARs exist and are popular among shooters. Aftermarket trigger options exist for these options as well and come in many forms and styles. Some of the more unique and exotic designs are proprietary in nature and require a specially made trigger group. Companies such as Geissele, Blackout Defense, Timney, and Arid produce triggers for non-AR offerings. Firearms such as Glocks, FN SCARs, IWI Tavors, AKs, and even Steyr AUGs are supported with aftermarket trigger offerings. Timney in particular is a notable trigger manufacturer that offers products for a variety of firearms ranging from military surplus arms to modern AR-15s. Some companies, such as Ranger Point Precision and HB Industries offer spring kits which help to adjust the trigger weight of a firearm. While these offerings are not representative of entire trigger replacement kits, they act as a replacement to the components responsible for the feel of a trigger. At the end of the day, one will have no issue finding an aftermarket trigger solution for most firearms.

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Do You Really Need To Upgrade?

At the end of the day, an aftermarket trigger will not magically make an amateur shooter into a professional one. While a clean and consistent trigger will definitely help things, it is not a replacement for training and building fundamentals. Some shooters prefer to spend their money on ammunition and training rather than replacing a trigger on a firearm. While some triggers cost more than others, it is easy to equate the cost of triggers to various quantities of ammunition. Some aftermarket triggers can range from $200 to $400 dollars, essentially costing the same as a case of 9mm Luger or 5.56x45mm NATO. Some newer shooters may not be ready for an aftermarket trigger, especially those that feature a considerably lighter trigger pull. Inexperienced or unfamiliar shooters can easily “double tap” or unintentionally discharge a firearm if they are not ready for a light trigger pull.

Conclusion

All in all, it is ultimately up to the individual end user to determine whether an aftermarket trigger is for them. If one has the budget and desire to acquire a trigger for a specific purpose or for general use, they absolutely should. If one has a limited budget for shooting, they may want to get ammunition or training instead to make the most of their money. Whether you are in the market for a trigger or ammunition, we here at True Shot Ammo have you covered. As always, happy shooting. Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options. View more posts about gear:

Are Aftermarket Triggers Worth It?