Opinions on Budget Ar-15 Trigger Groups?

UltraT

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I'm wondering what your opinions are on cheaper $30-$50 "polished" trigger groups for AR-15s. Do they provide a noticeable improvement over a basic mil-spec trigger? Do you think it is worth it overall?

I have a semi-budget AR build with a basic mil-spec trigger, and I am considering putting a nicer trigger in it. But I am not sure I want to put more money into an inexpensive build, when I could save the money for a more expensive build in the future.

Leave as is and save, slight upgrade, or splurge on full upgrade?
 
UltraT

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Bullet Guy said:
The best trigger group for what you're asking for in my opinion is made by hyper fire EDT. They are about $90.

I was not impressed by the Palmetto group.

The ALG are OK but for the additional $25 I would go with hyper fire.
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Thanks for the input. A couple of follow up questions for you: What about the ARStoner triggers on the same price level as the PSA? Any experience, about the same quality? Also, once you get to around $90 is it better to just jump to the $100 upgrades? It seems like a slippery slope of increasing quality and price, where do you like to make your cut off in general?
 
Eddie Gunks

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The next jump is $250. Or 225. All the ones from $100 -200, in my opinion are not all that great.

The $225+ (These are seriously nice triggers) to look at are:

1. hiperfire. 24-3G or 24c
2. Geissele
A. high speed national match
B. the 3gun trigger. (The SSA-E are ho-hum IMO. I have one i may just sell it).
3. ar gold.
 
MikeyCNY

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Bullet Guy said:
The next jump is $250. Or 225. All the ones from $100 -200, in my opinion are not all that great.

The $225+ (These are seriously nice triggers) to look at are:

1. hiperfire. 24-3G or 24c
2. Geissele
A. high speed national match
B. the 3gun trigger. (The SSA-E are ho-hum IMO. I have one i may just sell it).
3. ar gold.
Click to expand...

@Bullet Guy how would you rank the LaRue MBT trigger? I picked one up for $99 during Labor Day Sale... absolutely loved it so picked up another during Black Friday Day at same price (even though I don't have a lower for it yet). Compared to mil-spec is it awesome, though I admit I haven't tried any other triggers.
 
Target

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Anyone with experiece with any of the $100-150 Drop In trigger groups as seen on Ebay?
I'd guess that they're an improvement over most stock triggers.

I have a PSA rifle kit that may have their premium or enhanced fire control groups as the mating surfaces are nicely polished. The kit description does not specify much.
 
Podmonkey

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Bullet Guy said:
The best trigger group for what you're asking for in my opinion is made by hyper fire EDT. They are about $90.

I was not impressed by the Palmetto group.

The ALG are OK but for the additional $25 I would go with hyper fire.
Click to expand...
I'm thinking of getting one of those myself.
 
Eddie Gunks

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MikeyCNY said:
@Bullet Guy how would you rank the LaRue MBT trigger? I picked one up for $99 during Labor Day Sale... absolutely loved it so picked up another during Black Friday Day at same price (even though I don't have a lower for it yet). Compared to mil-spec is it awesome, though I admit I haven't tried any other triggers.
Click to expand...

Sorry. I have not tried them
 
Dantheman

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Bullet Guy said:
The best trigger group for what you're asking for in my opinion is made by hyper fire EDT. They are about $90.

I was not impressed by the Palmetto group.

The ALG are OK but for the additional $25 I would go with hyper fire.
Click to expand...

You don't or need to go any further than that Hiperfire EDT3 for around 95 bucks. I just put one in a 450 Bushmaster build and it's plenty nice for a hunting trigger. I'm very happy with it.

I have the Hirpertouch 24E (around $200) as well, on a bull barreled 223 Wylde. That's an excellent trigger as well but unless you're target shooting or hunting for small critters, I don't think you'll need it.

Dan
 
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UltraT

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So I ended up getting a Geissele SSA-E trigger, thanks to help from @Bullet Guy . Just installed it today, very nice! It's at least half as light as the mil-spec I was using, no creep at all (unlike the very creepy mil-spec), and very crisp. I don't find it too light at ~3.5 lbs.

Obviously a bit more expensive than I was originally looking for, but we're all just going to die anyways, amiright? :D
We'll see if I can take advantage of it at the range! :rifle:
 
NY Leatherneck

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Putting a polished PSA trigger group in my $500 build. For $29 why not. Ill report out on it in my thread I started on the build. Possibly doing assembly this weekend.
 
JamieZ

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NY Leatherneck said:
Putting a polished PSA trigger group in my $500 build. For $29 why not. Ill report out on it in my thread I started on the build. Possibly doing assembly this weekend.
Click to expand...

If you do your research on polishing you will end up liking the polished one. Just dont end up using a high end trigger,,,cause then your love for yours will deteriorate :)
 
Podmonkey

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I intend my AR as a practical carbine so I opted for the Hiperfire EDT2 myself. It's been a loooong time since I monkeyed around with AR guts, let's see how it goes.
 
FRB

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Podmonkey said:
I intend my AR as a practical carbine so I opted for the Hiperfire EDT2 myself. It's been a loooong time since I monkeyed around with AR guts, let's see how it goes.
Click to expand...

Podmonkey, how did you end up liking the EDT2?
 
Vapor

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Any of the enhanced mil spec triggers are kind of a gimmick. I have a non polished one that's better than my alg.

If you want improved pull without sacrificing primer striking power, the only answer is an $89 Larue.

Otherwise, a basic milspec to my finger feels about the same after a few hundred rounds. I wish I had never spend the money on the alg or palmetto.
 
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Podmonkey

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FRB said:
Podmonkey, how did you end up liking the EDT2?
Click to expand...
It's just fine, nice clean single stage, a little nicer feeling than the ALG trigger. However I think the LaRue MBT triggers are the best thing going, fantastic action and at $80-90 just an absolute no brainer.
 
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Xae289

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Podmonkey said:
It's just fine, nice clean single stage, a little nicer feeling than the ALG trigger. However I think tge LaRue MBT triggers are the best thing going, fantastic action and at $80-90 just and absolute no brainer.
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Second the LaRue MBT. My first rifle has a CMC 4.5# flat-faced single stage. I like it well enough, but it still has a tiny bit of creep before it breaks. For my first rifle, it was a huge upgrade over stock and I still think it's a great trigger, but not perfect. I got the MBT 2 Stage last year for another rifle and I love it. I paid -50% what I paid for the CMC but I like the MBT much better. I have the normal spring it came with installed. The take-up is smooth and light, the wall is solid, and the break is super crisp.
 
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Podmonkey

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Xae289 said:
Second the LaRue MBT. My first rifle has a CMC 4.5# flat-faced single stage. I like it well enough, but it still has a tiny bit of creep before it breaks. For my first rifle, it was a huge upgrade over stock and I still think it's a great trigger, but not perfect. I got the MBT 2 Stage last year for another rifle and I love it. I paid -50% what I paid for the CMC but I like the MBT much better. I have the normal spring it came with installed. The take-up is smooth and light, the wall is solid, and the break is super crisp.
Click to expand...
I just don't understand why if the MBT can be profitably sold for less than $100 why an other similar triggers such as the Geissele offerings cost so much more. As you say the MBT has no creep, no grit, breaks like glass and has no overtravel. Along with the fact it'll light off hard primered military ammo I can't see a reason to install anything else, especially since they have single and two stage models now, either one with the option of a curved or straight trigger bow. Thar covers all the bases they need to.
Anybody still reading this thread: Get an MBT they are fantastic at 3x the price.
 
Vapor

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Podmonkey said:
I just don't understand why if the MBT can be profitably sold for less than $100 why an other similar triggers such as the Geissele offerings cost so much more. As you say the MBT has no creep, no grit, breaks like glass and has no overtravel. Along with the fact it'll light off hard primered military ammo I can't see a reason to install anything else, especially since they have single and two stage models now, either one with the option of a curved or straight trigger bow. Thar covers all the bases they need to.
Anybody still reading this thread: Get an MBT they are fantastic at 3x the price.
Click to expand...

Sounds like exactly what I would say.
 
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