Single stage vs Two stage triggers

BigPaul · Rookie Member Joined: Dec 10, 2009 Posts: 8

Gonna upgrade my AR15 24 in varmint riffle trigger. Thinking about a 2 stage. Gun is already more accurate than I am. Whats the pros/cons of a two stage?

chambered221

IMO a two stage can add another level of safety when working with a light let-off !!!
I do believe it's more of a personal issue though. My preference would be a good single stage.

PaulS

I don't like a trigger to move until it fires. Two stage triggers have too much creep for me. I am also the guy that has his triggers tuned to 4 pound pull, no creep, and no over-travel. I am not sensitive enough to feel a light trigger and I want the gun to fire when I am ready - not a second later and definitely not before.
It is all a matter of preference or necessity.

Gil Martin

It depends. For a varmint rifle and a target rifle my preference would be for a single stage trigger. All the best...
Gil

Suzanne

Hi BPaul!! If the second stage is light--you may not always feel it-- anticipating the feel is something of an art. Cold weather is the worst for that. I modified an old Mauser trigger (calm yourself Chambered) to give me a light second stage and it works great, I love it, but going to another rifle in the same day, with a crisp one stage trigger makes me remember real fast that it's a one stage trigger (if you know what I mean). I think the best bet for me, is a one stage trigger with enough pull that you know it's going to fire. It's really a matter of what I'm used to, I think and, with me, I'd rather have all my rifles single stages. That eliminates the learning curve I have when changing guns, and my brain will always be trained for the one stage. Probably more natural too.

Bruisin
Suzan

fnuser

Chambered221, PaulS, and Gil Martin Yeah me too.

Suzanne

HEY!!! What about me?

Suz

chambered221

Suz you bring up a very valid point !!! Shooting different guns the same day that is !!!

I found myself in a situation where my 45 was going off before I wanted it to during re-shoots at local IDPA matches. My shoot for score was shot with my 9mm and often I would run my 45 in a re-shoot. The 45 having a lighter let off wouldn’t necessarily be premature but points down were definitely an issue.
Since then I’ve adopted a familiarization/dry fire routine prior to shooting regardless if it’s the first shot of the day, a re-shoot or just sitting at the bench plinking.
Since that implementation I’m yet to have any brain farts of that nature !!! Shocked

Pumpkinslinger

In general I prefer to dry fire a gun at least once when I'm switching from one to another. Especially if the gun is new to me. I had a friend's match rifle fire when I closed the bolt (luckily it was on the rest and pointed down range) so I got a little wary of that sort of thing.

Dawgdad

I have a 3# single stage Timney on my .243 and a 4.5 # two stage match trigger on my Service rifle competition gun. If I go from the single to the two stage not really and issue but go from the two stage to the single... and you may let one go before you are ready!

chambered221

Dawgdad, Is the two stage required for service rifle competition ??? I know they have a minimum requirement for let off.

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5948

I do know that I still cannot get used to firing a single stage trigger no matter how many times I use one of my dads shotguns. Using and starting with military rifles made me get into the habit of a 2 stage. As Dawgdad mentioned, I've let off a round or 2 early from a shotgun. Embarassed

Personally I'd go with a 2 stage any chance I get. With a light let off in a safe range I don't see why a single stage would preform better then a 2 stage anyways.

Dimitri

shrpshtrjoe

This is a good topic. I have bin wanting to do something with my Ar's trigger a well and have bin wondering witch way to go. This is good info guys keep it coming Very Happy

Joe

fnuser

sorry suz looks like we posted at the same time yours wasn't there when I composed mine so here ya go. "YEAH WHAT SHE SAID!!"

Suzanne

WHEW!!........ Thanks Fnuser (I knew that, I just wanted to rile ya)
Well anyway I was thinkin about the trigger thing and I was thinking that if you really wanted a 2 stage trigger, I think I would go with a single or double set trigger. A single set, you push forward first to set the trigger, then pull to fire, I think you can also just pull and fire, if you want to. A double set is two triggers, one to set the trigger, one to fire. These seem safest to me (that's my opinion) if you want 2 stages, it's more obvious and your brain can be trained faster probably. (My brain) A double set trigger makes a lot of sense for target and varmint, to give you some concentration time, and it would also sort of "set' your brain too. Hhhmmm I think I'll get one....Brownells has a Mauser double set trigger for only $203, and a single set for about the same, that's a lot of beads to sell. (Old Indian joke) If I had a 1967 Z28 Camaro to sell.....Here's a nice article on the subject HERE

Cruz with
Suz