These days there is no shortage of choices when it comes to triggers for your AR. One popular choice that we here at Everything-AR are fond of is the Timney AR-15 competition trigger. It is a drop-in trigger module that replaces the trigger, hammer, sear, and their associated springs. The Ar-15 Competition Trigger is single stage, meaning that there is little to no movement in the trigger before it releases the sear and fires the weapon. It feels much like a traditional high end hunting rifle than a military style, which tend to have much more slop and significantly heavier pull weights.
Timney only makes single stage triggers for the AR platform, and they are a pleasure to shoot in every configuration we have tested. The AR-15 Competition Trigger is non-adjustable, but can be ordered with a 3.0, 4.0, or 4.5 pound pull weight. In controlled tests, each of the three triggers that we ordered remained consistently within 0.35 pounds of its advertised pull. With this module trigger creep is all but eliminated, and the sear release is smooth and crisp. Follow up shots are faster, with a short over travel and a quick, positive reset. Shot release is predictable and reliable, making this an ideal trigger for a wide variety of shooting.
Aside from the increase in accuracy, one major area of improvement over a stock trigger that the Timney AR-15 Competition Trigger has is the ease of installation. Unlike standard triggers, which have each of the components unconnected to each other, the Timney is contained in an aluminum housing that keeps each piece in place as well as providing improved pivoting and positioning. Instead of having to align each piece and hold each spring in place while attempting to insert the trigger and hammer pins, all that needs to be done is to place the module in the proper position in the receiver and to drift the pins into place. The grip and safety still need be be removed prior to installing the trigger, as with regular triggers.
Fit and finish are both very good, with only light machine marks visible on non working surfaces. All working surfaces are precision ground and mate perfectly to each other, making for an extremely smooth assembly. The housing is anodized aluminum with steel inserts for each pin bracing. The hammer is wire EDM cut from S7 tool steel, and other components are wire EDM cut, but from A2 steel. The trigger shoe itself is available as the standard curved trigger, a straight one, or a skeletonized version. When ordering, be sure to get the version that will fit your receiver, as they are made for both small (.154″) and large (.170″) pin receivers.
At an MSRP of $249.95, the Timney AR-15 Competition Trigger is certainly an investment, but there is likely no component (with the possible exception of the barrel) that will have a greater effect on the accuracy of your AR. When you are ready to take your shooting to the next level, take a good long look at your trigger. The right one will improve both your performance and your enjoyment of whatever use you have for it.