Triggers play a crucial role in defining your shooting experience. Among the most popular choices for rifles, especially the ARs, are the standard, and the drop-in triggers.
Standard triggers are conventional, and demand a certain level of gunsmithing abilities. The drop-in triggers, on the other hand, are pre assembled. They come in a single metal housing and are a breeze to install.
So can this upgrade have the potential to revolutionize your shooting experience? After this read, you’ll know exactly if a slick new trigger is what your rifle has been longing for.
Looks
Standard Triggers
The Mil-Spec or standard triggers are extensively, if not always, found in military armaments. Looks aside, they are tested relentlessly for their reliability and functionality.
Ordinarily, you’ll find them in plain, utilitarian forms, largely focused on function rather than form. On a rifle, they’ll give off a tactile, conventional military-like appearance.
Drop-in Triggers
On the contrary, you’ll find a much larger variety in textures, finishings and forms in drop-in triggers. While the Mil-Specs are what you’ll find in a factory-set, the drop-ins are almost entirely added as upgrades, especially in competitive ARs.
Separate addition means the drop-in or cassette triggers have more room for customisation and personalisation. Companies like Giessele often offer models with colorful housing options, personalized textures and finishes.
Usability
Standard Triggers
Inconsistent, heavier trigger pull, longer creep, and lesser user-friendliness can limit the usability of the standard triggers. Many competitive shooters therefore prefer to exchange their factory-installed standard triggers with other ergonomic ones.
Drop-in Triggers
Consistent trigger pull, smoother trigger operation, and reduced trigger creep provide enhanced accuracy for precise shots. This is why drop-in triggers have better usability. For quick follow-up shots, these triggers allow better control and are suitable for competitive shooting.
Swift and smooth usage and significantly reduced pull weight reduce shooter fatigue and improve shot placement, especially during extended sessions. Consequently, drop-in triggers run better in self-defense applications.
But their usage is limited with different calibers. You can’t use drop-in triggers with all calibers, especially ones with larger bores or those with harder steel casings.
These require more strength to stimulate ignition. In such scenarios, the heavier weight of the standard triggers can do the job better.
In most cases, the drop-in triggers would only hamper the cycle. But you can still experiment your way through these and see if the trigger functions well with the caliber.
Installation
Standard Triggers
Installation is one of the most significant differences between these two. Standard triggers may require gunsmithing experience. The lower receiver undergoes extensive disassembly and overall, the process may require a lot of time and tools.
With prolonged and complicated procedures, comes greater risk of installation errors. Standard triggers may fit specific lower receivers only and there’s greater scrutiny for parts compatibility.
It may also require fittings and modifications e.g., adjusting trigger engagement surfaces or fitting it to the lower receiver. Installation can also vary depending upon the lower receiver and the specific trigger.
Drop-in Triggers
Where standard triggers can sometimes require professional assistance and therefore, added cost, drop-in triggers are preferred by DIY gunners. These can be installed with much less hassle and by shooters of all skill levels.
You have fewer components to manage, tools you need, so it’s less time-consuming. Also, upgrading will require minimal disassembly.
Shooting Experience
The shooting experience depends upon a variety of factors, in addition to the personal preferences of a person because a seasoned or conventional shooter may find the standard triggers to be a hit anyway-
Pull Weight
The usual pull weight for a standard trigger is 6-7 pounds which is a lot, especially since today better and lighter options are readily available. A drop-in trigger can have a much more reduced pull weight (as much as half of the former!).
In certain conditions, the pull weight of a good drop-in trigger will drop below even the advertised one. Plus, it is customizable too.
You can modify the standard trigger, also, to have a lesser pull weight, but then again, it is possible with either premium models or professionals.
Some of the premium standard ones, like the Geissele SSA-E and LaRue Tactical MBT, can also rival top drop-in triggers. Pull weight is also consistent when it comes to drop-ins and inconsistent with the standard ones.
Reliability
The modern trend is shifting towards cassette triggers. Drop-ins, like the Wilson Combat, rarely fail at their job and reliability remains solid. Most sophisticated designs are also relatively safe.
Mil-Spec is considered hard use gear. If we were to choose one as the final choice, these would probably take the cake too. Drop-ins have set screws and parts that may come loose and compromise the reliability.
Comfort
Comfort precedes accuracy. Since the gritty feel associated with the standard triggers isn’t all that comfy, drop-ins are usually preferred in this regard. The more strength you have to put in, the less will be the precision.
Beginners will have an easier time directing their rifle with drop-ins rather than standard triggers, especially where shots are fired in groupings.
Value for Money
Standard triggers are budget-friendly while generally drop-ins are more expensive. You may get a standard trigger within a hundred dollars but a drop-in might cost you hundreds of dollars.
For example, for $31.89 you get CMMG Ar-15 Mil-spec kit while Midwest Industries’ enhanced drop-in trigger will cost you around $150.
In light of the usability advantages mentioned above, the cost of the drop-in triggers is worth it for a better shooting experience.
Conclusion
Although they come at a higher cost, drop-ins definitely provide greater accuracy and comfort. I believe you can considerably step-up your game by upgrading your trigger to a drop-in one.
Smoother operation, and reduced trigger pull weight, creep and reset help with maintaining control and precision in follow-up shots for quicker target acquisition.
If you are bent on saving every single dollar, you should not go for the drop-in trigger upgrade. But if you want the best shooting experience possible with your existing gun, go for the upgrade, which will cost you anywhere from $100 to several hundred dollars.
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