What is the best factory trigger on a semi-automatic?
- Thread starter adrian44
- Start date
The Hi-Power? There aren't many that will share that opinion. The trigger design is definitely not the high point of the BHP. The trigger pull is pretty poor with the mag safety intact, and it's not easy to make it exceptional even with the mag safety removed.
I still love the BHP, but the trigger is probably the single-most unimpressive thing about the gun and its design, in my opinion.
In my experience, the best is my mom's Hi Standard Supermatic Citation. Very smooth, clean break and barely any overtravel.
My Vz.82 has a surprisingly slick double action trigger, a delight in a gun I paid a little over $200 for. My father's Kahr K9 is smooth as well, but a little wooden feeling. OTH, my S&W K, L & N frames are a cut above the Vz and K9.
1911s vary a LOT. Most people automatically equate a light trigger with a good trigger.
1911s can be quite good. But my Springfield Armory Mil-Spec had a jerky, gritty trigger out of the box with a lot of slop. So does my new Colt Series 70, though it is notably better than my SA.
My Vz.82 has a surprisingly slick double action trigger, a delight in a gun I paid a little over $200 for. My father's Kahr K9 is smooth as well, but a little wooden feeling. OTH, my S&W K, L & N frames are a cut above the Vz and K9.
1911s vary a LOT. Most people automatically equate a light trigger with a good trigger.
1911s can be quite good. But my Springfield Armory Mil-Spec had a jerky, gritty trigger out of the box with a lot of slop. So does my new Colt Series 70, though it is notably better than my SA.
Read each post and you will find EACH particular person's ONE answer. Or top three, anyway. My post had three answers, I can pare it down to the 845.
But seriously... it's a discussion. It's not likely possible for their to be ONE answer above all others. At least I was able to go from "everything" to "most" to "many" to "THREE!" and down to "845."
You seem to be stuck on "everything."
That's a very good place to be if you're shooting. If you're still taking part in a discussion and you're stuck on "everything", it sure seems like you've gotten all you'll likely ever get from the discussion.
But seriously... it's a discussion. It's not likely possible for their to be ONE answer above all others. At least I was able to go from "everything" to "most" to "many" to "THREE!" and down to "845."
You seem to be stuck on "everything."
That's a very good place to be if you're shooting. If you're still taking part in a discussion and you're stuck on "everything", it sure seems like you've gotten all you'll likely ever get from the discussion.
As I have chased more guns over the last couple of years, I've absolutely come to appreciate the pure joy of a fine trigger and I can very easily see the difference in a "better" trigger when compared to an "average" trigger. In much the way that I seem to have the ability to pick up handguns and shoot any of them with some level of proficiency (and not get all uptight over feel, grip angle, bore axis, etc), it certainly doesn't mean that I don't have preferences and don't chase some guns that fit my hopes & ideas a little better than others.
I have had a long fascination with Smith & Wesson steel semi-auto pistols. We often simply call them "3rd Gens" in most of our discussions here, but I'm talking about all three generations which began with the Model 39 and basically got phased out somewhere in the midst of the M&P and S&W's finally caving to the 1911 craze.
My point is that I've always had a fondness for these for many reasons and I now happen to have six of them. 3 of them make for interesting discussion right now:
circa '87 Model 745
circa '92 Model 1006
circa '98 Model 845
The 745 is interesting to me in that the length of travel is extremely short. Very clean, no drag, and I have an overtravel stop that is adjusted to a very beneficial spot-- this is a very nice trigger, however... the actual pull weight and break is amongst the heaviest I've handled for a trigger with this short, fine range. Trigger BARELY moves & moves cleanly, but it takes a lot of effort to move it.
The 1006 trigger is a joke compared to any "fine" trigger by any measure. It's a better trigger than the one on my Ruger P-90
but this is like saying that the 1975 Impala is svelte because it weighs less than a 1977 Fleetwood. It may weigh less, but that doesn't make it lean.
Now the 845 is simply not fair. As discussed by others above, this may not be a "production gun" as roughly 650 of these guns exist on the planet and all were put together as much by human hands as by advanced machinery at the S&W Performance Center. The 845 has a trigger that, IMO, rivals the Les Baer 1911 triggers I've gotten to work with -- admittedly, only two LB's that I've shot. I can only suggest that if you spot an 845 (or most likely the similar feel you'd get from a 952) I do hope that you ask to pick that handgun up and try a dry-fire or three.
Doing that or even shooting one should -NOT- ruin the ability you have with other (lesser) handguns. And it certainly doesn't mean that you would moments later find it a good idea to spend two grand to get one when you get plenty of enjoyment from, say, a 5906.
But none of any of this makes the discussion moot.
Also, it's worth noting that I still love my 1006 for many reasons... none of which include it's trigger. (because it's trigger is functional and no better than that)
I have had a long fascination with Smith & Wesson steel semi-auto pistols. We often simply call them "3rd Gens" in most of our discussions here, but I'm talking about all three generations which began with the Model 39 and basically got phased out somewhere in the midst of the M&P and S&W's finally caving to the 1911 craze.
My point is that I've always had a fondness for these for many reasons and I now happen to have six of them. 3 of them make for interesting discussion right now:
circa '87 Model 745
circa '92 Model 1006
circa '98 Model 845
The 745 is interesting to me in that the length of travel is extremely short. Very clean, no drag, and I have an overtravel stop that is adjusted to a very beneficial spot-- this is a very nice trigger, however... the actual pull weight and break is amongst the heaviest I've handled for a trigger with this short, fine range. Trigger BARELY moves & moves cleanly, but it takes a lot of effort to move it.
The 1006 trigger is a joke compared to any "fine" trigger by any measure. It's a better trigger than the one on my Ruger P-90
but this is like saying that the 1975 Impala is svelte because it weighs less than a 1977 Fleetwood. It may weigh less, but that doesn't make it lean.Now the 845 is simply not fair. As discussed by others above, this may not be a "production gun" as roughly 650 of these guns exist on the planet and all were put together as much by human hands as by advanced machinery at the S&W Performance Center. The 845 has a trigger that, IMO, rivals the Les Baer 1911 triggers I've gotten to work with -- admittedly, only two LB's that I've shot. I can only suggest that if you spot an 845 (or most likely the similar feel you'd get from a 952) I do hope that you ask to pick that handgun up and try a dry-fire or three.
Doing that or even shooting one should -NOT- ruin the ability you have with other (lesser) handguns. And it certainly doesn't mean that you would moments later find it a good idea to spend two grand to get one when you get plenty of enjoyment from, say, a 5906.
But none of any of this makes the discussion moot.
Also, it's worth noting that I still love my 1006 for many reasons... none of which include it's trigger. (because it's trigger is functional and no better than that)
lifesizepotato
New member
I think the best trigger is definitely the HK VP70Z. Second place might be the Nagant revolver.
And that's my opinion so it can't be wrong.
And that's my opinion so it can't be wrong.
Ever shoot a VP70? My buddy has had one since the 80's, and its really not as bad as you hear. He doenst have the "stocked" version, but you cant have everything. 
I was always amazed at how many American shooters complained about the HK "G"/"90's" series rifle triggers too. You'd think they were unshootable if you listened to them.
I was always amazed at how many American shooters complained about the HK "G"/"90's" series rifle triggers too. You'd think they were unshootable if you listened to them.
My new Ruger LC9s has a really nice and smooth trigger. But I will admit that I only own five semi-autos, four of which are Rugers, and one Browning. The LC9s is striker fired and seems light years better than the older LC9. This gun also is a great combination of small size, decent capacity (8), good stock sights, and reliable mechanics. I bought it when I was considering the S&W Shield and found this new Ruger far better to my liking, a major part of that was the excellent trigger.