Who makes the best trigger?

[Firepower!]

Which gun manufacturer makes the best triggers on their handguns?

I mean triggers that are smooth and crisp whether SA or DA.

Kind of like Pythons when it comes to revolvers.

 

[Delaware_Dan]

I think the Sig Sauer 250 has the smoothest DAO pull I have ever come across.

 

[drail]

Single or double action?

 

[vox rationis]

best overall trigger: a good 1911 trigger
best DA/SA trigger: Sig Sauer
best "DAO" trigger: HK LEM
best striker fired trigger: Glock

HK P7 triggers are also supposed to be quite good, but I've never fired one

 

[Firepower!]

I think by any standards Python has the smoothest trigger.

 

[hoytinak]

For the most part I'm gonna go with Son Of Vlad Tepes.

best overall trigger: a good 1911 trigger
best DA/SA trigger: Sig Sauer's SRT
best "DAO" trigger: HK LEM
best striker fired trigger: XD with trigger job from Springfield's custom shop

 

[Jim March]

Best SA trigger: Freedom Arms.

 

[LUPUS]

Best DA / SA semiautomatic trigger, SIG P series,
Best striker fired semiautomatic trigger, Walther P99 AS.

 

[larvatus]

In increasing order of refinement:

1. The SIG P210 has the best centerfire autopistol trigger. It is a two stage trigger like the m/96 Mauser and the M1 Garand. It is characterized by two definite stages of travel, a relatively lengthy takeup followed by a crisp release. Most of the P210 hammer/sear engagement is released during the trigger takeup, as evidenced by the hammer retraction that takes place through the first stage of its trigger pull. The M1911 has a single stage trigger comparable to a single action revolver. In a single stage design the trigger is directly linked to the sear. As soon as the shooter’s trigger finger takes up the slack, the trigger starts moving the sear. Whereas in a two stage design the first stage completes the rearward movement of the hammer, whereupon the second stage of the trigger pull moves the sear to release the hammer. (The striker serves the same role in hammerless designs.) The single stage trigger pull design of a M1911 results in a mechanical compromise different from that of the double stage design of the P210. The limiting factor in a single stage trigger in a self-loading handgun is the depth of sear engagement required for safe operation in self-loading action. In a double stage trigger such as is used in the SIG P210, the sear engagement between 0.5mm and 1mm (0.02" to 0.04") leaves an adequate safety margin when the action cycles. But in the second stage of the trigger pull the sear engagement is only 0.05mm (0.002"), causing next to no creep. Whereas a M1911 must have its sear engagement of at least 0.4 mm (0.016") to prevent the hammer from following the slide in cycling. Consequently, its trigger has to creep an order of magnitude more than the second stage in a double stage design.
2. The Manurhin MR73 has the best double action revolver trigger. Its trigger pull can be adjusted independently of the mainspring and the trigger return spring. Its double action is assisted by a roller stacking the hammer-cocking leverage through the trigger pull for a linear weight. The rebound slide reciprocates on four rollers for lowered friction. The firing pin strike can be adjusted externally for soft commercial or hard military primers. This makes the single action trigger pull as good as it can get.
3. The Hämmerli double stage trigger on the 208, 212, and 215 pistols is said to be the best automatic rimfire trigger. I am waiting on my 212 import from Germany to test this claim.

Single shot free pistols have the best triggers of them all, but I have next to no experience with their kind.

 

[SigfanTN]

I voted for Sig, Kahr and HK.

All the Sigs I have used have great DA/SA triggers.

I have been impressed with my wife's Kahr DAO trigger. I know the Kahrs can get mixed reviews here, but her pistol is very nice to shoot because of the fairly light-feeling, smooth DA trigger pull.

My HK P7 has a very nice SA pull.

There is zero grit in any of these, and they all break very clean.

 

[Dirty_Harry]

Cant go wrong with the nice triggers on the smith revolvers. Never had a bad one.

 

[Silvanus]

This is a strange poll IMO, but I voted for three guns:

- Glock: the best combat trigger on a production gun, I just love it

- Sig Sauer: overall the best (for me at least) DA/SA trigger on a production handgun

- Les Bear: best SA trigger I've had the pleasure to pull so far

I didn't vote for any revolver brands, because I've only shot a lot of S&Ws and 1 Ruger as of yet, so I cannot really make a objective comparison...

 

[Elvishead]

The smoothest trigger I've pulled was a Gun Smith's Colt revolver, but my S&W 327, and 627 Performance Center revlvers are very smooth. They are sweet!

1.5" groups at 25 yards can be had with the 327 P8, just not by me.

I shoot a Glock 27 that was pretty good too. I'm sure it had work done, it was a cop owned gun.

 

[SW1911CT]

I voted for Sig, Kahr and HK.

This is a strange poll IMO, but I voted for three guns:

THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!!!

 

[darkgael]

for what?

Hammerli.

 

[stephen426]

For Target Guns: Hammerli is probably one of the best. Browning makes a very nice trigger for a lot less money though.

For Revolvers: Most decent revolvers have single action triggers superior to any auto loader. Colt Pythons have excellet triggers, but the trigger on my Ruger GP100 isn't bad either. The DA is a little on the long and heavy side though.

For Semi-Autos: Single action only guns almost always beat DA/SA triggers. My Sig P210 is probably my best, but my Les Baer TR Special and STI Edge are pretty darn good. As for SA/DA guns, I think Sig is the best.

For Striker Fired Semi-Autos: The best is probably the HK P7 series. I also like the trigger on my Kahr, even though it is a little on the long side. I also like Glock's short reset, even though the take up is very mushy.

 

[darkgael]

Free pistols

Larvatus:

Single shot free pistols have the best triggers of them all, but I have next to no experience with their kind.

I do own one and you are correct in your judgement. Mine is a Pardini. There is no creep at all. Just put two ounces of pressure on it and the shot is gone. One technique - which requires reeducating the trigger finger - is to let the finger relax so that it curls into a rest position. That is enough. Very interesting firearms and very specialized.
Pete

 

[larvatus]

One technique - which requires reeducating the trigger finger - is to let the finger relax so that it curls into a rest position. That is enough.

I prefer two-stage triggers on repeaters, as a way of avoiding such reeducation. Take up the first stage, reacquire the target, release the sear.

 

[HKFan9]

Good triggers are worked on by gun smiths, I love HK but whoever said they, and Glock have good triggers really needs to take a step back and think about how much kool aid they've been drinking.

 

[Socrates]

Lets see. ALL my triggers are under 3 pounds, except my S&@ 360PD, that will NOT be tuned to shoot DA under 10 pounds, and, my Mosin Nagant 44, that, with it's long take up, and, about 6 pound trigger is the perfect, short range, carbine trigger for the purpose I use it for.

FA 83's, tuned by Jack Huntington, incredible, and under 3 pounds.

Ruger Maximum, under 3 pounds tuned by Jack Huntington.

My 1911's, Detonics, and Kimber Custom II tricked out, likewise, under 3 pounds and near perfect.

He's done the same with a colt trooper III in 22lr. etc.