Cheap-ish AR trigger upgrade

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calvados.boulard

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Hi everyone,

As I'm new to ARs, I'm checking in with the experts...yes, that means you!

I'm wondering what the cheapest way is to upgrade the trigger in my DA-556? I've read up on the ALG ACT...the price is great, but at 6 pounds it's too heavy for my liking. Without breaking the bank what options would you recommend? No I don't have a specific budget in mind...just looking to upgrade with as little damage to the pocketbook as possible.

Thanks everyone,
Cal.
 
JP trigger spring kit from brownell! but dont go for reduced power spring kit(yellow greenish one). It might have light primer strike due to light spring(3~3.5lb pull)
 
EDF339 said:
JP trigger spring kit from brownell! but dont go for reduced power spring kit(yellow greenish one). It might have light primer strike due to light spring(3~3.5lb pull)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply EDF339,

Again AR noob question...will that kit just lighten the trigger pull? I'm guessing it does nothing to remove the grit?

Thanks again,
Cal.
 
Hi Cal,
Yes ~you are corrected! It only lightten the trigger pull but doesnt remove the grit. I have jp enhanced reliability spring kit on my factory PWS mod 0(4.7 lbs pull with friend's lyman trigger pull gauge).I am really happy about the result for around 11 bucks upgrade.I have no experince with ALG ACT but there is few youtube videos about ALG ACT with JP springs, it should fit no problem. Hope it helps.
 
CMC Drop in trigger. Multiple styles and pull weights. Complete drop in unit. VERY crisp and light. I have the curved 4.5lb setup and its just plain sweet. Got it for around $150 ish. Best value for a complete trigger upgrade IMO. Easiest to install as well.
 
I put a rock river arms 2 stage match trigger in mine. Love it. $120 at brownells I believe, or Questar carries them.
 
I did a .25 cent trigger job, literally.
I put autosol automotive polish all over the contact surfaces. 1000 or so trigger presses, thoroughly cleaned and lubed with some grease and good to go.
 
i hit mine with 2000 grit sand paper and then polished it with my dremel and polishing compound.
You can find how to on youtube.

Will get rid of the grit but is still 6lbs or so.....so u will need different springs to drop that down if u want.
 
Armalite Tactical 2-Stage. $115 from Wolverine and its adjustable as well. Dropped one in mine and I love it, nice crisp break. I bought the whole LPK for $145 to replace the DPMS one and not only was the trigger better, every component went together and operated more smoothly as well.
 
If you want light and crisp, then you've got to spend hundreds on CMC, Geissele, or Timney.

The ALG ACT is a great compromise. 6lbs trigger pull on a rifle feels much nicer than 6lbs on a handgun. Rifle triggers are easier to control in general (more points of contact with the rifle), and the ALG ACT has very little creep and is very smooth. For the dollar, I don't think it can be beat.

You can put lighter springs in on top of the ALG ACT. I used JP trigger and hammer springs, and it lightened the pull considerably. However, the lighter hammer spring increased the lock time perceptibly, so I put the milspec hammer spring back in. Personal preference on that.
 
alpining said:
You can put lighter springs in on top of the ALG ACT. I used JP trigger and hammer springs, and it lightened the pull considerably. However, the lighter hammer spring increased the lock time perceptibly, so I put the milspec hammer spring back in.
Click to expand...

Sorry to ask what may be common knowledge, but what is "lock time"?

Thanks,
Cal.
 
calvados.boulard said:
Sorry to ask what may be common knowledge, but what is "lock time"?

Thanks,
Cal.
Click to expand...

As Mark-II said above. It is significant for accuracy-oriented shooting: The muzzle is in constant motion while you're holding the sights on target, and the longer the time between your decision to break the shot and the bullet actually leaving the muzzle, the less accurate the shot is. Aside from this, personally, I just don't like the feel of firearms with slow lock times.

It's particularly noticeable with hammer-fired firearms (like the AR). The hammer has a fixed mass, so a lower-powered hammer spring accelerates it more slowly than a milspec hammer spring would. This translates to greater lock time. The JP reduced power spring kits are designed to work with the lightened JP hammer, iirc. Putting in just the lighter trigger return spring directly reduces the resistance to pulling the trigger, and it has no effect on lock time (though it does change the reset feel). Honestly, the improvement after installing the ALG ACT trigger is huge. The improvement from also dropping in the JP light trigger return spring is small.

I should have added in the earlier post that a lighter hammer spring will also mean the hammer strikes the firing pin with less force, so the rifle is more prone to misfiring due to light primer strikes. This was not a problem for my AR with the lighter hammer spring installed, but it could be, especially for a dirty rifle.
 
alpining said:
As Mark-II said above. It is significant for accuracy-oriented shooting: The muzzle is in constant motion while you're holding the sights on target, and the longer the time between your decision to break the shot and the bullet actually leaving the muzzle, the less accurate the shot is. Aside from this, personally, I just don't like the feel of firearms with slow lock times.

It's particularly noticeable with hammer-fired firearms (like the AR). The hammer has a fixed mass, so a lower-powered hammer spring accelerates it more slowly than a milspec hammer spring would. This translates to greater lock time. The JP reduced power spring kits are designed to work with the lightened JP hammer, iirc. Putting in just the lighter trigger return spring directly reduces the resistance to pulling the trigger, and it has no effect on lock time (though it does change the reset feel). Honestly, the improvement after installing the ALG ACT trigger is huge. The improvement from also dropping in the JP light trigger return spring is small.

I should have added in the earlier post that a lighter hammer spring will also mean the hammer strikes the firing pin with less force, so the rifle is more prone to misfiring due to light primer strikes. This was not a problem for my AR with the lighter hammer spring installed, but it could be, especially for a dirty rifle.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the explanation. Much appreciated.

Thanks,
Cal.
 
alpining said:
As Mark-II said above. It is significant for accuracy-oriented shooting: The muzzle is in constant motion while you're holding the sights on target, and the longer the time between your decision to break the shot and the bullet actually leaving the muzzle, the less accurate the shot is. Aside from this, personally, I just don't like the feel of firearms with slow lock times.

It's particularly noticeable with hammer-fired firearms (like the AR). The hammer has a fixed mass, so a lower-powered hammer spring accelerates it more slowly than a milspec hammer spring would. This translates to greater lock time. The JP reduced power spring kits are designed to work with the lightened JP hammer, iirc. Putting in just the lighter trigger return spring directly reduces the resistance to pulling the trigger, and it has no effect on lock time (though it does change the reset feel). Honestly, the improvement after installing the ALG ACT trigger is huge. The improvement from also dropping in the JP light trigger return spring is small.

I should have added in the earlier post that a lighter hammer spring will also mean the hammer strikes the firing pin with less force, so the rifle is more prone to misfiring due to light primer strikes. This was not a problem for my AR with the lighter hammer spring installed, but it could be, especially for a dirty rifle.
Click to expand...

Try shooting a Thompson sub, you won't even notice the delay on anything else after that! Lol
 
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