I recently ordered the savage MSR-10 hunter (308) to replace my DPMS 308-T. The DPMS had a Mil spec ~6lb trigger pull that i was never happy with, but never took the time to replace.

From what little I've been able to find, it looks like the MSR-10 hunter will come with about the same trigger. And if it does, it's got to go!

I've done some reading/searching here as well, and I think I've arrived at a couple of good options to fit what I'm looking for. But just wanted to get some feedback from people who may have actual experience with these triggers.

My priorities for the trigger are:
Pull between 2-4#, preferably closer to 2
Reliable (works even when "dirty", not high maintenance)
Two stage
Crisp break
I can get it, and install it before September 1st.
<~$200

The ones I've found so far are:
CMC two stage 1/3 curved
LaRue tactical MBT-2S

All feedback and suggestions welcome, thank you.

I leaned on guys that know more than me about AR type rifles. Big Fitz told me to borrow his Timney with a sub 3 pound single stage (I hate two stage triggers). I installed it, and on the first shot, loved it! No creep, crisp, very short reset. Tim and I worked out a deal, and I still have the trigger in the rifle.

I have a CMC in mine and like it...but I like the Timneys in my other rifles better. P_102

Edit: they are not 2 stage.

I like the Velocity triggers myself.

I have the Geissele Hi-Speed DMR trigger in mine and love it. It's more than you were wanting to spend but I didn't pay full price for it...got it during a black Friday sale last year at Primary Arms IIRC. They also had a sale on the Geissele triggers so I got a good deal. Think it was around $200 shipped. They are normally $280.

Thank you for the suggestions. The velocity triggers look good as well.

I guess i would be open to considering a single stage for this rifle, it's what I have on all my bolt rifles. My other AR is a rock river, it came with what they call a "two stage match" trigger. While I'm sure there are better triggers, I was pretty happy with it for a stock trigger, and the two stage just "felt right" to me for that form factor...

I thought I had read somewhere on this forum that the timney liked to stay clean. I am diligent about cleaning my firearms befor putting them away, but the normal use for this rifle will be at the lease, dirty dusty, etc. the only time this gun would go to the range would be to zero an new scope or load development.

I understand there are different standards of "clean" but reading those kind of remarks about the timney made me think it could be a bit high maintenance and maybe more appropriate for range/competition use?

Only speaking for myself. My rifles are treated like a set of wrenches. They're tools, they get used, and banged up. They ride in the truck, in the tractor, on the Ranger, get laid on the ground, and get pretty dirty. The LR-308, with the Timney is no exception. It has not had a problem

FiremanJG, I'm generally of the same opinion regarding firearms are tools, and are treated as such. The extent of cleaning I do is usually just enough to keep things rust free and functioning properly. So hearing your experience with the timney is reassuring.

I noticed that timney makes a separate AR-10 and AR-15 style trigger. The AR-10 version appears to have a heavier hammer. Is this necessary for a 30 caliber AR? Or will pretty much any AR-15 style trigger do the job?

I'm not real sure. Talking tools, I look at AR type rifles the same as a Sawz-All. I don't prefer them, but they serve a purpose. I use bolt actions more than anything.

Saws-all, crescent wrench, or channellock for sure. I figured I should have at least one (and why not one of each) in the toolbox? A toolbox full of only one kind of tool is often less than useful.

Been doing some more research on hammer weight question, answer so far seems to be "it depends". Read some remarks that the some of the 7.62x51 ammo may have a harder primer, and the additional weight is necessary to get it to fire. But there shouldn't be any issue when using "normal" .308 win ammo? Not sure if there is any truth to that, of just more bad information on the internet, or just a marketing plan for a particular trigger...

Anyone have any experience with a jard trigger?
http://www.jardinc.com/pagear/

I have the Larue MBT-2S and love it. Sometimes their on sale for $100. This AR is used mainly for hunting so the 2 stage is great for precise shots. Im sure a good light one stage would work just as well.

A friend of mine has a couple of AR's setup with LaRue triggers, says he likes them more than some of the Giessele triggers. He lives up in SD though, so I haven't had a chance to try it.

I like the price of the "I can wait for it" option, but I want this thing ready to go for a trip to the lease opening dove season, and I don't think I can get a LaRue in time for that without paying a premium...

At the moment I think I've narrowed it down to
- CMC 1/3# two stage
- Timney AR-10 competition 4#
- Timney AR-15 competition 3# (assuming I can't find a reason why this one won't work)

And all this is still depending on if the stock trigger is what I fear it is. I'll find out on Tuesday.

I don't think you can go wrong with a CMC or Timney. I've got several of each (single stage) and all feel great, reliable and very easy to install. I also have several Geissele, the DMR, like MacDaddy stated is very nice. The low end Geissele 2 stage triggers are ok but I've noticed variability in the feel. The Rock River 2 stage is also nice and inexpensive.

Larue MBT...$125 and some change. Once in awhile they go on sale for $99.

If it has to be a two stage... Check out the CMC two stage flat trigger. First stage is 1/2lb, second stage is 3-1/2 lb. If you live anywhere near McKinney, go to Runner Runner guns. They have just about every trigger set up so you can test drive.

JESmith, thanks for the lead. I ran up there after work today. They had several CMC and Geissele triggers to try out. They didn't have any Timney triggers though, I was hoping they would.

The two I zeroed in on were the CMC 1/3# and the Geissele SSA-E 1.2/2.3#. Both seemed similar quality when pulling the trigger, but I think the reset on the Geissele was much better.

The other AR I have is a rock river, so I had to pull the trigger on it about a dozen times after getting home. It's good, but there's a very small bit of creep between the stages. It's never been enough to notice when actually shooting at something moving though, which is the normal use for my AR's. Pigs, coyotes, etc.

The Geissele is a bit more than I wanted to spend, but I only have the two AR's, so I might increase the budget a bit on this project.

Thank you everyone for your feedback and suggestions so far. At the moment I'm leaning toward the Geissele SSA-E, the only thing I don't like about it is that I have to look it up every time to be sure I'm spelling it right...

The Geissele SSA-E is also a really nice trigger. I have one in my Daniel Defense m4v1 and love it. I would have put the same one in my AR-10 but I found the DMR for such a great price I had to try it out.

+1 on the Geissele SSA-E trigger, really nice.

Picked up the rifle today. Trigger is definitely better than the one in my DPMS, but I'm a little underwhelmed.

I'm pretty happy with everything else about it so far, especially how light it is compared to the older DPMS. I should be getting the scope mount tomorrow, and I'll probably go back up to runner runner guns to get a trigger.

I'll get it all put together this weekend, and should be able to file a range report after dove season opening weekend.

Rock River Arms National Match 2-stage triggers are the best bang for the buck I found. I bought the Varmint 3.5 lbs version for $75 each. I've also got a Geissele G2S, which I modified with a lightened disconnector spring for about the same 3.5 lbs pull. I have a tough time telling the two apart. The G2S has maybe just a hair crisper break. IMO, not worth the difference at twice the price of the RRA NM.

There are better - and more expensive - trigger, but for hunting and printing groups at the range, these basic 2-stage triggers serve me just fine.

Larue MBT is what I have and absolutely love it.

Can't wait for the report, I'm really interested in the MSR-10.

Went with the Geissele SSA-E, Hogue pistol grip should be here this week. It's otherwise ready to roll for next weekend!

I really do like the RRA trigger in my other AR, and would have liked to try the LaRue. The non-commitment of a delivery date is what drove me away from the LaRue this time... I decided to splurge for the Geissele because I only have the two AR's, and don't really have the desire to own any more than that.

I might change my mind after next weekend, but if I had several AR's to equip with triggers they would probably be a mix of RRA and LaRue. The Geissele seems nicer, but not double the cost nicer IMO. Maybe 1.5x cost nicer.

Next item will be optics, I would like to get an IR hunter on this thing, but it will be sometime next year at the earliest before the budget will support that. In the meantime I have my spare scope on it. After some testing, I may switch to open sights or holographic until something thermal goes on there.

Thanks again to everyone for the feedback and suggestions. Should have range report on 9/4.

Larue MBT triggers...for those that want to give them a try

$99