Geissele Super Semi-Automatic Enhanced SSA Trigger
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AR-10, 308 AR Trigger Selection Guide 2017

May 20, 2017 (308ar.com) 308 Trigger options have come a long way since our first page on the subject (Visit the Original 308 AR Trigger Page) many years ago. Since that time the entire 308 AR, AR308 and AR-10 landscape has changed. Today you would be hard pressed to find a big name AR-15 manufacturer not offering an AR10/308 AR. This acceptance of the 308 rifle platform has also brought about a massive change in parts and  accessories for the platform. This includes the subject of this page, the 308 AR trigger.

Top 5 308 AR Triggers 05-20-2017

Below is a list of our favorite 308 AR, AR-10 Triggers

  1. Best Standard Trigger – Geissele SSA-E
  2. Best Drop-In 308 AR Trigger – ATC Pact SR Gold Trigger System
  3. Best 308 AR Trigger Under $200 – CMC
  4. Best 308 AR/AR-10 Trigger under $150 – Armalite Precision Two-Stage Trigger Set 10309050
  5. Best Cheap 308 AR Trigger – ALG Defense Enhanced Trigger

Visit the American Trigger Corp/Pact SR Gold Trigger Page

Why Should I Replace My Trigger?

Why Should you Replace or Upgrade the Trigger in your Favorite 308 AR or AR-10?

There’s a few reasons! Unless you bought a premium AR-10/308 AR rifle your factory supplied trigger was simply meant to be suitable to fire your gun. Gun manufacturers have long recognized that an easy way to keep a guns price down was to include an inexpensive mass produced trigger. Many shooters simply will not pay an up charge for a quality trigger from the factory. A few manufacturers have gone on to say that they expect customers to replace the factory stock trigger.  Ill repeat what I said earlier ” your factory supplied trigger was simply meant to be suitable to fire your gun“. Finally there’s manufacturer liability. There’s an old expression that firearm triggers are designed by lawyers. The theory is a heavy trigger is a safe trigger.

All those aforementioned reasons are more of an explanation of why your factory trigger sucks and not reason enough to replace the trigger. The reason you should replace your trigger is simple. The better your trigger pull the more accurate you and your rifle will shoot.

Trigger Pull Effect On Accuracy

A heavy, gritty inconsistent trigger will result in poor accuracy. The reason is you, the shooter, will end up moving the rifle as you do your best to stay on target. A trigger needs to be light, smooth and the trigger break should be clean, crisp. A quality trigger break is often compared to breaking a glass rod.

Upgrade Your Trigger Before Your Barrel

Replacing/Upgrading your 308 barrel before your trigger is a complete waste of money! Today most factory 308 AR barrels are pretty decent.  In fact the barrels are often capable of better accuracy than a casual shooter. There’s a lot of peer pressure to run out and buy a premium barrel. Do yourself a favor and don’t buy in to it until you replace your trigger. The trigger is the EASIEST and LEAST EXPENSIVE accuracy upgrade you can perform on your 308AR or AR10!  Replacing your trigger is the single biggest accuracy improvement you can do.

Drop-In vs Standard Trigger

What is the Difference Between a Drop-In Trigger and a Standard Trigger for AR Rifles?

A Drop-In Trigger consists of a housing per-assembled with the AR fire control system parts such as the hammer, trigger, sear and springs. The installer simply “Drops the assembled fire control unit in to the AR Lower Receiver”!

A standard AR trigger requires the fire control group parts to be installed individually!

What’s Better a Drop-In Trigger or a Regular Trigger?

There is no definitive answer as to whether a drop-in trigger or regular trigger is superior. Both styles are available with outstanding trigger pulls and premium prices. Both trigger styles have strengths and weaknesses.

The drop-in triggers are easier to install than standard triggers. Standard triggers are said to be more reliable because they contain less parts. Drop-in triggers are well suited to most domestic applications. The simplicity and openness of a standard trigger would be a great asset for maintenance and reliability in a combat environment. The self-contained housed approach of the drop-in trigger features more confined components that could be harder to keep maintained in combat.

I don’t personally see myself in combat. Both styles of trigger are fine for most applications

Examples of Drop-in Triggers, Examples of Standard Triggers

Note: I tend to use AR drop-in triggers due to some physical limitations of my hands.

Can I Use an AR-15 Trigger In My 308 AR, AR-10?

Can I Use an AR-15 Trigger In My 308 AR, AR-10?

Can you use an AR-15 trigger in a 308 AR/AR308 or AR-10? The answer is Yes!, No! and Maybe?

  • Yes! – Many AR-15 triggers can be used in the 308 AR platform
  • No! – Some AR-15 triggers will not function safely in the 308. They were not designed for the substantially heavier recoil of the .308 Winchester Cartridge. Using one of these triggers can result in uncontrolled full-auto magazine dump. Injury and death an result. Some will also not strike the primer hard enough for reliable ignition of the chambered round.
  • Maybe – Some AR-15 triggers do not properly fit the 308 AR and AR-10 platforms. Users have been known to dremel the hammer and/or the receiver.

I have reached out to many aftermarket trigger manufacturers and vendors. Some DO NOT recommend their triggers in 308 rifles despite users reporting successful operation in the field. There reasons fall in to the “No” category above.

Personally I only use and recommend triggers verified compatible with the 308AR/AR-10 by the manufacturer or vendor. There are plenty of great triggers. No need to risk personal injury to save a few bucks.

Hiperfire PDI Drop-In Trigger Single Stage 2 Pound Pull

Hiperfire PDI Drop-In Trigger Single Stage 2 Pound Pull

Power Drop-In Trigger from Hiperfire! HIPERFIRE’s customer base has clamored for an AR drop-in trigger that features the “feel” and hardhitting hammers its triggers are known for. Most aftermarket drop-ins are notorious for LPS, light primer strikes. To get the pull weight down, designers have compromised their hammer fall. Not so with the new PDI line of triggers. These drop-ins pull at around 2 lbs. and sport HIPERFIRE’s unique HIPERSHOE that now mounts onto a curved bow, not just straight. The hammer strikes surpass SAAMI’s copper crusher spec and hit harder than MIL-spec M4/16 hammers. Wow! The pull? It’s single stage. It’s short, sweet, and smooth as butter. The “feel” is almost transparent to the shooter. To top it all off, no PCC blowback violence can touch it. The PDI versions feature a hammer collision bumper. Its disconnector and disconnector spring are impact and crush protected. Is it just for PCC? No way. It’s just an excellent trigger. Anyone can appreciate it shooting slow, fast, short-range, or for long-range precision, and on the move, it surpasses SAAMI’s rough handling specification.

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OpticsPlanet Exclusive HIPERFIRE HIPERTOUCH Blue Line Special Edition AR-10 Trigger HPTBL

OpticsPlanet Exclusive HIPERFIRE HIPERTOUCH Blue Line Special Edition AR-10 Trigger HPTBL

HIPERFIRE Hipertouch Blue Line Edition AR Competition Fire-Control Groups deliver ultra-smooth, crisp breaks along with hard-hitting hammer strikes to make your rifle fire every time you pull the trigger. HIPERFIRE manufactures these revolutionary Rifle Triggers for shooters who demand competition-level performance and want to support the thin blue line. The HIPERFIRE Hipertouch Blue Line Competition Trigger Assembly has only a hint of creep, with rapid positive reset, so you can hit those double shots faster. Upgrade from stock triggers to the HIPERFIRE Hipertouch Competition Fire-Control Group for AR15/AR10 Rifles for amazingly precise accuracy and to support law enforcement officers and their families

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Geissele Super Semi-Automatic Enhanced SSA-E Trigger

Geissele Super Semi-Automatic Enhanced SSA-E Trigger

Improving over the Geissele SSA two stage combat trigger is the Geissele Super Semi-Automatic-Enhanced (SSA-E). The Geissele SSA-E offers an even lighter, 3½ lb. total pull weight, making it an excellent choice for precision Squad Designated Marksman type rifles where both accuracy and reliability are critical. First stage builds gradually to 2.3 lbs., followed by a 1.2 lb. second stage with a crisp, “candy cane-like” break. A semi-auto-only version of the Geissele full-auto combat trigger presently used in the U.S. Special Operations community.

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ELFTMANN 308 AR AR-10 TRIGGERS | Drop-In Trigger

ELFTMANN 308 AR AR-10 TRIGGERS | Drop-In Trigger

The Elftmann Drop-In AR-10 Triggers has are built to withstand the punishment of high powered calibers. The only AR-10 trigger using aerospace grade sealed bearings, making for an incredibly smooth and fast trigger pull. Elftmanns exclusive .043 double double wound polished piano wire hammer spring ensures full ignition of any ammo including .308 and 7.62×39. Pull weight from 2 3/4lbs to 4lbs is so easy to adjust it can be done in seconds without removing the trigger from your lower receiver. The AR-10 trigger is essentially the service trigger with a lighter pull weight range. A second-to-none AR-10 drop-in trigger system that is strong and light, made of wire EDM machined, hardened A2 tool steel and lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum. Installation can be done in minutes using your AR’s original hammer and trigger pins. The AR-10 trigger may be ordered with a curved or straight shoe.

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FOSTECH ECHO AR-II TRIGGER | DROP-IN TRIGGER

FOSTECH ECHO AR-II TRIGGER | DROP-IN TRIGGER

Based on a Hiperfire trigger the Echo Trigger has a unique feature that allows an AR to fire when the trigger is pulled and also when released. This translate into much more expensive trips to the gun range. My two initial observations are the trigger is quite expensive and also looks to be pretty complex. At this time I cannot confirm how this trigger functions in a 308 AR or AR-10. If anyone has any experience with the echo trigger drop us a line.

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GEISSELE AR 308 HI-SPEED NATIONAL MATCH TRIGGER SET

GEISSELE AR 308 HI-SPEED NATIONAL MATCH TRIGGER SET

Geissele’s Hi-Speed National Match AR 308 Trigger combines their exceptional match-grade trigger with their Service Rifle, Designated Marksman Rifle, and Match Rifle Spring sets. Geissele’s adjustable Hi-Speed National Match AR-15 Trigger is designed for competition, hunting, and tactical sniper use, where exact trigger pull weight is essential for success.

The trigger comes with three spring sets, each applicable to a different type of shooting. The Hi-Speed Service Spring is designed for NRA High Power Service Rifle competition and is approved for use in CMP sanctioned competitions. Easily switch to the Hi-Speed Designated Marksman Rifle spring set for tactical and military shooting where trigger pull weight is not regulated. Hi-Speed Match spring set can be adjusted to low pull weights for enhanced trigger control, letting the shooter wring every ounce of accuracy out of his rifle.

With the Geissele Hi-Speed National Match Trigger in your 308 AR, you can easily adjust the triggers first and second stage weight, as well as total pull weight and overtravel to your exact preference.

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Geissele SSA Trigger | Geissele Trigger SSA | SSA-E

Geissele SSA Trigger | Geissele Trigger SSA | SSA-E

One of the best 308 AR and AR-10 Triggers is the Geissele SSA trigger. The Geissele SSA trigger is a semi-automatic only version of Geissele SSF Select -Fire trigger. The Geissele SSA is a 4.5lb. non-adjustable combat trigger that is a precision two-stage trigger and allows precise and accurate trigger control. The SSA’s two-stage design allows the trigger to be light enough for accurate and precise shots, but forgiving enough for CQB. The SSA is safety certified by Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center. It is recommended for demanding applications such as Law Enforcement use, Close Quarters Battle (CQB) and mid-range carbine work. Fits: 308 AR, AR308 and AR-10 Rifles

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