Chances are high that every rifle you sell has a single-stage trigger installed from the factory. It’s also likely most of your customers have never used a gun with a two-stage trigger since they were almost exclusively used in military rifles. Yet, two-stage triggers are becoming popular.  

If you look at competition rifles, like those used in the recent Olympic games, you will find them equipped with two-stage triggers. These are not the same as your grandpa’s old military rifle with its 14- to 20-pound, rough trigger. They’re precisely machined, tuned, and also completely adjustable. Their increasing popularity means you will have curious customers asking you to explain what they are and how they work.

Last month’s article attempted to answer some of those questions. Rather than describing how they feel to the shooter, the article used trigger groups from an AR-style rifle to visually demonstrate the differences between single and two-stage triggers. The pictures provided a glimpse behind the scenes (inside the receiver) to show how the parts interact and why they feel the way they do. This time around we’re focusing on the next questions your customers will likely ask: Why would someone choose a two-stage trigger, and what are the benefits? 

Predictable Break

Two-stage triggers were first invented for military use to reduce unintentional discharges, a crucial safety feature. It makes sense. The situations the military faces are entirely different from what hunters are used to. They must run, jump, climb, and even fight in close combat. Added to those strenuous activities is the body’s fight, flight, or freeze reflex, which kicks in during times of danger or stress. This results in a deterioration of fine motor skills and reduction in the sense of touch – the very skills needed for good trigger control. Another consideration is the tendency for shooters to unconsciously rest their finger on the trigger. Under these conditions, a light, single-stage trigger could be extremely dangerous. It’s easy to see the benefit of a 12- to 14-pound first stage, followed by an additional 4- to 6-pound second stage. The heavy first stage provides tactile feedback, allowing the soldier to recognize and correct poor trigger control before a shot goes off.  

Today, we’re seeing a sharp increase in demand for two-stage triggers for civilian use, especially for competition. The longer trigger pull allows shooters to confidently reach the trigger “wall,” knowing they control when the shot breaks. They can consistently pre-stage the trigger to the wall as they finalize their sight picture or wait for a crosswind to die down. From that point, the trigger pull feels just like a single-stage trigger.  

The difference is that the trigger’s breaking point is very predictable, unlike single-stage designs, where it is meant to be a surprise. The shooter knows there will be a relatively light second stage with little trigger movement before the shot breaks. The difference between older military triggers and modern competition two-stage models is the precision of the manufacturing and the ability to finely tune the trigger based on shooter preferences. For example, a trigger with a 3.5-pound first stage and a 1.5-pound second stage requires 5 pounds to fire. However, once the first stage is taken up, it acts like a 1.5-pound single-stage trigger.   

There is no free lunch, as the saying goes. Two-stage triggers do have some drawbacks compared to their single-stage counterparts. The most obvious is the long take-up of the first stage. Many people cringe over that much trigger travel. Once fired, the trigger must be fully released for a complete reset. That’s a lot of movement that can be transferred to the rifle. The predictability of the trigger break can also increase the likelihood of flinching in less experienced shooters. Additionally, it takes more time to make all of that happen. Single-stage triggers have almost no take-up, little travel, and a quick reset.

I spoke with several long-range competition shooters about two-stage triggers and was surprised at the variety of answers I received. Almost all of them said there is no hard-and-fast rule about trigger selection. The number one criterion boiled down to personal preference, giving them the power to choose what works best for them. Some shooters use single-stage triggers for all their shooting. Others preferred two-stage triggers for everything. Two trends did emerge, however. The majority preferred to use two-stage triggers when shooting offhand, such as kneeling or standing. Predictability was the main reason for the choice. They could take up the first stage and wait for the proper time to release the shot. When they switched to supported positions, such as from a bench or supported prone, they almost all said they preferred single-stage triggers. The added stability of these positions made it easier to hold the rifle steady. Thus, the surprise break of a single-stage trigger was less of an issue.

When I polled my friends, I was surprised to learn a few of them use two-stage triggers for hunting. The common factor was that they all used AR-style rifles. Those who hunted with bolt-action rifles have stuck with the single-stage, factory triggers. Most of my police friends still use the single-stage trigger that came with their AR. I found a few that switched, saying the added safety measure was the primary reason. All of them echoed the sentiments shared by the competitive shooters: It was mainly personal preference.  

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to trigger selection. The bottom line is that customers must decide which design they like based on the type of shooting they’ll be doing. The best advice is to have them shoot and become comfortable with both designs before deciding, giving them the confidence to make an informed choice.