While fancy flat triggers show up nicely on Instagram feeds and super race triggers can improve the group size and split speeds of talented shooters, most AR owners are still using a basic mil-spec trigger. In fact, many agencies are prohibited from straying far at all off the beaten path. As ALG’s website states, the Quality Mil-Spec trigger (QMS) is “designed for those shooters where tradition, value and regulatory concerns are of primary importance.” With that in mind, I installed the QMS in the middle of a long-range day while accuracy testing my Ultralight AR-15 build.
This rifle usually runs with a Geissele SSA-E two-stage trigger, which I’m used to and provides an awesome trigger pull. I have tens of thousands of rounds downrange through mil-spec triggers though and figured I would readjust quickly. Before we look at the results, let’s check the tech specs, as per ALG’s website.
• The ALG Defense QMS trigger pull is smoother than a stock trigger. This is accomplished by honing the sear surfaces smooth while not removing metal below the valleys of the stock surface finish.
• Sear geometry has not been changed from standard, so the high reliability that the stock trigger is known for is unchanged.
• Trigger and hammer are made from true 8620 alloy steel military specification castings, correctly carburized, quenched and tempered for high surface hardness.
• Disconnector is 1070 High Carbon steel properly Austempered into the spring range of hardness
• Springs are corrosion resistant and meet military specifications.
• A full force hammer spring is used for positive ignition of all type of ammunition.
• Trigger and hammer pins are improved over stock mild steel by using 4140 Chrome-Moly steel that has been quenched and tempered. Pins are centerless ground to a fine finish and a diameter 0.001” larger than stock to reduce play in the trigger assembly while retaining a slip fit into the weapon lower receiver.
• Pull weight is above the U.S. Military minimum pull weight of 5.5lbs but does not reach near the upper limit of 9.5lbs. Generally, the pull weight is about 6.5lbs.
Simply put, the QMS is a more consistent, high-graded mil-spec trigger. While the pull is heavier than I’m used to at this point in my life, it is a lot “cleaner” of a pull than the average mil-spec. The break is more consistent and the creep is cleaned up as well.
After knocking out 1.5″-2.2″ groups with this rifle (and the Geissele match trigger) at 100 yards, I tossed in the QMS and shot a few more groups. The best on the day was 1.55″, with the worst coming in at 2.74″. Averaged out, the QMS equipped rifle grouped up around 2.2″ or 2.1 MOA compared to the 2″ or 1.91 MOA groups achieved by the SSA-E equipped groups. That’s not much of a drop in accuracy considering the difference in cost between the two triggers is more than $150.
If you’re building up a rifle and don’t want to drop big bucks for a top-of-the-line trigger but also want something better than a trigger out of “Gary’s bargain bin”, the QMS trigger from ALG is a good option. Another scenario where the QMS fits right in would be in a duty rifle with a crappy mil-spec bang switch where a fancier trigger is a no-go. At $49.99 for the entire fire control unit, it’s hard to argue with the price or performance.
