Geissele Automatics is well known for highly reliable, fantastic-feeling triggers for the M4 and AR15 family of weapons. With their flat-faced "Super Dynamic" series, these look nothing like the standard triggers that we are all used to seeing in our weapons. I'll point out that I use a Geissele SSA trigger in my duty weapon, and have for several years. It's a trigger that breaks clean, and that I don't bother lubing or playing around with. My SSA has 10,000+ rounds through it, but its been loaned more than a few times, and the actual count can only be guessed at. What can't be guessed at is how well its held up, and how clean the trigger feels.
In looking at the Super Dynamic Combat Trigger (SDC), my largest question is how well the flat-faced trigger is going to feel. I've shot enough 1911s with similar triggers that I didn't expect to dislike it, which is why I grabbed a handful of other people to jump in on our testing. What was the general feeling for this odd-looking little beast? Click the picture to read the thoughts and comments we came up with.
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We used this trigger with four different instructors, including one who was taking an advanced carbine course. His comments to start out were that he hated two-stage triggers in M4/AR15s, but he was pleasantly surprised with the feel of this one. Specifically, he felt the second stage break of the trigger was so clean and with a reset so positive that he made an exception for the SDC. I found myself agreeing with him on the overall feel and reset; it was quite similar to my well worn Geissele SSA. What I had forgotten was that although the SSA and SDC read with the same specs (1st stage 2.5lbs and 2nd stage 2.0lbs for a total of 4.5lbs), I had adjusted my SSA to have a slightly heavier trigger pull for my duty use. This instructor put between 300-400 rounds on the SDC. His end comment was that this trigger was surprising, and that for him as a two-stage trigger hater, it was great to work with.
The next instructor ran drills with one of my weapons, as well as with a "match" trigger from another company. The feel of both triggers was nice, but the super clean break and reset made shooting the SDC a joy, and an unfair contest to the other trigger. For getting multiple rounds on target quickly, the SDC was as good as it gets in my book. Clean and fast was the order of the shooting day, and neither of us double clutched the trigger or felt "off" while using it. We put a little over 1,000 rounds through the weapons that afternoon; I would estimate half was through the SDC. This instructor (owner of Praetor Defense) comes with a lot of SWAT entries as well as competitive shooting under his belt, and has carried a 1911 in both venues. He was very used to flat triggers, and summed the trigger up saying, "That flat-faced Geiselle AR trigger is money. It felt like I was shooting a 1911 race trigger, and I especially liked the short reset."
The last of the users was a solid 1911 shooter who also had dislike for most 2 stage AR15 triggers. I gave him a call for this article and asked him what he thought, and his immediate comment was: "For a two-stage trigger it's actually really good." He then went on to complain about his general disgust for the long stage that many two-stage triggers have, and how he felt the Geissele SDC eliminated his complaints. He also liked the positive reset, which allowed for rapid follow-up shots.
The Geissele Automatic Super Dynamic Trigger is listed as a nonadjustable two stage trigger with an overall 4.5lb pull. The first stage is 2.5lbs, with the second stage breaking at an additional 2lbs. What words don't describe is the crispness of the trigger. Weights and numbers alone don't give an honest overall picture of how this trigger feels, and as already pointed out by the above test sample, even guys who dislike 2-stage triggers found this one to be an exception. As for myself, I found the flat trigger had no impact on my shooting methods. It's certainly possible that it helps make the overall weight feel a little lighter, but all I noticed was that it felt super clean.
If you have the chance, visit one of the upper end shops that carry the Geissle triggers, and test out one of the display models that are available. I think you will like what you feel.
