For more than 100 years, the Model 1911A1 has been providing reliable performance for military personnel, law enforcement, competition shooters and sportsmen. More commonly known as simply the 1911, this handgun's design hasn't changed for the past 100 years, which means that millions and millions of them have been produced to the exact same specifications. The continued popularity of this gun over the past century is a testament to the quality of the design. But this doesn't mean that the 1911 isn't without its minor flaws.
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One thing that could definitely be a bit better is the trigger. This probably explains why the trigger is one of the first items many owners choose to upgrade. Although the stock trigger is a bit lacking in terms of accuracy, it is luckily quite easy to improve this problem by installing any of the thousands of aftermarket triggers currently available. Still, not all triggers are equal. This is why it's important that you do a bit of research if you want to find the best 1911 trigger.
Most any aftermarket trigger will provide superior performance compared to the stock trigger. However, the best aftermarket 1911 trigger will absolutely blow away both the stock trigger and many other aftermarket options in terms of performance. Plus, many of them also look really cool!
Tips for Finding the Best 1911 Trigger
The trigger is one of the simplest and yet most important parts of any gun. Despite the fact that the mechanics behind how it works are quite straightforward, there are still ways to improve upon the basic design. This helps to explain why there is such a wide range of 1911 trigger replacements on the market, each with its own unique features designed to enhance the performance of your gun.
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One thing that's common among many aftermarket triggers is that they're made out of aluminum, meaning they weigh a bit less than stock triggers. Although the difference may seem small, it's enough that you'll definitely notice it should you decide you replace your old Colt 1911 trigger with one of the modern, high performance models.
If you're looking to save even more weight, you could choose to go with one of the many 1911 skeleton triggers on the market. This style of trigger is definitely not everyone's cup of tea, but there are still enough people that like the look and feel of these triggers enough that they remain one of the most popular styles. There are a wide variety of different skeletonized triggers available, from those with three small holes drilled into the shoe to almost fully stripped down triggers featuring nothing more than a thin aluminum frame.
Virtually all aftermarket triggers will also have an over travel adjustment, which allows you to adjust how far you have to pull the trigger before it engages the hammer. With this feature, you can easily adjust between a longer pull and a hair trigger that you barely have to touch. This gives you the ability to customize the trigger to whatever suits you best, ensuring that your gun works exactly as you want it to.
Generally speaking, the best 1911 trigger kit will be one that is almost fully drop-in, meaning that only a few minor adjustments may be required in order to ensure a precise fit. Due to the slight variations between each firearm, you don't really want a fully drop-in trigger. This type of trigger is guaranteed to work, but it won't fit quite as snugly, which could cause your accuracy to suffer.
Wilson Combat 1911 Ultralight Match Trigger
As its name suggests, this range of high performance triggers are extremely lightweight—weighing in at a mere 0.2 ounces (6 grams). The trigger pull is made from precision machined aluminum alloy, while the stirrup is made from heat treated stainless steel that resists flexing for consistent, reliable performance.
The face of the pull features deep serrations that provide improved grip to keep your finger firmly on the trigger. Rounded edges on the serrations ensure your finger will stay comfortable and free from pain or abrasions even after firing off several hundred rounds at the range.
This Wilson Combat trigger is available in both solid and skeletonized models. The skeleton model features a curved face and has three holes drilled into for added weight savings, while the solid model is available with either a curved or flat face. The solid, curved-face model comes in short, medium and long version, ensuring you can get precisely the style you want.
Fusion Firearms Pro-Series 1911 K-Hole Match Trigger
Considered the best 1911 trigger pull by numerous firearms experts and competition shooters—partly due to the low price and partly due to the high quality—the Fusion Firearms K-Hole is a combat/match trigger designed to work with virtually all 1911 makes and models, even most 1911 clones. The over travel adjustment screw makes it simple to change the trigger to the desired sensitivity, while the trigger bow is also adjustable to ensure that it fits snugly in the frame.
This skeletonized trigger provides a stylish look and ultimate weight savings due to the three large holes cut out of the aluminum trigger pull. Like most other match triggers, the front trigger pad is serrated to provide improved performance. This trigger itself is slightly longer to provide increased control, and it is available in either a silver or black finish to allow you to give your gun a customized look.
Harrison Design & Consulting 1911 Extreme Service Trigger
Built with strength, reliability and comfort in mind, the Harrison Design and Consulting Extreme Service Trigger is definitely the best 1911 trigger upgrade for tactical purposes. The smooth, precise movement of the trigger pull provides consistent, accurate performance to ensure your firearm is always ready when you need it.
The trigger features a solid aluminum shoe designed to keep your finger in a comfortable, natural position. This helps to prevent you from applying uneven pressure to the trigger, which could harm the accuracy of your shot. With a smooth, curved face and rounded edges, the trigger won't scratch or gouge your finger.
This line of triggers provides you with the versatility to choose the style and color that's right for you. The Extreme Service Trigger is available in a black or silver finish, each of which comes in short, medium and long lengths.
Greider Precision 1911 V-Series Match Trigger
Designed after the ultra popular Videki Speed Trigger, this trigger features an ultra-stiff stainless steel bow that eliminates flexing. This makes it the best 1911 trigger upgrade for those looking for strength and consistent performance. Like most other aftermarket triggers, the pull is made from aluminum for a strong, lightweight finish. It also features a grooved face, providing that extra little bit of control that could mean the difference between a hit and a miss.
The V-Series is available in three different sizes, enabling you to choose the correct pull length to ensure that the force is concentrated in the center of the trigger. For those looking for a long trigger, you also have the option of choosing the three-hole skeletonized pull to ensure your pistol weighs as little as possible.
Nighthawk Custom 1911 Lightweight Trigger
The best trigger for 1911 is the one that you're most comfortable with, and for many people this just happens to be this lightweight trigger from Nighthawk Customs. Made to the same exacting standards as the triggers featured on all of its custom handguns, this lightweight aluminum trigger features a serrated face and rounded edges and is available in short, medium and long lengths.
All three lengths feature a solid shoe with a curved face. As well, you can also choose to upgrade to the custom trigger, which features a three-hole skeletonized shoe. The custom trigger also features an extra-wide trigger bow that provides added strength and durability.
Upgrading Your 1911 Trigger
With any of the triggers listed above, you can quickly improve the performance of your pistol without having to spend all that much money. However, unless you happen to be a skilled gunsmith, it's usually a good idea to spend a bit of extra money on having your 1911 trigger replacement installed by a professional.
Although the 1911 trigger job isn't all that difficult, it does usually require a bit of fine tuning that is usually best left in the hands of a trained professional. Otherwise, if the trigger is not perfectly fine tuned, you could end up actually harming the performance of your pistol instead of improving it.
The wide range of different aftermarket products out there can make customizing your 1911 quite a fun task, as the huge selection allows you to create a gun that looks and performs exactly as you want it to. Although many people begin by simply fitting the best 1911 trigger they can find on their gun, this is often only the start of things, as there's almost no end to the amazing range of aftermarket products available.
