Today, we are looking and talking about the most popular Glock upgrade out there, the Glock triggers. The compatibility we will discuss is important, because you have to be selective about your Glock trigger, and ensure it fits your Glock frame.
The Glock Safe Action Pistol is the most popular Pistol in the United States. Gaston Glock’s plastic fantastics came about in a time when most guns featured metal frames and were hammer-fired. Polymer striker-fired guns had been done before, but never succeeded like the Glock.
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Glock Frame Sizes
Since then the Glock has gone on to become an insanely popular handgun. Part of that popularity is modularity. Glock pistols in general have three different frame sizes, the standard, the larger, and the single stack. By frame size I don’t mean length and width, I mean compatibility.
For example, the Glock 26 and Glock 17 are the same standard frame. There are differences in overall size, but they can accept the same magazines and the same internals. This makes it very easy to find upgradeable parts for any Glock.
Glock Trigger Safety
Before you take anything apart it’s good to understand how a Glock trigger works. The Glock trigger was quite interesting when it was introduced.
The Glock doesn’t typically have a manual safety, instead it relies on a trigger safety. A small piece of plastic blocks the trigger from being pulled unless it’s engaged by your finger.
What’s interesting is that trigger safety is probably the most complicated thing about a Glock trigger. Other than that, they are incredibly simple. Outside of the Glock’s popularity this is likely what’s driven the trigger aftermarket for the platform.
How Does a Glock Trigger Work?
The Glock trigger works like this. When the trigger is pressed by the user the trigger safety is disengaged. The trigger bar then presses the fire pin safety upwards. This trigger is also fully cocking the striker. The trigger then reaches the disconnector.
Once the trigger bar reaches the disconnector it drops slightly. The disconnector releases the striker as it drops. The striker then springs forward and causes the weapon to fire.
This entire process affects how the trigger feels, how heavy it is, how gritty it is, etc. Each piece does its thing, but one piece that affects trigger pull more than any other is the disconnector. The disconnector makes the biggest difference because it creates so much tension.
What’s Wrong with the Glock Trigger?
There is nothing inherently wrong with the Glock trigger. It’s completely functional. It’s pull isn’t bad, it’s not too heavy, but it’s far from great. If you can’t shoot the Glock straight it’s not because of the trigger, it’s because you need more practice.
The Glock pistol has a ton of potential though and it can be improved upon greatly. The stock Glock trigger is exactly what you should expect from a mass-produced polymer pistol. The problem with the Glock trigger is the lack of refinement.
The trigger is very mushy, it feels like plastic rubbing on plastic. There is a lot of grit to it while its moving and then you meet the walls. The walls are those little stops you hit before the trigger actually breaks. The walls also can create a false positive trigger break. You think the gun is going to go off, and it doesn’t.
There is also the problem that comes with just trigger ergonomics. A lot of people hate the feeling of that thin polymer trigger. It pinches some shooters, and the trigger safety can even cause blisters on some softer hands.
With an upgraded Glock trigger we aim to fix most of these problems. One thing we don’t want to mess with is the good things about the Glock trigger. The Glock trigger pull is short, and the reset is one of the best on the market. These are features we want to stick with when it comes to Glock Trigger upgrades.
Better Glock Trigger Benefits
Let’s go ahead and say it now, if you can’t shoot a Glock with its stock trigger a better trigger isn’t going to help you. You need ammo, and range time. Once you can shoot straight with a stock Glock trigger we can talk upgrades.
A better Glock trigger will make a seasoned shooter and do a few things for you. Someone who’s mastered the stock Glock trigger knows they are only chasing fractions of an inch and fractions of a second. First, it will make you shrink your groups, you’ll gain that fraction of an inch through a better trigger.
When it comes to cutting time between shots a better trigger gives you a shorter pull and a more aggressive reset. This will cut time between shots and give you that slight time advantage.
From a precision and tactical perspective, a smoother and more well-rounded trigger is going to give you a distance advantage. Shooting a handgun at longer ranges is tricky, but with a better trigger you’ll will be able to hit those longer-range targets.
How to Improve Glock Trigger
To improve on the Glock trigger you can do numerous things. One of the first is to install a lighter disconnector. The most common being the3.5 Ghost disconnector. ZEV also makes an excellent disconnector that just came out. I tried it at SHOT and was impressed.
Glock Trigger Bar
Next, the trigger bar meets a lot of friction as it moves rearward. The problem here is that any burrs, snags, or imperfections on the trigger bar can create friction. The solution is a highly polished trigger bar that has buffed any burs or snags out. This reduces friction and results in a lighter, smoother trigger pull.
Installing a Glock Trigger Tools
Before we go head first into Glock triggers you need to remember the installation requirements. They are easy to install, but make sure you are comfortable with taking a Glock apart. You need to prep an area where you can work without distractions.
I like a simple smooth table with a rubber or felt mat down. These mats keep little pins and parts from rolling away. Always have good lighting, and I keep a flashlight on hand for finding dropped parts.
You’ll also need a few tools. Not many, but a few will make this much easier.
Glock Tool
The Glock tool is actually a punch with a nice handle. Like the Glock frames it’s made from a strong and dependable polymer that will last and last. The Glock tool is designed to be the only take-down tool needed to completely fieldstrip the Glock.
It will function with every Glock pin on any model Glock. It’s also cheap, easy to find, and necessary for serious Glock owners.
BASTION Premium Quality Gunsmithing Tools for Glock: Front Sight Tool, Mag Disassembly Tool, Pin Punch Tool
When it comes to aftermarket customization of your Glock, you can’t ask for much more than this 2-in-1 tool from Bastion, the brand known for high workmanship and intuitive design. Even without the collapsible hard steel pin punch, the mag base plate disassembly tool is crafted with the perfect angle and leverage to make taking off the mag base plate for cleaning or customization a breeze.
I know it’s hard to believe, but this little tool, constructed from sturdy T-6 aluminum, sand-blasted, and brushed with an anodized finish, gets the job done quickly, and for an extremely affordable price.
This 2-in-1 tool works on any standard Glock system and is fast and easy to use, making it an invaluable tool for any Glock owner. If you’re looking to customize your Glock and need that strong steel pin punch, this 2-in-1 tool is a great addition to your collection.
Pros:
- Removes a lot of time from trying to disassemble magazine for cleaning
- Low cost for value and amount of use
- Durable material
- 2-in-1 intuitive design
Cons:
- Reportedly isn’t effective for Glock 30-round magazines or extended-type base plates
- Takes some elbow grease still, especially if there is pressure due to slight differences in plates
ERGO Mast Glock
The Ergo Mast is a gunsmith’s best friend. It’s a simple armorers block designed to hold for gun in the upright position. This makes it much easier to work on. Trust me on this, if you don’t have three hands this block will eliminate a ton of stress when working on your Glock.
I choose the Ergo model over other, more affordable options because it’s modular. You can use it for all standard and large frame Glocks and purchase extra base plates for other types of handguns.
The Best Glock Triggers
| Product Name | Where to Buy | |
|---|---|---|
 | ZEV Fulcrum | |
 | Agency Arms Glock Triggers | |
 | APEX Tactical Glock Triggers | |
1. ZEV Fulcrum
The ZEV Fulcrum triggers are available for both large and standard frame Glocks and represent one of the best trigger upgrades on the market. The ZEV triggers are competition and duty-oriented triggers. They reduce friction, lighten pull, and provide you with a clean let off and outstanding trigger reset.
The ZEV triggers can be adjusted for pre-travel and over travel, so you can lock your trigger into your specific preferences. Adjustment is simple and done via two hex head screws. The trigger itself is made from 6061 aluminums and anodized for corrosion resistance. The trigger is wider than your standard Glock trigger and more ergonomic.
ZEV Safety
The ZEV trigger provides the same level of safety as a Glock stock triggers and works in tandem with Glock’s three passive safeties. The engagement surfaces of the trigger bar and disconnector are stainless steel and highly polished to reduce friction and walls.
It’s a drop-in design that means there are no permanent modifications done to your Glock. It installs with ease and can be done at home.
All you’ll need is the standard Glock disassembly tool and you are good to go. The ZEV Fulcrum triggers are designed for Glocks Gens 1 through 4.
2. Agency Arms Glock Triggers
The Agency Arms flat-faced trigger goes a slightly different route than most. They wanted to keep the best parts of the Glock trigger, but also improve on it. The first thing they did was keep the OEM trigger bar and disconnector.
The reason they kept these OEM parts is to maintain the Glock reliability and simplify the installation process. That being said these aren’t your basic OEM parts. The disconnector is set to 3.5 pounds for light and smoother trigger pull. The trigger bar is highly polished, with a special focus on the areas that create friction.
Glock Flat-Faced Trigger
The biggest change is the Agency Arms Glock triggers. It replaces the plastic Glock OEM trigger with an Agency Arms drop in flat faced trigger. The flat-faced trigger grants you more control over the trigger.
It allows to pull the trigger with complete control. This doesn’t just make the trigger easier to pull, but easier to control if you don’t need to shoot.
The Agency Arms flat-faced trigger is made entirely from aluminum. The trigger is split at the bottom to eliminate trigger pinch and to allow the trigger safety to recess friction-free. Agency Arms produces this trigger for the standard frame models, as well as the single stack Glock 43 9mm.
3. APEX Tactical Glock Triggers
If your Glock is designed to be used for duty use, or for concealed carry then the Apex tactical trigger is for you. The Apex trigger’s full name is the Apex Tactical Action Enhancement Trigger for Glock.
This is a direct drop-in trigger, so installation is simple and can be done with very little technical skill. You’ll need your Glock armorers tool of course. The Apex Tactical Glock trigger reduces pre-travel and post-travel. This gives you a shorter, and crisper trigger pull. The shorter the trigger pull the less room it has to mess up.
The Apex Tactical Glock trigger has a smooth uptake that glides more than it moves. Once you hit the end of the trigger pull you are greeted with a glass rod trigger break. It breaks, the gun fires and as you release it the trigger resets. Not only does the Apex trigger keep the famous Glock reset it improves on it.
Glock Trigger Color
The Apex trigger maintains the safety features of the standard Glock trigger. This is critical for tactical use. The Apex trigger system uses a flat-face aluminum trigger that can be anodized in a variety of different colors. Red, purple, black, are all options. The Apex trigger is a great addition to any Glock, duty or otherwise.
Rock your Glock Triggers
The Glock platform is now in its 5th generation. Glocks have been adopted for use in police and military forces, for concealed carry, and of course competition use. The Glock Triggers aftermarket is only going to grow larger.
That’s great for the end consumer, but don’t be swindled by promises of new and revolutionary. Established Glock trigger companies, with solid reputations, should be the first consideration. New products are great but always do your research.
