Is a better trigger worth $200?

[Stafford]

A couple of weeks ago, I test drove a rental Shadow 2 at my range. Love the pistol. After shooting, I looked at the two they had for sale in the gun shop. One Black and Blue and one Urban Grey.

The Black and Blue’s trigger wasn’t as nice as the one that I rented, but that pistol has probably been shot a lot and smoothed out. Then I tried the Urban Grey. Very nice trigger and noticeably better in both DA and SA than the Black and Blue, particularly the DA. In fact, the Urban Grey was a bit better than the rental.

Both were priced at $1,199 and I can find Urban Greys around $999 online and Black and Blues for around $1,070. Today, I was back and they sold the Black and Blue but the Urban Grey was still there. I asked there best price and they came down to $1,150. With tax that puts me at around $1,230, so I decided to pass - for today.

I can save approximately $200 online but I don’t know if I’ll get a trigger as good as the Urban Grey that I’ve tried. Is it worth it to save $200.

[aandabooks]

If you order one online and get a mediocre trigger it is no big deal.  A couple spring changes and a thousand rounds will have the trigger all smoothed out.  Or you can buy a kit from Cajun Gun Works and have an even better trigger.

[timetofly]

Agree^^^^^^, but a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

Good luck with your decision.

[M1A4ME]

I'm a big one for nice triggers.

I really like a nice trigger.  But, how nice is nice?  And, what will it do for you on paper?

I recently put about $160 or $170 in an Apex trigger kit for my M&P 2.0.  Even the word AWESOME will not tell you how nice that trigger is now.  Better than any other striker fired pistol I own or have ever shot.  Better that most of my CZ hammer fired pistol triggers.  It really is.

But it didn't do a darn thing to help me shoot better groups from that pistol.  The addition of an Apex fitted barrel (fitted by me, not Apex, but it's a barrel that is oversized enough in places that you have to remove some metal to get it to function and when you do it right you get a nice snug fit - well, better/tighter than the factory barrel) did way more for tightening up the groups than the nice trigger.

Best groups I've gotten from a CZ are two stock pistols.  A P07 and P09.  Trigger are pretty decent.  I have three other CZ's with nicer triggers that still don't shoot the groups that P07 and P09 shoot.

I think Joe mentioned one time that he worked on his CZ97 till it had a real nice trigger and after some practice he decided he shot it better when the trigger pull wasn't as nice/crisp.  Joe, please correct me if I remember that incorrectly.  It just stuck with me because I was always a believer in a nice trigger is always better.

Not trying to talk you out of working on it/buying parts for it to make the trigger "nicer."  Just saying that a nice trigger doesn't always equal better groups.

I guess there are times when you can get a CZ with a trigger so darned ugly/terrible you just have to do something.  I bought one of those one time.  Converted it to SAO.  Worst trigger (gritty, rough, bumpy, draggy, dodgy, etc., etc., etc.) I ever pulled on a CZ and worse than a dang Glock or M&P factory trigger.

[BarkingAnt]

I'm a big one for nice triggers.

I really like a nice trigger.  But, how nice is nice?  And, what will it do for you on paper?

I recently put about $160 or $170 in an Apex trigger kit for my M&P 2.0.  Even the word AWESOME will not tell you how nice that trigger is now.  Better than any other striker fired pistol I own or have ever shot.  Better that most of my CZ hammer fired pistol triggers.  It really is.

But it didn't do a darn thing to help me shoot better groups from that pistol.  The addition of an Apex fitted barrel (fitted by me, not Apex, but it's a barrel that is oversized enough in places that you have to remove some metal to get it to function and when you do it right you get a nice snug fit - well, better/tighter than the factory barrel) did way more for tightening up the groups than the nice trigger.

Best groups I've gotten from a CZ are two stock pistols.  A P07 and P09.  Trigger are pretty decent.  I have three other CZ's with nicer triggers that still don't shoot the groups that P07 and P09 shoot.

I think Joe mentioned one time that he worked on his CZ97 till it had a real nice trigger and after some practice he decided he shot it better when the trigger pull wasn't as nice/crisp.  Joe, please correct me if I remember that incorrectly.  It just stuck with me because I was always a believer in a nice trigger is always better.

Not trying to talk you out of working on it/buying parts for it to make the trigger "nicer."  Just saying that a nice trigger doesn't always equal better groups.

I guess there are times when you can get a CZ with a trigger so darned ugly/terrible you just have to do something.  I bought one of those one time.  Converted it to SAO.  Worst trigger (gritty, rough, bumpy, draggy, dodgy, etc., etc., etc.) I ever pulled on a CZ and worse than a dang Glock or M&P factory trigger.

In reference to M1A4ME's last sentence I bought a PCR that had the worst trigger I can remember encountering. It was heavy, bumpy in the SA take up and had a gritty creep before the break. The DA made my finger pad sore in a short time. I sent it to CGW for a pro package upgrade. It came back with about a 3 1/2 lb SA pull that breaks crisply at the wall. I don't remember what the DA pull came back being but it's significantly less than out of box. It was a dramatic difference and it did improve my groups with it.

Based on my experience with CGW and other people's comments I think they can improve any CZ trigger. Whether it's worth it to someone is a personal decision.

A shadow 2 is great out of the box and probably better with a CGW kit in it (I have one but it doesn't have a CGW kit in it yet).

[DesertRatR]

I consider it a personal decision. However, if it makes shooting more fun, why wouldn't you spend the $200, assuming it works within the budget?

[recoilguy]

I consider it a personal decision. However, if it makes shooting more fun, why wouldn't you spend the $200, assuming it works within the budget?

Exactly!!!!

[Raining_Brass]

OP, deciding to spend the money is harder for someone who has never experienced a good CZC or CGW trigger.

If you've never felt it, you can probably convince yourself that the stock trigger is fine. (And after a few thousand rounds through it, they aren't terrible.)

But once you've felt just how nice your CZ trigger can be after CZC or CGW parts, it's really really hard to tell yourself the money isn't worth it. I do find some things are a better bang for buck upgrade than others if your'e on a tight budget. But the complete package of say a CGW Pro Kit for example is definitely worth the money IMO.

[Stafford]

Just to be clear, the extra $200 is for a stock, in store S2 that felt much better than another stock S2. I can purchase this in store pistol for $1,233 including tax and know that it has a good stock trigger. Or I can purchase online for $1,018 including shipping and FFL transfer. The savings are just over $200, but I don't know if I'll like the trigger as much as the one in the store.

CGW trigger work is something that I will probably do after shooting the pistol as is for 6-12 months.

[recoilguy]

if you are going to do the trigger work anyway - it would be wasted money to spend 200 bucks now.
CJ Mavens does great trigger work and is another great alternative to the "big 2" check him out in six months.

RCG

[Claymore504]

I agree with recoilguy. if the plan is to have trigger work done, then just save $200 now and order online.

[Stafford]

Ordered online and saved some $$

[Rmach]

Ordered online and saved some $$

It's very possible the one you just ordered will have a great trigger with no needed work.  I bought two S2s online, and they both have great triggers.

[Stafford]

Ordered online and saved some $$

It's very possible the one you just ordered will have a great trigger with no needed work.  I bought two S2s online, and they both have great triggers.

Hope so, I’ll shoot it stock for a while and see how it feels and breaks in. And if needed, I’ll probably send it off for some work.

[hansb57]

My experience is that lighter springs can cover up a trigger that, with some work, can be a lot better.