The AR market is saturated with aftermarket triggers. If you want to stand out from the big names, you need to do something better and different. Black Talon Tactical has done just that with their Single Stage Calibrated Adjustable Drop In trigger. Yes it has a long name, but it really does describe the Black Talon Trigger quite well. They shipped me out their Improved Finger Position (IFP) profile trigger to try out. For the $180 price tag, I was not disappointed.

Black Talon Tactical’s drop in trigger is different in many ways. These differences are all good in my opinion. One, it has an adjustable trigger pull weight from 2-5 pounds. Two, this particular version uses the Improved Finger Position (IFP) trigger shoe that I’ll describe later. Lastly, the Black Talon triggers also have zero take up, very minimal break travel, and a tiny bit of overtravel.

When Black Talon Tactical says the trigger pull weight is adjustable, it is even more than that. As mentioned, the trigger’s pull weight is adjustable from 2.0 pounds to 5.0 pounds. I am pretty sure they specify the decimal point because the trigger has a precision adjustment scale on it. Black Talon Tactical also states that the trigger is calibrated to within 1 ounce of the marked adjusted trigger pull weight. Plus, the trigger pull weights are repeatable on the scale. The only noticeable drawback to the IFP trigger is that it must be removed to adjust the pull weight. To adjust the pull weight, just use the supplied allen wrench to turn the screw to the setting you want, it’s that easy. For a small fee you can send Black Talon Tactical a stripped lower receiver and they will modify it so that the trigger can be adjusted without removing it. I did not send in a receiver, so I can not tell you anything about the modification. I will testify to the fact that the adjustment is repeatable. I adjusted the trigger a few times, and then set it back to a 2.5 lb pull. My trigger pull gauge reads 2.5 lbs pretty much every time I check the trigger’s pull weight.

While Black Talon Tactical makes these triggers in a standard curved and flat trigger shoe, they also have something different. This different shoe is called the Improved Finger Position (IFP) profile. Essentially the IFP shoe is a flat trigger until you get down toward the tip. Then the trigger has a little curved section that is angled toward the shooter's finger. This little section is about 5/16 inch long. What it does is allow for really precision trigger manipulation. Yes, you can get a really precise feel out of it. The straight portion of the trigger is then used for normal or fast shooting. I thought the IFP trigger shoe was great. It works just as described. When I want precision shots, I just move my finger down to the bottom. When I want to go fast, I just use the flat section of the trigger as normal. And this trigger is fast.

Installation of the Black Talon trigger is pretty standard. Remove the safety and old trigger. Slide the Black Talon trigger into position. Slide in the supplied anti-walk pins. Tighten anti-walk pin screws. Install safety. Now for the important step: tighten the two rear screws that put upward pressure on the trigger housing. If these screws are not tightened properly, the trigger may not work correctly. I originally had the trigger in a polymer AR lower and had a few failure to fire’s. My best guess is that the polymer flexed enough to cause problems, since those two rear screws couldn’t get tight. When I installed it in a standard aluminum AR lower receiver, those problems stopped. It has over 500 rounds in the aluminum AR receiver and has run flawlessly for over 500 rounds. All the necessary allen wrenches are also included so there is no need to run around trying to find some.

My favorite aspect of the Black Talon Tactical Single Stage Calibrated Adjustable Drop In trigger is the actual pull, or lack thereof. The actual amount of movement in the trigger, to fire the AR, is minimal. Black talon states 0.5 mm, which is 0.020“. I just know that when I tested it, it was less than 0.040”. The break on the Black Talon Tactical trigger is also fantastic. I wouldn’t say glass rod, even if it is close, but I will say it has a super short tactile feel to it. Overtravel is stated at 1.25mm, or 0.050” maximum. I don’t think the one I have is that long. I will mention that the overtravel feels shorter because it is not the normal free travel that most triggers have. Instead it feels kind of spongy, but it is so short that maybe I am just feeling the end of the total movement. Either way, the overtravel is not really even noticeable. The reset on the trigger is good and a little forceful. The reset is a little better than most drop-in triggers in this price range. Click here for a short video of the trigger movement.

I’ve put quite a few rounds through the Black Talon Tactical trigger. It is just so much fun to use. I have another trigger that feels a bunch like this one. The difference is that the Black Talon trigger is adjustable. Plus the IFP trigger shoe is unique in how you can go from fast to precision easily. When I was running a bunch of bill drills with the IFP trigger, I could get 0.10 second splits. 0.12 seconds were really common. If you want a really fast trigger, this may be one to look at. I probably wouldn’t recommend this trigger to a novice shooter. The break is just too short and quick in my opinion. But, the nice thing about this trigger is that you can set the pull weight up to 5 pounds, then as you get more proficient with it, you can turn the pull weight down.

If you can not tell, I became a big fan of Black Talon Tactical’s Single stage trigger. It really does everything an aftermarket single stage AR trigger should do. It has adjustable pull weight, a super short trigger pull, and a great trigger break. You also get the IFP trigger shoe for more precision shots. Go check out the Calibrated Adjustable Drop in Single Stage Trigger from Black Talon Tactical, it is worth a look.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Single stage adjustable AR trigger

Target Market:

AR users who want a super fast, adjustable pull weight, trigger

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

Improved Finger Position (IFP) trigger shoe
Adjustable pull weight between 2.0 - 5.0 lbs
Repeatable adjustments to within 1 ounce
Zero take up
0.5 mm break
1.25mm max over-travel
Cartridge style drop in housing
A2 tool steel construction
Anti-walk pins included
Lifetime warranty

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Curved bow and Straight, all options in fixed pull weights too

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 stars at Opticsplanet.com

Love this trigger

I'm always looking for new/different products to upgrade my rifles and this is my favorite recent discovery. I love that it's adjustable and I set the weight at about 2.5 lbs and it is amazing! The IFP design is great as it gives you multiple positions for finger placement and it makes it easier to rapid fire. The hammer design on this trigger is unique and the housing feels extremely durable.

Overall I would recommend this trigger to anyone looking for something new and better.