Heavier hammer in AR?…

[DownrangePhoto]

Finally decided to venture into AR15land and bought a cheap ATI one for starters. After initial cleaning and my usual barrel treatment, the first trip to the range was very enjoyable. This thing is a tack driver!… However, during my second outing the rifle first suddenly began shooting doubles, then died completely.

Back at home I took the lower receiver apart and found that a disconnector was broken. Guess what else?… The entire trigger group (except for pins and springs) on ATI rifles are made of plastic!

So I bought and immediately installed a regular mil spec trigger group. Haven't been to the range again yet, but everything seems to function perfectly. However, the mil spec parts, including a hammer, are much heavier than the stock ones.

Here's my question: will it affect the rifle's operation in any negative way? Smashing the firing pin (which was probably designed for that plastic hammer) or punching holes in a primer, for example? What are your thoughts?

PS/edit: By "heavier" I mean a mass of the part itself, not a spring tension.

 

[Dibbs]

IMO, in their rush to be cheap, it's doubtful they changed the stock BCG. Probably just built the lower with the plastic parts, you found, and moved on.

More than likely, the rest of the rifle is fine. Most trigger groups, IME, are interchangeable.

 

[ms6852]

Just change the whole trigger group you can use a Timney drop in group or a RRA two stage. I love two stage triggers and for the money RRA’s are great . My Timney trigger is great as well but more expensive and take just a few minutes to install. If you are strapped for cash go RRA trigger if not go Timney. I really find no difference between both of them. I know there are other good triggers besides what I mentioned, but I won’t comment on them as I have no experience with them.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Don't worry about that weight if it's a truly G.I. oriented unit with a properly built bolt carrier assembly to include firing pin.
Been that way for many decades.

If you want finer trigger-action, at least 3 aftermarket setups are nice and can be more accurate for some are but not actually a functioning improvement over stock.

I say, for now, stick with stock. One of the joys that I continually try to pass on to new AR shooters is in the nearly endless range of owner-installed options. Taking these modifications at a pace allowing you to appreciate each one - one at a time makes ARs a real long-term joy.

A good AR is all-'round hard to beat. You buy it and shoot it and then pick an upgrade. You continue shooting, enjoy that and pick the next logical upgrade... And so on.

Investigating, shopping, building and appreciating shooting ARs; one significant improvement at a time can have you repeating the initial joy of the rifle over, and over again.

Todd.