Chad Wallace

August 27, 2022

AR15, Review, Rifle, Trigger, AR Gold, American Trigger

AR Gold trigger

Chad Wallace

August 27, 2022

AR15, Review, Rifle, Trigger, AR Gold, American Trigger

Some time ago I was asked if I had ever used an AR Gold trigger. My answer was “no”, but I had heard they are pretty good. That led me to ask American Trigger Corporation if they would send one out for a full review. As one can guess, here I am with a full review of the Adjustable, curved, AR Gold trigger.

When the AR Gold trigger showed up, I eagerly installed it into a lower receiver. The AR Gold comes in a nicely packaged box with some stickers and such. The packaging itself makes the trigger look like a finely tuned race car, which it kind of is. Since the AR Gold is a cartridge style AR-15 trigger, installation is very straightforward.

As mentioned, I opted for the adjustable version. Yes, a non-adjustable one is also available, its pull weight is set at 3.5 lbs. The adjustable one is also set at the factory to 3.5 lbs. I set mine a little lighter, down to 2.5 lbs. To adjust the AR Gold trigger, there are 2 set screws at the back of the trigger housing. Use the top screw. Clockwise will increase the sear tension, thus increasing the break weight of the trigger. Of course, turning the screw counter-clockwise will decrease the sear tension, lightening the trigger break. From ATC Gold’s website - “As you reduce the amount of spring tension on the sear, you WILL reach a point that the gun will not cock reliably when live firing – though it may still cock dry firing. On most AR’s this will occur somewhere between 3 and 2 lbs.” So go slowly with your adjustments. From my understanding, there is really no need to even go near the bottom screw on the trigger housing. I had no problems adjusting the AR gold trigger down to a measured 2.5 lbs, everything still safely checked out as normal. Individual results for the trigger adjustments may vary. ATC also designed this trigger from the ground up. It is not just a modified GI trigger in a drop-in cage. Which is really noticeable if you compare them side by side.

The trigger pull on the AR Gold is really good, but it may not be what you are used to. It is more like a really good 1911 pistol trigger pull. ATC has a good explanation on their website, but essentially it says “AR Gold is a single-stage with a slight bit of very light (8 oz.) of take up.” After the take up, you then hit the “wall,” this is where the actual pull weight is. Apply pressure and the trigger breaks super crisply. This is by far one of the crispest trigger pulls I have felt. When I measured it, at the bottom of the trigger shoe, the break only moved the trigger around 0.050”. So up higher on the trigger, the pull length is actually shorter. After the break, there is some slight over travel. Not a bunch, most people might not even notice it. Then there is the reset. The reset is short, essentially the same as the break of the trigger. But, the reset is not very positive. It didn’t seem to matter if the trigger was set to the factory 3.5 lbs, or the 2.5 lbs I set it at. I would have liked to see a more positive reset, but I could still shoot this trigger very fast. All kinds of “super fast” professional shooters use this trigger, so it’s not like the reset is slow.

I chose the AR Gold with a curved trigger shoe. Why? Because I like the consistency that a curved trigger gives me. ATC also offers a flat style trigger shoe. I think the flat style looks better, but I’m about functionality. The AR Gold trigger shoe is pretty narrow. It doesn’t affect anything, it’s just notable compared to a GI trigger. The curve of the trigger feels very much like the curve of a GI trigger, at least to me. The trigger, as a whole, feels like an expensive watch. It functions superbly, but also looks elegant.

The AR Gold trigger could be used on just about any style of AR rifle. It is fast, has a great break, and is adjustable. So if you are just into backyard plinking, or full blown competition, the AR Gold might be something to look into. I’m probably going to stick it in a AR varmint rifle build, but what you do with one is really up to you. American Trigger Corporation did a great job making a 1911 style trigger for your AR. If you are into finely tuned race cars, or triggers that are similar, then you need to check out the AR Gold trigger.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Adjustable AR trigger with a super short break

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a top of the line AR trigger

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

3.5 lbs. (Adjustable Weight)
Drop Safe
Drop-In trigger module
Includes .154” trigger pins
Short Reset
Short, Crisp break
Adjustable weight engagement and over-travel
Designed for AR-15 & AR-10 Platform (.223, 5.56, .308, 7.62, .300 BLK, 6.5 Grendal)
Made in USA

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Flat faced trigger

What others are saying?:

4 out of 5 stars at Brownells

EXCELLENT

Pricey yes, but a great trigger. A clean sheet design. Not a reworked set of standard parts but a whole new way of thinking. Pulls very light and crisp. Yet punches deep pits into the primers. Can't comment on long term results until much more "testing" is done. But so far, perfect reliability and function. Just wish they were a bit cheaper. Then they would be a 5 star rating!

Our Rating:

Pros:

Super crisp Break - glass rod type
Adjustable
Thin trigger profile
Cartridge style drop-in installation

Cons:

Slower reset
Slight over-travel
Price

Score: 8.00 Great

Favorite Link: Gun Guys Garage

Chad Wallace

August 15, 2020

Review, Rifle, Handguards and Rails, Timber Creek

Timber Creek Enforcer Build KIt

Chad Wallace

August 15, 2020

Review, Rifle, Handguards and Rails, Timber Creek

By now, everyone knows that you can do just about anything to an AR style rifle. Timber Creek Outdoors can definitely help you with that. They have their Enforcer Build Kit. The Enforcer Kit is a complete upgrade kit for your modern sporting rifle. Besides basic black, the kit comes in a variety of colors, some anodized and some Cerakoted.

To be a little different, I asked for the Enforcer kit in purple. The purple is one of the anodized colors that Timber Creek offers. I like the look of anodizing, as it has that “high gloss” look. This purple does not disappoint. The anodizing is spot on and all the different parts match. Matching anodizing, from batch to batch, is not super easy. But Timber Creek pulled it off.

Down in the FNB section, it shows what all comes with the Enforcer kit and it is a lot. I’ll go over most of the parts individually, at least the important ones. All of the parts come in one nice box. Small parts are in bags, in the buffer tube. On the back of the box is essentially a parts break down, and where those parts go. I also put together a list of what else is needed to complete a full rifle. Some of these parts can also be purchased from Timber Creek, like the barrel and castle nut, these additional parts are as follows:

Castle nut
Buffer and recoil spring
Trigger
Bolt catch
Mag catch
Upper/lower
Buffer retaining pin & spring
Barrel
Stock
Gas tube

First up I’ll start with the lower receiver small parts. The extended mag release has a nice little downward curve to it and isn’t too large. I really liked it’s function as it isn’t any higher than the standard mag release, it just sits back closer to the trigger finger. TC’s oversize trigger guard is wider also. It’s pretty oversize, so much so that I think a Sasquatch could get his finger in there. Then there are the take down pins. They add color, but are undersized in the kit I received. They wobble around and make the upper to lower fit, fit loosely. I had standard pins in this kit before, and they didn’t have these problems. Maybe not a small part, but it attaches to the lower, is the mil-spec 6 position buffer tube. It does not, however, come with a castle nut. A QD endplate is also included.

Also included for the lower is an ambi safety selector. This safety is reversible, meaning that it is either 45° or 90°. I was happy to see this, as I like 45° safeties, so that is how it was installed. Two selectors are provided, one is about standard length, the other one is shorter. This is pretty standard for ambi-selectors. They attach to the safety selector piece with some allen head screws, I did use a little Loctite 242 when installing them. I wasn’t sure how I was going to like the shape of the safety, it is a kind of tear drop shape with serrations . After using it, I do really like it, especially the serrations. These serrations let my thumb know that it is in contact with the safety.

The Timber Creek pistol grip is one of their oldest products. As with all of the Enforcer kit parts, it is aluminum and CNC machined. They skelontonized the grip to save weight. It has a finger rest/stop at the heel to help prevent your hand from sliding off. There is also a beavertail for comfort. Plus some grooves on the front to aid with grip. In my opinion, the grip is a little on the slick side. It is very comfortable, but needs a little more texture to help me grip it.

Next we move on to the upper receiver. Only two small parts here, the dust cover and forward assist. The dust cover adds a nice contrast to the upper. The one supplied doesn’t like to stay closed. If you bump the rifle too hard, installing a magazine for instance, the door flips open. The forward assist works as expected. It has checkering on the face of it for extra grip, just in case you have to use it.

Timber Creek’s Enforcer charging handle is a work of art. It has ball bearings inside it, thus giving the handle arms super smooth actuation. The oversize handles stick out a bunch on either side, making it truly ambidextrous. By making the handles so large, one hand operation is extremely easy. Even if one were to mount a large scope, they would have easy access to the charging handle. The handles are slightly curved forward with grooves on the front face. Pretty much eliminating your hand from slipping off during use. I personally would have liked Timber Creek’s small charging handle to be in the kit, as this one is just a tiny bit too big for my liking. It is, however, an excellent charging handle.

Probably one of the most notable parts in the kit, is the 15” Ultralight Enforcer handguard. This handguard is super skeletonized and weighs nothing. If you pick it up by itself, without the barrel nut, it is like picking up air. The complete handguard assembly weighs something like 7.6 ounces with the barrel nut! Since it is the ultralight version, the handguard has a short rail at the front and back instead of running all the way across the top. I really like these style of handguards, as I never use the middle of the pic rail anyhow. There is a unique “Timber Creek” curve at the nose of the handguard. This curve is useful to keep brush and stuff from getting caught in it out in the field. Plus, it looks pretty good also. Now, if you need to attach anything else, the handguard has M-Lok slots running along the top, sides, and bottom. There are also QD holes for attaching slings and such. These are the good ones that have anti-rotation cuts every 45°. There are five total. One on each side, at the front and rear of the handguard. Then there is one on the bottom rear, just in front of the clamping system. Timber Creek uses a clamp system, with some extra set screws, to hold the handguard on. There are also wings, that extend over the upper receiver, to help keep it from rotating. I think the clamp system works just great, so the probably didn’t need the wings. But, extra insurance is always a good thing. For as light as this handguard is, there is less flex in it compared to other lightweight handguards. At least that’s my experience with the same length ones that I have used. The Enforcer lightweight handguard is well worth the price of admission.

To round out the kit, Timber Creek throws in their muzzle brake and gas block. The gas block is low profile to fit under the handguard. It is the two set screws on the bottom type and about an inch long. It looks goog, and works great. The “Heart Breaker” muzzle brake is a two chamber style, with two holes on the top to reduce muzzle climb. The chambers are heart shaped, hence the name. I was hesitant about this brake at first. Yes, the brake proved me wrong. It works way better than I had ever imagined. It is really loud, but that was expected. My daughter even mentioned the lack of recoil while using it. Instead of a crush washer or shims, the Heart Breaker comes with a locking jam nut. Think of it as a nice little bonus in the Enforcer kit.

Now that all the parts are pretty much covered, here’s my thoughts. If you value quality parts, these are top notch. Timber Creek did an awesome job with most of the stuff in the kit. I really enjoy shooting this rifle, it handles so nice with the lightweight parts. The rifle in the pictures weighs in at 6 lbs 14 ounces with the red dot. But, it uses everyday standard internals and a 16” heavy profile barrel (lightweight barrel would save roughly 8 ounces). The handguard and ambi-safety are probably my 2 favorites. They just work great.

The Timber Creek Enforcer Build Kit is a great upgrade. If you are looking to build a new rifle, add color, or just upgrading your old one, the Enforcer kit is pretty much a worthwhile option. One might think it is a little pricey, but you are getting quality parts. These parts would definitely cost you more if you were to buy them individually. Definitely go check out Timber Creek Outdoors and all of their stuff.