The 7 Best Glock Triggers [2024]: Hands-On Tested
Looking for that new something something to enhance your Glock’s performance?
If you’ve been around Glocks for long, you know one thing to be true—the stock trigger leaves much to be desired. The factory Glock triggers lack the crispness of other striker-fired pistols with its long, mushy pull.
The roundness of the shoe face can lead to pushing and pulling the stock trigger in different directions rather than straight back, moving your sights off target.
Upgrading the trigger is a simple way to improve both the function and aesthetics of your firearm. An upgraded trigger can enhance the crispness of the pull, ultimately providing a similar experience to other striker-fired pistols.
The smoother the break, the less movement in your hand, and the easier it is to be consistent and stay on target.
It can also improve the reset, allowing for quicker follow-up shots.
Not to mention, an upgraded trigger lets you add some serious style to your handgun. While it won’t magically make you cooler, it will definitely give your gun a major cool factor boost!
So, how do you decide which upgrade is right for you? And what should you pick if you’re on a budget? What options are the most stylish?
Choosing the right Glock trigger can be tough, so we tested the best on the market and curated this list of our top picks to help you make a better decision. We’ll offer our thoughts and insights, including budget-friendly options, the best aesthetics, and more.
By the end, you should have a good overview of your options and enough information to help you decide what works best for you.
Let’s do this…
BEST GLOCK TRIGGER OVERALL: Glock Performance Trigger
Glock Performance Trigger
GrabAGun (See Price)
Palmetto State Armory (See Price)
Sportsman’s Warehouse (See Price)
BattleHawk Armory (See Price)
GunMag Warehouse (See Price)
Rainier Arms (See Price)
Sportsman’s Guide (See Price)
It shouldn’t be surprising to find that one of the best aftermarket Glock triggers is made by…well, Glock. They know what’s up, and recognize that some operators find the standard trigger lacking.
The Performance trigger offers an improved experience, but it maintains that OEM reliability and durability. It doesn’t come standard in Glock configurations, but is well worth the consideration.
What We Like: This is a great value for the price you pay. For most operators, they’re not looking for the very best, but just an improvement from the standard trigger. They want something that isn’t so mushy, is reliable, easy to install, and isn’t going to break the bank.
This is that Glock trigger.
When we tested it out, it offered a significant improvement over the standard model. For starters, the face of the trigger shoe is flatter, giving you more of a straight-back pull, which we like.
The most noticeable difference is in the reduced take up and crisper break, eliminating the spongy feel typical of Glock triggers.
When we measured it, the pull weight came in at about 4 lbs versus 5.5 lbs for the standard trigger.
Inside, the mechanisms for the drop safety are different. The trigger bar on the original has a crucible shape, which slides down, releasing the striker when the trigger is pulled. That slide down is what creates the mushy feel.
The new enhanced trigger has a single bar that drops down cleanly. The drop gives it that cleaner break feel. After firing, the trigger pops back out, unlike the standard model which stays in the rear position.
One of the best parts is its affordability, coming in at a cool $99.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The main drawback is that it’s only available for Gen 5 Glock models. If you have an older model you’ll want to check out some of the other options on our list.
The site claims you need to have it installed by a certified Glock armorer, but if you’re somewhat mechanically inclined, you can probably do it yourself at home.
On that note, we’d recommend that during assembly you avoid taking the trigger bar off of the trigger housing. If you do, you probably will need a certified armorer to get it back together. It’s incredibly difficult, even for those with experience.
The Glock Performance Trigger isn’t meant for competition, as the wall and break aren’t as crisp as some higher-end options. However, for home defense or personal protection, it’s a significant improvement over the standard trigger and offers better performance at a more affordable price.
BEST GLOCK TRIGGER RUNNER UP: Apex Glock Enhancement Trigger
Apex Glock Enhancement Trigger
Brownells (See Price)
GrabAGun (See Price)
AT3 Tactical (See Price)
Bravo Company (See Price)
GunMag Warehouse (See Price)
Rainier Arms (See Price)
Apex has long been held as the industry standard for Glock triggers for a reason—they have a proven track record of being reliable, improving both the travel and the break of a trigger, while maintaining the safety features Glock is known for.
In fact, the Apex trigger is the only aftermarket trigger approved for duty use by some police departments.
Off the shelf, this is one of our favorite Glock replacement triggers.
The kit includes a nearly flat trigger shoe, a flush safety blade, an enhanced trigger bar, a polished connector, and a slightly modified plunger to improve the trigger feel.
What We Like: Out of the gate, the look and the feel stand out. It’s a step up from the blandness of the Glock OEM parts, offering an assortment of color options: black, FDE, red, blue and purple. They also make a really badass American Flag trigger.
Once installed, the trigger just feels right. The distance between where our hand is positioned on the rear of the handgun to where our trigger finger rests is perfect, providing excellent initial finger placement. When your finger falls perfectly on the trigger like this it helps ensure optimal pull and accurate shooting.
The Apex kit retains the Glock’s original trigger dynamics while offering a smoother and lighter pull, balancing the trigger’s dynamics and weight.
The pre-travel is smooth and the wall isn’t very hard, making it easier to pull through without any hiccups. The trigger consistently pulls around 3.5-3.7 pounds after breaking in, with a positive reset upon release.
Add it all up and this is a significant improvement over the stock trigger.
The Apex kit can be purchased with a trigger shoe and trigger bar for about $100. For an additional $20, you can get the full kit, which includes a Glock minus connector and a rounded safety plunger.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: There’s a bit of a trade-off between improving the dynamics of the trigger while maintaining the safety features Glock is known for. Some brands significantly improve the dynamics but don’t ensure the safety features operate as expected.
Apex plays it safe, meaning their triggers improve the feel but still retain an ever-so-slight mushy wall compared to other high-end triggers. Nonetheless, compared to the original, it’s going to feel like a night and day difference.
Priced at around $130, it offers a worthwhile upgrade for those wanting to enhance their Glock without drastically changing its feel.
BEST GLOCK TRIGGER FOR BALANCE: Agency Arms Syndicate Drop-In Trigger
Agency Arms Drop-In Trigger
Palmetto State Armory (See Price)
Rainier Arms (See Price)
AT3 Tactical (See Price)
The Agency Arms Glock trigger stands out as a premium aftermarket option. It brings a host of improvements over the stock Glock trigger, balancing performance and aesthetics effectively.
The Agency Arms trigger offers a rolling break rather than a hard break. This means there’s a smooth, continuous pull without a sudden stop, making it ideal for shooters who prefer a fluid trigger action.
The trigger shoe is flat-faced with a curved toe at the bottom. This design is excellent for indexing, ensuring your finger consistently lands in the same spot for a uniform pull every time. The re-contoured and polished head of the trigger adds to the smoothness of the pull.
What We Like: The fit and finish of the Agency Arms trigger is impeccable. Personally, we think it’s one of the nicer looking options on the market.
Both the take-up and the break are significantly better than the OEM trigger. The break is nice and crisp, like breaking a carrot or a sheet of glass.
Put those two factors together and you have a really nice, balanced upgrade from the standard Glock trigger.
The only parts the kit is really replacing are the flat-face trigger shoe and the lightened plunger safety spring. The factory striker, striker spring, and return spring are OEM, so you can be ensured the reliability and safety mechanisms are still solid.
One of the standout features is the gloss finish, which not only looks good but also complements the trigger’s high performance.
The trigger comes with a minus connector, reducing the trigger pull weight to around 4.5 pounds. This lighter pull weight improves accuracy, as less pressure is required to fire, making the gun easier to shoot.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The main drawback is there is a slight stutter in the pre-travel. It doesn’t significantly impact performance, but it might be a minor annoyance for some shooters.
Additionally, at around $135, it is on the higher end of Glock triggers on the market. However, the combination of aesthetics, performance, and reliability justifies the price for those looking to upgrade. If you’re looking to save some money, you can also opt for the polymer version of the trigger.
Overall, the Agency Arms trigger is a great option in terms of break quality but outshines in smoothness and aesthetics. It’s a worthwhile investment for anyone looking to enhance their Glock’s performance without compromising on looks or reliability.
BEST EDC GLOCK TRIGGER: Overwatch Precision PolyDAT Trigger
Overwatch Precision PolyDAT Trigger
This trigger is just awesome. We love it for our everyday carry Glocks and think you will too.
The Overwatch Precision triggers come in both polymer and aluminum versions, with options for polished or NP3 coated trigger bars. This variety allows users to choose the best option for their needs.
What We Like: What makes this the best option for everyday carry use? There’s a few reasons.
The pull and pre-travel. Overwatch has managed to take out as much of the pre-travel (about 20%) as possible without compromising Glock’s safety features.
Once you reach the wall, it has a firm stop, so you know exactly when the gun will fire.
After firing a round, the reset on this trigger is one of the best on the market.
In an everyday carry situation, this means you can pull and reset the trigger for follow-up shots quickly, while still maintaining Glock’s renowned safety mechanisms.
Another thing we like is that Overwatch uses an NP3 coating on the trigger bar. If you don’t know what that is, it essentially is a metal hardener and corrosion inhibitor that’s very good at lubricity.
To top it all off, it’s one of the nicer looking triggers on the market. The Overwatch trigger is designed with a slight hook at the bottom of the trigger shoe. The trigger shoe safety goes 100% flush, offering a comfortable feel and enhancing the shooting experience.
You can get just the trigger bar and shoe for $49 or the full kit with the OEM trigger housing for about $82. For what you get, it’s a great deal.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: It has a higher trigger pull weight than some might prefer, coming in at about 4.5lbs. Nonetheless, it still has excellent pre-travel reduction, crisp break, and reset.
Some people might not like the polymer construction, but if that’s you, a metal trigger shoe is also available.
Overall, the Overwatch Precision Polymer DAT Drop-In Trigger Kit is an outstanding choice for those seeking a reliable, high-performance trigger for their everyday carry Glock. Its combination of a clean break, fast reset, and ease of installation makes it a top contender in the EDC market.
BEST COMPETITION GLOCK TRIGGER: Timney Alpha Glock Gen 5 Trigger
Timney Alpha Glock Gen 5 Trigger
Brownells (See Price)
Euro Optic (See Price)
AT3 Tactical (See Price)
GrabAGun (See Price)
Sportsman’s Warehouse (See Price)
Rainier Arms (See Price)
GunMag Warehouse (See Price)
A lot can be said when you’re the preferred Glock trigger by Taran Tactical, the armorer behind the famous guns used by the butt-kicking John Wick.
Priced at about $160, it’s a favorite among competition shooters for good reason.
What We Like: As far as competition triggers go, this is the best. The 3lb break is what you’re going to be buying the trigger for. The crisp, snappy break provides an advantage on precise aiming, particularly for medium to far distance shots.
The take-up feels similar to a standard Glock trigger, leading to a soft, well-defined 3 lb wall. There’s a slight rolling break with a touch of creep before it snaps cleanly. When pulling the trigger quickly, you’ll hardly notice the creep or mush. The reset is short and positive, adding to its overall responsiveness.
The Timney Alpha features a thin, elegant shoe and a relatively simple installation with a bomb-proof design. The trigger face is flat and consistent across, making it significantly easier to pull straight back compared to the OEM Glock trigger shoe. For striker-fired guns, this might be the best on the market.
For anyone involved in USPSA or IPSA competitions, this trigger can likely drop your stage time for competition by a few seconds.
Flaws but not Dealbreakers: The main drawback is its less forceful reset compared to the stock Glock trigger. Additionally, while you can customize the pre-travel, doing so may compromise the Glock’s drop safety.
Overall, the Timney Alpha Glock Gen 5 Trigger offers a substantial improvement over the stock trigger, providing a superior shooting experience for competitive shooters.
BEST GLOCK TRIGGER SHOE: Tyrant CNC I.T.T.S. Glock Trigger
Tyrant CNC I.T.T.S. Glock Trigger
Brownells (See Price)
AT3 Tactical (See Price)
Rainier Arms (See Price)
GunMag Warehouse (See Price)
If we were handing out awards for Glock triggers, this option from Tyrant CNC would definitely win the award for Best Dressed. Gucci Glock—it’s a thang.
Tyrant CNC Glock Upgrades
Ready to upgrade your Glock? Watch our video to see the amazing enhancements from Tyrant CNC in action!
What We Like: The trigger shoe is an upgrade in terms of aesthetics, it looks exponentially better than the factory black plastic trigger, but Tyrant also keeps the OEM trigger pull for reliability and safety. You get a better look without losing the trigger pull you’re used to.
That said, the I.T.T.S. is more comfortable than the factory trigger shoe, and has a much more positive feel to the trigger safety. It doesn’t affect the pull in anyway, but does improve the positive reset.
The installation is fairly easy and straightforward. You can watch the installation video right here.
Our recommendation is to use a little dab of blue thread locker on the trigger screws when installing and you’re good to go.
It’s relatively inexpensive, coming in around $67.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Unless you have mad gunsmithing skills, you’re more than likely going to tear up your factory trigger shoe during installation.
All in all, the Tyrant CNC I.T.T.S. Trigger Shoe is an excellent way to improve the look of your handgun without changing any of the fundamentals.
BEST COMPLETE GLOCK TRIGGER KIT: ZEV Technologies Fulcrum Adjustable Ultimate Trigger
ZEV Technologies Fulcrum Adjustable Ultimate Trigger
BattleHawk Armory (See Price)
AR-15 Discounts (See Price)
Primary Arms (See Price)
GunMag Warehouse (See Price)
The Zev Fulcrum Ultimate Kit provides a comprehensive overhaul of the fire control system.
The drop-in replacement includes everything you need: trigger shoe, trigger bar, trigger connector, trigger mechanism housing, skeletonized firing pin, firing pin safety, striker spring, and firing pin safety spring.
What We Like: This trigger kit is all about precision and customization. You can adjust the pre-travel and over-travel to get that just-right feel.
You have the option of a 2 and 3 lb striker spring, depending on what you like. The trigger has a flat face, so you get that straight-back pull that improves accuracy.
Unlike some other options that use polymer, this trigger is all metal, providing a more durable and solid feel.
The trigger pull is noticeably smoother, with less creep and a clean break. The inner trigger safety is designed to be comfortable, minimizing the risk of developing hot spots on your trigger finger during extended range sessions.
Aesthetic options include all black or black with a red inner trigger safety.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: It’s still pretty basic as far as looks go, but its performance and customization options make it ideal for serious shooters.
At $229, it’s a significant investment, but as the saying goes, “Buy once, cry once.” This kit provides a durable, customizable, and high-performing trigger system for your Glock.
Overall, this is a pretty amazing upgrade that will improve the trigger performance and feel.
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FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE BEST GLOCK TRIGGERS
The best Glock trigger is ultimately going to come down to you, the user. The amount of pre-travel, pull weight, budget, and desire for personal aesthetics will be the determining factor.
If you want a solid upgrade, but want to maintain that Glock reliability, the Glock Performance trigger or Apex Enhancement Trigger are great options. They are widely used and can be trusted by law enforcement and good ole boys alike.
If you’re looking for something for competition shooting, the Timney Alpha Series is the best place to start. If you just want to improve the look of your trigger without breaking the bank, we’d recommend you look at Tyrant CNC I.T.T.S. triggers. They have a great look and are easy to install.
What Glock trigger do you prefer? What have you found to be the most useful? Let us know in the comments.
Justin Trump is the managing editor and owner of CAT Outdoors. The son of a Vietnam veteran, he’s an avid gun enthusiast and 2A advocate. He holds two firearm patents for the CAT M4 and Talon tools. When not managing CAT Outdoors, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, rooting for Michigan sports teams, and serving his church.
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