One can agree that triggers are one of the most important parts of a gun, if not the most important. And regardless of whether you are a pro or a beginner, a lot of us can get baffled about which trigger to get.
As you might know, you can find both single-stage and two-stage triggers out there. The latter is what many people use even in combats, as they give you a lighter pull weight and a bit of a safety slack as well.
And when it comes to two-stage triggers, Geissele SSA vs SSA-E is a debate one might often come across. These are undoubtedly some of the finest triggers that you can get, so we are here to help you choose one.
Geissele SSA Review
First up, let’s talk about the SSA. It stands for Super Semi-Automatic, in case you were wondering. As you probably have experienced, a stock trigger is somewhat disappointing in most cases.
The break on it feels somewhat mushy, has quite a bit of creep, and weighs more than what you would expect. Many of them might be pretty decent, but they are not up to the mark of the SSA.
It is a two-stage combat trigger, meaning you get military-grade quality. The first stage has around 3 pounds of weight, while the second one is approximately 1.5 pounds. As you can imagine, it will provide you with a clean and comfortable experience.
In terms of the use case, this product supports rifles such as AR15s and M5 carbines, which are quite common. However, it is not compatible with pistol caliber carbine AR15s or M4s. And it also does not work with Sig MPX or MCX weapons.
The trigger is non-adjustable, meaning that you cannot modify the amount of force that is required to shoot with it. This bit can be a bummer for some people, but the fact that these are pretty lightweight makes up for that
Not just that, as a combat trigger, it needs to be suitable for situations like close quarter battles and mid-range combats. Hence, it is quite forgiving even after being a light trigger. In essence, it does well to make you forget about its non-customizability.
It is also safety certified by the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center, so you do not have to take out word for it. There is one occasional issue, though. In some cases, the hammer spring legs were not assembled in the correct way out of the box.
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Geissele SSA-E Review
Next up, we have a slightly different variant of the SSA, which is the SSA-E (Super Semi-Automated Enhanced) trigger. It is one of the most popular semi-automatic triggers that you can find out in the market.
In terms of the pull weight requirements, this product is very lightweight. The first stage requires around 2.0-2.5 lb. of weight, while the second stage impressively requires a pull weight ranging only from 0.9 to 1.3 lb.
Therefore, to squeeze it all the way, you only need to pull this trigger with approximately 2.9 to 3.8 pounds of force. This feature ensures that the product proves itself worthy with high accuracy.
That, in turn, means that any marksman type rifle can do wonders with a trigger like this. Moreover, the two-stage break that it provides is something that certainly deserves our praise.
The first stage provides you with a smooth and crisp experience, unlike most one-stage triggers with their extended creep. After you have reached the end of the first stage, you get a very light, satisfying, and clean break.
A lot of customers have praised this trigger because of this break. Not just that, a two-stage trigger also ensures a second layer of safety slack for you, which the products with only one stage do not.
This trigger supports weapons like AR15s and AR10s, as expected. The reset is just as fantastic as the break, too. However, it is not adjustable, meaning you cannot modify its necessary pull weight from the stock one.
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Geissele SSA vs SSA-E Comparison
Now that we know all about the two excellent triggers from Geissele, it is time to determine which one you should buy. These products do not differ a lot in price.
While they inherit some of the same things, there are some crucial distinctions. Let’s find out what they are.
Pull Weight
Pull weight is one of the most crucial sides of a semi-automatic trigger. Firstly, the SSA has a total pull weight range of 4.25 – 4.75 pounds. The first stage takes around 2.75 pounds; the second one requires 1.5 – 1.75 pounds.
For the SSA-E, the first stage requires around 2.0 – 2.5 pounds to get to the second stage. At that point, you need about 0.9 – 1.3 pounds to go all the way with it.
Thanks to the lightweight design of the SSA-E, it is a superb choice for purposes such as hunting and target shooting. Hence, if you especially have a marksman rifle, the SSA-E does a better job.
For closer ranges, you could opt for an SSA. These have a slightly heavier pull weight and are more forgiving than the other one. It is suitable for hunting too, as well as law enforcement usage.
The Break
The break of a trigger makes or breaks (pardon the uncreative pun) the experience. A clean and crisp break is paramount to give you the kind of feeling you want while shooting a gun.
Both the SSA and the SSA-E have fantastic-feeling breaks (and impressive resets, too, once you have squeezed the trigger all the way). However, due to their slight differences, there is a distinction.
Thanks to the lower pull weight, the SSA-E seems to have a slightly smoother feeling, and it is incredibly accurate. The SSA, by no means, gives you a bad experience; it just differs due to its properties. With that said, we slightly favor the SSA-E.
Frequently Asked Questions
A lot of it depends on your preference. However, a lighter trigger is usually much smoother and allows you to get tighter groupings.
You can use an AR trigger for a Sig MPX, but it might void the product’s warranty, so be aware of that.
Usually, it is quite the contrary. You will often find that a lighter trigger gives you a more accurate result, as they require less force from your fingers and forearm in general.
If you need a fast action pull without any interference, a single-stage trigger can work well. However, two-stage triggers are lighter and great for high-stress situations with good accuracy.
It most certainly is. Having a better trigger can improve the whole experience, including higher accuracy, less fatigue, and tighter groupings overall.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this discussion helped you end the confusion regarding the debate of Geissele SSA vs SSA-E triggers. As always, a lot of it depends on your rifle and personal preferences. And upon reading the distinctions, you should be able to choose between the two easily.