The drop-in trigger kerfuffle of last year all but halted the flood of new drop-in triggers for the MSR platform. Some companies scrapped their plans for new triggers. Others, like James Madison Tactical (JMT) kept pushing on, determined to see their original design (not a re-brand of another trigger) become a commercial reality . . .
In late 2016 JMT released their first premium single stage drop-in trigger for the MSR/AR-15 platform, the Saber. I remember Rainier Arms offered the trigger at the promotional price of $89 – a hell of a deal. I know a few folks who bought the trigger blindly at that price and they’re quite happy. But even without a sale tag, the trigger comes in at a bargain price of just $99.95 MSRP.
JMT adamantly advises the use of anti-rotation pins. To promote this practice, the Saber now ships with a set of pins and an Allen key. Keep in mind, it helps to have a second 1/64-inch hex key when installing the pins and be sure to use blue thread locker.
In-hand, it was tough to come to terms with the fact that I was holding a sub-$100 drop-in. At that price you won’t find many critical firearm components with machining as nice as the Sabers’, let alone an entire trigger pack. The guys at JMT come from the aerospace industry and the required level of attention to detail and quality shine through with this trigger – both figuratively and literally.
JMT’s “signature” metallic silver anodized aluminum housing snuggly contains all components. The hammer, disconnector, and Sabretooth tiger-esque skeletonized trigger shoe are precision-cut 17-4, super-shiny stainless steel specimens of premium CNC/EDM machining.
The trigger shoe’s design not only helps save weight (3.456 oz. without pins), it feels fantastic. Sporting a vertically convex contact surface and precision edges, the trigger finds your finger faster and lets you know its boundaries without biting.
Before installation, I sent the trigger to Jeremy S. for due diligence with the Dvorak TriggerScan, which produces a graphical representation of the mechanics of the trigger. If you’ve seen Jeremy’s highly-popular AR-15 Drop-in Trigger Rounds-up, you’re already familiar with the format. If you haven’t, check it out or you’re missing out.
As you can see above, the TriggerScan graph for the Saber depicts characteristics of a quality trigger. The user’s experience with the trigger will begin with rock-solid, absolute-zero take-up reminiscent of the highest-quality triggers. With 3.66 pounds of pull by way of the barely noticeable 0.05 inches of glassy creep, the Saber rapidly rolls-over and breaks very crisply. The trigger’s over-travel was recorded at a very respectable 0.03 inches, and may well be the one of only a few areas JMT could improve on their design.
Admittedly, I have a sensitive trigger finger. During reset I felt something I hadn’t felt in any other drop-in. At first I mistook it for a “sticky” or slow reset, which can be caused by the tension screw backing out. And after talking to JMT and trying several other Sabers, I was unable to put my finger on what I was experiencing. Finally, after comparing the TriggerScan to Jeremy’s library of graphs, I have my answer.
All but one graph I compared the Saber to showed reset points well after their break point. The JMT Saber, however, is the only trigger with its reset point very close to its break point. For the record, it’s slightly after the break point (distance indicated in red in image above). So I believe what I was feeling was the later than “normal” reset.
So is this good or bad? I believe this is a great characteristic! Closer distance between break and reset points, combined with zero take-up and short creep is an excellent recipe for super-fast shooting. The trade-off? Over-travel really matters. So, just like with any trigger, it may take some time at the range to dial-in the correct muscle memory to beat that slight over-travel. On paper, however, the JMT Saber is an excellent prospect for, say, 3-gun or that bucket-list helicopter hog hunt rifle.
What’s more; because Jeremy has built that nice library of TriggerProfiles, we can overlay them against other triggers on the market.
A popular competitor in the AR-15 drop-in marketplace is the CMC Single Stage trigger (red line in graph above). When we overlay the JMT and CMC TriggerScans, the differences become crystal clear. The CMC breaks with less applied force, but has more creep. The Saber tops the CMC at the starting line and also breaks the finish line first. Noticeably, the Saber requires increased force throughout the majority of its short creep, while the CMC hits its stride early and coasts downhill to its break point.
When we look at the Saber versus the ultra-premium Elftmann Match trigger ($259 MSRP, red line in graph above), they nearly match each other step-for-step out of the blocks, which is impressive. The Elftmann finishes the race before the Saber can even break, but JMT’s trigger passes the line just three-hundredths of an inch later. That’s darn good for a trigger that costs a little more than a third of the price of one of the best drop-ins on the market.
To date, I have upwards of five hundred rounds downrange across five different Saber triggers in five different builds – three friend’s firearms and two of my own. My experience with the trigger has been pleasantly consistent and impressive. Each of the five triggers exhibited the characteristics depicted in the TriggerScan graphs; zero take-up, no grit just a smooth roll-to-break, and near break-point reset after minuscule over-travel.
JMT has leveraged their aerospace industry expertise to create a fast, reliable performance trigger at a price that is tough to pass up. After talking to the guys at JMT for the past half-year, it is strongly apparent that they are dedicated to continually improving their current products while developing new ones. I am happy to enjoy the Saber while I wait to see what they put out next.
Specifications: JMT Saber Single Stage Drop-in Trigger
Price as reviewed (one trigger shoe only): $99.95 MSRP
Ratings (out of five stars):
Ease of Installation: * * * * *
The Saber has fit well into every lower receiver I have tried it in. I have encountered zero issues with regard to pinhole alignment. Although anti-rotation pins are recommended, the set screw installation option works just as well.
Design: * * * * *
With a near-saturated drop-in trigger market there wasn’t a lot of room for innovation when JMT brought the Saber to the party. Yet, they delivered a high-quality trigger design that exhibits an outstanding balance of performance features and price, while closing the gap between the break and reset point.
Performance: * * * * *
Zero take-up. Minimal, but glass-smooth creep. Reset point just after break point. The JMT Saber’s performance plainly outpaces its price tag.
Trigger Shoe: * * * * *
The skeletonized sabretooth-style trigger shoe is top-notch and a great marriage of function, aesthetics, and weight-saving measures. It is extremely well-machined and finished. The convex face of the trigger is very comfortable.
Overall: * * * * *
The JMT Saber single stage drop-in trigger is a performance trigger at a bargain price, wrapped in a sharp aesthetic. This trigger will remain on my list of go-to triggers for builds of any type. It is definitely worth a look (and feel) for your next AR-15/MSR/PDW project.
Re blue thread locker … As some companies differ in their color coding, when you say “blue” do you mean low, high, or Harley strength?
(I’d presume low, based on the location and size of the fastener, but better to ask etc.)
“Blue” generally refers to Loctite 242. It resists loosening, but can still be removed with normal tools, not requiring heat.
blue = temporary. Removable via the normal disassembly process and without heat, etc…
Thanks, Jeremy S. and kevin! Yes, I am referring to non-permanent thread locker. Loctite formula 242 is what I currently use.
Where’s this in comparison to the ALG ACT? That’s been my go-to recommendation for a trigger replacement for the under $100 trigger crowd
James, thanks for the comparison request! I believe Jeremy S.’s library of TriggerScans only includes drop-in triggers at this time.
Jeremy S. – Are you collecting TriggerScan data on triggers other than drop-ins? Happen to have the ALG ACT on file?
I’m slowly starting the work on doing a component trigger (standard AR ones comprised of multiple, separate pieces held in place by the trigger and hammer pins) round-up, yes. Have only scanned a few so far, but one of them does happen to be the ALG ACT. CLICK HERE to see it, but note that the scale is different from the ones in Conner’s post here! The ALG ACT takes about 0.065″ before it breaks while the JMT takes about 0.056″, and the pull weight is about 5.94 lbs to the JMT’s 3.68 lbs. The ALG ACT is actually a fairly spectacular component trigger. Maybe a little on the heavy side, but the lack of creep and the crispness of it are very very good.
Well, how about that – excellent! Thanks, Jeremy!
Will you be able to include the Jard ARJ with 1.5# spring in the next trigger round-up? It’s an incredible trigger for the price. I’ve tried the ACT style Nickel-teflon coated triggers w/regular and JP yellow springs along with the Geissele SD-E and prefer the Jard to both.
http://www.jardinc.com/jard-arj-trigger/
Spring 1012 – http://www.jardinc.com/springs/
http://imgur.com/a/1ZyDV
Midways website says that the ACT trigger comes with two springs, one @ 6lbs and one @ 4.5lbs. It seems to me that this fact makes that trigger a screaming deal.
Great review, thanks!
Gotta say…
1) The 4th Picture above is the one (angle view) that’s going to sell me on a trigger. Not sure why. But it’s definitely better marketing to my brain, by a lot.
2) Again, CAN I TAKE IT TO WAR??? TTAG IS quickly also making me into drop-in trigger fan, BUT (i know, there’s a but) we talk about prepper quality and qualification on all the stuff that’s meant to, or seems to warrant it, SO if SHTF, am I going to miss my ~ reliable mil-spec if I can “never go home again@?
Thanks for the feedback, Joe R.! Glad to hear you enjoyed the review and that TTAG’s continued coverage of drop-in triggers is opening up your list of options.
In terms of, “Taking it to war,” if I understand correctly what you’re driving at, you’re asking about its durability in adverse conditions. So far this drop-in seem so be solid as a rock. It is extremely well-built with zero slop anywhere in the assembled unit. I have not done any “torture” testing on this unit (dirt, sand, etc.) but I will be happy to post follow-up comments if get the chance to put the trigger through those types of conditions in the near future.
Thanks again, I think everyone (even, or especially, all the purposeful un-snobs out there that say they don’t, or the “purists” who’d say “not on my daddy’s AR” or “not on the M-16 I carried in Iraq” [of which I’m one – of those types]) would appreciate a better trigger (or be/do/shoot better with one) BUT we gotta be able to IGNORE it like we do every single other one we have. We can’t train-up to a chem-milled two stage comp trigger (to make it ‘old hat’) while wondering what to do when the Ferrari trigger needs a new fan belt (or worse, a clutch). So, ya, thanks, an endurance test would be good, a torture test ??? Don’t know. I like Geiselle’s (claims ?) that they’re making theirs (some models) for SOCOM operators, and the hi-speed dudes definitely do not tolerate bad kit, but if they abuse it they draw another for the next mission.
I want a better trigger, I am not a huge fan of the tick-fart-to-break-the-shot low pound-pulls that the OP keeps hunting, but I first noticed the bettererness of a CMMG set in a build, and it made me take an Arkansas stone to every exposed edge-of-trigger material I own. I like the idea of a binary trigger, but don’t want to have to start over if we get full auto ban reapeal (I’ll pause for the sniggering to die down).
The above review only took a short skid when the OP mentioned that the body of the trigger group was Aluminum, and I was immediately turned off, until I remembered that the whole damn lower is usually aluminum, so, ok, but do I need to have three spares in my pocket? for the Judge Dredd Long Walk? I want to be able to have St. Peter ask me if I’d like to rack my weapon for St. Michael the armorer to “look it over”, when I die of old age, and me just have to say, ‘Nope, thank you Sir, I’m good, but I will take one of those slings’. Again, good review, I know it’s just a trigger review, but ANY range report is welcome. I suffer from serious RDR addiction.
that was a really long reply to say absolutely nothing of consequence.. hell only half of it made any sense.
It’s cool the way their anti-rotation pins have that cutout to support the BAD lever.
For my part, I went with the POF 4.5# single-stage trigger for my AR, and I’ve been fairly happy with it. If this had been around at the time I purchased, though, I might have gone with that.
If I build another AR, I’m almost certainly going to do some manner of two-stage doohickey, though, for precision 6.5Grendel type stuff, though.
Is it just me or does anyone else think the JMT logo on the trigger looks like they ripped off Thundercats….dating myself by that comment of course.
Yup. I was thinking that too
I was thinking about how closely the JMT logo matches Floyd Mayweather’s TMT.
This trigger looks like a very good deal. It is a handsome unit as well. Nicely done. I will pick one of these up for my next build for sure.
How is this compared to the velocity 3 lb drop in trigger?
I missed the “drop-in trigger kerfuffle” last year. Does this mean I better buy any drop-ins I want ASAP, pending the Mossberg suit resolution? Or should I just not worry about it?
I wouldn’t worry about it. Even if Mossy wins, which doesn’t look likely the last time I checked, worst case is companies will have to pay a licensing fee to Mossy for every trigger they manufacture. I don’t believe that’s likely to be high enough to cause any drop-in trigger makers to shut down shop. I suppose it could raise the prices a few bucks. But, again, due to prior art and various other things, the lawsuit doesn’t look good for Mossberg.
Of what kerfuffle do you speak?
There mus be a TTAG article on such a kerfuffle.
Oh, I guess you mean this kerfuffle.
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/?s=drop-in+trigger
The “drop-in trigger kerfuffle” part of “The drop-in trigger kerfuffle of last year” is a hyperlink to the primary article… 😉
I have a good amount of take up on my JMT Saber trigger. It’s bothers me enough to have relegated it to an AR-22 build and I’m actively looking to replace it even in that application. The review sample may indeed have “zero take-up”, but I’m not convinced there is enough manufacturing consistency with these triggers. I wouldn’t buy one again. For a budget trigger I’d still choose the Rise, POF, or Velocity triggers.
Erik – It does sound like the trigger you have is out of spec. I’ve been tried or own about eight Sabers and none of them had any take-up. I could call JMT and explain the issue; they have very good customer service.
Hi Connor – I’ll do that. I’ve seen reports from other purchaser’s of the same behavior however, so I just assumed it was normal behavior for the trigger. I don’t know what their warranty term is, but I bought mine from Brownells 5 months ago.
Glad to see your truthful comment Erik, my JMT has no travel aside from when the trigger breaks. My problem has been repeated light strikes. Running it in three Roger AR556, factory buffer and spring. It ran better
With the RB5000 hydronic buffer and factory spring. Best results have been with the gies…. super24 braided
December recoil spring and the RB5000. Still shot 16 was a light strike. I have yet to run the trigger with the super24 and it’s h1 buffer. It may not be corrected without adding weight to the hammer. The factory hammer spring has one more coil per side than the JMT.
If I have so much as one light strike than the trigger is junk!!!
My JMT trigger suddenly began “double tapping” more and more frequently at my last session to the range. I have no idea what is going on with it yet, but I have heard of others doing the same thing. I may have to scrap it for a more reliable system.
I keep reading this on a couple of sites…and I’m curious. Anyone have any thoughts about external variables causing this? My wife was shooting a highly reliable 9mm pistol. One I’ve shot and shot and never had FTF with…she would fire a shot, and I’d have to clear the next round. She’d fire another, same deal…I’d clear it, fire 5 straight, hand it back, and 1 shot, then FTF…her grip was too loose…any chance these auto fires are really just causing bump fire through poor grip?
What did you find about about this? Switched mine from a .308 to my 5.56 and double or triple tap or failure to reset. Can’t trust now.
That’s the Roger AR556, don’t know where the he’ll December came in there you get the idea, no you cannot relie on this trigger to detonate the primers
JMT responded to my first email, but??? Still waiting for a follow up after telling customer service nothing will help their trigger run flawless. YES, I expect my weapon to run flwless.
Well it will have been a week tomorrow since I emailed James Madison Tactical about the trigger. No response.
Compare that to an exchange I had last week with Mission First Tactical to ask them if they sell parts to convert a Restricted State Stock back to a Free State Stock. MFT responded immediately and went over and above by providing me parts without charge when they didn’t have to. I offered to pay for them, but MFT simply wouldn’t hear about it. I received those parts today. That’s why I own five MFT stocks.
Sorry to hear your still waiting for a response. I went to the website, called the number provided. Scott at JMT was more than helpful. However before I go any further, the light strikes I was having was operator error. This Sunday I ran the trigger with a completely different technique; the rifle and trigger ran flawless.
This trigger has some of the tightest tolerances of travel for the reset of the trigger; still with the light pull weight I found it easy to not allow the trigger full return after the break. I believe this led to bolt follow due to operator error. I worked with the trigger being more conscious of my press and release of the trigger to accomplish the desired result.
what I discovered is that the trigger functions without error if the operator dose not cause a malfunction of the trigger reset. Being the reset is so tight the trigger required me to reevaluate my stroke on the release of the trigger allowing for the trigger to fully return so the reset prevented bolt follow mimicking a light strike.
I will let you know of my further testing of this trigger.
As a follow up, I never heard anything back from JMT; they apparently can’t be bothered to respond to emails. I ended up taking the trigger off and in good conscience couldn’t sell it to someone else. It’s sitting in a box in the original packaging since I can’t bring myself to essentially throw away $100, but that is really what I did by buying it in the first place. The thing was horrible…at least 3mm of creep on the trigger. The only positive thing is that I’ve managed to help several others avoid making the same mistake simply by letting them try this ghastly device.
Fucking Ruger, not roger
JMT triggers are fantastic. on AR 9mm
I have 1 on a CMMG Upper/lower/ CMMG BCG on a 9mm AR
Also on a COLT Upper/Lower with a Kaw Valley BCG 9mm AR.
Even I was told that may not work.
Well they work Perfect, even try some rds made with Magtec Primers (hard) and they
went BUM…, but they may not work on some other ono mil spec AR.
Crisp pull and amazing reset, Will buy more for my next built.
Connor or Jeremy: Can you post up an overlay of the Saber and Rise RA-140? Since they are the only real competitors in their budget price range? I have the RA-140 and trying to decide whether to get another or try the JMT for $5 and a cooler trigger profile!! lol
Installed mine today. Very disappointed. 4.11lb’s according to my LYMAN TRIGGER GAUGE is heaver than I expected.
I got one @ the $89 show price last year. I figured a sub $100 drop in would be hit or miss. I put it a budget AR-9 I was building and was pleasantly surprised. After about 500 rounds I got online and bought another one for a future build but it might find it’s way into my six8 to replace the Geissele.
My only complaint is one of the screws on the anti-rotation pins has disappeared. Does anybody know what the thread pitch and size is?
Great to hear it’s been working out for you! Well, except for the loss of the screw. Did you use blue (non-permanent) thread locker?
I believe the screw has 40 tpi but I’m not 100% certain. I’d give them a call or quick email…they may just send you a replacement. If you have a gauge handy pull one of the other screws out and measure it.
I emailed them after my post. The screws came with the dried blue locktite and I thought that would be enough. I pulled a screw from my extra trigger that I have. I need to replace the screw in my trigger kit for an upcoming build.
The screw is too small for my screw gauge. My other option is to take one of the pins out of my new trigger and hit the hardware store.
Love my JMT!
JMT Saber Single Stage 3.5 Lbs Drop In Match Trigger:
Can’t say enough about the way these are made, perform and last. Over the past three years I have put them in my AR10 (308), AR15 (223 Wylde), AR15 (6.5 Grendle) and AR15 (300AAC) and can tell you my shooting has been controlled, comfortable and perfected to the point of “Trigger Automation”. If JMT made one for my 6.5 Creed PCM it would be in that too.
I have a JMT trigger and it sucks it follows the bolt shut and lite primer strikes. Buy a Geissele and never worry about it.
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