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While I still haven’t completed the AR-15 drop-in trigger shootout, I did round up all of the available options months ago and have played with each of them — just not enough yet for final reviews and conclusions. It’s conceivable a tie for first place could come out of this, but I’ll go ahead and spoil some of the surprise by disclosing that a first place tie is likely the worst the ELF AR-15 trigger, reviewed here, will do. Anyway, ELF AK-47 / AK-74 triggers just began shipping, and if they’re anything like the AR units they’re sure to be as crisp and precise as can be. Press release and more photos to follow. . .

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ELF AK- 47 Drop-in Trigger

The ELF Drop-In AK-47 Trigger has been built for outstanding performance in the punishing AK-47 platform. The only AK-47 trigger using aerospace grade sealed bearings, making for an incredibly smooth and fast trigger pull. Pull weight is adjustable by swapping trigger springs or adding spacers.

A second-to-none AK-47 drop-in trigger system that is strong and light, made of wire EDM machined, hardened A2 tool steel and lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum. Installation can be done in minutes using your AK’s original hammer and trigger pins. The AK trigger may be ordered with a curved or straight shoe.

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One look at the MASSIVE 3/8” wide hammer and disconnector and you know this is a serious upgrade for your AK Rifle. If you are looking for the finest adjustable trigger for your AK-47 or AK-74 platform, this is the trigger system for you.

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Product Description

  • Fits most AK platforms(we haven’t found any it doesn’t fit, but we all know how much AK
    platforms can vary. Some fitting may be required…it’s an AK)
  • Absolutely Drop-Safe regardless of pull-weight
  • Factory set Pull weight is approximately 50% lighter than that of a standard AK-47 trigger,
    providing a great combination of speed and accuracy
  • Adjustable from 4lbs to 5lbs by swapping trigger springs and spacers(outside of receiver)
  • Exclusive Double-Double wound hammer spring ensures proper ignition of the hardest primers
  • Very short pull and reset allows for rapid follow up shots and greater accuracy
  • Sturdy trigger assembly designed for rugged, trouble-free use; Made of lightweight
    aircraft-grade aluminum and hardened steel
  • Unique design of disconnector allows full 3/8” width eliminating possibility of wear and double-firing
  • High performance trigger and hammer sealed bearings for smoother and faster firing
  • 100% made in America with a Lifetime Guarantee!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbYWqrAOb_o

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

32 COMMENTS

  3. Elftmann makes the trigger for the K&M M17 bullpup, which is very sweet. I got one for an AR build and so far think it’s great too.

    I think I actually want to shoot my AK at least once before touching anything on it (been way too busy lately) but this just went onto the “highly likely” upgrade list.

  4. I would have to feel for myself how it felt before even considering plunking down the change for one. I can attest that the double hook trigger that came on my milled Arsenal deplorably sucked. It had to be the worst trigger I ever felt. A person has to recognize that it is a battle rifle and was designed to function in the worst of the worst conditions and then some. But surely a happy medium exists between horrid and 100% reliable and acceptable and 100% reliable. The answer to horrid, as it is for many folks was to drop in a single hook G2 purchased from the fine folks at Rifle Dynamics who took the time to pre tune it to there own SAM7R they had at their shop in Vegas. The improvement was night and day.

    The Kalashnikov was designed to be dragged through the mud, ran over, abused and still function. When you start introducing trigger components with precision roller bearings, I have to question that.

    If these guys can make a living selling those things and get their slice of the American dream pie, go get em tiger and best of luck.

    • I’m not sure most of us are the drag it through the mud, run over it, abuse it type of shooter…

      …but I don’t see a reason why a sealed bearing unit between the hammer / trigger and the pin would be any more likely to be a failure point vs hammer & trigger rotating directly on the pins with all the steel-to-steel friction that entails. If the bearing seized up, you’d be left with a setup that’s functionally identical to the normal setup 😛

      • The same reason I wouldn’t buy a hammer with built in LED lights.
        Arguably, a person is introducing a precision trigger assembly into a firearm that was purposely designed with loose tolerances. There is a reason I bought an AK and not an AR. I wouldn’t put F22 parts on a tank.
        Ultimately I don’t give a hoot what people buy and put on their rifles, load it up with garbage as far as I care.

        However, it would be a cold day that popped the dust cover on my rifle and there is a pretty red anodized aluminum trigger assembly. No thank you.

        http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa416/mlloyd57/SAM7R005.jpg

        • It’s a $295 trigger and this whole concept is tiresome. A Honda Civic is a functional, reliable car but people still spend the money on a BMW because it’s a more enjoyable car to drive and to look at. I think it’s more enjoyable to shoot a gun with a really crisp trigger and I’ve spent plenty of money to make that happen even when the factory trigger is perfectly functional.

    • Mark –
      You have valid points but this thing is built like a tank! As to the precision bearings being a potential weak point, consider this, first of all, the bearings are sealed. Even if somehow they completely locked up, what do you have then – A metal hammer rotating on a metal pin…just like every other trigger in existence. The trigger doesn’t fail, just no longer as smooth or fast.
      -Steve
      Elftmann tactical

      • It may have had the very finest R&D and is a excellent addition to the Kalashnikov. I’ll have to wait until they have gun show at the Fair Grounds and someone has one in a booth so I can love, touch and squeeze it.
        The proof is in the pudding as they say. There are too many products on the market that make false or otherwise outrageous claims, promising revolutionary new products. However, I would certainly be happy to look at one or even put one in my SAM7R-51 rifle and try it. We’ll just see!

  5. Just for the fact that the words “precision” and “Kalashnikov” were used in the same sentence that didn’t reference the wide array of tolerance in rifles makes me question this.

    But if it works I would love to try one and see how it feels.

    • I think somewhere on their site or maybe FB page they mentioned that they’re working on an adapter so it fits in Saigas (don’t recall if all Saigas or just the shotgun versions) and Veprs…

      • My Saiga 5.45x39mm (converted) fits any and all AK triggers, so it must be for the shotguns. I would suspect it fits Vepr rifles just fine as well.

  7. Watched the video – just the fact that they supply a decent trigger pin retainer is a big plus – if you’ve ever fought to get the OEM springs in place, you’d agree.

    I like the ELF trigger in one of my 300 BLK ARs a lot – I still have a couple of AK kits kicking around, and if I build one up, it’s highly likely I’d buy this trigger for it.

    • A friend of mine got a couple of AMD-65 kits for about $100 total back in the day. By the time he got them and showed them to me, TAPCO had raised the price to about $70 each and I wouldn’t pay that for them. I’d gladly give $150 for a couple of them now, and I’d eagerly trade that trigger for four of them.

    • It’s the “Operators” who care only about battle-worthiness. The guy who has fun with his rifle and wants to enjoy a crisp trigger and cool looking parts because he can and because it makes a gun more fun to shoot, so he spends money customizing it with spiffy crap because that’s also a lot of fun, is not a wannabe operator. Reminds me of lots of comments on muzzle brake reviews…stuff along the lines of “brakes are for mall ninjas; I want to see more flash hider reviews.” Like, seriously, the guy who wants noise and fun and firebals and no recoil and cool aesthetics is the mall ninja but the guy who wants to reduce his flash signature so the enemy can’t spot him during night engagements isn’t? 😛

    • Weird, I have a stamped AKM and I shoot under 2MOA easily at 200y. I think that maybe you should stand up from the temple of Eugene Stoner and take a look around. The world is a different place than you have been led to believe.

  13. I can appreciate nice triggers and have them in ARs and other things but I sort of revel in how primitive my AK is.

    I did put a Tapco double hook in it when the original trigger started giving me grief but that’s as far as I’ll go. I like my AK triggers like I like my ladies; cheap and scratchy…

  15. If this is as good as I suspect it may be it’s worth the money. The off-the-shelf AK trigger market has few high-end options. Even Geissele’s recent AK trigger releases were on-the-cheap triggers not comparable to their high-end SSA (and SSA-based) triggers (though one was based on their Super 3-Gun trigger, but it’s niche market among AK users looking for a super light trigger like that). Nowadays there are high-end AKs aplenty. Usually using Tapco G2s, often modified by gunsmiths to improve them. If those are put into the AK by someone who knows what they’re doing they’re fine, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this Elftmann is a bit better (at 10x the cost). And while I’m sure a G2 modified by Rifle Dynamics or Krebs Custom is probably nice, this is a drop-in option that usually won’t require a gunsmith. It’s certainly among the best off-the-shelf options. Not all AK triggers should be catering to the WASR-10 crowd. Really excellent modern AKs sell for thousands of dollars. This would be a good trigger for one of those. Or even a tricked-out mid-tier Arsenal, FIME (SGL importer), or DDI gun. People don’t blink an eye about the sale of expensive triggers by Timney, Geissele, etc. for other guns that cost a thousand bucks. AKs are often chosen as a gun to defend lives, so if I had to choose I think a good trigger for an AK makes more sense than for one for a hunting rifle. But why not have both if you can afford to?

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