New from Tac-Con: User Selectable Single Stage AND Two Stage Trigger

I’ve been out in Phoenix since Monday hanging with a bunch of other new media types and the guys from Tac-Con, manufacturers of triggers that got a bunch of press and notoriety a few months back when they released their 3MR trigger. The 3MR sports a traditional semi-automatic position along with a third mode that featured an extraordinarily short reset allowing very quick follow up shots. They haven’t been sitting around since that release and are now working on a trigger called the 241 (two for one, geddit?). To quote our illustrious and eloquent vice president, “This is a big f*cking deal” . . .

Tac-Con debuted two major triggers at this event. The first, and no doubt more exciting was a drop-in trigger replacement for the AK. It is a fine trigger, and one we’ll be spending some time with in the future. But in my mind, the big news out of Phoenix is the 241. Tac-Con is anticipating having models ready for sale sometime in November. Before I got much further, a little history.

The guys at Tac-Con originally wanted to release a drop in replacement that featured the assisted reset function and the “safe” position. Internally called the 90 degree trigger, it was straightforward and easy to install. I shot one today and it is everything you’re looking for in a fast action trigger. Put it on fire and you have a crisp 4.5 pound trigger pull with a super fast reset that allows you to double tap very quickly. That was the original design intent as well. Unfortunately, Tac-Con has been lumped in with SlideFire and that has given these guys a reputation as a gimmicky, bullet hose enabling, overpriced niche product. To a person, each employee here has told me that all they wanted to be able to do was create a trigger that would allow super fast, controlled follow up shots. And on that note, they’ve succeeded.

From the 90 degree trigger, the timeline and events get a little fuzzy in what happened next. All we know is that after nearly 9 months of development, Tac-Con released what we now know as the 3MR. The 3MR features a single stage mode that Nick declared “okay” in his original review. Switch it to the second firing mode, assisted reset, and you’re rewarded with a very crisp, short reset that allows fast follow up shots, just like the original design spec. You might think they’re overpriced at ~$500, but Tac-Con tells me they’ve sold many thousands of them since their public release earlier this year. You may not have purchased one, but a bunch of sombodies did.

The problem in my mind with the 3MR, and the reason that the 241 is such a big deal is that the 3MR is a two mode trigger that features two similar single stage modes with different reset capabilities. Cool for sure, but for a lot of people, not worth the five bills. The 241 might change your mind. First, Tac-Con has lowered the price so you’re talking about a $395 trigger now instead of a $495 trigger. Second, the 241 features the assisted reset mode that put Tac-Con on the map, but also features a very nice 2 stage mode. Here’s the video of the 2 stage in action.

Its a nice 2 stage trigger, though a bit mushy in the first model I checked out. I addressed that particular issue in more detail in my mid day update. Long story short, Tac-Con is sorting out some coating issues. They swapped out the affected part, and things were much better. I’ve never been a 2 stage trigger guy, but I completely understand why people like them. And I feel that I’ve had enough time shooting to say that this is a fine 2 stage trigger. There’s a very consistent 3.5 pound take up, a wall, and then another pound takes it over the edge. Or at least that’s what my onboard trigger gauge says.  I’ll render a full review when I get one of these installed in my gun, but it feels like a lot of other 4.5 lb. triggers.

For the guy who wants a super fast single stage, and also a nice two stage, this trigger is for you. And who might that be? I’d say anybody competing in an “open” range style 3 gun event. For example, stage 3 of the 2014 Texas multigun. You’ll see that Nick had to engage two targets that were bad breath distance away, then kneel and take shots at 100+ yards away. Nick has lamented these sorts of stages many times before, and for good reason. It is super frustrating to go from close in <50 yard targets that need hits quickly to something far enough away that you need to take your time, watch your breathing, and let the shot break clean. And this sort of stage is just the sort of thing that the 241 excels at. Hose it down in the first portion using that short reset, and then switch off to the two stage for your precision shots.

At ~$400, the 241 isn’t going to be a cheap date, but there’s nothing else like it on the market. You very well might not want to spend that kind of money, and might opt for a less expensive Timney, Hiperfire or Geissele. Those are definitely excellent triggers, and two of them are in my guns right now. But you can’t deny that the 241 definitely fits a niche, and given their success with the 3MR, I imagine they’ll sell a few. We’ve got one on order, and you can be assured that if an extended review yields different results than what I’ve seen at this event, we’ll report on it.