I have been wanting to put a drop in trigger in my Glock 19 and finally found what I wanted! First off I use this gun for target shooting, home defence, and I'm planning on carrying this gun! Then I heard that it could bring up legal issues if I used this gun modified in a self defence situation! What that sucks! Any info would be greatly app.
I think:
1) it would depend on what trigger you put in---you need something completely reliable that doesn't remove or negate any of the safeties,
2) the glock trigger can only be made so good---in the end, unless you spend several hundred dollars on gunsmith work, it'll still be 3-4 pounds--it'll just feel crisper and slightly lighter, and the really light ones aren't reliable with all types of ammo (see #1),
3) from a legal perspective, the changes in the trigger won't be visible externally, and it isn't like you'd be advertising it,
4) simply putting in a minus connector, and polishing up the parts make a huge difference right there, and lastly,
5) doing #4 and simply dryfiring it a lot will smooth it out nicely, along with the added bonus of that practice making you better.
Is there a particular reason why you wanted a drop-in trigger? If you just want a better feeling pull, do #4 and #5. If you really need a drop-in trigger for some reason, bear in mind #1-3. (And don't buy the Haley Skimmer trigger unless they've redesigned it to not negate one of the safeties.)
There are a number of good aftermarket trigger assemblies for Glocks out there. However, those are the ones marketed for competition. The ones advertised as "carry triggers" aren't necessarily that much different than the factory trigger (well, least the ones before they started putting in the "dot" connector). They generally don't reduce the pull, and while they are smoother, you can do that on your own with some polish and some practice.
With respect to "legal issues," I don't see much of a problem with aftermarket triggers, IF you remember #1 and #3.
If you had wanted a GOOD trigger, you probably should have gotten an M&P with Apex parts, or a 1911.
(Says the guy who uses Glocks in competition and carry.)
What trigger were you thinking about? What made you really want to use an aftermarket trigger?
GSD said:
Most instructors I know will recommend you DO NOT modify a carry firearm beyond perhaps night sights and an extended slide/safety.
I'd agree with that, but mostly for reliability's sake. Good sights, controls where/how you can reach them easily, and trigger work as necessary for reliability and control. (In other words, a 9-pound stock trigger _should_ be worked on in this day and age, in my opinion. There is no reason to handicap yourself with a poor trigger when good reliable triggers are available. However, there is a limit to the amount of work that should be done on striker-fired guns before reliability starts to be affected.)
That's just me, though.
(Most guns don't NEED much in the way of modifications for anything outside of high-level competition.)