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Someone told me . . . . . "
Here is a brief history of the AI/XTSP Competition Trigger. There is a persistent belief that AI Comp triggers are unreliable, and this prompted me this morning to review our RGA (return goods authorization) Log. We track 100% of AI products that are returned for service or repair for all reasons. I will include the RGA data in the discussion below.
2017 - AINA collaborated with XTSP to develop a competition trigger for those owners who felt they could not be competitive with the factory trigger. The Competition Trigger was to be a replacement for the AI factory trigger in all models except the AT which featured a different housing design.
2018 - The first article sample of the Competition trigger is built and started undergoing testing. (Note the fixed blade shoe)
View attachment 8108448 - Comp triggers started shipping to our distributors in mid-2018. The production comp trigger featured the AI adjustable trigger shoe.
- These triggers were set to about 1.25 lbs pull weight and all adjustments were accessible to the user.
- RGA entries in 2018 for returned comp trigger =
4 total and 1 for an AXMC trigger. In all cases the "Corrective Action" notes indicate these tirggers were grossly out of adjustment by the end user.
2019 - RGA entries for comp triggers =
7 total. Of the 7, one was never sent in for service. The remaining 6 include notes for excessive dirt, oil, debris including a small rock, and gross incorrect user adjustments.
- RGA entries for AI triggers = 5 total with one of these being a worn safety cam that was replaced, the remainder were user adjusted very poorly.
2020 - By the end of 2020 we had shipped hundreds of comp triggers, and we would naturally expect an increase in service contacts.
- RGA entries for comp triggers =
10 total. Of these 10, one was sent back to XTSP for evaluation. One customer was complaining about material blocking the sear adjustments (we had made the decision to restrict access to these adjustments after earlier experience with returned triggers), and the remainder were extremely dirty and poorly adjusted by the users.
- Two AI triggers came back in 2020 with extreme dirt and poor user adjustments.
2021 - Things calmed down a lot with the application of compound to restrict access to the sear adjustments.
- RGA entries for comp triggers =
2 total. One was readjusted to correct specifications, and one returned to XTSP for evaluation.
- RGA entries for AXSR triggers =
2 total. On had a lose trigger shoe causing restriction of motion on the trigger sweep. The other was user adjusted to the point of inoperability.
2022 - RGA entries for comp triggers =
4 total. All four of these triggers were out of AT-X, which were shipping in large quantities in 2022 and they were all returned to XTSP for evaluation for reasons I will discuss below.
- In 2022 we had one AX ELR come back for a trigger problem and we replaced the trigger in that rifle (AI trigger), and one AI trigger that turned out the rifle was burned up in a fire. For some reason the owner though we should warranty that trigger!
** I got a trigger back from a AT-X rifle that was purchased by Chris Way and came back by way of MHSA. This did not end up in the RGA log as it had been modified (not by Chris) such that it could no longer be repaired to original specification.
2023 - RGA entries for comp triggers =
8 total so far. One of the eight entries was not returned by the owner. Four are noted to be extremely dirty and oily. These were cleaned and checked. Three were returned to XTSP for evaluation. In these cases the customer is provided a new trigger and XTSP corrects or replaces the trigger to AINA.
What we have learned on the Comp Trigger Journey: I mentioned above that we made the decision to apply a compound to block access to the sear adjustment screws. This doesn't mean that a determined owner can't eventually defeat it, but we will absolutely know if this happens.
COVID, Supply Chain and Labor Challenges: With the launch of the AT-X with the comp trigger as standard equipment, we saw an uptick in issues with the comp triggers. This prompted an investigation that started with Chris Way's rifle. The following issues were identified and corrective measures were implemented.
- Upper sear reset spring had been substitued for a spring with a different surface coating. This was due to the inability of the supplier to provide the original specification spring during the COVID madness.
- Reset force (related to the above spring) was deemed to marginal and the reset spring from the AXSR trigger was substituted. The AXSR trigger is a variant of the comp trigger and has a higher force reset spring. The AXSR also has a higher force firing pin spring (hold this thought). The AXSR reset spring has a wire diameter of .024" while the original AT-X/Comp reset spring as a wire diameter of .020".
- Surfaces finishes on the sear engagement surfaces were not sufficiently smooth and resulted in abnormally high friction during the reset stage of operation.
- Machined surfaces on the housing were not of the same quality as the early comp triggers. This did not degrade the performance of the trigger, but it was not comparable to the early housings.
- During SAAMI standard testing at ADG in 2019, it was recommended to add a tip radius to the upper sear lever. This feature was never changed.
In isolation, none of these items would cause significant issue, but in combination this could result in sub-optimal performance. I began to experiment with triggers we had on hand in our own comp rifles and taking some production triggers apart for inspection and rework. All of the activity was done in continuous communication and consultation with XTSP and ADG.
- Sear surfaces were lapped with 1000 grit plates which dramatically improved the finish and friction.
- A radius was added to the tip of the upper sear similar to that recommended by ADG. This further reduced friction and aided reset reliability.
- Parts exhibiting poor machining were lapped to remove burrs and improve surface finishes.
- Reset springs were replaced with higher force springs.
During the latter half or 2022 these measures were implemented in the production triggers, and everything was great except for one thing. In a small number of AT-X rifles the larger .024" reset spring (much higher force vs the .020" spring) would stop the firing pin from releasing. The firing pin spring on the AT-X is a lower force spring vs the AXSR and in instances where tolerances all line up this can result in failure to fire. We have settled on a .022" reset spring and this has provided complete reliability.
To recap, in the past five years we have shipped either as replacements or as standard equipment in the AT-X several thousand comp triggers.
Including Chris Way's trigger we have had
38 comp triggers returned for all reasons.
This represents less than 1% of production, but we want that percentage reduced as close to zero as possible.
In the same time period we have had 10 AI triggers returned, and 3 AXSR triggers for all reasons.
I get out with Team AI and shoot a fair number of matches every year, and I would venture to say that the reliability of the AI/XTSP comp trigger is better than that of any of the popular aftermarket triggers for the Rem/clone actions. When you buy an AI you also benefit from support from the manufacturer, and I don't think any company stands behind it's products like we do.
There are currently
ZERO triggers at AINA awaiting service.
-Scott
www.milehighshooting.com 
www.snipershide.com 
