After a rant I thought I’d post some actual content that is worth reading. I purchase and installed a Glock New York 1 (Known most commonly as the NY1) trigger spring into my 30SF.
For those who aren’t familiar with Glock pistols or their various factory trigger the NY1 spring replaces the standard s-shaped trigger spring in Glock pistols. It does two things. First is makes the trigger pull more consistent. But more importantly, in my case, it increases the trigger pull weight. A stock Glock trigger pull is about 5.5 pounds depending on where you measure it. Installing the NY1 spring bumps that weight to roughly 8 pounds.
Increasing the trigger pull weight may seem strange, most people try to lighten their trigger. For those of you who read my previous post Two Schools of Carry Permit Holders you probably already know why I dropped in the NY1 trigger. For those who didn’t the reason is to avoid a charge of accidental discharge in a self defense situation.
I like taking advice from people who have experience and knowledge greater than mine (In other words almost everybody). I’m reading Combat Handgunnery by Massad Ayoob. In the beginning on the book he talks about various popular guns. In the section about Glock pistols he mentions he has and often carries at Glock 30 with the NY1 trigger spring in it. The justification made sense to me. It increases the weight of the trigger pull to such a point that a lawyer is going to have a hard time claiming you accidentally shot a person.
This is an argument that has been used before when a police officer had to use his gun in self defense. In the case the officer was accused of pulling back the hammer of his revolver making the trigger pull weight almost nothing. The lawyer then continued to argue that the police officer most likely didn’t mean to pull the trigger but accidentally set it off during the excitement.
Well I really don’t want that kind of trouble. Increasing the trigger weight isn’t a problem for me either. My first handgun was a Smith and Wesson 686 .357 magnum. Although it has a hammer I almost always shot it in double action. Likewise my Ruger LCP is double action only. I’m used to heavy triggers and my accuracy (What little I have) isn’t hampered by them. So long as the trigger is consistent I’m pretty much set.
Installation of the trigger also reaffirmed how simple Glock pistols are. I’m not going to write out how to do it because it’s something best put in video form. Luckily Eric Shelton from the Handgun Podcast already made a video about doing exactly this. So here it is:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p52Z75UAKC8]
Anyways with the NY1 trigger spring installed there is a noticeable difference. The trigger is heavier and requires more force. With that said it’s still comfortable to pull back. I think increasing the weight much further wouldn’t gain much benefit as the NY1 trigger spring adds enough weight where I feel a negligent discharge is doing to be unlikely. Furthermore the NY1 trigger spring is built heavier than the factory spring (Which is just a spring) so it will probably last longer. Overall it’s a good, cheap (The part is under $3.00), and easy modification to make.
The trigger also lacks the various pull weight. The factory Glock trigger seems to get heavier as you’re pulling it back (I’m not referring to the slack at the beginning of the pull but when the trigger starts exerting pressure). I know quite a few people put in a NY1 trigger spring with a 3.5 pound connector to gain a more consistent trigger without increasing the weight. I can definitely see why that is done, although I don’t see the gain being worth the cost of the 3.5 pound connector (Which is actually fairly expensive for a Glock trigger part).
I also tried the NY1 trigger spring in live fire, as well as the NY2 trigger spring in dry fire. First off, the NY2 is much too heavy for me.
Secondly, my Glocks wear the factory trigger kits, normal connector and S-coil trigger spring.
In my experience, I found that the NY1 was very repeatable, but also much heavier. I didn’t like the fact that the NY1 spring does not hook onto or connect with the trigger bar. This seemed to introduce some additional over-travel in the trigger. If you look at the geometry of the springs, the S-coil spring actually helps you pull the trigger. In other words, it lightens the trigger. (That may be why it seems like the trigger pull gets heavier as you pull: the S-coil spring helps at the start of the pull, but by the end, it has fully compressed and all of the additional motion is from your finger.) The NY1 & NY2 springs act against the trigger’s motion.
As I stated, all of my Glock triggers are in factory condition. I understand the desire to increase the trigger weight, but I don’t think that an overzealous DA will be able to make much hay if you don’t alter the gun’s trigger (in either direction).
P.S. Check on eBay for factory Glock 3.5# connectors at a reasonable price.
Yeah Glock does approve the standard trigger for defensive use. Personally I want something a bit heavier to ensure I don’t accidentally do something stupid.
I feel the NY1 spring gives enough resistance where even in a fight or flight situation I’d know if I was or wasn’t pulling on the trigger. The stock trigger would probably be fine as it’s heavy enough but this is one of those things I figured I’d gain no detriment (As far as shootability) and would gain a little piece of mind.
Burg we tell our students to NOT modify the trigger of their carry gun in ANYWAY. That includes making it heavier. If you ever found yourself in court having, god forbid, to defend yourself the people judging you are not gun savvy folks. I think a good lawyer would be able to make a case either way. The issue is that YOU modified the the trigger, not that you made it lighter or heavier. In all likely hood a prosecutor wouldn’t really give a rats ass, but in a civil suit I could see them trying to use this against you. Do you have any case history to the contrary? If so I would be very happy to include it in my course. This is of course all academic…
If you are increasing the trigger pull for the practical purpose of preventing an AD/ND during an adrenaline dump then that of course trumps any legal nonsense IMHO.
Oh and excellent write up as per usual.
In this case I so far haven’t found any case material involving trigger modifications other than where the user either lightened the trigger or disabled a safety device in the process of doing a trigger job.
The trigger advice originates from various information mostly provided by Massad Ayoob. From what he’s stated when a self defense case comes up where the prosecutor attempts to blame the firearm owner over trigger modifications they will bring in a manufacturer engineer. Once brought in they will ask the engineer whether the trigger modification was a factory approved option. The case can then depend on wether the engineer says the option is approved or not.
Glock does approve the installation of an NY1 trigger spring with either the stock 5.5 lbs. connector or the 3.5 lbs connection for defensive use. Of course I’ve openly admitted to performing the installation myself but it could be easily stated the gun was order that way from Glock. A bad choice on my behalf for a court case but also something people should note, you can get the trigger setup this way from the factory. Likewise any Glock certified armoer can do it for you. But in the end the reason I don’t think it’s too big of an issue (Although I could be wrong) is because the trigger job isn’t so much a trigger job as it is taking out on factory part and replacing it with another factory part.
Either way your advice is certainly the most sound. Never touch the trigger in a defensive gun. Let the factory do it. If they don’t approve it for defensive use they will state it.
My reasoning for increasing the trigger weight is mostly to avoid a negligent discharge during a potential self defense situation. The last thing I want to do is negligently blast somebody because my fine motor skills dropped to that of a one year old’s with the muscle development of an adult.
The NY1 spring was introduced by Glock specifically for the police officers in New York. Just like explaining why we use premium hollow point ammunition in our carry guns because that is what the Police Departments (who have spent beaucoup dollars researching and finding the best ammo available), configuring your carry trigger exactly the same way police duty weapons are is wise. If Massad Ayoob can recommend an NY1 spring-that’s good enough for me.
I’ve installed the NY1 and a 3.5lb trigger in my G26 and here’s the result IMHO:
1) 6.5lb consistent trigger pull
2) Crisp Reset
3) Trigger reset actually “pushes” the trigger forward, so you are more aware of the reset with less effort
4) To “field Strip the Glock,” you need to pull the trigger slightly to release the slide, because the trigger is being pushed slightly forward by the NY1 trigger spring or the Slide Back Plate will catch on the Sear/Cruciform
5) My accuracy actually increased, because the smaller (G26) Glock is more steady as you aim and simultaneously pull the trigger
6) The standard Trigger Spring is a “coiled” Spring and in reality helps pull the trigger, because it’s being released as the trigger is pulled, while the NY1 Trigger Spring is a “Leaf Spring” and requires the Trigger to be “depressed” creating a tad stronger feel
7) The nY1 Trigger spring is stronger, by the mere fact of it’s construction, whereby, it’s being pushed/depressed instead of being pulled/stretched when activated.
Hope this helps
Cheers