D9Firearms

This is not so much a comparison of which trigger is best, but which application the trigger seems to work best in. At D9Firearms we’ve installed dozens of JP adjustable triggers in a variety of DPMS Rifles. DPMS is fully aware of their standard trigger, and is their first recommendation when discussing upgrades. Granted economics is definitely an issue when considering trigger upgrades. The second concern in upgrading the trigger is which trigger you should use?

Most of our experience has been with JP Adjustable triggers. They are not that difficult to install once you’ve done a couple and it helps to have the right tools (punch, grinder, small hammer, and loctite). The JP has smooth clean break which for standard AR-15 rifles is about 3lb. For the AR-10 (308 calibers) JP recommends keeping the original hammer spring to insure proper discharge, which has about a 4lb pull. However, I have used the lighter spring on my LR-308 bench gun, which of course is used to eviscerate menacing prairie dogs, and have never had a problem. (JP strongly recommends the heavier spring for Tactical and Law Enforcement AR-10 rifles.)

The picture below shows the standard DPMS trigger on the left and the JP Adjustable on the right. The picture below it shows the entire JP Adjustable trigger system. The JP uses the existing hammer, but the hammer shown in this picture is the optional speed hammer. The Speed hammer is a lighter which allows for faster re-engagement, which gives you faster target re-acquisition, when dealing with multiple threats.

Up until recently we have only installed the JP’s but decided to try a JARD 2 Stage NM trigger. We installed this in a DPMS AR-15 6.8mm AP 4 16” w/quad rail rifle. Knowing the JP feel, I immediately dry fired the rifle, and it was a completely different action. The break was crisp, clean, and immediate. Unlike the JP which seems to have a smoother trigger pull this just broke clean and crisp. This combined with the type of rifle we installed it on seemed to be a perfect match. The trigger mechanism does not seem so much geared for the long range accuracy as it does for driving multiple rounds crisply into an “able” style target.

The JARD 2 Stage NM is shown below and you can see the difference between the JP and JARD. As we stated it’s not which trigger system is best but which application is it suited best for. If you want to upgrade your trigger system please contact us here at D9. The typical costs are:

JP Adjustable w/o Speed Hammer $150 installed

JP Adjustable w/ Speed Hammer $185 installed

JARD (AR-15) 2 Stage $145 installed

JARD (AR-10) 2 Stage $155 installed

If you are interested in a JP or JARD trigger system please contact us here at D9. We would be glad to provide it loose or installed.

Thanks

Here at D9Firearms we look for additional value for our clients by offering upgrades to guns we provide. We have shown the different trigger system upgrades which as we stated and DPMS stated is highly recommended, but a couple of other comfort upgrades include the Tac Latch, Hogue Grip, and Optics.

Since optics are a very personal choice we offer mounting, aligning, and bore sighting when providing optics of your choice. However, a nice feature for a AR rifle optics is the Tac Latch by Badger Ordnance shown below. The benefit of this latch is the extend charge handle that allows easy access to charging your rifle. Typically the ocular lens of your optic is positioned directly above the charging handle and is some what of a pain to access it. The Tac Latch extends it out for easy charging. However, we have heard from on of our clients that when you lay the rifle on its side, the extended Tac Latch can release the charging handle from its latched position. The Tac Latch installed cost $25.

Another nice comfort feature is the Hogue grip. Hogue makes very good rubberized handgrips for just about every pistol grip gun. I’ve had these on several of my pistols and on all of my DPMS rifles. Compared with the standard hard plastic grip the rubberized grip enhances your grip for a more finger form fit and reduced hand slip. The pictures below show the difference between the standard and the Hogue. Additionally when installing these on the DPMS AR-10 receivers the safety spring inset hole in the top of the grip needs to be milled out slightly. The Hogue Grip installed cost $25.

Although it is not an upgrade we maintain a supply of DPMS 308 factory magazines. These typically sell for $30.

The rifle shown was just outfitted for one of our local clients. This one we outfitted with a nice 6-18×40 Nikon Prostaff w/SF, BDC, and target knobs. One quick note about optics is Nikon provides a quality scope economically priced.

If you are interested in an upgrade for any rifle or pistol we sell please enquire. If it falls under our expertise we would be glad to offer it.

If you’re interested in accessories or upgrades for you’re firearms contacts us we would be glad to provide them and install them if they fall within our expertise.

Thanks

Although we are not big shot gunners here at D9 we’re always glad to procure one for our clients. We had the opportunity to do a little research for Doug, who wanted a good turkey gun that he and his wife could use. (I’m sure no one’s ever heard that before. But as you will see Doug was true to his word.) The first gun that comes to everyone’s mind is Benelli, and rightly so. These are excellent shotguns by all accounts of what I have read and heard. However, since they only sell dealer direct we can not procure these firearms for our clients. (Hence one of the reasons the cost of these guns are premium priced.) The interesting thing about Benelli is Beretta owns them and I believe they are manufactured at the same location. (Don’t quote me on this though.)

Regardless, Doug was interested in finding a left handed shotgun and one that had excellent recoil reduction so that his loving wife could enjoy it also. However, he was concerned that she may like it so much he wouldn’t get to use it. (I’m not for sure if I was supposed to repeat this.) Fortunately as you will see by the pictures it worked out well for both of them. So we made a few calls to a couple of our wholesalers, and kept coming back to Lynn over at Lipsey’s. He has a good handle on shotguns and happens to be a left handed shooter himself. Lynn made several recommendations covering the economic range, but had nothing in a left handed model.

Doug was very interested in the Beretta Xtrema II but still wanted a left hand model. We looked at the safety conversion, and special ordering a left handed version but lead time and economics became more of a consideration. After speaking with Lynn again, being a left hand shooter, he was of the opinion based on the economics, lead time and overall benefit didn’t make this a practical option. He also found that some of Doug’s concerns would not be an issue with this shot gun.

The Beretta Xtrema II has an additional option the “kickoff” which adds another $200 to the cost. Lynn hadn’t used this but didn’t feel it was imperative to have this option. After a few weeks of shopping around, and a new Big Box Fishing Store open house, Doug came back and decided to go with the Beretta Xtrema II Camouflaged 3.5” Vented Rib turkey smoker.

We received the shotgun a few days later and had Doug come by. I have to say I own a Beretta 390 and it’s a nice gun, but the Xtrema II is very impressive. The real tree camo looked awesome on the gun. It had excellent rubberized grips and it was a very light shotgun. If I were a turkey hunter I would take this gun any day of the week.

Doug just emailed me two different pictures two days apart. Doug’s concerns were obviously unfounded and his wife allowed him to get his turkey two days later. (Or so he says.) My recommendation was you need two of these. (No, not wives, Beretta’s.)

If you’re interested in a shotgun give us a call. We will research and find a shotgun that fits your needs.

I don’t know if DPMS envisioned their AR-10 rifles for bear hunting but that is what 4 of my left coast clients are doing. Obviously these guys have some big juevos and do not fall under the stereo type of left leaning, Nancy boys, that we typically associate with our pacifist, enlightened, kook fringe element peoples of the west coast. However, I digress. (Sorry Nancy P., not really)

We just shipped a DPMS AP4 16” to Luke in Mercer Island, WA, who is planning a bear hunt this spring. We outfitted his rifle with a JP Adjustable and shipped one of our IOR Valdada optics for him to test out. Additionally we shipped him 15 rounds of our hand loaded 168grn ammo. Since I haven’t had any of the AP4’s out to the range Luke offered to perform the test and send us some feedback. Our goal is to test the accuracy, quality, and reliabilty of this rifle. Since we already know the benefits of the JP and the IOR, and the ammunition recipe has been proven in multiple Tikka & DPMS rifles, and it’s being done by a 3rd party, we are going to get some unbiased reporting.

Of course we trust Luke to be a better than average marksman, he better be if he’s going bear hunting, regardless we’re looking for feedback. I plan to update you on his results in the next week when he writes us back with his experience. As we’ve stated before DPMS does not guarantee sub MOA accuracy, but each rifle I have owned or shot from them has consistently delivered sub MOA. My suspicions are that Luke will be in the 1 - 1.5″ range, which for an assult style rifle I would consider that very good.

Here are a few pictures of what we shipped him.

Fortunately this isn’t a UN program or anything close, Kookers Kare is committed and actually does feed people. We are not complimenting ourselves here, but by our own free will donate firearms to select charity events for fund raising. Of course we do get some advertising and tax deductions, but primarily we do it because we do care to help others and have been blessed, by God, with the ability to do so.

Kookers Kare, Inc. is an all volunteer group committed to aiding those in need who have teamed up with a cadre of pork pullin, rib rubbin, and chicken chokin smokers. They provide freshly cooked and non-perishable food to food pantries such as Harvesters Food Network and are an integral part of the Kansas City Barbeque Society. (Of course that was obvious by the photo’s). I was invited to this event by my cousin & cousin in-law from Plowboys BBQ (http://plowboysbbq.com/). By the way if you need some sauce, rub, or pork call these guys.

We here at D9 only did the light lifting while all the volunteers and smokers did the real work and provided a couple of thousand pounds of smoked beef and pork. I spoke to several of the teams and checked out their smokers and these men and women are definitely a committed group of peoples. (Don’t let the adult beverage containers fool you, these people work hard like this guy below.)

Well it turned out to be a neat little event where they offered several raffle prizes and auctioned off a Mossberg Youth 20/22 Camouflaged Pump Shotgun provided by D9Firearms.com. Considering all the participants were already donating time and food, they still had the benevolence to purchase raffle tickets and bid on the shotgun.

Eric couldn’t resist and ended up winning the shotgun. And to all you men out there listen up, it was for his wife. Not only did this guy provide his time and smoked pork-butt, he also bid this shotgun for his wife. Now this is truly a loving and devoted husband. We applaud Eric for both his donations and for winning the auction it all went to a good cause.

If you know of a charitable event in Kansas City that has silent auctions and would accept a firearm from D9 send us an email. Although we can’t contribute to them all we would still be interested in hearing from you.

Thanks to Kookers Kare, PlowBoys, and Eric.

Sincerely,

D9Firearms.com