I recently posted an article evaluating the Beretta ARX-100 rifle, and the feature that I feel was most detrimental to the shooting experience was the trigger, which actually maxed out a trigger pull gauge. My friend CJ is serious about distance shooting, reloading, and is quite handy when it comes to trigger work and as such he has a gauge.

On measuring the pull of the ARX-100, most attempts resulted in a max:

However we did manage to get it to read once after several times at 11 pounds, 8 ounces:

After this experience, I thought it might be reasonable and prudent to put many other rifles (including two Beretta products) to the test that I feel are comparable in at least one category to the ARX-100.

For testing, I dug pretty deep into the safe. I will also note that none of these have had any trigger work on them. All have completely stock triggers:

A set of testing parameters were established:

1. The same gauge used in the review would be used on all rifles
2. Three attempts would be made on all rifles
3. The median of the three tests would be collected as data

The rifles were placed with their stocks on a flat surface and all tested by my business partner Patrick while I photographed the rifles (he has no vested interest in any rifle performing better than any other).

Anyways, on with some results.

I felt starting with the previous Italian service rifle was appropriate; the tried and true Beretta AR70:

Which did much better than the ARX-100’s 11 pounds, 8 ounces:

Next up was a Daewoo K1A1, Korea’s AR15.

Then the Israeli Tavor:

A new, unfired Colt M4:

A select fire M16A1:

A Rock River Arms AR15 with their 2-stage trigger:

An HK MR556A1:

A select-fire HK33:

An FN FNC:

A Ruger Mini 14:

New AUG A3:

FS2000:

Sig 556:

Masterpiece Arms MPAR:

Bushmaster ACR:

FN SCAR 16s:

Arsenal AK74 (SGL-31):

Valmet M76:

Israeli Galil 392:

H&K G36 (SL8 trigger group):

Beretta CX4 Storm:

Armalite AR180:

Bushmaster M17s:

Robinson M96:

Benelli MR1:

 

So with that we have a final pool of all data, arranged from the gun with the lightest trigger pull to the heaviest:

Gun	Pounds, Ounces	Ounces	Pounds
Valmet M76	3, 2.5	50.5	3.15625
Sig 556	3, 14.1	62.1	3.88125
Rock River	3, 14.9	62.9	3.93125
HK MR556	4, 14.4	78.4	4.9
Mini 14	5, 2	82	5.125
Benelli MR1	5, 12	92	5.75
G36/SL8	5, 14.5	94.5	5.90625
MPAR	6, 0	96	6
Galil 392	6, 1.5	97.5	6.09375
Robinson M96	6, 4	100	6.25
Daewoo	6, 8.5	104.5	6.53125
M4 Carbine	6, 8.5	104.5	6.53125
AK74	6, 8.5	104.5	6.53125
Bushmaster M17s	6, 12	108	6.75
M16A1	6, 14	110	6.875
AR180	6, 15	111	6.9375
SCAR	7, 0.5	112.5	7.03125
AR70	7, 2	114	7.125
ACR	7, 7	119	7.4375
CX4 Storm	7, 11	123	7.6875
FNC	7, 12.5	124.5	7.78125
HK33	8, 2	130	8.125
FS2000	9, 0	144	9
AUG	9, 3	147	9.1875
Tavor	9, 7	151	9.4375

 

And this fancy graph should help as well:

This experiment was eye opening to me, and I hope that this data is pertinent to you choosing your next rifle!