Zev Tec vs Salient Arms Trigger

[jrock645]

Thinking about upgrading my G34 to either the Zev or the Salient trigger. I believe the SA is a bit pricier. Does anyone have experience with both?
Thanks!

[Press Check]

I have experience with both:





First and foremost, I'm somewhat local to Salient Arms, and while they are not set-up for walk-in customers, they were kind enough to allow me to drop off the pistol instead of shipping it. Otherwise, I would have been faced with paying to ship the pistol, $265 to have the trigger installed, and then pay to ship it back, so that would have definitely been a no-go.

Initially, I was completely miffed regarding why SAI insists on having one of their Technician's install the trigger, but after having their trigger installed, I immediately understood why.

According to SAI, their Tier 1 trigger, which consists of their new flat-faced trigger, a tuned and polished trigger bar, a tuned ejector housing, a tuned 4.5 connector, their proprietary minus-striker, and all related springs, is a complete, fire-control group, and is fit and tuned to each individual pistol, not much different than a 1911. Also, according to SAI, the frame is modified to accommodate the new fire-control group as well.

Those are their words, and while all of that sounds awesome, the truth is, SAI uses and reworks your existing components, which I instantly knew when the pistol was returned without any replacement parts.

Basically, they removed the plastic factory trigger shoe from my factory trigger bar, fit their billet, flat-faced trigger shoe on the factory trigger bar, and ground off the notch in the trigger bar extension found on Gen4 trigger bars.

In this picture, you have my OEM trigger bar with the SAI shoe fit to it, and the Gen4 notch ground off (I did the polishing):



They returned the pistol with my existing ejector housing, which is an adjustable unit that I purchased from Zev, which they did not modify, tune, tweak or adjust. In fact, the over-travel adjustment screw is still in the same position I set it prior to SAI receiving the pistol. They installed a new trigger return spring, and what appears to be a factory connector that was not polished.

Zev Ejector Housing, and SAI Connector (I did the polishing):



Their proprietary minus-striker is a reworked version of the factory striker. Instead of fluting, milling pockets and skeletonizing the striker, SAI mills a longitudinal hole through the shank, essentially making the striker hollow. For consistent ignition, the factory striker spring was replaced with a 5.5lbs ISMI spring. I have never been a proponent of disrupting the external dimensions of the striker, so I was slightly impressed with SAI's version of a lightened striker.



Their firing pin safety was a replacement part, but shares the exact same radius and profile as a Zev unit.

SAI left, Zev right:



SAI right, Zev left:



As for the frame, it remains unscathed. I took detailed pictures of the interior prior to sending the pistol in, and simply cannot find any evidence of the frame being modified to accommodate the trigger. Considering the fact that SAI has openly referred to the Fulcrum as nothing more than a drop-in trigger, I found the absence odd, but again, I could be missing something.

As for the system as a whole, the break is extremely positive, consistent, and more importantly, seems to be extremely predictable, and repeatable. The trigger is completely void of pre-travel, so once your finger is staged on the trigger, the remaining take-up (creep) is nothing more than the extension in the trigger bar pushing the firing pin safety upward to release the striker. Basically, the trigger breaks instantly, and according to my guage, it breaks at 3lbs. If there is over-travel, it is virtually undetectable, or simply cannot be measured with my finger. Lastly, the reset remains extremely prominent, typical and favorable of Glock.



At the end of the day, the language used in the description is fairly misleading (IMO), but assuredly deliberate (IMO). Regardless, what I've posted should be construed as facts, not misconstrued as complaints. Overall, the trigger is in fact better than a Fulcrum, but know what you're paying for so that you can make an informed decision.

For $265, you get a new trigger shoe, a new 4.5 connector, a new firing pin safety, new springs, a reworked striker, and a reworked ejector housing.

If anyone was wondering WHY they insist on having the trigger installed by a Technician, there you have it.

[zealot9802]

I have experience with both:





First and foremost, I'm somewhat local to Salient Arms, and while they are not set-up for walk-in customers, they were kind enough to allow me to drop off the pistol instead of shipping it. Otherwise, I would have been faced with paying to ship the pistol, $265 to have the trigger installed, and then pay to ship it back, so that would have definitely been a no-go.

Initially, I was completely miffed regarding why SAI insists on having one of their Technician's install the trigger, but after having their trigger installed, I immediately understood why.

According to SAI, their Tier 1 trigger, which consists of their new flat-faced trigger, a tuned and polished trigger bar, a tuned ejector housing, a tuned 4.5 connector, their proprietary minus-striker, and all related springs, is a complete, fire-control group, and is fit and tuned to each individual pistol, not much different than a 1911. Also, according to SAI, the frame is modified to accommodate the new fire-control group as well.

Those are their words, and while all of that sounds awesome, the truth is, SAI uses and reworks your existing components, which I instantly knew when the pistol was returned without any replacement parts.

Basically, they removed the plastic factory trigger shoe from my factory trigger bar, fit their billet, flat-faced trigger shoe on the factory trigger bar, and ground off the notch in the trigger bar extension found on Gen4 trigger bars.

In this picture, you have my OEM trigger bar with the SAI shoe fit to it, and the Gen4 notch ground off (I did the polishing):



They returned the pistol with my existing ejector housing, which is an adjustable unit that I purchased from Zev, which they did not modify, tune, tweak or adjust. In fact, the over-travel adjustment screw is still in the same position I set it prior to SAI receiving the pistol. They installed a new trigger return spring, and what appears to be a factory connector that was not polished.

Zev Ejector Housing, and SAI Connector (I did the polishing):



Their proprietary minus-striker is a reworked version of the factory striker. Instead of fluting, milling pockets and skeletonizing the striker, SAI mills a longitudinal hole through the shank, essentially making the striker hollow. For consistent ignition, the factory striker spring was replaced with a 5.5lbs ISMI spring. I have never been a proponent of disrupting the external dimensions of the striker, so I was slightly impressed with SAI's version of a lightened striker.



Their firing pin safety was a replacement part, but shares the exact same radius and profile as a Zev unit.

SAI left, Zev right:



SAI right, Zev left:



As for the frame, it remains unscathed. I took detailed pictures of the interior prior to sending the pistol in, and simply cannot find any evidence of the frame being modified to accommodate the trigger. Considering the fact that SAI has openly referred to the Fulcrum as nothing more than a drop-in trigger, I found the absence odd, but again, I could be missing something.

As for the system as a whole, the break is extremely positive, consistent, and more importantly, seems to be extremely predictable, and repeatable. The trigger is completely void of pre-travel, so once your finger is staged on the trigger, the remaining take-up (creep) is nothing more than the extension in the trigger bar pushing the firing pin safety upward to release the striker. Basically, the trigger breaks instantly, and according to my guage, it breaks at 3lbs. If there is over-travel, it is virtually undetectable, or simply cannot be measured with my finger. Lastly, the reset remains extremely prominent, typical and favorable of Glock.



At the end of the day, the language used in the description is fairly misleading (IMO), but assuredly deliberate (IMO). Regardless, what I've posted should be construed as facts, not misconstrued as complaints. Overall, the trigger is in fact better than a Fulcrum, but know what you're paying for so that you can make an informed decision.

For $265, you get a new trigger shoe, a new 4.5 connector, a new firing pin safety, new springs, a reworked striker, and a reworked ejector housing.

If anyone was wondering WHY they insist on having the trigger installed by a Technician, there you have it.

Great detailed write up! Thanks

[tal3nt]

I dunno, that's a lot of money for a trigger upgrade.

Looks sweet though.

[jrock645]

Awesome info! Thanks very much Press Check!
That's exactly what I was looking for. I'm in the LA area so Salient and Zev are both within driving distance. A friend of mine was also invited to drop in at SA to get his trigger installed. I was thinking about going with him.

I can't really afford SA's Tier upgrades right now so I was thinking of just getting the SA trigger and maybe getting Zev to do the stippling.

[Moto]

I dunno, that's a lot of money for a trigger upgrade.

Looks sweet though.

That is, considering top champion shooters like Mr Vogel pretty much only
change the connector and springs and he does extremely good with it in production class.

[Press Check]

I dunno, that's a lot of money for a trigger upgrade.

Looks sweet though.

Expensive, but when you compare it to the Fulcrum Ultimate Kit, the difference in price is only $15 for what would arguably be the best trigger system for a Glock pistol.

[Press Check]

Awesome info! Thanks very much Press Check!
That's exactly what I was looking for. I'm in the LA area so Salient and Zev are both within driving distance. A friend of mine was also invited to drop in at SA to get his trigger installed. I was thinking about going with him.

I can't really afford SA's Tier upgrades right now so I was thinking of just getting the SA trigger and maybe getting Zev to do the stippling.

You're welcome.

I've heard of an instance or two where SAI fit the trigger while the customer waited, which is supposed to be a 2-hour ordeal, but I dropped it off, told them to take their time, and picked it up a week later. I'm in the West SFV, so SAI was only 30 minutes away.

[Army of One]

Does Salient have a website?

[Lead Waster]

Yeah, it's pricey, but if you have just a few guns and you want to tune one up, why not?

I mean really, spending $264 on your $600 Glock to get a nice trigger in a lightweight reliable (Well, I HOPE reliability remains after the mod!) isn't bad at all. I mean come on ... how much are custom 1911s? I mean, guys spend $75-$100 on GRIPS for their 1911s.

[greg916]

I bet it's nice for sure. But I'm more than happy with my g35 trigger. Had a polish job done on it by a forum member and then Installed a slightly less stiff safety plunger spring. Smooth and light. I'm sure these triggers are very nice. I just couldn't justify that much for a glock trigger!! I'd rather buy ammo aha. But hey, if you want it who cares. They look awesome.

[TheExiled]

You're welcome.

I've heard of an instance or two where SAI fit the trigger while the customer waited, which is supposed to be a 2-hour ordeal, but I dropped it off, told them to take their time, and picked it up a week later. I'm in the West SFV, so SAI was only 30 minutes away.

But they didnt even paint it gold or flute anything..

[Press Check]

But they didnt even paint it gold or flute anything..

LOL.

Not sure if SAI does it, but at one point, they offered a Special Edition system with all of the critical bearing surfaces finished in Titanium Nitride.

[Lead Waster]

I bet it's nice for sure. But I'm more than happy with my g35 trigger. Had a polish job done on it by a forum member and then Installed a slightly less stiff safety plunger spring. Smooth and light. I'm sure these triggers are very nice. I just couldn't justify that much for a glock trigger!! I'd rather buy ammo aha. But hey, if you want it who cares. They look awesome.

I've resisted polishing any parts, with the theory that if I shoot it enough, it will reward me with self-polished parts!

[Cyc Wid It]

Price seems similar to GGI packages for Sig/HK guns. I doubt I'll be putting this kind of attention into my Glock, but I found the write up interesting and informative.