Timney Trigger Glock Gen 5 - I started working in the gun industry with Glock Triggers in the late 90's. I had a version that broke under 2 pounds with modified basic parts - except for the firing pin spring. Since then I have done over 1000 trigger jobs. Thanks to Timney, they are all more or less obsolete now.
Glock opened their US offices in 1986. I'm surprised it took 35 years for someone to do what Timney did to change the trigger. It's one of those things that's so easy to shake your head and say "Why didn't I think of that?"
Timney Trigger Glock Gen 5

The Alpha Trigger is available in two versions. One for 3rd and 4th generation glockes and another version for 5th generation glocke. The Gen 5 uses a completely different trigger rod, firing pin, firing pin guard, trigger return spring and trigger housing. As a result, Gen 5 pistols cannot use previous generation trigger parts.
My G34 Gen 5
On a factory Glock trigger, the firing pin is pulled back from the firing pin until it is released. The firing pin is an engaged part and the surface that catches the firing pin is often quite rough. This is a key area to level and tune when doing trigger work. Sliding stamped steel over a nice, machined firing pin eye does not result in a nice smooth break.
When you pull the trigger, you also compress the firing pin spring. One of the oldest ways to make a Glock trigger lighter was to use an aftermarket striker pin spring. Many said they were unreliable; they can be if they are not set up properly. If you did it right, they are good. I have put over 100,000 rounds through various competition Glocks with a light firing pin spring without a misfire.
Stock triggered left and alpha right. The Alpha does not touch the firing pin, so there is no cross on the trigger bar.
Timney let it all go with the Alpha trigger. An aluminum lever housing replaces the trigger return spring in the trigger housing. The eye of the firing pin is now engaged with the firing pin and all the trigger rod does is drop the firing pin to make the firing pin fly. Now you have nice machined surfaces that engage each other, and the weight of the firing pin spring has a much smaller effect on the trigger break weight.
What's The Best Aftermarket Trigger For A Gen 5 Glock 19?
With all factory parts you can expect a breaking weight of 3-3.5 pounds when using the Alpha Trigger. Not only is it light, but it's also smoother and sharper with less folding and creeping. Even when using the plus connector, I was still able to get the weight under 4 pounds. If you want to go lighter, you can easily do this by swapping out the point or minus connector to get under 3 pounds.
Glock attachments. From left to right: minus, period, standard and plus. The angle has a big effect on the drawing weight.
All these weights come with the factory firing pin spring. This is a big selling point for the Alpha Trigger. You no longer have to use a light fire pin spring to get under 3 pounds. Factory springs last longer and provide reliable ignition in a wider range of ammunition. For example, if you have some sloppy made reloads where the bits were not lined up all the way, they will probably still fire with the factory firing pin spring. You get a clicker with a light fire pen spring.
I have been shooting both versions of the trigger for the past few months and have put about 4000 rounds through the Gen 3 and 1000 through the Gen 5. This is where I discovered the downside of this new trigger.
Alpha Competition Series For Smith & Wesson M&p
I fired my Gen 3 in the Steel Challenge in May and on the final stage the trigger did not release the firing pin. It looked like an overtravel limiter that was misadjusted and wouldn't allow the trigger to go all the way back and release the firing pin. Instead of trying to fix it to the clock, I cleaned the gun and left it as is so I can take it apart and try to figure out what happened.
At the time of the failure my trigger had fired about 2500 rounds without cleaning. After you hit it down, it appears that a small piece of debris (dirt, carbon particles, unburnt powder, etc.) got into the lever housing and prevented the trigger rod from lowering.
The problem is easy to fix. You need to clean it more often. My recommendation is to spray both the factory trigger housing and Timney lever housing with brake cleaner or similar every 500-1000 rounds. I have had no problems with Alpha Trigger since I started. One of the reasons Glocks are popular is that you can lazily put in thousands of rounds without maintenance. You can't be lazy with Timney Alpha. It's like a race car versus a daily driver. A modern production car can go 10,000 miles without maintenance. A racing car is a high-performance machine with very tight tolerances and precision parts. This is why a race car often needs a complete tune-up or maintenance every 500-1000 miles. This trigger is no different. Treat him well and he will treat you well.
My Gen 3 Alpha trigger was an early production model and some users were unable to reset because the trigger return spring was too weak. Timney quickly made the change and two trigger return springs are now included with the kit. If you have problems with a reset failure, simply replace the heavier red return spring. Glock shooters who are fans of the heavy recoil pressure of the stock rifle should start with the heavier red spring, as it feels more familiar.
Timney Triggers Alpha Competition Trigger For Glock Gen 5 Model 17 19 34 Gen5, 081950615001, Mis Tt Alphaglock5, Rtg Parts
Not only did Timney revolutionize the Glock trigger, but all three factory Glock safeties work perfectly with the Alpha. The drop safety, firing pin stop and trigger safety feature the same as the basic setup. The Alpha's trigger shoe is machined aluminum and the trigger guard is much wider and more comfortable than the standard version.
Alpha is also adjustable for pre-trip or pick-up. Be very careful when setting this up as you can easily take too much lead and partially blow all three fuses. I recommend leaving the pre-ride adjustment screw alone and taping it as it is from Timney.
I have tried many combinations of parts in conjunction with the Alfa. My preferred setup is the factory minus connector, factory firing pin spring, exposed factory firing pin, exposed firing pin safety spring, and red trigger return spring. I also tune and polish all the metal surfaces that touch each other - the connector, the firing pin and the firing pin guard. This gives me a break weight of 2.2 pounds in the Gen 3.
![]()
The Alpha trigger bar and buttplate are coated with NP3. Oversimplified, NP3 is electroless nickel impregnated with Teflon. It makes metal things slippery and ridiculously resistant to corrosion (it won't even rust in Florida). I've always been a big fan of NP3, so much so that most of the Ultimate 3 Gun Rifle was NP3ed. Although the Alpha trigger is smooth, it likes really thick grease, even where the trigger rod meets the connector and headstock. I prefer Brian Enos' Slide Glide, but any good grease will do.
Timney Triggers Alpha Competition Series For Glock Gen 5
This table can help you determine what effect changing different parts of the trigger will have. All tests were done with the factory firing pin spring and gray or light trigger return spring. All other parts are unchanged from the factory. All measurements were made with a Lyman Digital Trigger Meter. Each setting was measured five times and then averaged to get the weights you see below.
The Full Race trigger is an Alpha with lighted factory firing pin, lighted firing pin safety spring, light firing pin spring, light trigger return spring and all parts tuned and polished.
Over the past 25 years I have tested most modified and aftermarket Glock triggers. All this time I also use my own triggers. For years I sold my Top Fuel trigger that broke at 2.25 lbs. and cost $250.All of my competing Glocks will have a Timney Alpha trigger forward. It's easily the best out there, and at $150, it's a bargain. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible user experience and to analyze traffic. By continuing to use our site, you consent to our use of cookies.
Description: Timney Alpha Trigger for Glock Gen5. With a factory pull weight of 3 pounds, this Timney Alpha Glock trigger is the perfect and premium upgrade to your Glock Gen5 trigger. This quality custom trigger features a crisp trigger with a Teflon Nickel (NP3) trigger and near zero friction point, flat aluminum trigger with an anodized safety guard
Timney Alpha Trigger In 3rd Gen Glock 19
Timney ar trigger review, timney trigger nz, adjusting timney trigger, timney trigger australia, timney trigger reviews, timney competition trigger, timney trigger howa 1500, timney trigger, timney trigger install, timney 510 trigger review, timney 3lb trigger, howa timney trigger
0 Comments