Tactical Fire Control Tac-Con 3MR Trigger: Hype or True Enhancement?
By Todd Burgreen
Most of us are aware of the cottage industry of products spawned by the AR-15’s popularity and many of these products strive to improve/enhance the user experience in relation to the AR-15. One item that is often overlooked or addressed last is the importance of a rifle’s trigger. After all, each rifle comes with one, where as many products appeal more due to adding features that are not already present, i.e. railed handguard, sights, grip, stock and so on. Not trying to be dramatic, but the trigger serves as the interface between shooter and weapon thus deserving more attention. Along these lines, once educated, most shooters crave a crisp reliable Match grade trigger. What if this type of trigger could also offer another setting that significantly enhances controllable accurate firepower? The Tactical Fire Control (TC) Tac-Con 3MR is offering this capability.
Much of the buzz surrounding the Tac-Con 3MR Trigger System is its three modes/positions of operation. The modes are Safe (selector horizontal at 9 o’clock), match-grade semiautomatic (selector vertical 12 o’clock), and the Tac-Con patent pending 3rd mode of operation (selector horizontal at 3 o’clock). The 3rd mode provides an alternate type of positive reset that reduces split times between shots. The positive reset characteristic is achieved by transferring the force from the bolt carrier through the trigger assembly to assist the trigger back onto the front sear enabling split times that rival automatic rates of fire once familiarized with operation. Both semi and 3rd mode positions feature a non-adjustable 4.5 pound trigger pull weight with zero over travel. Most individuals outside of strictly “gun game” realms will tell you that a crisp 4.5 pound trigger balances safety with performance in a trigger.
The drop in Tac-Con 3MR trigger was installed in multiple models of AR rifles, including PWS, SIG Sauer, and Daniel Defense. It is simple to install by anyone with rudimentary AR maintenance skills taking only a few minutes and instantly enhances shooter to rifle interface. The only nuance needed is to tilt the trigger group up while sliding under the Tac-Con provided safety lever. Tac-Con designed the 3MR not as a finicky fragile match trigger, which can be less than hardy under robust conditions, but rather as a single stage 4.5 pound trigger with a short reset suitable for all conditions of use. The Tac-Con 3MR has no field adjustments and does not have any loose parts or screws that can come loose at the worst time. The Tac-Con 3MR meets or exceeds military specifications for drop safety – something that “match” triggers usually cannot represent as doing. All in all, the 3MR allows for multiple rounds to be sent downrange quickly/accurately and for precise longer range shot placement better than your standard trigger unit; yet retains reliability lacking from some of the other trigger units on the market.
The Tac-Con 3MR trigger is certainly not the least expensive option with a MSRP of $499. However, the Tac-Con 3MR trigger is crafted from the finest materials using EDM and CNC manufacturing technology. The Tac-Con trigger consists of housing, hammer, trigger, disconnector, selector, springs, and a reset lever; the reset lever is the key to the 3MR’s functioning. All components are coated with NP3 (Nickel Teflon) to ensure years of dependable service. Each 3MR Trigger system is individually hand tested for quality, pull weight and function prior to shipping and feature a Limited Lifetime Warranty.
One thing must be pointed out with the Tac-Con 3MR trigger – it is NOT a bump fire type of product meant for mindless sending of rounds into a dirt bank. Tac-Con stresses the 3MR real world utility in terms of tactics as well competition. While much is made of being able to flip the Tac-Con’s selector to what is normally associated with full automatic fire, the 3MR is not a NFA item with Tac-Con providing a letter from the BATF to further dispel any notion of this.
The semi-auto setting may be worth the effort of installing the 3MR in its own right without taking into account the third position. It is crisp and able to send multiple aimed rounds downrange very quickly. However, a review of the 3MR would do a disservice not to focus on the distinctive 3rd mode setting; after all this is what sets the patent pending Tac-Con 3MR apart from all other triggers on the market. To borrow from the BATF review letter, with the 3MR in the 3rd mode horizontal setting the reset lever mentioned above pivots forward with the hammer engaging the reset lever during the bolt groups cycling. When the hammer contacts the reset lever it applies force to the trigger assisting the shooter’s finger forward facilitating a very fast reset.
It takes most users a handful of magazines to get the knack of the Tac-Con’s 3rd mode and take full benefit of its capabilities. It was found that keeping a minimal amount of your finger tip on the Tac-Con trigger was the key in getting repeatable rapid fire strings rivaling automatic rounds per minute rate while in 3rd mode. The purpose of the Tac-Con trigger is not to send a magazine’s worth of ammunition mindlessly downrange. Along these lines, Tac-Con mentioned many interested law enforcement departments due to 3MR’s capability to place multiple rounds quickly and accurately on target. NFA Class 3 weapons are not without compliance requirements for law enforcement; this combined with upper level LE administrators not necessarily comfortable with issuing select fire weapons makes the capabilities offered by the Tac-Con attractive. Several highly trained individuals that participated in this evaluation had mixed feelings related to the Tac-Con 3MR. Some commented that the benefit derived from Tac-Con 3MR was minimal in terms of decreasing split times between rounds during strings of fire. Others complimented the Tac-Con 3MR for making rapid accurate fire easier to obtain. Anyone contemplating the Tac-Con 3MR must realize that this is not a shortcut to true Class 3 select fire capabilities. As with most things firearms related individual user preference and opinions will dictate acceptance.
Range testing with the Tac-Con commenced with functionality test consisting of dumping multiple magazines at several targets dotting Echo Valley Training Center’s (EVTC) stepped berms. This assisted in getting a feel for the Tac-Con’s operation. Any trigger must be reliable to be worthy of consideration. Team Tactic exercises involving moving to and from a designated target area using cover while either changing magazines or engaging targets when a partner is reloading are good trigger evaluation drills; especially when running a standard trigger in another rifle before making a run with the Tac-Con equipped AR. One gets a good sense of what the Tac-Con offers in terms of performance enhancement this way. Reliability of the Tac-Con 3MR trigger was further verified due to the sum of ammunition expended in short time frames characteristic of these Team Tactic drills. Other non-scientific tests consisted of engaging targets of opportunity located around the EVTC ranges such as car hulks, manhole covers, and steel targets.
Law enforcement agencies could easily consider upgrading their existing rifles with the Tac-Con 3MR trigger; not to mention private contractors, and security conscience civilians. Do not let the 3rd mode setting blind you from what Tac-Con’s 3MR trigger is for – placing multiple rounds on target in the shortest time frame possible.
Tactical Fire Control, Inc.
www.tacfirecon.com
This article first appeared in SmallArmsReview.com on February 21, 2014 |
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