Overwatch Precision TAC Flat Face Trigger Review

 

Before we begin, let’s set some baselines to see if this review will be relevant to you.

1. This was not a scientific, standards based, control group study. It is my opinion based on the things that are important to me.
2. I am a nobody but I train a lot. Here is my story :
   Lifelong martial artist (TKD, Muay Thai, BJJ), no LEO or military experience (save being an Air Force brat), NRA pistol instructor (who isn’t?). I have received previous training from George Wehby of I4Tactical, Matt Jacques of Victory First, John Murphy of FPF Training, Chris Sizelove of 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Aaron Brumley of Solo Defense, Steve Fisher of Sentinel Concepts, Greg Ellifritz of Active Response Training, Pat Goodale and Wayne Fisher of PFT Training, and private training with Al DeLeon of the State Dept’s MSD unit. I shoot anywhere from 200 to 400 rounds a week. I try to compete three times a month. When not traveling for work I train BJJ 2 to 3 times a week.In addition, I am also a contributor on PrimaryandSecondary.com and a moderator on three of P&S’s Facebook groups. I have learned, broke bread, shared drink, asked questions and (carefully) expressed my opinion with many professional pipehitters without getting my ass handed back to me.

OK….So I do not know exactly what is going on but in my last trigger review I said I was not a fan of flat face triggers. So what happens? Cris McRae of Overwatch Precision sends me their flat Tac Trigger. Uh….hey manufacturers,  I hate NODs too….:patiently waits for AN/PVS-14 to show up:…..Anyway that is my subtle way of telling you that Cris and I are friends and that there might be some bias here…haha…like if the trigger sucked I wouldn’t say so.

According to the package it is a 3 minute install, and unless you are a noob or an idiot that is correct. I installed the trigger in my Roland Special (Glock 19, KKM Barrel + Comp, RCS Freya magwell, Trijicon RMR RM06, Surefire X300U). The trigger was replacing my beloved Robar NP3 coated stock shoed trigger. I kept the Wolff 6# trigger spring and the 4# striker spring to keep things on an even playing field. I did install their NP3 coated minus connector. Also in full disclosure, Robar and OP have a relationship as Cris used to work there and the connector and trigger bar are coated with Robar’s NP3 process. Robar is owned by LtCol. Freddie Blish. I am friends with him as well, although I do not know if he will admit to it.

Initial impressions:

The trigger is solid. It feels well made and not cheap. It might be because of the 7075-T6 aluminim alloy it is crafted from. It might be the Type III hard coating anodization to MIL-A-8625 standard. I am not a engineer I just know what feels right.

Oh and that little booty/hook/ledge thing on the end. This prevented my finger from slipping down and causing deviations in my trigger press like some other flat triggers I have shot.

Another problem I have had with other flat face triggers is the width of the trigger. I am a middle of the fingerprint pad guy. My personal belief is that if the trigger is too wide it negates the mobility (separation of the trigger finger and its sympathetic relationship from the rest of the hand) of this technique. First distal joint shooters may not care about this. The width of the OP trigger was perfect in my opinion. I did not finding myself pushing left or low under speed. YMMV.

The Tests:

Like my previous trigger review, here are the drills I used for testing:  Dot Torture, the FAST drill, 1 reload 1 at 7 yards, 100 point B8 at 25 yards. I also decided to see how fast I could go with a 1 shot drill from concealment at 5 yards.

Dot Torture: Ran the drill five times over a week’s time at 6 yards, slow fire. Perfect 50s on all of them.

The FAST Drill: Ran the drill 10 times. Average times were between 4.62 and 4.92. Shooting low did not become an issue. Note the times were faster than in my last trigger review. This is either because of the trigger or because of the instruction I received from Ernest Langdon at the Friends of Pat Rogers Training Weekend. It is probably a combination of both.

1 Reload 1 at 7 yards from concealment:  Times averaged between 2.6 and 2.8 seconds. Again faster than my last review.

100 Point B8 25 yard drill: Scored a 96 cold. Again…..ditto….

1 shot at 5 yards from concealment: Fastest was at .82. I recently put into my “game” some things I learned from Clay Klemm of Team Sig. These techniques helped my speed mode markedly, that said, the trigger did not detract and may have helped with the new found speed.…again YMMV.

Drill Outcomes: I did just as well and perhaps better with the OP trigger as I did with the Robar.

In addition, I have run the trigger at the Friends of Pat Rogers Memorial Weekend (in front of the most critical of peers and mentors), matches, and while instructing. The trigger ran flawlessly.

How did the trigger feel? Pre-travel is minimal, over-travel is almost non-existent, reset is short and crisp. The pull is smooth and the wall is predictable. All the things you would expect in a $125 trigger. However the warranty is also notable. As Cris relays it:

“Every single trigger carries an unconditional, fully transferrable, unlimited lifetime warranty. Period. All we need is the old product, and the story of how it got busted, and we’ll get a new one out to the customer. Anyone who buys one of our products has supported us, and we want to make sure that we do the same in return. We take care of our own.”

Are you kidding me? Try getting that warranty with some bullshit product from a company that starts with S and ends with a Z.
The final question on everyone’s mind….Am I going to switch to this trigger for my EDC pistol??????? Well…jeez….umm….yes I am. I don’t know if it is the training I recently received, the trigger, or a combo of both but my superstitious ass ain’t changing shit.

Now before you go out and get this trigger and expect to run your gun with my times, just remember that it is the Indian over the arrow….but a kickass arrow will always make the Indian look better.

Be Good. Stay Safe. Get Training.

Scott “Jedi” Jedlinski