Just Received a Wilson AR-15 trigger

[Griff Murphey]

A birthday gift from a relative! Can it be used in my early-90's Colt H-Bar receiver? Wilson says "yes," a High Master NRA shooter I know says: "NO, because that is not a small pin receiver." Is this something a doofus RE gun repair can do, or should I take it to a gunsmith?

[Terry N.]

Your early '90s-vintage Colt most likely has the 'big' (.169' or so) hammer and trigger pins. If so, it looks like you're out of luck, as it doesn't look like Wilson offers a big-pin trigger. You can have the pin holes bushed to the 'small,' or standard diameter, buy a different lower, or a different trigger. You could also ask your relative if they can return or exchange the trigger - or you can buy another rifle to use it on!

Installation is very simple, and Wilson has complete installation instructions online. You can contact Wilson here to discuss your problem: http://www.wilsoncombat.com/info_contact_us.htm

[Griff Murphey]

The guy at Wilson I talked to was confident it would fit but the high master NRA shooter said "no." Is there a visible difference in the pins? I have not dug my H-Bar lower (currently wearing an old SP upper, just to make a functional, but not usable for serious shooting rifle). NRA HP hi master shooter advised buying a stripped lower and building a new lower from the HBar parts, which I kind of hate to tackle myself. So for me I would be all into gunsmithing charges to get it done.

[Terry N.]

The guy at Wilson I talked to was confident it would fit but the high master NRA shooter said "no." Is there a visible difference in the pins? I have not dug my H-Bar lower (currently wearing an old SP upper, just to make a functional, but not usable for serious shooting rifle). NRA HP hi master shooter advised buying a stripped lower and building a new lower from the HBar parts, which I kind of hate to tackle myself. So for me I would be all into gunsmithing charges to get it done.

Not unless you've got another, known 'small-pin' lower to compare it to. You could knock the hammer pin out and measure it real easily. The standard pins run around .154", the big pins around .169-171".

[Roscoe Snyder]

If you could put an SP upper on your HBAR lower without using some kind of aftermarket offset pivot pin I think it will turn out to have the small hammer/trigger pins. After Colt replaced the "AR-15 A2" line with the "Sporter" line they continued for a while to make them with the .315" pivot pin. These will have the .155" hammer/trigger pins while the .170" pins came along with or after the change to the .250" pivot pin.