Ranger Proof Vex F3 Trigger Shoe

[Secret Squirrel]

I wanted to try the Vex trigger shoe, either Johnny Glocks, or Ranger Proof. Ranger Proof had some color options. Sooo, I went with a copper color shoe. Looked great on the website, but it looks like a shinny new penny.
The shoe is great, so far I like it very much. I hesitate to post a Pic of the shoe, as it looks a bit "blingy" I am going to put a little paint on it, and see how it works out.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Soooo...took it to the range, put 200 rounds through it. Took a bit, to get used to the new shoe, worked good. Put it all away, into the case, and has been sitting on the bench for a week.

Took it out today (a week later) racked the slide, pulled the trigger, and something was wrong. The pre-installed safety tab screw, was gone, and safety tab fell out.

 

[Mooner]

let me know if you need ANDY's number, I'm sure he will take care of it... and add some Loctite

 

[Secret Squirrel]

I sent out an email, no worries, thank you for the offer.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Taken care of, Andy is sending me out a replacement screw, and yah I thought they would have used a bit of loctite, lol

 

[Alex]

Thanks for posting your copper shoe. I was considering options other than a plain black shoe for an "FDE" Nomad F frame. It is more of a sand color but Ranger's FDE looks better than the copper would have.

With the PGB20 discount code the Vex trigger came out less than an Apex trigger shoe.

 

[FrankenGlock]

Love my Ranger Proof and JG Vex shoes.

 

[One Ping Only]

NOICE!!! We're running the VexF3 in a few 26 clones. They work very well.

 

[FrankenGlock]

Not sure I would want to run one in CC type gun. Trigger pull is way too short. Even with a + connector, it doesn't feel like it would be safe to carry.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

So I am still "patiently" waiting for Ranger Proof, to send me out the screw, that fell out.

 

[Racer88]

Not sure I would want to run one in CC type gun. Trigger pull is way too short. Even with a + connector, it doesn't feel like it would be safe to carry.

I really like their designs, but I was never able to get it to pass drop safety testing, unfortunately.

 

[FrankenGlock]

I really like their designs, but I was never able to get it to pass drop safety testing, unfortunately.

Have you tried it with a Gen 5 trigger housing?

 

[Racer88]

Have you tried it with a Gen 5 trigger housing?

Nope. The problem is the pre-travel / take-up reduction... puts the cruciform right on the edge of the drop-safe. And if I drop the gun, the trigger fires. No bueno. Not even for a range-only gun. And for that reason, I will not buy any aftermarket trigger that reduces pre-travel in the future.

 

[FrankenGlock]

If I have time tomorrow, I'll post a pic with the combo installed.

 

[FrankenGlock]

One is with stock cruciform angle and the other is with a slight adjustment. This is a P80 PF940C with Gen 5 trigger housing, converted Gen 3 trigger bar to work with Gen 5 housing, and Ranger Proof Vex shoe. Before modifying the cruciform, I could not get the trigger to slip off no matter how hard I tried. After modifying the cruciform, it’s even more engaged.

 

[Racer88]

One is with stock cruciform angle and the other is with a slight adjustment. This is a P80 PF940C with Gen 5 trigger housing, converted Gen 3 trigger bar to work with Gen 5 housing, and Ranger Proof Vex shoe. Before modifying the cruciform, I could not get the trigger to slip off no matter how hard I tried. After modifying the cruciform, it’s even more engaged.

To be clear, the problem I was having had NOTHING to do with the sear engagement. I'm very very good at and about that. This was purely a drop-safety issue... related to the pre-travel reduction which is created by changing how the trigger shoe engages the trigger bar.

If I dropped it with the back of the gun facing the floor... the trigger would drop. Again, NOT a sear engagement issue. It's entirely caused by the trigger shoe. If I swapped it to a standard OEM trigger shoe or a shoe with no pre-travel reduction on the SAME trigger bar... no drop safety problem.

I'm just relating MY experience. And we (the manufacturer and I) tried to resolve it. I gave up. In the end, it's no big deal. I just won't use those triggers.

I'm not trying and don't want to impugn the manufacturer. They make some really nice stuff. They just didn't work for me. I've got two very nice ones sitting in my parts bin.

 

[FrankenGlock]

Were you running a + connector? Gen 5 trigger housing? Was the trigger safety not properly making contact with the frame? Just trying to figure out what was going on with yours so I can try to replicate. With that said, in my opinion, these triggers are for range/competition only as the pull is just too short for a carry gun without a safety. I'm running a bunch of these so, for safety's sake, I would like to hear more about what you or the manufacturer tried and or their response. Not for the sake of impugning them or their reputation but maybe there is a solution out there.

 

[Racer88]

Were you running a + connector?

Nope. OEM standard connector.

Gen 5 trigger housing?

Nope. Either Gen 3 or Gen 4.

Was the trigger safety not properly making contact with the frame?

It was correct. I'm quite well-versed on this. Passed all function and safety tests, EXCEPT drop testing in that one orientation.

My theory is that such a drop imparts enough inertia on the trigger safety dingus and the trigger itself to send it home, firing the gun.

With that said, in my opinion, these triggers are for range/competition only as the pull is just too short for a carry gun without a safety.

Of course. I would only use it for range toys. But even range toys need to be drop safe, IMO.

I'm running a bunch of these so, for safety's sake, I would like to hear more about what you or the manufacturer tried and or their response. Not for the sake of impugning them or their reputation but maybe there is a solution out there.

It's been quite a while ago. At his request, I actually sent the trigger back. He then sent it to be worked over by Johnny Glock. So, it wasn't for lack of effort on their part. As a gesture of goodwill, I even bought another. I still couldn't get either one to pass that drop test.

I just conceded that it is what it is. It didn't work for me. And we tried. But I would urge my fellow builders to make sure it's working properly for them, which means you also do drop testing in addition to all the other function and safety tests.

I got the "Long Ranger" and "Hybrid Ranger." I really like the way they look!

 

[FrankenGlock]

Did you send them back or still have them? If so, I would suggest trying the Gen 5 trigger housing and a + connector. There are so many great things about it and it really changes the trigger dynamics and improves so many things wrong with the Gen 1 - 4 triggers. Also, try the GPT along with your Ranger Proof trigger. Don't see how there would be any possibility of it failing the drop test due to the design of the GPT. You may find a work around and will be glad when you did. The Vex triggers, as you know, are awesome when you get it all synced.

 

[Racer88]

Did you send them back or still have them? If so, I would suggest trying the Gen 5 trigger housing and a + connector. There are so many great things about it and it really changes the trigger dynamics and improves so many things wrong with the Gen 1 - 4 triggers. Also, try the GPT along with your Ranger Proof trigger. Don't see how there would be any possibility of it failing the drop test due to the design of the GPT. You may find a work around and will be glad when you did. The Vex triggers, as you know, are awesome when you get it all synced.

Thanks, but I'm going to pass. The trigger shoes are quite attractive and nicely finished. But, based on this experience and what (at least think) I know, the problem is the geometry of the trigger shoe link (to the trigger bar) which is what removes the pre-travel or take-up. It simply goes too far, placing the cruciform precariously half-off the ledge of the trigger housing shelf.

Furthermore, I suspect the spring for the trigger safety dingus is too weak, which is how the inertia generated in a back-of-the-gun-down drop is able to overcome that safety, allowing the trigger to be activated when dropped in such a manner. That is unacceptable and a safety test FAILURE. If I would accidentally drop the (loaded) gun, and it happened to land on the ground in that orientation, it would be a BANG. No bueno. Not an acceptable risk AT ALL.

For those reasons (and experience) I have eliminated ANY trigger of any brand that reduces pre-travel from consideration in one of my builds. And that eliminates MOST of them, as I discovered pre-travel reduction seems to be a popular feature.

Losing that margin of safety isn't worth a shorter trigger pull for me. The standard pre-travel isn't a negative or a problem for me. For me, it's kind of like a "two-stage" precision rifle trigger. I kind of like the take-up to that first break.

Do you drop test your builds? By that, I mean actually DROP them from shoulder height to the floor.