If you've ever shot the same rifle from different positions you've undoubtedly noticed that each position tends to change how your hand reaches the grip and thus finger the trigger. Standing, kneeling, braced, prone, from a bench, the list goes on. As long as there have been rifles the solution has always been to just suck it up at the risk of fatigue and hand cramps to take the shot.
You may have tried a more or less vertical grip angle, broader or narrower grip to give yourself a better trigger reach only to find your wrist is no longer comfortable. An adjustable stock can alleviate some of the issue, but only as long as the eye relief of your optic tolerates your new head position.
The answer to much of this is the Nomad trigger from RMT Triggers. This unique trigger can tilt and pivot six degrees left to right to meet your finger in a more comfortable spot without protruding out of the trigger guard and still provide a consistent pull.
When we first got the RMT Triggers Nomad in I made a short video demonstrating how the trigger worked outside of a firearm. Despite compliance with YouTube's rules the video was immediately restricted. To see how the Nomad moves check out the video below.
We asked viewers which rifle they'd like to see it in and the votes went to my Impossible AR. Considering that rifle was built to question common thoughts on AR operations and building I thought it made for a good fit to try a very different kind of trigger.
More About the Nomad:
Housing made of 7075 Aluminum, anodized
Trigger made of 7075 Aluminum, anodized
Key components made of 440C Stainless Steel
Hammer made of S7 Tool Steel
Pull Weight factory set at 3lbs
Anti-walk pins included
Wrenches included
My Experience: The F1 receiver set is a tight one to begin with, add a layer of cerakote to it and a mallet is involved for just about anything. Beat the takedown and pivot pins out, beat the lower free from the upper, beat old trigger and hammer pins out and the new ones in. This isn't the fault of the triggers, just the receiver I used. The F1's trigger opening also seems to be a bit smaller than other receivers which may have limited how far the trigger could pivot. It felt different in the receiver than it did uninstalled, but then again most triggers do.
On the range I spent the first ten rounds focused on zeroing the optic of the day to the rifle, in this case a Crimson Trace Hardline Pro 4-16x50. While zeroing that I didn't notice the trigger. I decided to play around and group some of the bulk ammo I had used to zero. Once again I didn't notice the trigger, but did catch myself in the awkward position I often use to have proper finger placement. As I relaxed my hand I watch as the RMT Nomad swung to the left side of the rifle and pivoted left from the bore. No more hand cramp. I then relaxed my shoulder and found myself in a much more natural position. I shot five more rounds of the same bulk ammo and found the group had shrunken. Mind you the Impossible AR is not one that requires any shoulder support when shooting from a bench. There is so little recoil that the rifle stays generally in place.
While playing with other loads I tried extending and collapsing the stock to force my arm into longer and shorter reaches. With each adjustment the RMT Nomad silently adjusted. I tried the pull from different lengths to see if the trigger would feel any different. Is there any difference to the shooter between straight, canted, and/or pivoted? No, none. It's the same predictable break and reset.
Did it work? Yes. Accuracy was improved as I was able to shoot more comfortably for a longer period of time. Another way to look at that is I was able to shoot more accurately through different hand positions as my press of the trigger was corrected by the RMT Nomad when my hand didn't want to naturally place my finger in the perfect spot.
What's the Application? I tested the RMT Nomad from the bench so I could eliminate as much personal error as possible and see how the trigger could adapt to different finger placement. It certainly works on the bench, but I think an additional application would be for competitive and tactical shooters who often find themselves shooting from different positions which don't always make for natural or comfortable shooting positions. Additionally this trigger would be advantageous to families or departments that share a rifle between different shooters. An adjustable stock can only go so far and work with magnified optics, the RMT Nomad makes up the rest with versatility that beats trying a different grip.
Is There a Drawback? If you're looking for the perfect trigger you should read our article about that. I wondered if it was possible for the RMT Nomad to pivot as such that it would reach outside of the trigger guard. On my narrow F1 Firearms lower it did not. The only negative I could find isn't really a negative at all. You've got to pay for the engineering, materials, and extra manufacturing steps that going into making a Nomad. As a result you'll find the price higher than other cassette triggers. At the time this article was written the best price I could find was at Optics Planet. Use code "GBGuns" for an extra 5% off (not an affiliate code).
The Future may show the RMT Nomad being more widely adopted. At the time this article was written the RMT Triggers website mentions a fixed option and one coming for the Remington 700 pattern of rifle. I may look into one to blend with the WOOX Furiosa Chassis we reviewed recently.