Preview: Ruger Elite 452 Trigger

by
posted on April 28, 2024
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Ruger Elite 452 Trigger

A factory upgrade included on many of Ruger’s top-shelf AR-platform rifles, the Elite 452 Trigger is also available from the company aftermarket—offering a marked improvement compared to the standard mil-spec AR-15 trigger, but at a price point lower than most drop-in units—although some assembly is required.

This is because the two-stage Elite 452 comes packaged from Ruger fully assembled within a polymer fire-control housing that also incorporates an included polymer pistol grip and a left-side (right-hand) safety selector; together, they allow the trigger to be dry-fired prior to installation.

The Elite 452 trigger is listed as having a 4-lb., 8-oz., break, but our sample’s pull had smoothed out to 4 lbs., 5 ozs., after a few hundred rounds of use.

MSRP is $160. For more information, visit shopruger.com.

Latest

Robinson Armament Xcrl Gotw 1
Robinson Armament Xcrl Gotw 1

Gun of the Week: Robinson Armament XCR-L

One man, Alex Robinson, took it upon himself to address what he saw as several shortcomings in the AR-15 design. He consulted with special forces operators and asked what they wanted in a rifle platform. The result was the Robinson Armament XCR.

Maryland Bans Glocks and the NRA Responds

Legislation recently signed into law by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore essentially bans nearly every Glock and Glock-style pistol on the market from being sold within the state.

The Armed Citizen® May 29, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Federal Signs Agreement With U.S. Army to Improve Ammo Performance

Federal Ammunition announced this week that it has entered into an agreement that allows the U.S. Army to utilize its patented Peak Alloy ammunition case technology for use in multiple cartridges and weapon systems.

Four Armed Citizen Stories That Tell us a Lot

Each self-defense case is different. As we read them, we find ourselves wondering what we would have done, and then asking if the citizen made the best decisions possible in the worst-case scenario.

The Three Rs of Performance Shooting: Rise, Return & Realignment

Way back in the day, the three Rs of learning were colloquially known as "Readin’, Rightin’ and Rithmatic." In today's modern performance shooting, the three Rs become Rise, Return and Realignment, the core mechanics of recoil control.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.