Timney Trigger Review

Should You Upgrade the Shadow Systems DR920L Trigger? My Experience With the Timney Alpha

One of the fun parts of any hobby is the accessories—and firearms are no exception. Like my other hobbies (model rockets, SCUBA, metal detecting, guitar, archery), I enjoy the gear as much as the activity.

But with firearms, those accessories can get expensive quickly. When you buy a handgun that costs over $1,000, you expect it to need very few upgrades, or none at all.

That’s the crossroads I hit with my Shadow Systems DR920L.

Where Things Went Wrong: The Trigger
The DR920L is an excellent pistol in many ways. The aesthetics are great, the slide is incredibly smooth, and it accepts all my Glock magazines—always a plus. But over time, one thing kept bothering me: the trigger.

Compared to my other handguns—Caniks (fantastic triggers), HK, Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0—the DR920L trigger just wasn’t in the same league. There was long, mushy travel before the wall, the break felt vague, and the reset felt… “meh.”

I confirmed it on the range.

On the target shown below, the groupings around the head and center were from the other handguns I shot first. The section circled in red is the DR920L. The issue wasn’t accuracy; it was me anticipating the long, squishy trigger take-up, resulting in me pushing the muzzle down.

If I had only shot the DR920L that day, I probably would’ve adapted. But when compared side by side with better triggers, the problem stood out clearly.

Researching a Fix: Enter Timney

A bit of research confirmed I wasn’t alone. Many shooters share similar opinions about Shadow Systems’ stock triggers. Fortunately, the DR920L is compatible with a range of Glock-pattern replacements.

The one that repeatedly surfaced as the best option?

The Timney Alpha Competition Series for Glock Gen 3/4.

Purchase & Installation Experience

I ordered the Alpha Competition trigger (with bronze safety blade). Their product descriptions were solid, and the checkout process was simple. They also offer a veteran discount—but you have to place your order by phone.

The trigger arrived quickly via FedEx.

Installation was straightforward. If you’ve done handgun modifications before, especially on Glock-like platforms, you’ll be completely comfortable. Several YouTube videos walk through the process, including one from Timney themselves. Following along with a video, it took me around 30 minutes from start to first dry-fire.

Range Results: A Big Improvement

On the first range trip after installation, the difference was immediately noticeable. The Timney has a short, crisp take-up, a clean wall, and a much lighter, more predictable break. Shot placement was now consistent with my other guns—no more low shots.

I didn’t take comparison photos, but the groups were on par with my Caniks and HKs.

Given its shorter travel and lighter pull weight, the Timney feels well-suited for competition use, which was my original intent for the DR920L.

The black and bronze trigger also looks great on the gun.

Before this upgrade, I was considering selling or trading the DR920L. Now? I’m definitely keeping it. It finally performs like a long-slide pistol should, and shooting it has become enjoyable again.

Final Thoughts: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

If you love everything about the DR920L except the trigger, the Timney Alpha Competition is absolutely worth considering. The install is easy, the performance is dramatically improved, and for me, it turned a “maybe sell” pistol into a keeper.