Triggers
- Thread starter L Ross
- Start date
Missionary
Well-Known Member
Quality is just that... When you have it they are a joy to slip the finger around.
If you have any wonders get out a mass produced cheap whatever and thrill with the grinding ill regular journey to the final slippy sloppy release.
If you have any wonders get out a mass produced cheap whatever and thrill with the grinding ill regular journey to the final slippy sloppy release.
Rick H
Well-Known Member
I am a fan of good crisp triggers, but not very light pulls. 3 lbs. is about perfect for me in a rifle and it makes no difference if it is a single or two stage to me, as long as the second stage is crisp, nearly creep free and without a ton of overtravel.
That said I can adapt to a crappy trigger (ala most striker fired pistols) that creeps and chunks along. Both of my AR's have "enhanced" service style triggers that break at 4 1/2 lbs but with some noticeable creep. They suffice for their intended purposes. Called coyotes have much to fear inside of 300 yds. Gremlins too.
That said I can adapt to a crappy trigger (ala most striker fired pistols) that creeps and chunks along. Both of my AR's have "enhanced" service style triggers that break at 4 1/2 lbs but with some noticeable creep. They suffice for their intended purposes. Called coyotes have much to fear inside of 300 yds. Gremlins too.
I'm not sure how many would consider this a "quality" trigger, but the last two-stage I had was a stock military Mauser, 09 Argentine, which was "heavy" but broke like the best (the "best" I've personally had have been Timney) commercial triggers I've bought.
I REALLY liked the first stage, which allowed me to take up the "slack" in the pad of my finger before starting to put the actual squeeze on it to let a round go. my brother and I both have been able to shoot three-shot groups at 100 yards into one half inch with it consistently. But then, many fellas have triggers which would "go" with less force than it took to take up the slack on the first stage of that one.
That's with a $70 Adams & Bennet barrel and Sierra 160 grain, 6.5 bullets at a moderate 2400 fps. Several oddities in this one, so the two-stage trigger part may be moot for the context of the question.
The military Mausers are the only two-stage triggers I've personally owned, and I like them for hunting, but they were not all nearly as sweet as the one on that Argentine.
I REALLY liked the first stage, which allowed me to take up the "slack" in the pad of my finger before starting to put the actual squeeze on it to let a round go. my brother and I both have been able to shoot three-shot groups at 100 yards into one half inch with it consistently. But then, many fellas have triggers which would "go" with less force than it took to take up the slack on the first stage of that one.
That's with a $70 Adams & Bennet barrel and Sierra 160 grain, 6.5 bullets at a moderate 2400 fps. Several oddities in this one, so the two-stage trigger part may be moot for the context of the question.
The military Mausers are the only two-stage triggers I've personally owned, and I like them for hunting, but they were not all nearly as sweet as the one on that Argentine.
Ian
Notorious member
I'm definitely a fan of two-stage triggers. Favorites are Paul Mauser's design with the M1 Rifle and M14/M1A being a close second. Both usually need some polishing and a little work to take out or at least smooth the creep. Never really felt the need to lighten any of the military designs. Another one I really like is the Savage Accutrigger, it's a sort of fugazi two-stage but the effect is the same for me, although I do like to set the Accutriggers a little lighter than the military two-stage ones, somewhere around 3.5-4 pounds is about right.
My least favorite trigger is a "Mil-Spec" AR trigger. Little by little I'm changing all of mine out to two-stage, still working on a "favorite" brand.
Something that I'm snobbish about, and is every bit as important as take-up and break to me, is overtravel. I like as little overtravel as possible.
My least favorite trigger is a "Mil-Spec" AR trigger. Little by little I'm changing all of mine out to two-stage, still working on a "favorite" brand.
Something that I'm snobbish about, and is every bit as important as take-up and break to me, is overtravel. I like as little overtravel as possible.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
I have four 1909 Argis customized nicely and one roughly... ALL FIVE have Timneys. Most Delux but two sportsmans. (No safety)
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
I'm in the camp with Rick H.
A crisp, clean trigger is more to my liking than a super light trigger.
I have some guns with very light weight trigger pulls and have owned others in the past. Even on a dedicated target rifle, there are diminishing returns to reducing pull weights.
On any type of working gun, you can easily get into the territory of too light. A crisp, clean break is far more useful (and safe) than a super lightweight pull on a working gun.
And I also agree with Rick H, I can work with a less than perfect trigger and still get good results.
Having spent a lot of trigger time shooting DA revolvers, I can say that striker fired guns don't pose much of a problem for me. A Glock will never have the same feel of a nice SA 1911 but it isn't the end of the world, I can make the Glock work just fine.
And as for two stage triggers, I like them.
A crisp, clean trigger is more to my liking than a super light trigger.
I have some guns with very light weight trigger pulls and have owned others in the past. Even on a dedicated target rifle, there are diminishing returns to reducing pull weights.
On any type of working gun, you can easily get into the territory of too light. A crisp, clean break is far more useful (and safe) than a super lightweight pull on a working gun.
And I also agree with Rick H, I can work with a less than perfect trigger and still get good results.
Having spent a lot of trigger time shooting DA revolvers, I can say that striker fired guns don't pose much of a problem for me. A Glock will never have the same feel of a nice SA 1911 but it isn't the end of the world, I can make the Glock work just fine.
And as for two stage triggers, I like them.
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L Ross
Well-Known Member
This morning it was so nice out. Overcast but little wind and 57 degrees. I decided to get he Bergara B-14 out. When I lifted it out of the safe I really noticed its near 12 lb. weight. Grabbed a box of Aguila super match and wandered out to the bench. I threw 12 red ripe jalapenos in the smoker for chipotles and tossed a piece of carpeting and a sand bag on the bench. Next I wiggled two depressions in the gravel for my feet after aligning my shoulder to the targets. I got a little copper cup for the empties and was ready to go.
I loaded 10 rounds into the AICS magazine and picked up the rifle. This was the first outing for the new TT Diamond two stage trigger I bought on a Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal from MidSouth. Until I shot the 14 rounds on Monday with the Kidd 10-22 I had not shot targets since some time in late October or early November. If I recall correctly I was in the 80's percentage wise.
I took up the first stage and grabbed the second stage when the cross hair hung on the prairie dog. I got a nice hit and knocked it off the rail, but I was annoyed with myself. Taking a breath I shot properly for the next 7 targets. Loving everything about the new trigger. Held on the dog, followed through and watch target after target topple from the rail. Target number 9 I missed, I called it out about 1 inch to he left at the junction of the neck/shoulder with the prairie dog facing to the right. The weight of the rifle was getting to me and the period of having white painted steel under the cross hairs was getting briefer. I sucked it up, shot and hit the last target. I then loaded a single round and came back and cleaned up the miss. 9 out of the bank of 10 and 11 shots for ten knock downs. I was extremely happy.
Can a trigger be described as sensual? I can't wait to get back out with the rifle. I have it set up just the way I want with a 6" barrel extension threaded on to give the rifle the heft and stability of a 24" barreled gun. The AICS magazine serves as a palm rest in my offhand position. The Leupold AR MK-1 scope is everything I wanted. And that trigger, oh my, such control. Take up the first stage as I settle onto the target, then gently press and hold, press and hold, pop, tink, success.
I loaded 10 rounds into the AICS magazine and picked up the rifle. This was the first outing for the new TT Diamond two stage trigger I bought on a Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal from MidSouth. Until I shot the 14 rounds on Monday with the Kidd 10-22 I had not shot targets since some time in late October or early November. If I recall correctly I was in the 80's percentage wise.
I took up the first stage and grabbed the second stage when the cross hair hung on the prairie dog. I got a nice hit and knocked it off the rail, but I was annoyed with myself. Taking a breath I shot properly for the next 7 targets. Loving everything about the new trigger. Held on the dog, followed through and watch target after target topple from the rail. Target number 9 I missed, I called it out about 1 inch to he left at the junction of the neck/shoulder with the prairie dog facing to the right. The weight of the rifle was getting to me and the period of having white painted steel under the cross hairs was getting briefer. I sucked it up, shot and hit the last target. I then loaded a single round and came back and cleaned up the miss. 9 out of the bank of 10 and 11 shots for ten knock downs. I was extremely happy.
Can a trigger be described as sensual? I can't wait to get back out with the rifle. I have it set up just the way I want with a 6" barrel extension threaded on to give the rifle the heft and stability of a 24" barreled gun. The AICS magazine serves as a palm rest in my offhand position. The Leupold AR MK-1 scope is everything I wanted. And that trigger, oh my, such control. Take up the first stage as I settle onto the target, then gently press and hold, press and hold, pop, tink, success.
fiver
Well-Known Member
i don't have a lot of aftermarket triggers.
the only one i personally ever traded out was a Huber ball trigger and then slowly worked it over to my liking.
i did have a smith go in and add pull weight to my win-101, and then put a 2 stage in my SKB trap gun he just looked at me weird when i asked him to do that.
i am a fan of 3# pull weights though, it's just enough without being too much even though it can feel a little different in different guns.
the only one i personally ever traded out was a Huber ball trigger and then slowly worked it over to my liking.
i did have a smith go in and add pull weight to my win-101, and then put a 2 stage in my SKB trap gun he just looked at me weird when i asked him to do that.
i am a fan of 3# pull weights though, it's just enough without being too much even though it can feel a little different in different guns.
RBHarter
West Central AR
Set triggers .
I have that on a couple of Hawkins . I just want to say too much of a good thing is still too much . I don't mind a quick trigger , a nice 2 stage where you hit the stop and just add that bit whatever it is . I do however want to be aware that I've made contact with the trigger before it goes bang . Probably counter productive with a set trigger but under 4-5oz there's just too much to go wrong if between the set and the break something changes like a tree jumps in the way or a fawn stands up or that buck with his nose in the weeds turns out to be doe after a line of clover .......
I have that on a couple of Hawkins . I just want to say too much of a good thing is still too much . I don't mind a quick trigger , a nice 2 stage where you hit the stop and just add that bit whatever it is . I do however want to be aware that I've made contact with the trigger before it goes bang . Probably counter productive with a set trigger but under 4-5oz there's just too much to go wrong if between the set and the break something changes like a tree jumps in the way or a fawn stands up or that buck with his nose in the weeds turns out to be doe after a line of clover .......
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
I am a (light pull) trigger snob. All there is too it... Custom/reworked/whatever it takes... I hate heavy ugly triggers.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
I have one on my 1000 yard Springfield rifle, my only singly stage trigger. The Huber works as stated, but I don’t know as needed after 55 years of two stage triggers.
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I'm in the "not too light" crowd. I'd say 2.5-3lbs is good as long as there's no creep and the break is dead clean. Single or 2 stage doesn't really matter to me, but the lighter the trigger, the easier a 2 stage makes it for me. I have a commercial FN Mauser that was built in the '50s with a single stage that's tied into the trigger guard somehow, I forget the specifics. It breaks at about 1.5 lbs, maybe less, but you have to train yourself to just barely skim the trigger surface or you will fire before ready. A 2 stage would help there, for me at least.
Then there's the other end of it. You take a 5-8 lbs trigger that breaks clean, it's not too hard at all to get used to that and do a good job with it. The same trigger that's gritty and has a mile of sear to grind across before she goes bang, that's hard to do good shooting with even if it's only a couple lbs.
I bet a lot of us old double action shooters are familiar with being able to squeeze the hammer back to the "she'll go with just a little more pressure" point and fine tune the sight picture from there.
Then there's the other end of it. You take a 5-8 lbs trigger that breaks clean, it's not too hard at all to get used to that and do a good job with it. The same trigger that's gritty and has a mile of sear to grind across before she goes bang, that's hard to do good shooting with even if it's only a couple lbs.
I bet a lot of us old double action shooters are familiar with being able to squeeze the hammer back to the "she'll go with just a little more pressure" point and fine tune the sight picture from there.
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Snakeoil
Well-Known Member
I think there are two categories for triggers, hunting and target shooting. The compromise for hunting is a set trigger. I have a Timney on my 03 Springfield and I love it. I had a set on my Shiloh Sharps and as light as that was, I could slowly take up on it and sometimes think that it was never going to break. You get conditioned to anything you shoot.
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