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TRIGGER SETTING
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Picture of Richard Wayne
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I was just wondering what kind of trigger pull weight you guy's find best suited for your hunting rifle's. Also what would you class a hair trigger to be.(pull weight). Thank's : Rick.
 
Posts: 224 | Location: ontario,canada | Registered: 14 July 2002Reply With Quote
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IMHO, minimizing creep is more critical than reducing pull weight. Having said that, a hunting trigger with a 2-2.5 lb pull and ZERO creep is what I consider ideal. As far as a hair trigger, anything under 11 ounces with ZERO creep falls into that catagory.


Praise be to the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
 
Posts: 427 | Location: Clarkston, MI | Registered: 06 February 2006Reply With Quote
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Three pounds is good, IMO. My Blasers with their special searless triggers have pull weights of right around 2 1/2 pounds, plus or minus, and they are the best I have used.

I like a good trigger, but I have found that anything up to 5 or 7 pounds or so is manageable, as long as it's clean. But the heavier the trigger pull is, the harder it is to manage to bring off the shot without disturbing the sight picture.

I would think a hair trigger, such as a set trigger, to be worthy of the name, should be measured in ounces. I have a double set trigger on an old Mauser that lets off with from three to four ounces of pressure.


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
 
Posts: 13767 | Location: New England | Registered: 06 June 2003Reply With Quote
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Picture of Big Bore Boar Hunter
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Big game rifles between 3-3.5 lbs. Varmint rifles or target rifles at 2 lbs. Second the concept of minimal creep.

John
 
Posts: 1343 | Location: Northern California | Registered: 15 January 2006Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Juggernaut76:
IMHO, minimizing creep is more critical than reducing pull weight. Having said that, a hunting trigger with a 2-2.5 lb pull and ZERO creep is what I consider ideal. As far as a hair trigger, anything under 11 ounces with ZERO creep falls into that catagory.


Exactly. If the pull is good, and crisp, it doesn't matter what the weight is, within reason. I like a good crisp 2.0 pound pull. But, I can live very well with one that is 4.0 pounds, if it is crisp.

Don




 
Posts: 5798 | Registered: 10 July 2004Reply With Quote
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I prefer 2.75 - 3 pounds on a big game rifle.
 
Posts: 56 | Registered: 13 January 2004Reply With Quote
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3# or a bit more. and crisp. no creep. too light triggers don't allow for cold, wet fingers nor exceitment. Learn to keep you finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot.
 
Posts: 1287 | Registered: 11 January 2007Reply With Quote
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Picture of bartsche
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Roll EyesA fellow aproached me at the range the other day who has been and is an African hunter. He practices a lot off hand. He asked what I thought of himgetting some trigger work done to set them at 2 lbs.

I told him to deside for himself. I than handed him a CZ with a set trigger at 2 lbs.The first shot ,off hand, went off before he knew what happened. After firing the second shot he desided 2 lbs. was just too light for him.

With practice 2 lbs. in a hunting rifle may be OK for some guys but not for all. sofaroger


Old age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone..
 
Posts: 10226 | Location: Temple City CA | Registered: 29 April 2003Reply With Quote
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I'm working up a load for a .257 Wby Mk V right now, with a 3# trigger with lots of creep and what feels like fine sand between the mating surfaces. At the same time, I'm shooting a Savage with the Accu-trigger set at 1.7 lbs. The Wby is a PITA and if it was my rifle, would go in for a trigger job right now.

Quality of trigger is far more important (within a reasonable weight of pull) that weight.


An old pilot, not a bold pilot, aka "the pig murdering fool"
 
Posts: 2904 | Registered: 14 October 2004Reply With Quote
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I like target rifles to have triggers around 2# but would NEVER hunt with one like that.

For hunting I perfer at least a 3# pull, 4# is ideal. With proper trigger technique we should never pull off target with a 4# pull. For close shots at game, and most are, it's unlikely to matter at all but longer shots can easily be made with a CLEAN RELEASING 4# trigger.

And safety is greatly enhanced with 3-4# pull. No cold numbed, wet, gloved or excited finger should set the thing off prematurely.

Hunting just ain't target shooting. In the woods and fields, solid trigger control means a lot more than finest accuracy. With barely perceptable and smooth creep and just a little bit of over travel the safety should function 100% and no field shots need be missed because of the trigger.

My old Rem. 40x with a 2 oz trigger is useful off the bench, but not in the field. That's far too "hairy"!
 
Posts: 1615 | Location: South Western North Carolina | Registered: 16 September 2005Reply With Quote
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Hunting 3-4 lb. Target or Varmint 2-2.5 lb. Smooth action with no or minimal creep .

I would think most everyone agrees with this .

I don't know what Benchrest shooters favor .

2 ounces and up ?. I've seen a trigger set so light on a TC , that when it heated up from firing or sun exposure hammer wouldn't stay set .
Owner not the brightest in IMO !. Down right Dangerous IMO.

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ... salute
 
Posts: 1738 | Location: Southern Calif. | Registered: 08 April 2006Reply With Quote
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Benchrest shooters typically use 2 oz Jewell triggers. I used 2 oz Hart and Remington triggers when I shot centerfire BR.
I have a 22 Rimfire BR rifle now with a 2 oz Jewell on it.

Don




 
Posts: 5798 | Registered: 10 July 2004Reply With Quote
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Picture of El Deguello
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quote:
Originally posted by Richard Wayne:
I was just wondering what kind of trigger pull weight you guy's find best suited for your hunting rifle's. Also what would you class a hair trigger to be.(pull weight). Thank's : Rick.

On a single-stage trigger, I set mine at 3 pounds for hunting rifles. A "hair trigger", IMO, is a German double-set trigger adjusted so that it fires just about the time your finger touches it-a couple of ounces. But it has to be one that will stay set securely up until your finger does touch it. The way I use such a trigger is that I pull the cocking trigger all the way back to set the trigger AFTER I have acquired the target in the scope, and touch the front trigger immediately when the reticle is on a vital spot. DST's are the best hunting trigger of all, BUT you have to train yourself to use it instinctively. This takes practice. People who don't like DST's are people who never learned how to use one correctly! The DST is NEVER set until the shot is to follow in a couple of seconds!


"Bitte, trinks du nicht das Wasser. Dahin haben die Kuhen gesheissen."
 
Posts: 4386 | Location: New Woodstock, Madison County, Central NY | Registered: 04 January 2005Reply With Quote
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I like mine between 2.5 and 3 lbs.
 
Posts: 71 | Registered: 10 January 2006Reply With Quote
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Picture of Reloader
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I like 2.75-3.25 for a hunting rifle.

Hair trigger will have a different definition for everyone. I guess I would consider less than 1.5 a "hair trigger" on a hunting rifle. Target rifle would be much less.

Good Luck


Reloader
 
Posts: 4146 | Location: North Louisiana | Registered: 18 February 2004Reply With Quote
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My hunting rifles are 2.5 and a lot of people shooting factory triggers try mean and think it is a hair trigger. What ever your finger gets acccustomed to and feels comfortable with works. No creep means a lot. I have shot 2.5 for so long that 4 feels horribly hard to pull. You have to be sensitive enough to be able to put your finger on the trigger and not fire until you squeeze. I can place my finger on a 8 oz trigger without it firing and wait for the wind conditions to get right. It takes practice to get the sensitivity in your finger. Do what feels good. There is no one number fits all.
 
Posts: 1159 | Location: Florida | Registered: 16 December 2004Reply With Quote
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Picture of Richard Wayne
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Thank's alot guy's for the info, i'm going to set my Sako 300 rum. at 3.5 lb's and see how it feel's. I noticed my new Savage 243 with accu trigger is really stiff. I'm just waiting for my trigger gauge to come in the mail. Thank's again: Rick. thumb
 
Posts: 224 | Location: ontario,canada | Registered: 14 July 2002Reply With Quote
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2 pounds, but, i rarely wear gloves w/ fingers.
were i in a colder climate i'd probably bump it up a pound. still, i dont like pretravel.
 
Posts: 3986 | Location: in the tall grass "milling" around. | Registered: 09 December 2006Reply With Quote
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Creep is the worst problem, then weight. I like mine at a crisp 3lbs. But you need to wack the butt on a pad on the ground or something to jar the rifle after you've ajusted the trigger to make sure the rifle is safe. Some will take 3lbs (or 3.5lbs) fine, some won't. If a good jarring causes the trigger to trip you need a new triger if you want it that light.

JPK


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Posts: 4900 | Location: Chevy Chase, Md. | Registered: 16 November 2004Reply With Quote
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Picture of Fjold
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Walking hunting guns- 3 Lbs

Dedicated varmint guns 12 oz up to 2 Lbs.


Frank



"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953

NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite

 
Posts: 12767 | Location: Kentucky, USA | Registered: 30 December 2002Reply With Quote
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regardless of how well practiced you say you are with your 1.5# trigger, you shouldn't put your finger on it until you're ready to fire!! Until you have the rifle at your shoulder and see the target in the scope!! They don't always let you see those roots before you trip over them nor the big gloop of snow before it drops down your neck.
 
Posts: 1287 | Registered: 11 January 2007Reply With Quote
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Picture of El Deguello
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quote:
Originally posted by JPK:
Creep is the worst problem, then weight. I like mine at a crisp 3lbs. But you need to wack the butt on a pad on the ground or something to jar the rifle after you've ajusted the trigger to make sure the rifle is safe. Some will take 3lbs (or 3.5lbs) fine, some won't. If a good jarring causes the trigger to trip you need a new triger if you want it that light.
JPK


Thanks, JPK!! This is excellent advice, that ALL need to heed!! Me included!


"Bitte, trinks du nicht das Wasser. Dahin haben die Kuhen gesheissen."
 
Posts: 4386 | Location: New Woodstock, Madison County, Central NY | Registered: 04 January 2005Reply With Quote
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