Who all has had their triggers adjusted to their liking on a double rifle? If you did, did you use a similar poundage that you prefer on a bolt action?
My double is tighter than I like. With bolt guns I have them adjusted to about 2 1/2 pounds. When shooting a 470, is there any reason not to have the triggers that light?
If you wanted to adjust your triggers on a double, is that something that a typical small town gunsmith could do?

Spring,
I would not want my double triggers that light, nor any big bore rifle. I have not weighed my double rifle triggers but I would guess @ 4 to 4.5 lbs. The important thing is that are crisp.
Double Rifles are not bench rest guns.
They are for Combat in the Jess.

Hi,

With trigger at 2 1/2 pounds in a double you are getting very close to (or at) where it will double, at least in 470 NE.

Also lets face it, most gunsmiths have probably never seen a double in the flesh...

510,
You're sentiments about a local gunsmith's lack of double rifle experience are exactly the concerns that I have. And yes, I can see that a light trigger could set the stage for a double discharge. Since my gun's front trigger is "articulated" (whatever that means), and has a safety device that is designed to prevent that double discharge from happening, I suppose the risk of that is lessened. Nevertheless, with the with a 470's recoil, you need to be careful.

NE450,
I think I would be happier if my triggers were at least in the 4 to 4.5 pound range, as you mentioned. I would suspect they are near 6-7 now, which is just too tight. Think I should contact the manuafacurer to get the instrux on how to adjust the triggers before handing it over to a local gunsmith?

quote:

Originally posted by Spring:
Since my gun's front trigger is "articulated" (whatever that means)

That means it's hinged (push it forward with your finger sometime) - to provide some "give" to the trigger and keep it from banging into your finger during recoil of the second barrel.

JJ did clean mine up a bit, but left them at @4 on the front and @4.5 on the back.

PS - IMO - unless your "local" gunsmith is named Merrington, Perodeau, or has significant experience working on double guns (and I don't mean Stevens doubles) - just pay the shipping to someone that does - you'll be much better off.

I just spoke with a fellow that deals in some of the finest double shotguns on the market, Kevin's in Thomasville, (who by the way currently has a 28 guage Boss in mint condition that is to die for!) and he told me not to let anyone around here work on my gun. He said that he knows of a fellow that is qualified to do it, but that even the manufacturers will not adjust triggers at this point because of the liability.
Now I have to decide whether or not it is worth it to send the gun off or just be content with it as it is. In a hunting situation, I don't notice the tightness. I guess it's just something that stands out when shooting it from a bench rest.

Yes, Kevin's has some nice double guns.

But JJ can actually BUILD a double gun...from scratch...

Give him a call. If the triggers can't safely be adjusted - I'm sure he'll tell you that after examining it.

Champlin Arms

Spring,
contact JJ Perodeau at www.champlinarms.com and talk to him.

quote:

Originally posted by Spring:
Think I should contact the manuafacurer to get the instrux on how to adjust the triggers before handing it over to a local gunsmith?

The instructions for adjusting the triggers on a double rifle, are the use of jeweler's files, and a lot of experience! I'd give JJ Parideau a call at Champlin's!

What double do you have?

I like a hard clean breaking trigger on a double..I've have them double on me twice and its not fun...

Bad triggers don't bother me much, I can live with a bad trigger if I have too...

Mac,
Mine is a Beretta 455. I sent an e-mail to them this morning to get their thoughts on this, but haven't yet heard back. After reading Ray's comments, and his experience has my respect, I may just leave the triggers tight. I haven't noticed them bothering me during hunting situations, just when I'm trying to fine tune a load for Africa from the bench.

Ray, have you measured the trigger pull on your Searcy?

Spring, I'm sure you already know what to expect from Beretta's hourly customer service rep. via email. They aren't going to advocate any adjustments of the gun's trigger.

How old is your gun? If it's been more than a few years since it's been apart, then it's probably due a little cleaning/maintenance inside.

Three different posters here have reccomended JJ and to be honest with you, I'd send a Beretta double to him before I sent it to a gunsmith at Beretta USA.

If you're a double guy (obviously) and don't have a good gunsmith, he's the guy you'll want to get to know .

Thanks, newguy. I haven't spoken with JJ in about a year but took the advice of others here, notably N E 450, and had some good conversations with him when I was in the market for my first double rifle. No doubt the guy knows his stuff.
I have noticed that my rear trigger is slightly tighter than my front. Would you suspect that is by design?

Yes sir, that is by design.

As the front trigger (right barrel) is obviously designed to fire first, it's the recoil of the first shot tripping the sear and hammer falling from the second barrel that is of concern for "doubling" (although the trigger finger can sometimes do it too.)

In theory, if you always shot the right barrel (front trigger) first, that one could be extremely light without a fear of the second barrel "doubling."

Spring,
newguy is correct, the rear trigger is usually heavier.
Next time you shoot try this; have a very firm grip on the pistol grip of the rifle. Line the sights up and swiftly and smoothly pull the trigger all the way to the rear in one smooth motion., also have a firm grip on the forend with your elbow pointing straight down. Pull the rifle into your shoulder hard. Put your face on the stock hard.
Do not try to work the trigger on an elephant gun the same way you pull it on a varmint rifle. Try to fire the rifle as soon as the sights are properly aligned. This should keep you from jerking the shot trying to get the sights "just right".
For fast close range snapshooting use Ray's technique, as soon as the rifle hits the shoulder you "look" down the bbl and [with a controled jerk as Ray says, I call it a "compressed squeeze" we mean the same thing] press the trigger. Ray said he did not use the sights and it nearly started a war. What I do, [and he probably does too] is get a "flash" sight picture. For close, live saving shots, if your rifle fits you this happens subconsciously.
Practice makes perfect.

Spring,
I have not measured the triggers on my Searcy and its a Bill Dowtins right now..but I would be pretty close at 4.5 to 5 lbs..and they break clean...

One thing I have done with all my doubles rifles is put the old right left right left shooting to bed.....all my double guns shot the same if I shot left right, left right.. never made one iota of difference as long as the were regulated and sighted in...

When I take a long shot on a Buffalo such as last year at 125 to 150 yards, I use the rear trigger and I hit him in the sticking spot, it works for me, for some reason I shoot better at longer ranges with the rear trigger...

At 50 yds. I will shoot right left, but on a elephant I would shoot the rear trigger, just one of my quirks I suppose. I just like the feel of the gun with the rear trigger..

I think in todays world with a PH for backup I wouldn't mind having a single selective trigger ala Browning on a double rifle...better yet the old browning single selective double triggers, that was the best damn thing I ever saw and for some strange reason it didn't fly and not many folks even knew such a combination ever existed...