Would someone please explain what intercepting sears and articulating triggers are and why they may be desireable.

Hallowell probably has the most concise definitions:

Intercepting Sear - A second sear, poised just behind a second notch in the hammer.

It is possible that when a cocked firearm is dropped or sharply jarred, a single sear could jump out of its notch and the hammer could fall, firing the gun accidentally. In this event, an intercepting sear would engage before the hammer could fall completely, preventing an accidental discharge. On a gun with intercepting sears, only by pulling the trigger are both sears moved out of the way simultaneously, allowing the gun to fire.

Intercepting sears are usually found on better sidelock actions. They are sometimes found on best boxlocks, and can be recognized by an extra screw behind the action fences, in addition to the usual two screws (or pins) along the lower rear of the receiver.


Articulated Front Trigger - A hinged front trigger, built to cushion its impact on one's trigger finger as the gun recoils when the rear trigger is pulled.

Intercepting sears are exactly that, they prevent an AD when the sear is jarred out of the bent. They're a desireable feature, but not mandatory given a well made gun.

An articulated front trigger is one that is hinged so that it folds forward when the trigger finger strikes it under recoil when firing the left barrel, preventing injury to the finger. They're for those who just can't master double trigger guns and are a waste of money.
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

quote:

They're for those who just can't master double trigger guns and are a waste of money.
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

Jesus mark...tell us how you really feel about them!

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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

400,
don't suppose you hav ever done that, early on, of course...? Just curious if you speak from actual knowledge or theoretical?


Rich
DRSS
NRA Life Member

400 is right. If you shoot properly you won't have a trigger fingure issue.

But I'll put a cold weather exception to it. When its below freezing, my hands get dry and slick and loose their grip. Might be loosing grip just due to my hands being cold and stiff too. I've had the privelege of apreciating an articulated trigger a time or two in the cold.

No issue in more moderate temps, certainly none in Africa.

I think intercepting sears are more important, but still not near neccesary. It is untrue that they prevent doubling, which is a common but mistaken belief. Unless a rifle is in dire need of repair, they will not prevent doubling since, except for the rare busted rifle, doubling is caused by loose grip and wild, uncontroled trigger finger. Same cause as a beat up trigger finger. When that uncontrolled trigger finger slaps the rear trigger, with enough force to disengage the sear, it also disengages the secondary sear, or safety sear, too - and the rifle doubles. Operator error!

I like intercepting sears for the obvious safety issue and I feel more comfortable with the triggers at 3 1/2lbs, front, and 4 pounds, rear, with the knowlege that the rifle has secondary sears. But again, they are not essential.

JPK

AN ARTICULATED TRIGGER IS THE MARK OF A QUALITY GUN OR RIFLE. YOU NEVER FIND THEM ON CHEAP GUNS OR RIFLES.

Articulated triggers also help in very hot weather when you are sweating like an ex president with an intern...

Tough to maintain your grip, either on a rifle or a cigar.....

Perhaps I'm overly cautious but I really like the idea of intercepting sears on everyone else's rifle (and on mine, if it's being carried by someone else).

mike

quote:

Originally posted by tomo577:
AN ARTICULATED TRIGGER IS THE MARK OF A QUALITY GUN OR RIFLE. YOU NEVER FIND THEM ON CHEAP GUNS OR RIFLES.

Tom....your caps lock is stuck on again.

Jim Manion,

I've never had a problem with sweaty hands and loss of grip in the heat. But on approach I do wipe my hands on my pants, one after the other, to make sure they aren't too sweaty whether from the heat or...?

Tomo,

It is true that many better rifles have articulated triggers. But many fine rifles do not, and many lesser rifles do. It is no sure way to gauge a rifle's quality. The same is true of shotguns.

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
400,
don't suppose you hav ever done that, early on, of course...? Just curious if you speak from actual knowledge or theoretical?


Rich
DRSS
NRA Life Member

I've never shot a .600, but have shot pretty much everything else. No, I've never had my trigger finger hit the front trigger, nor have I ever had my second finger smacked by the trigger guard. Never had a double discharge either.

Articulated triggers are actually fairly common on cheap DRs - to give an impression of quality that isn't there.
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

An articulated trigger may be more needed by fellows with thick fingers as they seem to lose a bit of flesh more frequently than people with average-sized fingers. In either case, keeping a tight grip seems to resolve the problem.

SBT:
For these and other enquiries, always check Hallowell's 'abbreviations, definitions & opinions' first for an explanation. By way of example, here are their words on intercepting sears, illustrated with a nice pic of a Holland lock fitted with the Perkes-patent interceptor, by the looks.

I was told by a well informed British member on AR

[who I exchange e-mails with] that intercepting sears

allow for a lighter trigger pull as well as what has

already been said about their safety benefit. And the

articulated forward trigger was origionally conceived

to allow a gloved finger to get between the two triggers

more easily.

Thanks you guys, very educational. And a special thanks to Marrakai for the great link.