Advanced Marksmanship Overtravel......let’s talk about it

[Dthomas3523]

Strictly PRS or practical/field rifle.

Do you have a preference on overtravel in a trigger?

Please no “my way is better and yours sucks.”

Do you even care about overtravel? If so, why do you like it or you don’t?

 

[47guy]

i like the least amout of OT i can get and still have the trigger break reliably...i just do not like that mushy feel anywhere in my trigger.

 

[Diver160651]

i like the least amout of OT i can get and still have the trigger break reliably...i just do not like that mushy feel anywhere in my trigger.

Dave,

Not really directed at your comment, but maybe you can answer this.

Question that I have no answer for.. If we were to have zero over-travel:

How does that effect follow-thru and is the hard stop then happening in the few milliseconds the bullet has not left the barrel?

PS I totally get the benchrest/Fclass free-recoilers need to touch the trigger and let the trigger to run away from the finder during recoil (zero follow-thru). I am interested in the context of good rifle fundamentals.

 

[frank320]

On a heavy hunting or combat trigger, i prefer to have some over-travel to let the post break trigger some travel to slow down without mashing into a hard-stop. On a precision rifle with a light trigger and crisp glass-like break, i prefer to have minimal over-travel. The reason being the trigger is light to being with, so stopping a light trigger asap after the trigger break is less eventful. With minimal over-travel, i find a lot less overall movement of fingers, wrists, etc... post trigger break - almost like a small mouse click.

 

[morganlamprecht]

i want zero wall behind my triggers

i want the trigger to break and for me to feel the spring tension when it does

like mentioned above...snapping thru a 2-4 lb trigger and hitting a wall doesnt help me at all

if you drop the weight down to ounces, then its whatever, but i dont prefer trigger that light either

 

[47guy]

Dave,

Not really directed at your comment, but maybe you can answer this.

Question that I have no answer for.. If we were to have zero over-travel:

How does that effect follow-thru and is the hard stop then happening in the few milliseconds the bullet has not left the barrel?

PS I totally get the benchrest/Fclass free-recoilers need to touch the trigger and let the trigger to run away from the finder during recoil (zero follow-thru). I am interested in the context of good rifle fundamentals.

Sorry Jim I’m having problems logging in on my PC.

So frank320 explained it pretty good.
I do not shoot a heavy trigger I run 8oz so when it breaks I want it to stop...not a hard stop like a brick wall but a solid stop.

Also I do not follow the fundamental rules to a T because a lot of them just do not work for me and a 2-4lb trigger with a bunch of over travel behind it is one of them.

I’ve tried many times and end up with shots to the right.

 

[Diver160651]

Sorry Jim I’m having problems logging in on my PC.

So frank320 explained it pretty good.
I do not shoot a heavy trigger I run 8oz so when it breaks I want it to stop...not a hard stop like a brick wall but a solid stop.

Also I do not follow the fundamental rules to a T because a lot of them just do not work for me and a 2-4lb trigger with a bunch of over travel behind it is one of them.

I’ve tried many times and end up with shots to the right.

Thanks - 8oz is very light, - but, I have seen you make the smallest 850y group I've seen during a positional match - I think all your shots about hit the mounting bolt.

I get the TigerTech trend, chasing the benchrest ideas, but were also seeing a lot of NDs - I think there was 3 DNFs to light triggers in the match the weekend before Easter.

I think mine is light, at 3x heavier LOL

 

[47guy]

Thanks - 8oz is very light, - but, I have seen you make the smallest 850y group I've seen during a positional match - I think all your shots about hit the mounting bolt.

I get the TigerTech trend, chasing the benchrest ideas, but were also seeing a lot of NDs - I think there was 3 DNFs to light triggers in the match the weekend before Easter.

I think mine is light, at 3x heavier LOL

I’ve had 1 ND in 16 yrs it was a savage PTA with a trigger at 3oz and I pulled my gun from the line and went home not because I was told to but because IMHO it was a danger to everyone at that match.

I have bix n Andy’s in all 3 of my guns and can bang slam drop on but or muzzle from 2ft and they will not fire they are safe and all at 8oz.

I shot in Elko Saturday 9 hour drive round trip then shot a tactical match Sunday. And FYI the 850yd group was 1.5”.

Also I don’t like the trigger tech triggers I’ve fondled a few.

 

[Dthomas3523]

Thanks for replies. Was just curious on other opinions.

I agree, on a trigger like AI, the over travel is nice because you have more tension on your finger and if it hits a hard wall after break, you’re gonna pull or push rifle.

I don’t notice it not being there on triggertech as I have those set at about 1lb.

 

[Diver160651]

I’ve had 1 ND in 16 yrs it was a savage PTA with a trigger at 3oz and I pulled my gun from the line and went home not because I was told to but because IMHO it was a danger to everyone at that match.

I have bix n Andy’s in all 3 of my guns and can bang slam drop on but or muzzle from 2ft and they will not fire they are safe and all at 8oz.

I shot in Elko Saturday 9 hour drive round trip then shot a tactical match Sunday. And FYI the 850yd group was 1.5”.

Also I don’t like the trigger tech triggers I’ve fondled a few.

I might have shot a 1.5" group before - but it was like 12 yards, certainly not during the timer in a positional match with some wind at that distance.. nice work.

I am running all two stage 2 lbs Hubers and Bix n Andy's.

Just my guesses from what I have seen: It isn't the drops as much as what appears to be people moving the gun and even though the trigger finger is NOT "on" trigger or even in the trigger guard, part of their hand or finger still brushed the edge/side of the trigger.. I think in part because of low take up and the overly light single stage, it happens even before people know they lite one off. Then there must be a component like wear that causes the sear to let go on a slammed bolt. Similar to having our Bix's adjusted improperly.

 

[47guy]

Thanks for replies. Was just curious on other opinions.

I agree, on a trigger like AI, the over travel is nice because you have more tension on your finger and if it hits a hard wall after break, you’re gonna pull or push rifle.

I don’t notice it not being there on triggertech as I have those set at about 1lb.

The other thing I can not stand in a trigger is creep and why I do not like the TT triggers...or why I did not like the ones I’ve felt...I’m not sure you can adjust the creep out the TT triggers or not I don’t know much about.

 

[Dthomas3523]

The other thing I can not stand in a trigger is creep and why I do not like the TT triggers...or why I did not like the ones I’ve felt...I’m not sure you can adjust the creep out the TT triggers or not I don’t know much about.

Mine have zero creep. I thought that was one of their big claims to fame. Zero creep?

I agree. I’d return mine if they had any at all.

 

[47guy]

I might have shot a 1.5" group before - but it was like 12 yards, certainly not during the timer in a positional match with some wind at that distance.. nice work.

I am running all two stage 2 lbs Hubers and Bix n Andy's.

Just my guesses from what I have seen, it isn't the drops as much as what appears to be people moving the gun and even though the trigger finger in NOT "on" trigger or even in the trigger guard, part of their hand or finger still brushed the trigger.. I think in part with such light weights and low take up of the overly light single stage. Then there must be a component like wear that causes the sear to let go on a slammed bolt. Similar to having our Bix's adjusted improperly.

This is why I run 2 stage triggers.
bolt firing is from not enough sear engagement and possibly ware but I’ve got at least 12-14,000 rounds over the BnA in the gun you seen and never a trigger issue.

 

[Diver160651]

This is why I run 2 stage triggers.
bolt firing is from not enough sear engagement and possibly ware but I’ve got at least 12-14,000 rounds over the BnA in the gun you seen and never a trigger issue.

^ and improper adjustment from lightening triggers without sear adjustments, then even the polish from normal cycling might be enough.

I think two stage does give us a bit more "feel" and early warning..

Are you running 8oz 2nd stage or total?

 

[47guy]

Mine have zero creep. I thought that was one of their big claims to fame. Zero creep?

I agree. I’d return mine if they had any at all.

The 2 I’ve felt(not mine)had a slight bit of creep right before the broke.

 

[47guy]

^ and improper adjustment from lightening triggers without sear adjustments, then even the polish from normal cycling might be enough.

I think two stage does give us a bit more "feel" and early warning..

Are you running 8oz 2nd stage or total?

Very slight tension on the first stage 8oz on the second

And agree on the not adjusted correctly

 

[Diver160651]

Very slight tension on the first stage 8oz on the second

oh - that sounds a lot better than a 8oz single or 4oz 2nd

 

[47guy]

you Shoot my gun next time we’re at a match and see what you think I bet you’ll be surprised at how it actually feels

 

[Diver160651]

sound like we have the same triggers or at least some of them..

May 19th

 

[rgv]

I've always ran with lots of overtravel for the same reasons posted multiple times above.

Whenever I discuss triggers with a zero-overtravel proponent, I always ask them if they can detect overtravel in live fire, and the answer is always a hesitant 'no'