Thoughts on Trigger Pull Weight

[Vodoun daVinci]

I have reduced the trigger pull on my gun to the lowest possible level and it is crisp and breaks like glass. Shot today and accuracy was meh with me being the weak link...still sub MOA but fliers I *know* were my fault. Just not owning the trigger and releasing correctly. Then I moved to my shit AR with God Awful trigger pull and absolutely amazed myself with how accurate my "Street Broom" AR is . And despite the crisp but hard trigger pull it just plain shoots better and breaks like I like it - stiff but predictable.

Is there such a thing as a trigger pull that is too light?

VooDoo

 

[wade2big]

I have reduced the trigger pull on my gun to the lowest possible level and it is crisp and breaks like glass. Shot today and accuracy was meh with me being the weak link...still sub MOA but fliers I *know* were my fault. Just not owning the trigger and releasing correctly. Then I moved to my shit AR with God Awful trigger pull and absolutely amazed myself with how accurate my "Street Broom" AR is . And despite the crisp but hard trigger pull it just plain shoots better and breaks like I like it - stiff but predictable.

Is there such a thing as a trigger pull that is too light?

VooDoo

Proofs in the pudding.

 

[Newbie2020]

Sounds like you’ve got tons of rounds with your AR. Dyou have the same number or more w your bolt gun?

I’m curious if you’re trained on your heavy trigger and just don’t have the feel for the light trigger? Maybe just need more rounds down range?

 

[Newbie2020]

But like wade said you either need to get more reps to retrain your brain and muscle memory or scrap it and go heavier

 

[Steel head]

I’ve had trigger pulls in the ounces, I recently re set pull weight on that rifle to a bit below 2#

I’m totally happy with 2-4 pounds for what I do as long as the feel is good.

 

[Southern Custom]

I think triggers can absolutely be too light. Too touchy. I prefer a 2lb trigger now. I've shot with triggers that broke in ounces. It actually took me awhile to learn to shoot with a heavier trigger. I learned to shoot in ROTC for the school rifle team (I guess that dates me) on Feinwerkbau pellet rifles with triggers that broke if you breathed on them. These days I like a trigger that allows me to get settled into it with a crisp predictable break.
It's my opinion with super light triggers your brain is too focused on not breaking it at the wrong time and therefore accuracy suffers. I'd rather settle down, apply pressure, then focus on the reticle and know when it's time to let go I'm in full control. (I stopped believing in a surprise break ages ago). As long as you know your trigger and you can predict the break you can work with it. For some folks that might be super light but for most I think over a pound is far better.

 

[M1Army]

Many of my bolt rifles are for hunting but I enjoy shooting longer ranges too. Most of my triggers are between 2.5 - 3.0 and that is comfortable for me. I think you have to find your sweet spot but I think you can go to low which can cause inconsistency just like having your trigger stiff.

 

[spife7980]

I agree^^^^ too light is a safety hazard. If it’s too light to stay out function properly then that’s bad.

But Ill be damned if I shoot a heavy trigger and won’t bitch about it.

I’ll take a trigger that’s as low as it can functionally go in the rifle and not fail. It’s up to me to not be a dumb ass and set it off early by having undisciplined fingers. If I’m too stupid to manage that then sure, turn the weight up.

 

[Vodoun daVinci]

I'm gonna crank it up and dry fire a bunch but I'm pretty sure most of my fliers are poor trigger control....the gun is safe and does not fire if the bolt is slammed but it's just too light for me to make it break consistently. I'm gonna turn her up and dry fire the shit out of it and if It feels good I'm off to the range.

Lots of good perspective from you guys so I thank you for yer experience. I'm still a novice precision rifle shooter with only 3 years and hundred of rounds down range when I really shouldn't be so uppity until I have thousands down range. Patience is not my virtue.

VooDoo

 

[b2lee]

The other week I was shooting at an 800yd target...fired...hit the target....but I didn't intend to fire just yet....I was shivering in the cold and barely tapped a 4oz trigger and it fired. Nobody around me would even know...but I did. I took out the allen wrench and put it at 1.5lbs and shot the same accuracy.

I believe upon further reflection that the light trigger pull was teaching me bad habits...I wasn't following through...I was just tapping the trigger. Now...I squeeze...break...hold to rear...watch target dance....release....cycle bolt.

 

[Steel head]

The other week I was shooting at an 800yd target...fired...hit the target....but I didn't intend to fire just yet....I was shivering in the cold and barely tapped a 4oz trigger and it fired. Nobody around me would even know...but I did. I took out the allen wrench and put it at 1.5lbs and shot the same accuracy.

I believe upon further reflection that the light trigger pull was teaching me bad habits...I wasn't following through...I was just tapping the trigger. Now...I squeeze...break...hold to rear...watch target dance....release....cycle bolt.

shooting a light trigger on my savage this winter I had a similar experience.
I was cold and hands were pretty numb and a shot went before I was settled down.

 

[jakelly]

The other week I was shooting at an 800yd target...fired...hit the target....but I didn't intend to fire just yet....I was shivering in the cold and barely tapped a 4oz trigger and it fired. Nobody around me would even know...but I did. I took out the allen wrench and put it at 1.5lbs and shot the same accuracy.

I believe upon further reflection that the light trigger pull was teaching me bad habits...I wasn't following through...I was just tapping the trigger. Now...I squeeze...break...hold to rear...watch target dance....release....cycle bolt.

I like em right around a pound. Any lighter and cold or adrenaline can cause me to fire before I “feel” the trigger. At a pound+ I haven’t had the problem.

 

[Kickin45]

As described above and just like every tool, there is one for every occasion.
It really depends on what your doing with the rifle. I personally prefer lighter triggers on my bolt guns. But I also don’t even put my finger in the trigger well until I’m ready to pull. These ultralight triggered guns are bench rifles, that’s their only function.
A hunting rifle that I’m trekking through terrain with, yes I want something with at least 2.5lbs. on the pull.
But AR’s I don’t go lower than 3.5lbs.
Triggers depend on the use, just like a hammer. You’ve got ball peen, sledge, finish, carpenter etc etc. You can use any of them for something they aren’t intended, but each one is designed for a specific purpose, just like a lightweight trigger.

 

[Newbie2020]

It’s amazing how fast my hand/finger got used to the 1.5 lb timneys on my 6cm and 6.5cm. Now I struggle to shoot a 2.5-3 lb trigger.

 

[required_user_name]

Lowlight will tell you yes, it can be too light. Here's a video of his from a month ago.

 

[tomcatfan]

I’ve recently turned my trigger tech diamond up in pull weight. I tried it as light as it would go and I learned that lighter is not better. For me I feel like I have more control with a heavier pull.

 

[Kevins750]

I turned my trigger back up on my .243 it was around a 1lb and made all my bench guns match at 1.5lbs

 

[Newbie2020]

I was surprised to learn Frank likes 2-2.5 lbs.

 

[Devildog]

I run Huber two stages triggers at 2.5 lbs, it works best for me.

 

[King_beardsly]

I’ve got my TT primary set as low as possible so right around 1.5 and it awesome, but with my TT Diamond I’ve got no idea. It’s where ever it was set out of the package and it feels great but I’m going to guess it’s around 2ish which works perfectly for my comp rifle.

 

[bghartm]

I have been buying Geissele triggers lately and attempt to run them around 2.5 to 2.9 lbs. I like to stay consistent for muscle memory.

If I run them lighter I seem to get alot of unwanted double taps.

 

[Steel head]

I’ve got my TT primary set as low as possible so right around 1.5 and it awesome, but with my TT Diamond I’ve got no idea. It’s where ever it was set out of the package and it feels great but I’m going to guess it’s around 2ish which works perfectly for my comp rifle.

I recently reset my savage trigger from 13ish ounces to 1.5 pounds, I was kinda surprised on how heavy it suddenly felt.
I definitely like it better as it’s more of a deliberate pull though.

 

[tomcatfan]

I have been buying Geissele triggers lately and attempt to run them around 2.5 to 2.9 lbs. I like to stay consistent for muscle memory.

If I run them lighter I seem to get alot of unwanted double taps.

First time I shot my AR-10 I had the same issue with the double taps. I really had to focus on holding the trigger back until the reset.

 

[TriggerJerk!]

I have reduced the trigger pull on my gun to the lowest possible level and it is crisp and breaks like glass. Shot today and accuracy was meh with me being the weak link...still sub MOA but fliers I *know* were my fault. Just not owning the trigger and releasing correctly. Then I moved to my shit AR with God Awful trigger pull and absolutely amazed myself with how accurate my "Street Broom" AR is . And despite the crisp but hard trigger pull it just plain shoots better and breaks like I like it - stiff but predictable.

Is there such a thing as a trigger pull that is too light?

VooDoo

I would suggest you increase the weight until it approaches the feel of your AR15. Disparity among the feel of triggers you use will effect your trigger break and follow through on all of them. Within reason, the more similar the better.

But absolutely keep it heavy enough to be safe.