I just bought a rifle off the Hide - Curtis Axiom action, Manners PRS 2 stock, Proof barrel - and it has a Timney Calvin Elite single stage trigger set at 1/2 lb. I'm used to the two stage trigger on my AI so a single stage trigger with this light of a pull weight is a big change. I know I can adjust the pull weight and I don't think the single stage will be an issue once I get used to it but I am wondering what most of you have your pull weight set to for matches and range practice. I went to the range yesterday - shoots great - very happy.
-
Having trouble using the site?
Contact support
Trigger pull weight?
- Thread starter bikeracer
- Start date
I can shoot just as well with a heavier trigger as I can a light trigger as long as it breaks clean. I have never measured a trigger pull in my life. The result would be just a number anyhow. I set my hunting rifles to where I can feel the trigger through thin gloves. For my target rifle I go slightly lighter but I can always feel the trigger with my bare finger. I can put slight pressure on the trigger and not have to worry about the rifle going off. I am pretty sure that I never set a trigger as light as 1/2 lb though. Just play around and see what YOU like.
That’s a freaking sweet rifle! I “think” mine are all around 2lbs. I picked up a trigger tech primary late last year and set it as low as it would go, Its Advertised at 1-1/2lbs, but I don’t think it got that low. To my surprise this was heavier than my other “ precision” bolt guns so I increased the pull weight on all my rifles to match the feel of the trigger tech primary. I shoot a local match every now and then and don’t have any issues with the trigger weight. I can get pretty consistent 1/2 moa or better groups with that triggertech at 2lbs or so.
Thanks guys - put about 50 rounds of Hornady 6.5 factory through it yesterday - forgot my bi-pod so I was going old school shooting off my elbows - and was single feeding because none of my AI magazines worked with the Badger DBM M5 - so it was hard getting a sense of the trigger but it seemed like just touching made it go boom. All said after I got it sighted in it grouped very nicely. I was impressed with the Proof barrel - it never even got warm.
I'm going with 2-2.5.
I'm going with 2-2.5.
I shoot 1 lb. light enough that you can feel your trigger pretty good, but when you start to lean on it, she’s launching one.
I like one stage triggers at around 1.5 lbs. At that weight you still have a well defined wall but what is more important to me is a clean break w/o creep.
That's awfully light, especially for a single stage. I would set it at least 1.5 lbs - 2 lbs.
With a 2 stage trigger, you can get away with a lot lighter pull IMO, as you have more control over the trigger (from my experience with thousands of rounds with single and 2 stage triggers).
With a 2 stage trigger, you can get away with a lot lighter pull IMO, as you have more control over the trigger (from my experience with thousands of rounds with single and 2 stage triggers).
I'm going against the crowd here. I love light triggers and don't shoot 2 stage triggers. I moved to all TriggerTech Diamond triggers and I've been running them between 8-10 oz. You will get used to whatever you set it too, keep in mind these are match/practice/varmint rifles and my big game hunting rifles are set closer to 1lb. but that's as heavy as I like to go...
I think a lot of it depends on what you're doing with the rifle and what you're comfortable with. I started with my trigger at 2.0# and have gradually worked the pull weight down. I agree with most responses though, and having a trigger that allows you to adjust from 8 oz to over 2# is super handy!
Hunting rifles: 1.5-2.5#
Precision Match Rifle: 0.5-1.5# depending on where you feel comfortable (try throwing it on a barricade and free recoiling, you'll see why a light trigger helps)
Dedicated bench gun: As light as you can make it! The less you can touch the trigger to make it go off, the less likely you are to pull it off target.
Just my 0.78 canadian cents
Hunting rifles: 1.5-2.5#
Precision Match Rifle: 0.5-1.5# depending on where you feel comfortable (try throwing it on a barricade and free recoiling, you'll see why a light trigger helps)
Dedicated bench gun: As light as you can make it! The less you can touch the trigger to make it go off, the less likely you are to pull it off target.
Just my 0.78 canadian cents
I run my match rifle at 10z. (The number is really arbitrary) I just set it to how I liked how it felt before bothering with checking the weight.
Like you said, at first it feels like it just goes off by looking at it. After a few thousand rounds on it...it feels heavy again.
Like you said, at first it feels like it just goes off by looking at it. After a few thousand rounds on it...it feels heavy again.
I don't see how you can feel a 1lb trigger when your hands are cold and with gloves on. Even if you don't shoot with gloves, fingers lose sensation quickly when they get cold. This is what I meant when I said that I like to be able to feel some pressure before the trigger breaks. What ever works for you.
I run my match rifles at about 8oz. Like stated above I want the gun to go off as soon as I pull the trigger. I've done drop test and slammed the bolts forward and I make sure there is enough sear engagement so that is a non-issue. I do have the trigger set a bit heavier for my hunting rig for cold conditions.
Last edited:
And if a heavy trigger was better for accuracy why not go up to 5 or 10 pounds?
For my bolt action rifles I've settled on 1.5 lbs, that seems to be the sweet spot for me. It's plenty light enough but not so light that it's any concern atleast to me while hunting.
I tried some shooting from the bench with my 308 and a Jewel set at 10oz but just didn't feel as comfortable with it as it was at 1.5lbs but everybody is different.
I tried some shooting from the bench with my 308 and a Jewel set at 10oz but just didn't feel as comfortable with it as it was at 1.5lbs but everybody is different.
I cant say I've dropped tested it like that, but I do always make sure to test them slamming the butt of the stock on the ground to make sure they wont.
There's a lot of truth to this... you get acclimated to whatever trigger you practice on. My first match gun was around 3lb trigger. My current match gun is 13oz trigger. Just spent 2 weeks visiting family and shot 1300 rounds of 22LR on a gun with a 5lb trigger. Felt heavy as heck but I got used to it. Now that I'm back to my match rifle it's back to 13oz feeling normal.
I do like the light trigger for barricades and positional stuff in competition, much easier to exectute a shot without disturbing the gun. I've shot it with gloves on in cold weather too (thinner mechanix style gloves).
I don't think I would drop test it like that on purpose either. LOL. Dropping it on the buttstock like you did would be all the testing that I would do on purpose. I have rolled my rifle off of the fourwheeler and onto the ground but a round wasn't chambered.
After so many thousands of rounds of pistol with sub 2 pound triggers, anything over about 2 lb feels horribly heavy to me. I would set my rifle lower if I could, it feels like it is around 2.5 to me. I am the kind of guy that would probably have a 10 oz single stage trigger haha.
It is also strange to me to shoot triggers with pre-travel/take up, since my pistols have almost none. 1/8" at most maybe. Just apply more force until it breaks.
It is also strange to me to shoot triggers with pre-travel/take up, since my pistols have almost none. 1/8" at most maybe. Just apply more force until it breaks.
I have my match stick at 16oz, but could go lighter. Most of my hunting rifles are 1-2lbs. If you have the match "can" style grip it's conducive to a lighter pull, because you're hand is not wrapped around it and you have a lot less leverage than an AR/AI style that you grip.
Trigger weight should have ZERO to do with safety, especially in competitions where there's no latitude with bolt back and booger hook off the trigger.
In fact, I had to practice that a bunch and break habits. No problem with finger off the trigger, but I was used to one in the pipe and flicking the safety off, so it was strange to find the target and then close the bolt, but I'm in a happy place now.
I would recommend any new shooter to have an adjustable trigger and try practicing with it at various weights. I do think it is largely a matter of preference as long as it breaks clean.
Trigger weight should have ZERO to do with safety, especially in competitions where there's no latitude with bolt back and booger hook off the trigger.
In fact, I had to practice that a bunch and break habits. No problem with finger off the trigger, but I was used to one in the pipe and flicking the safety off, so it was strange to find the target and then close the bolt, but I'm in a happy place now.
I would recommend any new shooter to have an adjustable trigger and try practicing with it at various weights. I do think it is largely a matter of preference as long as it breaks clean.
I prefer heavier triggers, though i don't weigh them, and only specify the weight when ordering a custom one. My ELR rig has a 2.5# Huber on it, which is about the lightest I go. My single stage Tikkas feel quite a bit heavier, but I haven't measured them. Same with my AI. Note that I wouldn't really consider any of the above to be "heavy." Just heavier than most here.
A 10# double action pistol trigger is not too heavy, as a point of reference.
Aside from mechanical (drop) safety, heavier triggers are better for real world use where adrenaline, cold and exertion are issues. Finally, a heavier trigger teaches you how to pull a trigger correctly.
A 10# double action pistol trigger is not too heavy, as a point of reference.
Aside from mechanical (drop) safety, heavier triggers are better for real world use where adrenaline, cold and exertion are issues. Finally, a heavier trigger teaches you how to pull a trigger correctly.
2 ounces. Same trigger for PRS and F-Class.
When I let people shoot my rifles I insist on them dry firing first. Most don't realize they've just pulled the trigger. I have zero issues.
Same trigger for PRS and F-Class. When I let people shoot my rifles I insist on them dry firing first. Most don't realize they've just pulled the trigger. I have zero issues.
Factory r700 trigger smithed to 2oz pull weight. Trigger has zero slack before and after the shot breaks.
I've been shooting nothing but pistols for 20 years and I'm used to a 4-pound pull there, so anything less than 2 pounds on my new rifle feels terrible to me. But I get what you're all saying about acclimating to it, so maybe I'll lighten the trigger after a while and see whether I like it more then.
1.5 pounds! For no other reason than because that is the lowest my standard TriggerTech will go. I like it right there. I mostly compete in 3-Gun where all my guns have 3 poubd triggers, so moving to a sub 1 pound trigger for my bolt gun felt too weird. Maybe ill go lighter later but for now I absolutely love my 1.5# TT!
1.5 oz. on my bench rifles and 8 oz. on my long range rifle, both 2 stage. Neither are measure, just counting the turns based on the Bix'N Andy instructions. I don't know that I could shoot the 8 oz if I was not already accustom to the bench rifle as prior to that 2 lbs felt light.
This is how I test my triggers.
I set them to what feels comfortable.
Then I get behind the rifle in prone and positional. I pull the rifle into my shoulder how I would if I wanted the best recoil management.
I put my finger on trigger (take up slack if 2 stage).
I then take very deep breaths (like you would if tired or stressed).
If that causes me to pull trigger when I didn’t intend to, it’s too light and I incrementally adjust it until this doesn’t happen.
Sometimes that’s ~1lb and other times it’s 1.5.
Depends on the individual trigger and also the stock/chassis. If my finger is towards the top of the trigger with the grip, it will be lighter and vice versa if finger is lower on trigger. The trigger is a lever, so finger position changes the amount of force need to actuate it.
I set them to what feels comfortable.
Then I get behind the rifle in prone and positional. I pull the rifle into my shoulder how I would if I wanted the best recoil management.
I put my finger on trigger (take up slack if 2 stage).
I then take very deep breaths (like you would if tired or stressed).
If that causes me to pull trigger when I didn’t intend to, it’s too light and I incrementally adjust it until this doesn’t happen.
Sometimes that’s ~1lb and other times it’s 1.5.
Depends on the individual trigger and also the stock/chassis. If my finger is towards the top of the trigger with the grip, it will be lighter and vice versa if finger is lower on trigger. The trigger is a lever, so finger position changes the amount of force need to actuate it.
