What trigger pull weight would you recommend for a practice rifle?

[bravesirrobin]

I'm still fairly new to the long range game and I have a Tikka in .223 that I practice with. I don't shoot competitively, so it's not one of those trainers that's pretty much a copy of a match rifle, except for the caliber. I'm just trying to get better. I've adjusted the Tikka's trigger most of the way down to somewhere around 2.3lb single stage (I don't have a good gauge). However, I've noticed that it's still significantly heavier than most of the other precision rifles I've tried, which makes the rifle a bit harder to shoot.

So what trigger pull weight would you recommend for a practice rifle? I know I can get a much lighter weight by replacing the trigger spring. However I'm torn on whether or not I should do it, because it also seems that a light trigger might just mask some bits of poor trigger control on my part, so a trainer is better off the way it is.

 

[Kickin45]

The same weight you’ll have your match rifle

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

The same weight you’ll have your match rifle

This.

 

[Dthomas3523]

......his first paragraph states he doesn’t have a match rifle or shoot comps.

I’d practice for a while with a 2lb+ trigger time hammer down your fundamentals. A 2lb slap on a 1lb trigger does the same thing as a 2lb slap on a 2lb trigger......it moves the rifle.

After that, dealer choice. I don’t use a trigger scale anymore. So I don’t have a standard weight. I adjust the trigger until it feels “perfect” and then run some tests.

I will shoulder rifle in common position with the trigger against wall (different for different triggers) I will then take many very deep breaths like you might if you were moving fast, nervous, or hot. If that’s enough to cause an ND trigger pull, I turn the weight up in slight increments until that doesn’t happen.

Then I’ll do drop tests. Many triggers just won’t pass a drop test if set under 2lbs or so. That will then be user choice on how sensitive to what kind of drops they are ok with.

I’ll make sure it won’t slam fire.

And make sure I won’t ND with gloves.

Sometimes all this ends up around 1lb, sometimes 1.5 or 1.75lbs.

 

[chevy_man]

Whatever you're comfortable with...

I hate heavy triggers. They don't make me shoot worse, but they irritate me when they climb over 3 lbs. I've had factory triggers that I replaced simply because I checked the safety non-stop thinking it was still on..

It's all personal preference though. There is no magic number as long as you don't jerk/slap it.

 

[ShootnFool8]

Don't think, you would want to differ from your match rifle.
Considering you have a match rifle!

 

[natdscott]

The same weight you’ll have your match rifle

This.

Don't think, you would want to differ from your match rifle.

Nah, not really. Even if he WERE training for match use of his rifle(s), provided he isn't shooting them like a sporting clay gun, he'll be fine with multiple triggers types and weights.

The KEY is to practice. A LOT.

The little bitty .177 Air Rifle that I put the better part of 10,000 pellets through when I was training heavily for offhand...well, it had a trigger that could have been improved upon with one from a Stihl chainsaw. (Not kidding at all)

Know what though? I got to where I could hold for nines with it, and more 10's than most would expect.

I use triggers between 100 grams and 5 pounds, in both 1 and 2-stage, with roll and without roll, in both rifles and pistols. The only trouble I have going between them is if I go from a heavy trigger to a very light trigger in the same session...it takes me a couple shots to remember that the 3-4 oz Annie is NOT the 5 lb Geissele. ...bout the only thing that doesn't transfer well is shotgun sports.

The exception I will readily admit to is that if I am coming up on Nationals, or an otherwise important event or match, I WILL spend time for a week or two on a lot of dry-fire with the one trigger I'll be using.

Don't buy that internet BS that all your triggers have to be identical. That's a short track to being a one dimensional shooter.




Once more, for clarity and tl/dr: The individual trigger type and weight are MUCH less relevant to your success with ANOTHER type/weight than is the fact that you are SHOOTING regularly, and training PURPOSEFULLY.

Buy a training rifle you can easily afford, buy a SHIT-load of ammo for it, and buy a bunch of targets that look impossible.

Then, make them possible.


-Nate

 

[bravesirrobin]

Yes, as I've indicated, I don't have a match rifle. I'm just working on my fundamentals. I think i'll just stick with my current trigger setup for now. Maybe once I build another rifle I'll try to match the trigger weights.

 

[natdscott]

Yes, as I've indicated, I don't have a match rifle. I'm just working on my fundamentals. I think i'll just stick with my current trigger setup for now. Maybe once I build another rifle I'll try to match the trigger weights.

I dare you to buy a $100 rebuilt Daisy from the CMP and a sleeve of match pellets (5,000). Shoot them all into 10m targets in your basement over the winter, and get back on this forum in spring to explain what you learned about yourself.

 

[Kickin45]

Yes, as I've indicated, I don't have a match rifle. I'm just working on my fundamentals. I think i'll just stick with my current trigger setup for now. Maybe once I build another rifle I'll try to match the trigger weights.

But you will, trust me lol. Might as well start good habits now.