Need some knowledgeable trigger information.

S

Straitshot

New member
Is 1.8 pounds too light a trigger pull for a single action revolver? I realize it is light but is it so light as to be considered dangerous? For a bit more detail the hammer will not drop if pushed on or from the revolver being jarred in the hand. It will only drop when actually squeezed.
 
At that point you are getting close to target trigger weights. But it is not to light it you follow the commandment that tell us to keep the booger hook off the bang switch until ready to fire. Be ready for a lot of early firing until you get used to the trigger press.
 
Chances are your sear engagement is not sufficient to be safe. It might not drop the hammer with jarring it around in your hand, but I'll bet it will if it's ever dropped or subjected to a hard jarring. A person can get by with something like that if it only will be used at a bench, but a trigger that light usually only is counterproductive to good shooting skills. Superlight triggers can lead to flinching and jerking more than a good reasonable pull weight.
You can not substitute a super light trigger for good trigger control technique and develop proper skills.
A good crisp trigger on a pistol in the 2 1/2 to 3 lb. range is sufficient for most uses and in some cases heavier is even better.
 
You say "1.8 pounds." I routinely have my Single Action trigger pulls aet at two pounds, not that much difference.

If you cannot push the hammer out of engagement, you're O.K. if the pull suits you.

Bob Wright
 
The minimum legal trigger pull weights in NRA Bullseye competition - outside of free pistol, probably the ultimate accuracy game - are 2 lbs. (.22); 2.5 lbs. (centerfire); and 3.5 lbs. (.45). Your trigger pull of 1.8 lbs, even if safe, is really very low and for me, at least, would not lead to optimal accuracy. That said, if it really is safe (a difficult thing to demonstrate conclusively) and you shoot it better that way, then why not?
 
I am not trying to make a revolver have such a trigger. My reason for asking is because I know of a single action revolver which has a trigger pull that is supposed to be that light because of a trigger/bolt spring change to a lighter spring. Nothing else done but that. Is that to be considered by those in the know to be excessively too light. Is it considered dangerous and needs to be corrected before it can be a viable firearm to safely shoot.
 
Have you actually tried this gun for yourself?
It's hard to understand how the trigger was reduced to being that light, with just that one modification.
 
I would question the trigger return spring if it was replaced in this modification to get it that light. I don't know if it could be relied on to reliably return the trigger to it's proper position after firing. A modification this light is definitely pushing the limits of safety.
 
You say "1.8 pounds." I routinely have my Single Action trigger pulls aet at two pounds, not that much difference.

If you cannot push the hammer out of engagement, you're O.K. if the pull suits you.
Click to expand...
What he said. Most of mine are around 2lbs. If you can't push it off, the rest is up to the shooter.
 
On a conventional single action (not the newer Rugers), that seems too light for the sear to clear the half-cock notch. It is even pretty light for a revolver like an S&W DA/SA; S&W factory SA trigger pulls usually run 2 3/4 to 3 pounds and most people consider them quite light.

I consider anything less than 4 pounds too light for a SD gun, and generally recommend even heavier. A tense and shaking hand situation is really no place for a very light trigger pull.

Of course, free pistols have trigger pulls adjustable down to the single digit ounces, but those are specialized guns for pure target shooting by experts.

Jim
 
On a conventional single action (not the newer Rugers), that seems too light for the sear to clear the half-cock notch.
Click to expand...
It ain't. That or the professional gunsmiths that tune my guns don't know what they're doing. Which is unlikely.
 
I have never fired the firearm but have handle it. It has four distinct clicks in the cocking cycle and appears to be in perfect timing. Goes into half cock with no problem. It has no trigger creep but breaks clean with light trigger pressure. The trigger appears light to some of my single actions but actually seems no lighter than my Uberti cattleman that I have had for years and have shot on numerous occasions. It too has had the springs changed to lighter ones but I have never checked the trigger pull with a gage because I don't have one.

To me, if handled safely as all firearms should be I don't see why the firearm could not be handled and fired safely, but I wanted comments and advice from those of you who are experienced and in the know.

Thanks for your comments and knowledge.
 
Last edited:
If it's a Colt or replica, it's common to swap the trigger/bolt spring for a music wire Heinie or Wolff spring. On some guns these can prove to be a little too light. The solution being to install a reduced power leaf spring.
 
Sounds interesting. I don't consider a trigger dangerous based on weight alone. It has to pass some kind of reasonable durability testing and it has to have minimal creep. I think that is the issue. Light and minimal, but safe creep is the struggle point. IMO, you have to reduce engagement to have no creep on a light pull.

Then there is just plain handling. I like to feel the trigger before applying any serious pull weight. Under 2.5lbs, that is tough for me. This is not so much about safety as it is about the weight/creep/feel balance.

My Ruger is 2.5 lbs, a touch of creep, but a joy to shoot. Transfer bar keeps me from worrying too much, if it's safe.
 
According to the old radio show, the Lone Ranger had his guns specially made with two ounce trigger pulls. I guess the gunsmith who did that is still around.

Jim
 
According to the old radio show, the Lone Ranger had his guns specially made with two ounce trigger pulls. I guess the gunsmith who did that is still around.
Click to expand...
Is that productive?

I'll let you call Jim Stroh, widely renowned master pistolsmith, former treasurer for the American Pistolsmith's Guild and let him know that he's doing it wrong.
 
What might be suspicious is not that the gun can have such a light trigger release, but that it was inferred to be reversible.
Like all you would have to do, if you didn't like it, is just replace the trigger spring with a stock one.
That's the part that seems kind of fishy to me.
More salesmanship than truth??
 
Speaking solely in terms of the Colt Single Action and similar copies, the first thing to look at is the hammer. If the full cock notch is too deep, the trigger pull becomes a test of strength of the forefinger. The notch needs to be stoned at a very critical depth and angle for a smooth let-off. The same is true of the sear area of the trigger. Then the mainspring needs to be light enough to prevent its pressure jamming the hammer notch and sear engagement. Only a very slight camming action is ideal. The trigger return spring has offered very little in the way of tuning the Single Action, provided its not excessive.

Bob Wright
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top