pull weight for a varmint gun

B

BLS700

New member
For those of you that change em from stock what trigger pull do you like? I'm about to do my first trigger job and was curious what you all like. Varmint only
 
My steyr varmit rig goes 2.5lbs direct and 2oz on the set trigger (actually the gauge was struggling to get a reading..)

Which trigger are you adjusting? I have first hand seen some horribly dangerous "accidental discharge when closing bolt / handling rifle type" trigger jobs and all were under the 2lb mark. A nice clean let off is probably more important than going "super light"
 
My mates swift is at 2lb, and its fantastic.

I have shot a hairpin trigger once at the range. It was a .257 weatherby mag. Didnt like it at all, and way too dangerous in the field.
 
I try to set up all my rifles for a trigger pull just under three pounds. The quality of the sear engagement is important, which is one reason I prefer the Canjar. It's more like the proverbial "snaps like a glass rod" than the Timney.
 
I like about 2.5-3 lbs. For me, that's just about right for most hunting, and calling coyotes is no exception.

That said, my CZ 527 has a single set trigger that I can push forward to give me a trigger that would be measures in a few ounces. It's mighty nice for the occasional long shot where more precision is needed. I could almost blow on it and trip it. The "normal" trigger on it is set at about 2 1/2 lbs.

Daryl
 
My varmint gun is set at 13 ounces.

There's no such thing as a "dangerous" trigger weight unless the trigger does not reliably hold. My trigger holds solid with considerable impact from any angle. If you follow the rules of gun safety then you will never touch the trigger until you're ready to shoot so the pull weight has no effect on safety. If you're not used to the trigger then it MIGHT go "BANG!" before you're really ready but it would still be in the general direction of the target so it's not "dangerous".


Mine is a Jard trigger on a Ruger MkII, I paid $79.99 I think. Every bit as good as the Timney that my uncle has on his Remington.
 
I'm right with peetzakilla on this one. You aren't stalking dangerous prey through rugged terrain----You're laying on a pad popping prairie dogs (and the like. I like my varmint rifle to be nearly touch-sensative, in that the moment I think about the squeeze, the round is alreay gone. I'm set at about 9-10oz.
 
I got a 1.5 to 2 trigger spring. Its for a thompson prohunter so I have to cock the hammer for it to fire. As pointed out I'll be laying on the ground to fire. I wanted to go as light as I felt comfortable with as far as being safe.
 
Bought a Win 243 bull barrel years ago. It had a trigger
pull in the ounces. It was safe but I didn't like it. Was to
easy to shoot before I meant to. Set it at a little over
2 lb. Smothe trigger is better than light.
 
I personally like a 2.5lbs trigger, but I have a buddy that likes his at 6 oz. but alot of his shots are over 400 yards and I guess he likes the light trigger for accuracy. I dont trust anything lighter than 2 lbs. no matter what rifle it is.
 
I would like to hear the rationale behind the belief that triggers under 2lbs are "dangerous".

My 13oz trigger will not release no matter how hard I slam the bolt shut. I've tried. I can close the bolt with enough force that I'm afraid of damaging the gun if I try any harder, and the trigger holds. At 13 ounces it will not go off if I release the safety and shake the gun HARD in any direction. With the safety off, it will not go off if I bump the butt with CONSIDERABLE force. The safety itself is BETTER than it was with the stock trigger.

I think people are confusing a functional, properly fitted, low weight trigger with a crap, improperly installed, low weight trigger.
 
For a something I'm going to carry 2.5 pounds is what I prefer... If it's a heavy gun that will be used in a stationary setup for ground squirrels and praire dogs then something lighter is fine.
 
My question is do you think you will miss something at a crisp 2 1/2 pounds that you would have hit with a lighter pull?
 
A light trigger garners the title of "dangerous" if it is going to be carried loaded, possibly jostled hard enuff or gloved fingers inserted in the guard so that a round can be accidentally discharged...
Brent
 
Yeah I'm a little surprised at how many feel unsafe with it. I can see that for off hand shots but not supported to me at least its really what the shooter is comfortable and safe with I think.
 
ZeroJunk said:
My question is do you think you will miss something at a crisp 2 1/2 pounds that you would have hit with a lighter pull?
Click to expand...


Bench rest triggers are frequently 8 ounces, maybe less. If it's not better then why do they do it?

To answer your question, yes, possibly. A deer at 100 yards? No, a 3lb trigger is just fine. A prairie dog, or woodchuck in my case, at 350, 400 yards some guys 600, 800 or a 1000? Yes, you might cause enough excess motion in the gun with a 2 1/2 pound trigger to miss. After all, your target might be 2 MOA or less wide at 400 yards.


Hogdogs said:
A light trigger garners the title of "dangerous" if it is going to be carried loaded, possibly jostled hard enuff or gloved fingers inserted in the guard so that a round can be accidentally discharged...
Click to expand...

That may be, but that's the user that's dangerous, not the trigger. In that case a heavier trigger is a safety blanket, a necessity of user incompetence, not a true safety hazard. The weight of my trigger has ZERO effect on the safety function. Unless something breaks then my gun CAN NOT fire with the safety engaged. Walking around with the safety off and/or putting your finger inside the trigger guard are USER safety violations, not equipment safety violations.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top