Why all the fuss about triggers?

It matters, but how much??

IME, I can shoot almost any trigger.....the exceptions are:

DA/SA - I always pause between DA and SA pulls, but IMHO, one needs to be able to shoot a fast double DA then SA. I cannot.

Striker (super heavy) - glock NY1 and NY2 triggers are just too much for me, but I could probably learn the NY1.

M&P - I could learn this, but I never really know where the sear breaks, therefore my muzzle is never "coming into alignment" as it breaks....causes poor accuracy, especially shooting fast.

2oz rifle pulls - I have limited experience, but dry fired and live fired one a couple times. I just never could touch the trigger without firing the gun....


Otherwise, I can probably make it work.


Others complain about the XD, but the way it increases in weight until break is great for me. I wish it were crisper....might be in touch with Springer Precision about that!
 
jmr40 said:
My Glocks and 1911's have almost identical triggers. The Glocks have a bit of takeup, but after that all of them have a very crisp 5-6lb trigger pull.
Click to expand...

What 1911 are we talking about for academic purposes...?
 
An excellent trigger masks poor technique while a crappy trigger amplifies poor technique.

It has nothing to do with adrenaline or speed or defense vs. games. IF you have practiced and follow the 4 laws of gun safety, "fine" equipment versus "usable" equipment does not matter.

That said, everyone is different, and most people do not practice nor have their weapon manipulation skills as second nature. That brings in the lawyers and naysayers and results in firearms being manufactured to towards the lowest common denominator. So too, a trigger pull that is longer, inconsistent, mushy or has too much over travel will degrade the trigger control of most accomplished shooters and result in most average shooters being completely off target.
 
I too never gave the trigger a single thought and I shoot poorly. When I discovered a heavy trigger was distracting me while trying to hold a sight picture I went to work educating myself on how to improve trigger weight, (thank you all). Admited there is a limit to how light one should set a trigger on a hunting rifle but three pounds is quite nice when compaired to a heavy factory trigger.
 
When I discovered a heavy trigger was distracting me while trying to hold a sight picture I went to work educating myself on how to improve trigger weight
Click to expand...
I found just the opposite to be true, especially with heavy recoiling handguns, which led me on the journey of learning how to properly shoot a DA revolver. That in turn, taught me to stop worrying on the trigger, and to lose the trigger phobia.

These days, I find I can shoot pretty much anything without any problems. If I do have an issue, its still usually with the overly light "target" type triggers, that many seem to think are the only way to go, and I feel are dangerous on anything but a range gun.

Once you learn and understand the DA/DAO trigger, everything else becomes easy, and you tend to forget about the trigger all together, and focus on the important things, like the sights and the target.
 
That said, it is true that poor trigger technique can be masked by a light trigger and highlighted by a heavier pull weight.
Click to expand...

Since my son's name isn't Jesus my trigger pull isn't perfect every time, so if I'm trying to make the best shot I can I'd prefer a really good trigger, if I'm just looking for OK accuracy then any old trigger will do.
 
For a carry weapon, such as my SW 642, the little heavier trigger pull is part of the safety design of the firearm. I read a lot of posts about people wanting lighter triggers, such as the LCR. I really don't want to carry a gun that has that light of a trigger. I'm careful, but why risk an accidental discharge when holstering?
 
I'm not too fussy about take up, pull weight, reset or total lenght of pull... but I can not stand a gritty, sticky or crunchy trigger.

I really dislike double action pulls too, mostly because of the inconsistent feeling of going from very stiff to really soft.
 
Life is too short to tolerate the atrocious triggers some manufacturers put on guns. I recently sold a Smith and Wesson Shield because I wasn't interested in spending $100 plus to get a decent trigger pull on the gun, it was a nice gun otherwise though. While I do agree that in an emergency you won't notice the trigger as much, I like to practice with my carry guns. It's hard to want to practice with a gun that has a terrible trigger.
 
To me getting an expensive trigger kit is not worth it. The stock trigger in most pistols is good to go for carry. If you need to shoot your gun under stress you will never know what the trigger felt like. I shoot targets good enough to satisfy me with any pistol I own, shot competition big bore and small bore for years so I know something about triggers.
 
Triggers

If squeezing the trigger pulls my aim off the target it's too stiff for me. Missing the target counts in horse shoes and with hand grenades.
 
I found just the opposite to be true, especially with heavy recoiling handguns, which led me on the journey of learning how to properly shoot a DA revolver. That in turn, taught me to stop worrying on the trigger, and to lose the trigger phobia.
Click to expand...

Agreed! When I first started shooting a DA trigger it was tough for me. Once I learned to properly fire a DA revolver, now none of them are much trouble. The only exception being a S&W Sigma I once shot. The break was weird on that one...didn't care for it.

For autos, my preference has actually become the DA/SA design. No safety necessary and the trigger pull is heavy enough that close attention to holster selection isn't as critical, helpful when the pistol has to be placed in a glovebox or backpack.

Many new shooters can be frustrated when firing a DA revolver or DA/SA pistol, though. Usually, they push the pistol forward, which drops the barrel and sends the round into the dirt.
 
Last edited:
"I have to take offence on that Nagant comment."

You're offended by someone's dislike for a heavy trigger pull on their gun?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top