why do single-shot triggers get a bad rap?

I

idek

New member
When reading about H&R/NEF single shot rifles, I often see comments that seem condemning of their triggers. I don't own such a rifle, but I have an H&R shotgun, and if the rifle and shotguns triggers are the same, I don't understand what the complaints are about.

Typically, complaints about any gun's trigger revolve around too much take-up, creep, a gritty feel, or too heavy a pull weight. The trigger on my shotgun has no take-up or creep at all (must have something to do with the external hammer) and, based on my fishing scale, it breaks right around 4 lbs., which isn't wonderful, but a person could do a lot worse. I'd assume the rifles would be about the same.

I'm not writing this to be defensive or anything, I'm just trying to figure out what it is about these triggers that people don't like. What am I missing?
 
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Mine isn't too bad; breaks at 5lbs on the nose. My only gripe is that it's not user friendly to replace/modify if I ever decide I want a lighter trigger pull. Then again, I keep reminding myself that its a <100yd beater deer rifle, so a light trigger isn't a worthwhile investment. Good enough is all i really need.
 
I find mine to be doable, but it's not in the same league as a quality bolt action. Of course, neither is the price. The accuracy outdoes a lot of bolt actions.
 
A 4lb trigger with no creep is WONDERFUL! And perfectly suited to your gun and its uses. You got a jem there, be proud of it!

For generations, a good trigger on a hunting rifle was considered to be 3.5-4lbs. So long as it was crisp. Light enough to shoot accurately in the field, and still heavy enough to withstand the rigors of field handling and still be safe.

We focus way too much on ultra light triggers for rifles, and its even worse on the internet. I have a few guns with extremely light triggers, and a joy they are, shooting at the range, or from a stand, or varminting. But they are not the best thing to be carrying up and down the hills, in the cold, with my heart pumping after just having climbed a ridge when that trophy buck steps out of the brush in front of me.

For that, I want something that isn't going to go off when I breathe on it.

Single shot triggers get a bad rep? Only on guns that don't generally have good triggers. Cheap single shots are usually that, cheap. And cheap means that its a rare thing to find one with a really good trigger, right off the rack or out of the box.

I've got some older Ruger single shots, and their triggers are not only great, they are fully adjustable. Back before the US went lawsuit happy, lots of rifles came from the factory with fair to good triggers, and were also adjustable by the user. No so today.:mad:

Cheaper guns usually didn't have adjustable triggers, nor were they often fitted to give a "good" trigger pull. And thats even more true today, when most rifles don't come from the factory with good triggers. Some don't even have "adequate" triggers. But there are exceptions to that as well.
 
A 4lb trigger with no creep is WONDERFUL! And perfectly suited to your gun and its uses. You got a jem there, be proud of it!
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I checked another NEF single shot (another shotgun) since I originally posted. This one also doesn't have take-up or creep, but its trigger broke at a little over 5 lbs. So maybe the first one I mentioned is an above average example, and any negative comments were based on specific guns that had heavier triggers.

Anyway, thanks for the responses. As I said, I don't have any single shot rifles, but going forward, I guess won't be as worried about their triggers if I do want to get one. How are most stores/gun shops about letting you test the trigger before buying? I was in sporting/hunting/outdoors retailer once and they frowned upon dry firing any of their guns and they didn't offer the use of snap caps or anything.

I haven't asked to try the trigger at any other places.
 
The H&R/NEF triggers are sometimes rough and heavy out of the box. I have seen some that were at least 8lbs or worse.

Still any decent gunsmith can fix these anyway you want. From a rifleman's trigger from 3 to about 4.5 creep free lbs to the sandbaggers bench shooting trigger measured in ounces.
 
I have seen NEF triggers that were close to 10 lbs out of the box and lots of creep. But they are a very simple trigger and will clean up very nicely with a minimum of work. One problem with that is that taking one apart can be simple but getting it back together can be difficult. Once you have done one it's no big deal, but the first time it can be frustrating.
 
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