Will you buy a gun without trying the trigger?

All depends ??

Am I the only person who doesn't buy a gun without trying the trigger?
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Your point is well made and whenever possible or allowed, I try the trigger. That doesn't always have to mean, dry firing. Dry firing, is always the owner's call. I always ask permission on dry firing but not necessarily on cocking and dropping the hammer, on my thumb. Surprisingly, there are times when a dealer will give me permission that I would not give, if it were mine. ... :eek:

Then there are guns that I'm very familiar with, that I don't need to try as I pretty well know what to expect or it's not a priority. ... ;)


Be Safe !!!
 
Yes, unless ...

the gunshow has everything "zip-tie' in-place.
And ALWAYS ask.

My procedure is to confirm unloaded condition then off-hand thumb & first finger, will ride along side the hammer (revolver) as it DA back then falls, catching the hammer and lowering it. Or ear (SA) the hammer back and catch after release.
For Semi's , ear back and catch.

Some sellers actually comment (nicely) on the effectiveness of my procedure.
 
I bought a pistol without ever trying the trigger or even holding the gun, as I purchased it on gunbroker. It was my first handgun, and I was just too damn eager to buy something at a decent price. It was a sigma .40, so I don't even need to mention the trigger...:rolleyes:

Would I do it again? Not exactly. If I were to buy one online, I'd try to find a similar model at my lgs to fondle and get a feel for, then if the online price is right buy it. I've only asked to handle and dry fire one gun at a store (cz 75b) and they had no problem with it. I'm also of the mentality that I'd want to see how it feels before spending hundreds of dollars on something. Lesson learned from the sigma (not that I don't love my pistol. Just if I had it to do all over again, maybe would exercise some patience)
 
I do try the trigger, but always with permission, and always mindful of my muzzle control from the moment I pick it up all, the way through putting it back down. As an aside, few things make me madder than being muzzle-swept by some thoughtless moron, be it at a gun show or anywhere else [If you call them on it, the response is always "But it ain't LOADED!" :rolleyes:]. I conscientiously try very hard to NOT be that guy.
 
Our LGS allows one dry fire.

And ditto about dry fire technique. You can do it without them knowing just by holding the hammer (if equipped) and ride it down after the initial sear release. No need to let it strike the pin.
 
Most of the shops I deal with allow it ...if you're serious about the gun ...and no, I might not buy the gun if I can't dry fire it or inspect it very closely - especially if its a used gun.

But even on new guns ...evaluating the trigger is a big part of it ...when you have more than one gun as options. Like you, I'd want the gun with the cleanest trigger out of the box ...vs having to have it cleaned up right away ...and in a lot of 1911's / or SAA's ....I find a lot of difference in the triggers...on how they feel, how they break and how they reset ( not the SAA's of course...) ....but I've been really surprised at how different the triggers feel even on very high end SAA's...and on a lot of 1911's..

A buddy just bought a new springfiled 1911 in 9mm ...and it had a hitch in the trigger that was really bad ...and a pull weight of almost 10 lbs../ it was really terrible for a new gun. He paid a local smith about $ 175 to polish and clean it up ...but it was too bad ...because it was a present to his brother..
 
I dont run into it often but when I do, its mostly rimfires. Which is completely understandable.

Otherwise, I dont buy. Thats why I dont shop at academy. I have those damn trigger locks that make it impossible to hold the gun properly.
 
I take a snap cap, talk to the shop, show them the cap, and ask if I may load the cap as they watch, to try the trigger.

This however resulted in me not being able to say "no" to buying a West German P226. Once I tried the trigger in both modes, I had to buy the pistol

At a show, I would use not being able to try the trigger as a means to drive down the price by a fair margin. I have purchased at a show without trying the trigger or even asking, but it was a collectible firearm, and that's a little different
 
I have ordered tons of guns on line that i haven't felt the trigger pulls. but then I buy antiques, older firearms and new firearms. Last gun was a rifle..a Swiss Vetterli. :D
 
In over 40 gun purchases only 2 have been local and I got to check out the trigger pull. For the guy wondering about Kimber that was both of them and there is no problem checking it the way it was explained. They are not built much different than any other 1911.
 
Trigger pull is not that important to me. I would much rather hold the gun to see how it fits and look at it up close before making a purchase. As far as test driving a car before buying it; pulling the trigger is essentially like making sure the car has power steering. Actually firing it and making sure it doesn’t hang up is more comparable to driving the car.
 
Both times I've just said "well thanks anyway" and handed the gun back. Am I the only person who doesn't buy a gun without trying the trigger?
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Good for you. Trigger pulls are not always equal with the same guns in two different boxes. Where I buy guns, I've asked them to bring me several so I could try the trigger pull on each one.

On some guns, like the SIG, it's possible to check the pull and catch the hammer so it doesn't fall. :cool:
 
If I can't feel the trigger pull I won't buy it. I may dry fire a gun twice but no more. I have to be able to get a feel of the gun before I will buy it. That is why I don't buy guns, or much of anything else online. I want to know exactly what I am getting. If I can't dry fire a gun (centerfire) I'll go elsewhere after telling the store manager why.
 
With an exposed hammer type firearm like the 1911, or a revolver..there is no need to let that hammer fall to check a trigger pull..merely control hammer with off-hand thumb while pulling trigger.
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That's what I do. However, I don't ask unless I'm pretty serious about the gun.

The only times I have not done this were (1) As new, out of production revolvers without a turn line and (2) ordering online.
 
No trigger test No sale. That is why I don't buy from Wal Mart.

Triggers vary between models. Just like the fit.
 
On all the hammered gun I've tried, I always put my finger in front of the hammer so the hammer falls on my finger. On S&W revolvers, this must be done with the finger as far down as possible, Rugers, not so much. 1911s are great in this fashion.

I have bought some without ever trying out the triggers. Glocks come to mind.
 
. As an aside, few things make me madder than being muzzle-swept by some thoughtless moron, be it at a gun show or anywhere else [If you call them on it, the response is always "But it ain't LOADED!" from post #24

remind them that most people are killed with UNLOADED guns.
 
Only one time it was at a gun show . A new SEECAMP .had the tie strap ,sealed on a plastic bag. That's the way they are shipped .You cannot dry fire them without a magazine in them or you will trash it .Dum design great pistol.
 
Absolutely not...and I've been doing it for over 50 years now...if the dealer doesn't want you to try the trigger, then he doesn't want the sale either and I'd find another gunshop for my business. We're not talking collectible antiques or one of a kind show guns here, we're talking shooters...Rod
 
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