Hunting Rifle Triggers

[Ben Lamb]

I was messing around with some pistols and rifles over the weekend, and ended up testing most of my hunting rifles for trigger pull. Having recently installed a Timney in my Ruger Mkii, I've been possibly overthinking the issue of trigger pull in a hunting rifle. My triggers are all over the place, from 4-5 pounds down to 1/2 a pound for some set triggers of the Teutonic variety.

What's your favorite trigger pull weight? Do you take recoil into account? Game? Seasons, weather, etc?

I've been partial to Timney simply because they're easy and they work as advertised (except an old sportsman on my 1917 - I think I need a lighter spring there). Tons of other options out there though. What's your favorite aftermarket trigger and what poundage do you set it at?

Is your application consistent across the suite of rifles?

 

[Sheltowee]

Nearly all of my hunting rifles are Tikkas with OEM single-stage triggers. I try to keep them all in the roughly 3lb range for consistency from rifle to rifle. Trigger Tech just introduced two new Tikka-compatible triggers that are pretty intriguing, though.

The only exception is my CZ 550 .257 Ackley with a set trigger. I'd guess it is around a pound when engaged. Probably ought to throw it on a trigger pull gauge and see where it really is.

 

[D_Walt]

I’ve got a few trigger techs and a couple Timneys, and aftermarket springs in some Tikkas. I prefer hunting triggers to be around 1 1/2 - 2 lbs.

 

[Caseknife]

Timney is my usual go-to a/m trigger. Also have a few Triggertech triggers. I aim for 2.5-3.0# triggers regardless of the rifle recoil or weight. The under 1# triggers in a hunting situation are way too light for me.

 

[SFC B]

My Seekins and Weatherby rifles all come with TriggerTechs and are around 2.5 ish lbs. My Tikkas have the Mountain Tactical aftermarket springs. In the 22-250 I have the trigger dialed all the way down to probably 10-12 oz and in the 300 it is 1.5-2lbs. Happy with them all. I tend to be a light trigger guy and definitely a single stage. I want to know there is an immediate wall and that my trigger pull is more of a thought than physical effort.

 

[WapitiBob]

I bought a Jewell years ago, around 1# if I remember correctly.

 

[WVmike]

My Seekins and Weatherby rifles all come with TriggerTechs and are around 2.5 ish lbs. My Tikkas have the Mountain Tactical aftermarket springs. In the 22-250 I have the trigger dialed all the way down to probably 10-12 oz and in the 300 it is 1.5-2lbs. Happy with them all. I tend to be a light trigger guy and definitely a single stage. I want to know there is an immediate wall and that my trigger pull is more of a thought than physical effort.

Agree with this. My Seekins has a Triggertech that is as good as it gets as far as the rifles I've shot before. I have installed a few Timneys in other rifles in the past and they were an upgrade over the stock trigger. The most recent one I replaced was my Weatherby Vanguard 7mm before I traded it in for the Seekins. I like a lighter trigger also.

 

[MTLabrador]

My Winchester .270 has a Timney that I really like, and I love the Sako/Tikka trigger as well. All set to approximately 2.5 pounds. Both have been very reliable in the cold and snow. I used to have a Triggertech on a 700 that felt great but was a little finicky in bad conditions.

 

[Ben Lamb]

My Winchester .270 has a Timney that I really like, and I love the Sako/Tikka trigger as well. All set to approximately 2.5 pounds. Both have been very reliable in the cold and snow. I used to have a Triggertech on a 700 that felt great but was a little finicky in bad conditions.

Finicky how?

I emailed Timney about the Sportsman. Within 15 minutes had my reply and an offer of a new spring or new trigger - my choice. Pretty good customer service for the second or third owner of an aftermarket part.

 

[MTLabrador]

Finicky how?

I emailed Timney about the Sportsman. Within 15 minutes had my reply and an offer of a new spring or new trigger - my choice. Pretty good customer service for the second or third owner of an aftermarket part.

Safety engagement was often sticky in the cold, and the entire trigger seized up and wouldn’t function once until I hit it with some penetrating oil and let it sit for a few days. That may have been a windy Wyoming dust/dirt issue as much as the cold.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

Jewel makes a great trigger but maybe not the best for hunting conditions. I’ve had 2 Timneys (700 clone) that I did not like. I like a very light trigger under 2lbs. I have a Riflebasix on my 7-08 that’s excellent, but this is my favorite on a hunting rifle..

 

[Ben Lamb]

Safety engagement was often sticky in the cold, and the entire trigger seized up and wouldn’t function once until I hit it with some penetrating oil and let it sit for a few days. That may have been a windy Wyoming dust/dirt issue as much as the cold.

Conditions aside, that's a bit concerning. I have a rifle showing up soon that has a triggertech.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Jewel makes a great trigger but maybe not the best for hunting conditions. I’ve had 2 Timneys (700 clone) that I did not like. I like a very light trigger under 2lbs. I have a Riflebasix on my 7-08 that’s excellent, but this is my favorite on a hunting rifle..
View attachment 403668

What didn't you like about the Timneys?

And what makes the diamond the better choice?

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

What didn't you like about the Timneys?

And what makes the diamond the better choice?

My Seekins originally had a Timney. It would not turn down as low as advertised safely , as did one I used to have on my rem 700 7-08. Same Timney trigger on my friends rifle is just fine. I have a TT standard on my kimber 223 and it’s also a nice trigger. I’ve used a lot of rifles that have the diamond trigger and they are excellent. Jewell is probably the nicest but maybe too may little moving parts for bad weather conditions/reliability.

 

[deer_shooter]

I have quite a few timmney triggers and a Rifle Basix. All are set to 2.5-3lbs. My 338 and 375 have factory triggers as neither are terrible and my preference is a slightly more stout trigger pull on bigger stuff.

 

[Hams42]

I have a Ruger m77 .270 win that i had a gunsmith put a Timmney in. I don't love it it made the three postion safety super stiff and sticky. Now I don't think I can totally blame this on the trigger I think this is partly to blame on the gunsmith. I have never tested it but it is a hair trigger. Maybe 1.5 pounds. That's too light for my liking.

I also have multiple trigger tech triggers and I love them. I have them all set around 2 to 2.5 lbs and they work great.

 

[Lota lota]

Shilen, Jewel and TriggerTech are my go to