Hunting Rifle Triggers

[Hams42]

Could be as simple as checking the relief between the stock & the safety. I had to take some material out of my safety to make it fit. Here's a video of how to do it:

My 77 is set at 1.5 as well. I'm upping that to 2-2.5. Super easy to adjust the trigger!

Thanks for this. I will give it a go. I will say, the timmney is much better than the stock ruger trigger. I tested it at Scheels when I worked there and it was 9 lbs stock...

 

[EKYHunter]

I’ve got a Mcarbo spring in a XBolt and it’s at 1.5 pounds and it’s great. I’ve also got a Trigger Tech Primary in a Model 700 and it’s great as well. If buying a complete assembly, I’d go Trigger Tech. TT is set at 1.5 as well.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Thanks for this. I will give it a go. I will say, the timmney is much better than the stock ruger trigger. I tested it at Scheels when I worked there and it was 9 lbs stock...

You bet! Just be careful. A little too much filing and you get to replace more parts.

Slowly & painstakingly. Just like courting, or stalking.

 

[Ben Lamb]

I’ve got a Mcarbo spring in a XBolt and it’s at 1.5 pounds and it’s great. I’ve also got a Trigger Tech Primary in a Model 700 and it’s great as well. If buying a complete assembly, I’d go Trigger Tech.

Trigger spring or firing pin spring?

I did two of the MCARBO kits over the weekend on some pistols. Improved the feel & made them very crisp. Dropped the M&P down from about 8 pounds to 5 and from 6 to 4.5 on the Sig.

 

[EKYHunter]

Trigger spring or firing pin spring?

I did two of the MCARBO kits over the weekend on some pistols. Improved the feel & made them very crisp. Dropped the M&P down from about 8 pounds to 5 and from 6 to 4.5 on the Sig.

Trigger Sear Spring. Definitely worth the money. And they go lower than the 2.5.

Browning X-Bolt Trigger Spring Kit

Reduce your Browning X-Bolt trigger pull from 4.5 lbs to 2.5 lbs with this drop-in spring kit. Improve accuracy and performance—no gunsmith required.

www.mcarbo.com

 

[cgasner1]

You bet! Just be careful. A little too much filing and you get to replace more parts.

Slowly & painstakingly. Just like courting, or stalking.

That’s my guess his smith didn’t do the fine tuning on it.

 

[Drake4]

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

This x100.

I have 2 Triggertech Diamonds. They are unmatched for a hunting rifle in my opinion. Mine are set super light.
I had a Jewell on a custom rifle as well. Kurt is 100% correct. They are pretty great 99.9% of the time, but I had one gum up on a mountain goat hunt that almost cost me a once in a lifetime billy. And I am pretty anal about the care and upkeep of my rifles...

 

[Carl]

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..

This x100.

I have 2 Triggertech Diamonds. They are unmatched for a hunting rifle in my opinion. Mine are set super light.
I had a Jewell on a custom rifle as well. Kurt is 100% correct. They are pretty great 99.9% of the time, but I had one gum up on a mountain goat hunt that almost cost me a once in a lifetime billy. And I am pretty anal about the care and upkeep of my rifles...

I never especially favored the feel of the Jewell's, even when they were THE precision trigger for 700 pattern actions. They have always been known for being fickle and fragile, but I never gave them a chance due to personal preference regarding the feel. Just not my thing, lots of guys shoot exceptionally with them.

When the Timney Calvin's came out, I ended up switching everything to them. They were my favorite at the time, but each one still had to be massaged a little to be consistent. I only had one notable failure with the Calvin's, had a freeze up on a cold day.

Then the TT Diamonds came out. They were/are the easy button, if you're looking for a super crisp 700 trigger between 4 oz and 2 lb. They can still get dirty or dusty and fail, I had one quit on me at a match in Cody during a dust storm. Still my go to match trigger, but not without its weaknesses.

I primarily hunt with Tikka action's these days, and use the factory trigger with the factory spring as low as it goes. Usually ~ 1.5 lbs, maybe 2 lbs. I have had enough situations where my fingers were approaching numb when I needed to shoot that I don't really want a sub 1 lb trigger for hunts anymore. With enough practice with the "heavier" triggers (between 1 & 2 lbs) I don't think I really give up much to the Diamonds on target.

I'm sure everyone's mileage will vary.

 

[Foxtrot1]

Most of my rifles have timeny triggers set to either 1.5 or 2.5#s. I like a slightly heavier pull on my rifles set up for close range, like my 9.3x57

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

A friend gave me an old Win model 70 to put a scope on, I noticed the nearly 7lb trigger. I ordered an aftermarket spring from M*Carbo for $12 and it’s now a touch under 2lbs. Not something to carry a round in the chamber with but very nice and price was excellent. Both my kids have hand me down Win model 70s - so I ordered 2 more springs.

 

[BrentD]

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?

I have my own ways of fixing triggers. But it depends on the gun. A marlin lever (vintage), for instance, can have the trigger-hammer engagement reduced through careful placement of a set screw. Then I can dial it down for targets or up for hunting with gloved hands. How much they actually pull, I do not know, but they must be crisp and "reasonably light" whatever that means.

Often one easy (but relatively permanent) way to reduce pull is simply to thin the trigger return spring. Every pound in that spring works against your pulling the trigger. Often they are way over-sprung. Easy and safe to play with, if you screw one up, it is generally a very easy part to replace, or even refabricate.

In any event, I strive to not mess with the trigger sears directly. Removing metal there is permanent without replacement of an often hard to find and relatively expensive part. Plus, few of us have the tools or skills necessary to get the angles right.

 

[kiwi hunter]

Prefer 1lb, no exception

 

[BAKPAKR]

I like 2#. I have a couple Trigger Tech Specials, a Jewell, and a Tikka at that weight. When I was sighting in my daughter’s new Tikka last fall, I thought it had an extra heavy pull. Turns out it was way up there at 3#. It is amazing what a difference a pound makes.

 

[44hunter45]

I stoned my Ruger MkII to 2 lbs and drilled and tapped it for an overtravel screw.

I used to think I needed everything at 2 lbs or less until I shot the M70 that CCM ( @p_ham ) built for me. It pulls at 3 lbs but just feels better than all my other triggers, period. Factory M70.

All my Mausers have Timney's, but since shooting my CCM built rifle, I have everything set at 3lbs now no matter who makes the trigger.

I've just come to feel that it has a lot more to do with consistency, creep, and overtravel than poundage. Obviously a Ruger MkI at 5-6 pounds is a pain.

BTW - I had my MkI .30-'06 factory trigger down to 1 1/2 lbs. You have to snip the springs to get there. Then you have to shim the gaps between the trigger and riser. Ruger put so much slop in the MkI trigger riser that the trigger will bind if you apply any off-axis pressure. This makes them completely random and inconsistent. Mine would go from 1 1/2 up to over 6 lbs.

That is to say, before you go and snip the springs on your MkI, get some shims in between your trigger and drop tang. Any of the Blackhawk or Single Six alignment shim kits work great for this. DM me if you want a tutorial. I won't help you snip the springs, but I will show how to put in the shims. Take 5 minutes and won't change any trigger settings.

 

[44hunter45]

Thanks for this. I will give it a go. I will say, the timmney is much better than the stock ruger trigger. I tested it at Scheels when I worked there and it was 9 lbs stock...

The design of the MkII trigger has to lift the sear before it releases. That means you are pulling against the striker spring. There are ways a competent gunsmith can stone these.

 

[TN2shot07]

All of my replacement triggers have been timneys, set at 3 lbs. I have several older 700’s and model seven’s (pre xmark triggers) that have had trigger jobs done, that all come in between 2.5-3.

I don’t like anything much below 2.5 on a hunting rifle, I want to be able to feel the pressure being applied, especially with gloves.