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Calvin Elite vs. Jewell

nmkid

Gold $$ Contributor
I might be in the market for a new trigger and I am considering the two above. I did some looking on the Internet last night and found some older posts with the following comments;

Calvin Elite------------Some creep 520CE

Jewell------------------Sponginess (whatever that means) HVRTSBR A

As always I come to folks here for honest reviews. Your thoughts?
 
For what type of shooting?

Although I have been shooting rifles since the early 60s, I am new to this long range, precision shooting discipline. Not a lot of experience, but have been trying new triggers over the last year. I have 4 custom built rifles. My Borden has a Jewel Trigger that was gone over and timed to my Borden BRM action by Jim Borden. In talking to him, he recommended this trigger and set it for 2 ounces. He told me that it is susceptible to dirt. On my tactical build I have the 520 CE Calvin Elite. Its set to a pound and a half and will not adjust as low as a real bench rest triggers, but I hope will hold up better shooting from a matt near dirt etc. My shorter range Bench Rest rifle has a Bix N' Andy trigger and if I had purchased one of these earlier, this would be what all my precision rifles would have on and my Remington Custom Shop 6BR Norma has a 40X trigger worked by those at Dakota Arms. It will be the first one to get changed.

Bob
 
REM 700, groundhogs, coyotes and pretty rocks on far away hillsides. I thought the CE is adjustable down to 8 ozs.
 
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I just replaced two of my jewels with calvin elite straight triggers...love em so far for my field and informal target guns..neither of them have any creep and break just as good as both my jewels did. Wanted something that was less affected by dust/dirt.
 
I might be in the market for a new trigger and I am considering the two above. I did some looking on the Internet last night and found some older posts with the following comments;

Calvin Elite------------Some creep 520CE

Jewell------------------Sponginess (whatever that means) HVRTSBR A

As always I come to folks here for honest reviews. Your thoughts?

I have always been a Jewell guy, everything centerfire I own has their hunter version. I decided to try a CE on a Remington Model 7. My next trigger buy will be a CE. I can't see where the Jewells are worth another forty bucks.
 
I know you didn't ask about it, but there's also a Kepplinger trigger for the Remington 700. Basically it's a single set trigger with a strong spring inside it. You can tune the set weight down to a few ounces (mine is at about 8oz). The non-set weight is set at 3lbs for general use. It's the best of both worlds I think.
 
I know you didn't ask about it, but there's also a Kepplinger trigger for the Remington 700. Basically it's a single set trigger with a strong spring inside it. You can tune the set weight down to a few ounces (mine is at about 8oz). The non-set weight is set at 3lbs for general use. It's the best of both worlds I think.
Are they still available?
 
Between your two choices; I seem to be partial to Jewell.

I've had and still have a Rifle Basix, though not with the problems you've experienced. I have only had one Timney; I liked it. I have gotten some very good results with factory triggers, but, they will only adjust so far.

If you ever come across a Kepplinger, you should try it out, or buy it outright. I have two, in M70s, they are very nice.
 
I just looked on Brownell and it looks like they're unable to get them anymore. That said, there's always some floating around on the web. Just make sure that you know how to disassemble a remington 700 trigger, because you'll need the housing and sear stuff from one of those, and it only works with the remington triggers that have the vertical lines on the trigger (older more fun kind).

IMHO, they are worth as much as a Jewell because they are adaptable to any f-class or tactical/hunting situation. If you can find one for less than $250, just buy it, you'll be happy.
 
Personally,
I bought a Calvin Elite from Sinclair a couple of years for a 30BR build (done by a professional Gunsmith) on a new Remington 700 action. As it turns out, that Calvin Elite trigger turned out to be the BIGGEST headache of any trigger I've had installed in any rifle I've owned in 40 yrs+. The darn thing wouldn't hold a setting worth beans, despite being adjusted and set by two different Gunsmiths (that after I gave up trying), who build a variety of rifles for various purposes. After a couple months of trying and failing, I finally swapped it with a fellow shooter who (wanted it) ultimately sent it back to the manufacturer. To replace it, I bought a Jewell and have not had a problem since. The Jewell IMHO, is a far better trigger for the money and serves me much better in having light trigger pull settings for BR purposes.

Alex

P.S. Interesting what Jason wrote that they are no longer available at Brownell/Sinclair. Wonder why?
 
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Yes the Calvin Elite is supposed to be adjustable down to 8 ounces, but not the 2 or 3 ounces of the other Bench Rest triggers. I had the gunsmith set mine at 1.5 based on how I intended to shoot it.

Bob
 
Personally,
I bought a Calvin Elite from Sinclair a couple of years for a 30BR build (done by a professional Gunsmith) on a new Remington 700 action. As it turns out, that Calvin Elite trigger turned out to be the BIGGEST headache of any trigger I've had installed in any rifle I've owned in 40 yrs+. The darn thing wouldn't hold a setting worth beans, despite being adjusted and set by two different Gunsmiths (that after I gave up trying), who build a variety of rifles for various purposes. After a couple months of trying and failing, I finally swapped it with a fellow shooter who (wanted it) ultimately sent it back to the manufacturer. To replace it, I bought a Jewell and have not had a problem since. The Jewell IMHO, is a far better trigger for the money and serves me much better in having light trigger pull settings for BR purposes.

Alex

P.S. Interesting what Jason wrote that they are no longer available at Brownell/Sinclair. Wonder why?
I think he ment the Kepplinger is no longer available as the Timney shows to be "in stock". Were you asking that 'Calvin" to do somethin it wasn't designed to do? Your post doesn't say what pull weight you were trying to achieve. Just curious.
 
...... Were you asking that 'Calvin" to do somethin it wasn't designed to do? Your post doesn't say what pull weight you were trying to achieve. Just curious.

The answer is "NO". I'm not a "tinkerer" and don't do anything to a rifle or components that the item wasn't designed to do per the instruction sheet that accompanies the item. Consider what I wrote...TWO well experienced rifle builder Gunsmiths (one who competes and often wins in various classes, both bolt gun BR and F/TR/Open class 600-1K and also AR 600 yd competition) also set the trigger to the 8 oz trigger pull. And it wouldn't hold that. Then after my shooting friend took that Calvin Elite, he put it in a completely different Remington 700 40X and it did the same thing (8 oz setting) to him as well. So I haven't got any faith in that trigger. Was it a lemon.... possibly, but you couldn't give me one after all that. And I have Timneys (among others) in some of my other rifles and the brand serves me very well and I am pleased with those.

Alex
 
I have both and prefer the Jewell. The Calvin is nice but can't get the overtravel where I like it. The Tubb trigger is quite impressive, as is the Huber Concepts 2 stage.
 
I just looked on Brownell and it looks like they're unable to get them anymore. That said, there's always some floating around on the web. Just make sure that you know how to disassemble a remington 700 trigger, because you'll need the housing and sear stuff from one of those, and it only works with the remington triggers that have the vertical lines on the trigger (older more fun kind).

IMHO, they are worth as much as a Jewell because they are adaptable to any f-class or tactical/hunting situation. If you can find one for less than $250, just buy it, you'll be happy.
Why not just buy a Jewell for $200 and not have all the hastle?
 
Well, I got the replacement trigger on. This one breaks cleanly and repetitive at 10 ozs. Tried a dummy case and worked the action hard with the safety on/off. Next jiggled and moved the bolt up/down with the safety on/off. It did not fire! However, I don't have to tell you, my confidence in the Basix trigger has been shaken. I can assure you the "pucker" factor will be in full mode when I load the first live round!!
 

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