Is there a device that protects against trigger-touch misfires?

[Cassidy]

During testing my 30BR in preparation for a match, when carefully watching the wind flags then reaching for something, in an instant my finger unintentionally barely touched the trigger causing a misfire. The range was hot and the round hit the target but somewhat off from the intended X. When the range is cold, all rifles are required to have their bolts out and no-one can touch any rifle on the line, all by range rules. Benchrest rifles typically do not have safeties. Is there some sort of simple device that I can put on my rifle that prevents such misfires that can be used during a match?

 

[ballisticdaddy]

Yup it's called don't put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot!

 

[BoomerangJ111]

How about a empty chamber flag.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Range was hot, finger bumped trigger.
Sounds like you were almost ready to fire.

What is your trigger pull?
Really light triggers require specially trained fingers

As much as people hate the Savage Accutrigger, it does what you want (with a little work).

 

[rardoin]

Go up an ounce on your trigger pull weight. It'll help 'brush' fires well as help you improve your gun handling; a light trigger pull can hide bad technique even in a fully rested F-class or BR gun.

 

[jackieschmidt]

We are talking about a Benchrest Rifle with less than 2 ounces of trigger pull.

You simply have to be careful. You just had a real life lesson in just how careful you have to be.

That’s the best solution I can give.

 

[SteveOak]

I had a Jewell trigger that was less than 1 oz pull. This is on a Silhouette rifle fired standing. No one could manage it but me. Arnold offered to replace it but I told him I liked it and could he make me another? He looked at me funny.

Unless you can ascertain what happened in your case it was not a misfire. It was an AD. @jackieschmidt is correct.

 

[distinguished]

Increase sear engagement, increase weight, keep finger off the trigger, are some ways. I had a jewel go off on me when I barely touched it on the side once. I eventually replaced it. Had the trigger on a used 40X that I picked up go off when I closed the bolt also. Good thing it was pointed down range, it really got my attention. I thoroughly go over every trigger on anything new now before taking them to the range. I'll even go over my existing triggers from time to time also, to make certain they are 100%.

 

[Florida Wally]

If there is a device, it will be on the shelf next to the cross-fire preventer

 

[DShortt]

During testing my 30BR in preparation for a match, when carefully watching the wind flags then reaching for something, in an instant my finger unintentionally barely touched the trigger causing a misfire. The range was hot and the round hit the target but somewhat off from the intended X. When the range is cold, all rifles are required to have their bolts out and no-one can touch any rifle on the line, all by range rules. Benchrest rifles typically do not have safeties. Is there some sort of simple device that I can put on my rifle that prevents such misfires that can be used during a match?

Yeah. It's located between your ears.

 

[RCE1]

I think if you leave your bolt handle up till you're ready to fire? Or the other suggestions. Maybe a lot of dry firing, to get used to that trigger. I have a Shilen BR trigger on a Rem 700 that's like an ounce and a half. Took some getting used to.

 

[jelenko]

If there is a device, it will be on the shelf next to the cross-fire preventer

I bid $5000 for the cross fire preventer.

 

[Dimner]

I don't compete for benchrest, but when I watch wind, my bolt is still open. When I close my bolt I know I'm going to fire. I have committed.

In the rare case I hold off from shooting, I remove the cartridge.

My suggestion is:

If you close the bolt, stay focused on being ready to shoot. Don't carefully reach for anything. You don't need anything. Your only job is to shoot.

If you have to do something, eject the unfired cartridge. If you are into the lands and ejecting would cause a stuck bullet. Fire it into the berm.

The only way to prevent misfires is to commit to shooting after you close that bolt.

 

[Bill K]

The best device for stopping the misfire as you mention, is YOU. Don't even touch that trigger until you are lined up on the X and ready to fire.

 

[madmixerman]

I think if you leave your bolt handle up till you're ready to fire? Or the other suggestions. Maybe a lot of dry firing, to get used to that trigger. I have a Shilen BR trigger on a Rem 700 that's like an ounce and a half. Took some getting used to.

If the bolt is left open till ready to shoot ,he may have finger on trigger & the gun fires when he closes the bolt. Not hitting the x is a big probability. Try dry firing to get used to trigger. Or adjust trigger for heavier pull & work on getting used to it & then reduce pull weight.

 

[LVLAaron]

 

[Silo1616]

If there is a device, it will be on the shelf next to the cross-fire preventer

During testing my 30BR in preparation for a match, when carefully watching the wind flags then reaching for something, in an instant my finger unintentionally barely touched the trigger causing a misfire. The range was hot and the round hit the target but somewhat off from the intended X. When the range is cold, all rifles are required to have their bolts out and no-one can touch any rifle on the line, all by range rules. Benchrest rifles typically do not have safeties. Is there some sort of simple device that I can put on my rifle that prevents such misfires that can be used during a match?

If you're a benchrest shooter with 2oz trigger and it hasn't happened, probably just means it hasn't happened yet. On the plus side, now that it has your attention, likely won't happen again.

For what it's worth, I make sure to have a closed hand when cycling the bolt (keeps an arrant finger or knuckle away) and locate the rifle with thumb on the stock or back side of trigger guard to steady the hand before trying to locate the trigger shoe.

 

[One Eye Pete]

I learned a valuable lesson from another shooters mistake at a F-open match. He was using a B&A Competition trigger (single stage) set down to about 1oz. He cleaned the first round and was close to shooting a clean in the second round when he momentarily lost concentration on trigger control and blew one into the 8 ring. After the match I asked him if I could try the trigger on his gun, it was the lightest best trigger I had ever tried, far better than the 2.5 oz jewel on my benchrest gun. There was only one thing wrong with it, the slightest lapse of concentration and the same thing could happen to me. At that light a trigger weight there was no margin for error. When I built my next F-open rifle I went with a B&A Competition trigger but it is a two stage. I can set both the first stage and the second stage really light but that little bit of extra movement from when I first put my finger on the trigger to when I hit the wall on the second stage and send the round down range goes a long way to prevent me from making the same mistake. It takes a little effort to get the trigger set just right and then it takes a little getting used to. I know two stage triggers aren’t normally the hot setup on a benchrest gun and to be honest I haven’t put a two stage on my benchrest gun only my F-open gun. But when you set the trigger weight down below 2oz the lower you go the more you start to “flirt with the danger of blowing a shot”.

 

[6MMsteve]

it's all concentration, as in golf the closer you get to the green the shot requires more and more extreme concentration..or repetition

 

[BoydAllen]

A lot of us follow a rule. If some is good, more is better, and too much is just right. I think that that is your primary issue. Guys go on about how light their triggers are. I do not think that going from light to ridiculous shows up on the target. It is my understanding that most score shooters shoot HV weight rifles and that they typically make some contact with the rifle, shoulder lightly on butt. Under these conditions I can see no functional need for having your trigger so light that ADs are an issue. On a Jewel, if you have the engagement set by the book you will have some trigger motion before it breaks, I can feel it with mine set to half the recommended amount, which for me works just fine, but when I discussed this with a super light Jewel magician/gunsmith, he told me that he sets his triggers to much less engagement. My triggers are at about 2 1/4 oz. and I shoot total free recoil with a LV with no issues. A long time back I did an article on the B&A that was published in the NBRSA magazine. When I got the trigger, my best estimate was that is was set at 1 1/4 oz. and after shooting it for a while, I realized that having to think more about not touching the trigger was an undesirable distraction, so I switched springs and readjusted it to the weight that I prefer. It is an amazingly consistent trigger, the best feeling of the several brands that I own, and I like it even better since I fixed its "problem". For me, too much is definitely not just right.