Old Savage trigger upgrade…what is your experience?

[MQ1]

Folks,

I have an old project rifle that was originally an attempt to see how little I could spend to put together an accurate, fully functional live varmint rifle. I think I originally had $300 total in it, and it was a crude machine that very predictably could shoot some tiny groups.

Over time I bought one of Kevin Rayhill’s unfinished Woodchuck stocks, and I took the time to finish it nicely with a dura-coat camo finish that was a significant step up from the original wood stick. Then after a couple different barrels I finally broke down and picked up a Shilen pre-fit in one of my absolute favorite chamberings…25-06. With minimal load development, this thing still just shoots.

So this project has evolved to the point where I’m thinking I may want to consider picking up a “better” trigger for this old 110 flat back. The original trigger has not hampered functionality, but I‘m curious what an upgrade will really get me. I have other rifles with reworked Remington triggers, and a Jewel as well, so I can appreciate a decent trigger. Can you share your experience regarding your old Savage trigger replacement and let me know if you feel the juice was worth the squeeze? This is still purely a live varmint rifle, so take that into consideration…I’m not expecting a Bench Rest experience.

MQ1

 

[john 800]

I have never owned a bench or competition rifle, just varmint and hunting rifles. I have a worked over older rem 700, savages with the accutriger, a tc omega with an impressive factory trigger among others. One deer rifle I havent s an older flat back Savage in 7 mag and in factory condition the trigger was so horrible I may have gotem rid of it. I brought it over to a local smith and he worked it over and it is a thousand times better than when it left the factory. As the guy that did the work said “You cant make a velvet purse out of a sow’s ear, but we can get it good enough to hit yer buck” I have another one i am building, i may try an aftermarket trigger to see how it compares. Whole ypu are at it do yourself a favor and install a aftermarket safety selector that midway sells. They have a much better gripping surface especially with gloves

 

[acloco]

By chance, how many adjustment screws does your original trigger have?

 

[MQ1]

By chance, how many adjustment screws does your original trigger have?

From my poor memory, I want to say two, but it has been many, many moons since I originally fiddled with that trigger.

Edit: The trigger is actually an original three screw with a lighter wire-spring.

 

[Taildrag15X]

From my poor memory, I want to say two, but it has been many, many moons since I originally fiddled with that trigger.

I have fitted Accu-Triggers to my hunting Savage Flat Back actions.

 

[Stumpy1]

I believe the JARD will work on that action. My wife has two in her Savages, and couldn't be happier.
Waiting to see if the Trigger tech comes through, but would buy another JARD if something happened.

Hope this helps,

Frank

 

[JSH]

I believe the JARD will work on that action. My wife has two in her Savages, and couldn't be happier.
Waiting to see if the Trigger tech comes through, but would buy another JARD if something happened.

Hope this helps,

Frank

Ditto 100%

I am not a RB hater, I just won’t waste time, money or effort on another one. I can work over an accutrigger and be very usable along with completely safe.

 

[Rat Rifle]

The worst triggers ever sent out on a Savage or a Stevens 200, “CAN”, be made to break at a crisp, clean 2 pounds. By a Savage “handy man” or a gunsmith. Makes a “just fine” hunting trigger. My search has been for a BR quality, competition trigger for the Savage. I’m saying this for the benefit of the OP, everyone else can just laugh . I have tried just about everything out there. I think My favorite is the Rifle Basics Savage 2. After a lot of tinkering and hair tearing, I have one breaking clean at 4 ounces. Of course they can be set at a much higher break weigh, and the higher the easier it is to do.

I to have been anxiously waiting to see what or if Trigger Tech comes up with. Whatever it is, I’m not sure it will be “worth the juice” for Me? It seems like the more “high tech”, the more fragile triggers are?

Good Luck, Good Shooting, and let us know how You go

edit: ounces, not pounds

 

[Txhillbilly]

Most of the older staggered feed action's had a 3 screw trigger. You can adjust them safely to around 2#'s.
I have a couple SSS competition trigger's, but Fred doesn't sell them any more. They are great trigger's!

 

[Peter Ryan]

Folks,

I have an old project rifle that was originally an attempt to see how little I could spend to put together an accurate, fully functional live varmint rifle. I think I originally had $300 total in it, and it was a crude machine that very predictably could shoot some tiny groups.

Over time I bought one of Kevin Rayhill’s unfinished Woodchuck stocks, and I took the time to finish it nicely with a dura-coat camo finish that was a significant step up from the original wood stick. Then after a couple different barrels I finally broke down and picked up a Shilen pre-fit in one of my absolute favorite chamberings…25-06. With minimal load development, this thing still just shoots.

So this project has evolved to the point where I’m thinking I may want to consider picking up a “better” trigger for this old 110 flat back. The original trigger has not hampered functionality, but I‘m curious what an upgrade will really get me. I have other rifles with reworked Remington triggers, and a Jewel as well, so I can appreciate a decent trigger. Can you share your experience regarding your old Savage trigger replacement and let me know if you feel the juice was worth the squeeze? This is still purely a live varmint rifle, so take that into consideration…I’m not expecting a Bench Rest experience.

MQ1

All my old savages have SSS Savage Sharpshooters Supply triggers, with me having installed them. All very good. I believe the supplier now requires that you send the rifle to him though. Definitely worth the effort. Even my light weight "Stevens" .243. with original stock, shoots .4 MOA. I have no experience with Basix but I'd call them. Also maybe Trigger Tech has expanded their line. Call them.

 

[bluealtered]

One of the old savage trigger tricks for the three screw triggers was simply to remove the trigger springs which were one of the things that made for the heavy pull and just go to walmarts sporting goods / fishing dept. I bought a few different size down riggers and cut them down to fit.
They were small down rigger springs that you trimmed to the right size, which brought the trigger release down to around three pounds depending the size of the down rigger. Another trick was to trim a safety pin and use it instead. A couple of tricks from the old days.
The down rigger spring here is two and a quarter inch's long on the long side, it cost $1 then.

 

[MQ1]

I indeed have an original three screw trigger, and I’ve already modified the stock trigger following a similar method to what Blue altered describes. The pull is somewhere in the realm of 2 or 3 pounds…I remember taking the time to adjust it as light as it would go with 100% safety reliability.

I think one of my biggest concerns is that where I hunt it is often hot and dusty. In the back of my mind I’m concerned that as exposed as the sear is in the original trigger, it seems like a real point of failure under real world conditions. My next logical thought is to wonder about a better trigger…but is the one I have potentially unreliable, or am I worrying about nothing?

MQ1

 

[Rat Rifle]

I indeed have an original three screw trigger, and I’ve already modified the stock trigger following a similar method to what Blue altered describes. The pull is somewhere in the realm of 2 or 3 pounds…I remember taking the time to adjust it as light as it would go with 100% safety reliability.

I think one of my biggest concerns is that where I hunt it is often hot and dusty. In the back of my mind I’m concerned that as exposed as the sear is in the original trigger, it seems like a real point of failure under real world conditions. My next logical thought is to wonder about a better trigger…but is the one I have potentially unreliable, or am I worrying about nothing?

MQ1

Your worrying about nothing. If Your conditions are too dirty for a stock Savage trigger, it’s too dirty for any other trigger also. Just check Your entire rifle for cleanliness as necessary.

 

[Richard Jones]

After a lot of tinkering and hair tearing, I have one breaking clean at 4 pounds.

 

[varget204]

If it is a Top Bolt release RifleBasic II, Bottom Bolt release, a JARD

 

[acloco]

2-3 pound trigger on a hunting rifle???

 

[MQ1]

Your worrying about nothing. If Your conditions are too dirty for a stock Savage trigger, it’s too dirty for any other trigger also. Just check Your entire rifle for cleanliness as necessary.

That’s good to hear. That’s what I do now and it has served me well up to this point. I’ve to date only had one trigger issue, and it was not with the Savage, but ultimately (I believe) was an accumulation of fine dust dirt related. A couple good squirts of lighter fluid and some clean air does wonders.

 

[MQ1]

2-3 pound trigger on a hunting rifle???

At the risk of this spinning wildly off topic, for this rifle…yes. I also have hunting rifles with trigger weights significantly higher than 2-3lbs, but they are for different purposes.

Do you have a Savage replacement trigger experience you want to share?

MQ1

 

[jonbearman]

Adjust your 3 screw.You can get good results with the 3 screw.

 

[dfrosch]

I have SAV II triggers on all my Savage rifles. They can be tuned below a pound. The sear engagement adjustment is probably my favorite feature.

Just saw one in the classifieds for ~$100.