What lb trigger pull?

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

I have a Savage Mark II (22lr) and a Savage 93R17 (17hmr) Pretty much identical guns except for the caliber and the 17 has a heavy varmint barrel.

Both guns have the accutrigger. (from what I understand, the rimfire accutrigger is different than the center fire models) The lowest level of trigger pull was (estimated) around 2.5lbs...or a little more. (I didn't have a trigger weight scale at the time) Not the end of the world, but I wanted a little lighter.

So I upgraded both guns with the Appache trigger kit. At the time I installed them, I could tell I had the trigger pull significantly reduced. Without a scale, I chose a level I thought was acceptable. I could go lower, but it seemed too light.

I received a trigger pull scale in the mail the other day, and I measured the 22lr. (No spare brass to measure the 17....but they're pretty close) The scale measured about 1.5lbs. I was surprised it was still that high. (I thought I was a light trigger pull guy) I left it for a few days, and just a few minutes ago, I took it down to 1lb. That seems REALLY light. Almost too light. I think the accublade makes hard to feel, as the accublade's resistance is part of the new 1lb pull.

This gun is a squirrel and plinking gun. I'm feeling like I may go back to the gun cabinet and bring it back to at least 1.25lbs. I feel if you back out the weight of the accublade, the trigger pull is really only somewhere around 3/4lb pull.

For those that know, where do you set a hunting/plinking gun's trigger weight?

 

[patriot]

Just a little over 2 lbs for sporters to keep them safe, but the trigger on the 52 C is so clean and the second stage on the Anschutz is only 4 ounces.

Mark

 

[Mikey_P]

I'm feeling like I may go back to the gun cabinet and bring it back to at least 1.25lbs. I feel if you back out the weight of the accublade, the trigger pull is really only somewhere around 3/4lb pull.

Yes you are correct OVS! I have two Savage centerfire target actions w/target accutrigger. The takeup of the accublade is approx. 5 oz. on each. I use a total combined pull weight of 1 lb 8 oz. Both rifles are used for prone competitions shot using a sling.

To answer your question, I would agree with Patriot - 2 lbs for a sporter gun w/accutrigger used in the field would be reasonable. And, I think, too, that sometimes it's easy to get hung up on trigger pull numbers. I'd take a clean crisp 3 lb trigger over some vague unpredictable 8 oz trigger any day of the week...

Mike

 

[Shynloco]

I would agree with Patriot - 2 lbs for a sporter gun w/accutrigger used in the field would be reasonable. And, I think, too, that sometimes it's easy to get hung up on trigger pull numbers. I'd take a clean crisp 3 lb trigger over some vague unpredictable 8 oz trigger any day of the week...

Mike

Big +1!

Personally, for use in the field, a 2lb trigger is the lowest (or minimum) I would ever want to go. Folks not used to less haven't a clue how easy a "light" trigger sends one that wasn't intended.

Alex

 

[Fotheringill]

Strict benchrest gun, go as low as you safely can.
For ANY hunting or plinking on foot, I wouldn't go less than 2-2.5 pounds.
That is how people shoot themselves in the foot or worse. One bump or trip or stumble and the rifle will fire.

 

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

I did take the gun and adjust the pull up to 1.25lbs. And it still feels too light. I'm going to adjust once again and bring it back up to something that feels better.

I tried to get it to slam fire. Fortunately, it wouldn't fire, even on the lightest setting. I should have left it alone before I got the scale.

 

['Freak]

My very much doctored up10/22™ rifle guns that are likely to see any field use are running ~ 1.5 to 2 pound mostly Kidd, one Volquartsen TG-2000 (mucho fiddlin’ wit required), and a Power Custom/Brimstone touched hybrid. Some came complete and the others are kit based units. There is very little to no perceived blade travel either leading up to or after the break. The two strictly bench guns (still 10/22™, sorta) are running a Kidd Single Stage I tweaked to just under a pound and a Kidd Two Stage set to pull 3 plus 5 ounces. Done long ago been spoiled by good triggers and now I won't settle for less.

 

[dickn52]

My 52D has a Canjar LP at 6 ozs, and the other 2 D's are micro-motion triggers at about 11 ozs. I have a savage .223 at about 2-3 lbs and hate the trigger. The accutrigger is worthless to me.
UPDATE: Just installed a Riflebasix SAV-2 on the Savage and the trigger breaks clean at 8oz's now. No creep, No OT. That Accutrigger blade was driving me crazy.

 

[matorre]

Two stage trigger.

3oz first stage, 1oz second stage for me.

Works for me.

M

 

[searcher]

Big Game Hunting rifles in cold weather 3 lbs.
Varmint rifles off bench 1 lb
benchrest 4 oz

 

[CJ6]

Adjust it as light or heavy as YOU'RE comfortable with. Then adjust the rest of your guns (for similar use) to the same. This way you'll have consistent triggers across the board (hunting for eg.).

 

[justinp61]

Adjust it as light or heavy as YOU'RE comfortable with. Then adjust the rest of your guns (for similar use) to the same. This way you'll have consistent triggers across the board (hunting for eg.).

We have a winner! Don't worry about what anyone else sets theirs. I'm betting these 3oz to 1lb triggers don't get packed around the woods.

I have Savages too, A FVSS in 22-250, A model 16 in 260 and a BTVLSS 22lr I bought to use as a trainer for the 250. The trigger in the rim fire is definitely different from the one in the 250. I had to make the 250 trigger heavier to match the 22 until I polished it and installed the Apachee kit. Now I've backed the both down, don't know the poundage but I like them, and that's all that matters.

This reminds me, I need to get the 260 out and adjust the trigger. I learned a valuable lesson with it last fall. After picking it up in October I zeroed the scope and adjusted the trigger down. The first day of deer season I had a nice deer come in chasing a doe and only had a few seconds to shoot. I had on a pair of medium weight gloves and the rifle went off just as I was starting to feel the trigger. I was surprised to say the least, I did kill the deer though, a nice 11 pointer.

 

[matorre]

Don't bet the farm, their spanky.
Not all of us are ham handed.
M-

 

[justinp61]

Well sport, I'm sure there's some one with a 3oz trigger out there chasing tree rats. I'm willing to bet it's the minority.

 

[matorre]

LoL
Tree rats.
heh.
You remove all of the dignity.
I'll never leave look at them the same.......

M