Hunting rifle trigger pull weight question

[chains1240]

After my last range session with my Howa 1500 I feel the need for a Timney trigger. If I order one from the factory what weight pull would be appropriate for a hunting/target practice rifle? 2.5#? Thank you for your opinions.

Added: I am thinking of lightening the stock trigger before spending the money on a Timney.

Still need opinions, on adjusting the stock trigger and on the pull weight.

 

[Geno]

I have the 1.5 Lb Timney trigger on my Vanguard Varmint Special. It's nice and crisp, and by no means overly light. BTW, the Varmint Special is a Howa 1500.

Geno

 

[jbkebert]

My prairie dog rifle/target gun 1.5# is just fine. My hunting rifles are all around 3-3.5# and suit me just fine.

 

[gkdir]

Not sure about the Howa, but the Vanguard is adjustable down to around 3#, then if ya want it less ya need to change trigger springs. Personally I never have any of my field rifles under 2 1/2 to 3 #. Cold fingers, thick gloves, etc, etc. makes a big difference in what it takes to make them go bang, compared to sitting at a bench with all the time in the world. That being said my p-dog rifle has a double set, with the second stage at 7 ozs. I believe there is a guy www.erniethegunsmith.com that has your answer for you on dialing in that Howa--complete with pics. Good luck.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I like my field guns to be between 2 and 4 pounds. My 7 Mag right now is at 2.5 pounds and is a professionally tuned Rem factory trigger. It is very nice, but I missed a nice muley because I got the rifle back from having its trigger job just before hunting season and didn't have many rounds through it with the lighter trigger (the factory trigger came set at ~8 friggin pounds). It was cold, my hands were getting numb and the rifle went off a lil sooner than expected as I brought it on target. Got a nice ding in my knuckle from my Harris too. Learned a few lessons that day; light, crisp triggers are nice but require practice and familiarity to be safe with, and I don't like bipods on guns not primarily shot from the prone or bench--took the Harris off my hunting rifle and it hasn't been on it since.

So yeah, 2.5 pounds is good. I don't know how much lower I would go, but right around 2 pounds is acceptable provided you've practiced with it and are familiar with it by the time you actually have to use it in the field.

 

[jmr40]

On a hunting rifle I like all of mine pretty close to 3#'s. I'd rather have a crisp consistent 4-5 lb trigger than a mushy 2 lb. trigger that was inconsistent. I could live with a lighter trigger, but have used 3 lbs on all of my rifles for so long I'm just used to it.

 

[bensdad]

Pretty good consensus here. 3lbs. is perfect for a field rifle. Varmint and bench guns are another story.

 

[MCMXI]

I think that 3lb is a good trigger pull weight for a hunting rifle but I'd rather have a two-stage trigger with 2lb on the first stage and 1lb on the second stage if at all possible. This is basically how the Geissele SSA trigger is set up ... something like 2.5lb on the first stage and 1.5lb on the second stage. I much prefer two-stage triggers to single stage triggers.

 

[Maverick223]

I concur with the above, no less than 2lbs unless it is a two stage or set trigger. Preferably no greater than 5lbs pull weight with a clean release for long range hunting or varminting applications.

 

[Sunray]

"...After my last range session..." Isn't the same thing as hunting. 2.5 lbs is way too light for a deer rifle. A crisp 3 to 4 lbs is sufficent. That half pound makes a difference.
Varmint rifles are different. They're more like target rifles, but a really light trigger on them isn't great either.
"...but require practice and familiarity to be safe with..." Absolutely. Mind you, Rem 700 triggers are adjustable.
"...the Vanguard..." It is a Howa.

 

[blackops]

3-3.5 IMO is perfect for a hunting rifle.

 

[blackops]

Mind you, Rem 700 triggers are adjustable.

I'll tell you that some of them are and some really aren't (even though that's what is advertised). You can turn the screw on some resulting in really no difference of weight.

 

[chains1240]

Thank you everyone. I am going to adjust the trigger myself today and try to get it a bit lighter. Maybe next year I can spring for the Timney in 3# weight.

 

[browningguy]

A crisp 3-4 pounds is perfect for a hunting rifle. For dedicated prairie dog/target guns something in the 1.5-2 poiund range works well.

 

[Art Eatman]

I always do a bump test after messing with a trigger pull on a hunting rifle. Drop the butt onto the floor from six inches or so, maybe a foot. Most rifles pass the test at 3#. My Canjar did okay at 2#.

It's a sort of "Avoid an Oopsie" thing...

 

[WNTFW]

Chains,
Take a look at the Jewell trigger. All 3 adjustments are made with the action in the stock and the trigger guard in place. Mine has 3 springs for 3 pull weight ranges.
They are supposed to be very safe triggers. I am not advocating going hunting with a light trigger set too lightly.

I am not sure if they make them for the Vanguard / Howa.

 

[MinnMooney]

2.5 lbs minimum

I called several gunsmiths in my area to get the horrible triggers on my Remington rifles adjusted. I have a 700 and a 721. All told me that it's a relatively easy job but it's also easy to screw up and make the rifle dangerous.
They all said that a 3# trigger is a great hunting trigger but they'd be willing to go to 2.5 if I insisted. I opted for 3# and they're great.
My target and prairie dog rifles are set at wts from 5 oz. to 2.5 lbs which is wonderful for bench shooting. I'd never carry a 2 lb trigger across hill and dale though.

 

[NWCP]

2.5 to 3.5 pounds for my hunting rifles. A nice crisp consistent trigger is best for hunting. My varmint/target rifles are all single set CZs. The triggers are very light and crisp.