Minimum trigger weight for carry?

[Trey Veston]

My two current carry pistols are a Sig P365 and a Glock Gen 5 G19. Both have trigger pull weights of around 5 lbs.

My previous carry pistol was a S&W M&P40c with an Apex sear and a trigger weight of 4 lbs.

I just bought a Gen 4 G23 that has a horrible trigger with a pull weight of 5.5 lbs after installation of a (-) connector and polishing. Because I was so discouraged by the awful trigger of my latest gun, I went online and started researching the latest and greatest Glock trigger mods.

Apparently, Timney rocked the Glock world back in January with the release of it's new Glock trigger system that replaces the whole assembly with Timney components. Supposedly give a 3 lb or less crisp trigger with very little reset, for $150. I ordered one for my new G23.

But, there are a slew of videos and threads regarding why the new Timney trigger is not safe for concealed carry duty. Most focus on the low pull weight. From what I've been able to discern, I should be able to get around a 3.5 lb pull weight with the right connector. Which is almost ideal. I think my M&P40c with it's 4 lb trigger is ideal. But, it's also a manual safety gun. The Glock is not.

Ironic seeing all of the arguments stating how a 3.5 lb trigger, or less, is simply unacceptable for a carry pistol, when the new S&W Shield Plus has a stock trigger that many report is at 3 lbs.

All reviews of the Shield Plus heap praises on it's excellent trigger due to crispness and lightness, but then those same people will complain about the exact same weight trigger on another gun as being too light for safe concealed carry duty.

So, what do you think should be the standard for an ideal carry pistol trigger weight?

 

[.455_Hunter]

On a non-manual safety gun, 6+ lb with a full stroke DA travel.

 

[UncleEd]

Trey Veston,

You re going to get a lot of variations.
And I don't think you are advocating a
trigger of less than four pounds.

But first, for yourself, to try and duplicate
some adrenaline combined with trigger
weight/gun handling, get together with a
friend.

First, Trey, jog or run a half block or bound
up stairs; do this several times. Next,
allow your friend to slap you in the face
seferal times and also give you a few
light to medium taps with his fist to your
chest. Next do some deep knee bends.

Now take a gun with a 3.5-pound trigger
weight and fire a decent pattern at say
seven yards. And, please, no unintentional
double or triple taps.

Maybe this will make sense to you or not.

 

[chicharrones]

It would seem all my defense pistols have triggers with at least 5 pounds of pull, going upwards from that for the true double action guns.

Thinking on that, my "defense" long gun triggers (PCCs and AR) are probably in the 4 to 7 lb. range.

 

[Dunross]

For a carry gun I would not want less than a five pound trigger pull. Especially when there's no safety involved. Carry guns are for defensive use which means high stress and adrenaline dumps. Much too easy to squeeze a trigger unwittingly when you had not really meant to.

 

[chicharrones]

This makes me think of a news story I saw decades ago on 20/20 or Ted Koppel's old show.

There was a case of a civilian homeowner with a S&W revolver stopping some miscreants in front of his house for some crime that I can't remember. He's holding them at gun point with a thumb cocked revolver when the gun fires. The homeowner claimed that he never pulled the trigger, the gun just fired. Of course, his finger was on the trigger and he was charged with manslaughter or murder.

I can't recall many other details, but that show is stuck in my memory.

 

[Bazoo]

I carry a 1911 and it has a crisp 5 pound trigger. I went shooting with a friend that had a Kimber with what he called a "good" trigger. I'd guess it was 2.5 pounds. I accidentally double tapped with it under recoil. I suggested maybe it was a tad light for CC, to which his reply quoted some youtube video. He trades a lot, and carries whatever the flavor of the week is. Hope he never has to use it.

I never seen a problem with the stock glock trigger at 5.5 pounds. And I wouldn't want to go less than 4 pounds on a gun to use for either field or defense.

 

[WrongHanded]

Honestly, I don't know if I can assign a value to it. For me, it's very much a case of feeling the individual trigger.

How long is the travel? Is there any stacking? Is there slack that is taken up with relatively little pressure before the trigger begins to engage?

I think you'll just have to try it and see. If it seems way too light, but fixes the gritty issues you've been having, try installing an NY-1 spring. That will increase the weight and give it more of a DA feel along with a more positive reset. You might even like it.

 

[CDW4ME]

Normal Glock trigger weight about 5# is okay.
I've got NY trigger in one Glock and it is not a hindrance to quick & accurate double taps (for me).

 

[Tallball]

With a 22 or some other kind of target handgun I'm fine with very light triggers.

For me four or five pounds is good for a SD handgun. I will shoot it a bit worse if it's much heavier, and if it's much lighter I have to be extremely conscious of my trigger finger.

Then there's travel and reset and so forth to throw into the mix.

 

[herrwalther]

Ideal or minimal? Post says one and poll says another.

Minimal trigger weight for me would be similar to something on my 1911s. On my non-carry 1911 the trigger weight is right around 3 pounds, and that is what I call the minimum, with multiple safeties. On my carry 1911, I have the trigger tuned to a "heavy" 6 pound range. It is a kit gun so I have some smoothing to do still. Maybe take off another pound, two at most. Ideal for me is between 4 and 7 pounds for single actions and striker-fired. Double action is a different story and harder to put a pound value on it.

 

[Otto]

My Glocks, CZ's and 1911's are to tuned to around 3 lb with a defined wall. That's what I'm accustomed to and fastest with.
If I transitioned to a 5 lb. trigger, muscle memory is altered and "A" zone hits would be less accurate, unless I shot slow fire.
Deciding on how light a trigger to run should be based on your level of proficiency, marksmanship and frequency of practice.

 

[TarDevil]

You need two groups of choices.

 

[jar]

I prefer a trigger pull under 12-15#. Seriously, too heavy a trigger pull has never been a problem but too light scares me. Quite a few of my handguns have DA trigger pull that exceeds what my meter can show.

 

[sgt127]

I love 1911’s. Usually about a 3.5 pound trigger. With an off switch.

For guns without an off switch, I prefer a longer and heavier trigger. Kahr. Sig DAK. Or even a DA revolver.

I usually carry appendix. It’s fast. It’s comfortable. I would never carry a striker fired, cocked and unlocked pistol appendix. I won’t even carry a 1911 appendix. And it has an off switch.

When Glock came out, it was touted as a Safe Action. It is. The gun is inherently safe. Human beings are unsafe. Outside factors are unsafe.

Then, the race was on to make hyper light striker fired pistols. We can now get down to 2 pound triggers on guns that don’t have an off switch.

I’m not sure that’s the best idea. That trigger doesn’t care what trips it. Your finger, your shirttail, a drawstring. And, there is no feedback that the gun is about to fire. With a DA gun, you can put your thumb on the hammer as you holster. Thumb starts to raise, stop. Somethings pushing the trigger.

I realize guns with short light 2.5 pound triggers are easy to shoot. I just prefer to err on the side of caution.

Or, an off switch.

 

[Hangingrock]

AS an example SW-4506 DA-10 Lbs and SA-5 Lbs an the other hand S&W MP9 4.5 Lbs.

 

[UncleEd]

Although few readers of this thread
have actually responded to the
poll which is the lead-off, I'm happy
to see that nearly 82% who did vote
prefer a trigger of four or more pounds.

 

[Hartkopf]

Stock Glock trigger for me. I only mess with triggers if it’s a DA revolver and even then I leave the springs stock.

 

[DR505]

1911 carrier here...3.5-4.0 is perfect.

My duty/issue Glock were all 5.5 which was fine for that pistol.

When I carried a .357 revolver (S&W Model 27) that was in the 6+ category for DA and significantly less for SA.

 

[CDW4ME]

Trigger should be heavy enough to not pop off a round inadvertently if doing double taps at 1/3 second or quicker.

 

[Otto]

Ironic seeing all of the arguments stating how a 3.5 lb trigger, or less, is simply unacceptable for a carry pistol, when the new S&W Shield Plus has a stock trigger that many report is at 3 lbs.

Light triggers don't necessarily make guns unsafe. I have a CZ Shadow 2 SA that breaks at 2.75lb. it's perfectly safe for carry, competition or plinking. No gun can be made idiot proof.
Anyway, I ordered a Timney trigger today to see what the hype was about. I have a spare G34 I'll try it in. My comp 34 has a ghost rocket connector with a Jager striker. I'm happy with this setup but I'd like to run small rifle primers reliably. If the Timney works with SRP's I'll be very pleased.

 

[243winxb]

The weight of the S&W J frame double action is ok by me. Striker fired would seem to work at
*5.0 to 5.5

Taurus G3C. 9MM- Trigger Pull: 4-lbs. 10-oz NRA Test.

 

[BigAlShooter]

I think it is preference and what you train with. If you have shot 2.5# your whole life and that is what you expect under any situation, then it probably will work for you. When your adrenaline is rushing, you don't stop to think about trigger feel, instinct sets in and you go with what comes natural and what seems normal to you. Its when something is not natural is when you will make a mistake. That's why you should train with and get really used to your EDC gun. I get that you can easily carry the 9oz 9mm subcompact, but no one likes to shoot them, so I choose not to have one of those. I try to stick with something I like to shoot. I like DA/SA, with a 8lb DA and 4.5lb SA.

 

[Zendude]

Without a thumb or grip safety, 6+ is the easy answer for me.
For a 1911 or similar SA trigger with a thumb or grip safety, 4 to 6 is good.

 

[Kleanbore]

Stock.