Why don’t all hunting rifles have winter trigger guards?

[Elkins45]

None of my several hunting rifles have trigger guards big enough to fit a gloved finger inside easily unless I’m wearing gloves so thin my hands are basically numb. I can’t be the only hunter who gets cold hands and needs to wear heavy gloves, can I?

I basically have to jam my trigger finger into the guard making absolutely sure the safety is on before very carefully disengaging it. Getting off a quick shot is essentially impossible unless I walk around with my finger on the trigger, and I’m really not comfortable doing that.

 

[ms6852]

Don't get that cold here in Texas, if it does I ain't hunting.

 

[Mn Fats]

I'm up in Minnesota, and your not alone with the trigger guard/glove dilemma. I use a vintage pair of mittens that you can pull back the finger covering part and expose your fingers.

Kind of like what mail carriers used to use up here. Except mine are real warm snowmobiling gloves, not the cloth ones Sinbad has on. Just pull back the top when a deer appears and fire. Works for me.

 

[Random 8]

I've wondered the same thing. I shoot a Mauser 98 sporter, and long ago sourced a proper winter trigger guard and put away a couple of spares.

 

[edwardware]

All of my hunting rifles have triggers too light to be reasonably run with a puffy thick glove. . . gotta take off your mitten!

 

[JDeere]

Mittens with the flap in the palm. Lift the velcro flap and bingo I have use of all my fingers...

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'm up in Minnesota, and your not alone with the trigger guard/glove dilemma. I use a vintage pair of mittens that you can pull back the finger covering part and expose your fingers.

Kind of like what mail carriers used to use up here. View attachment 959146 Except mine are real warm snowmobiling gloves, not the cloth ones Sinbad has on. Just pull back the top when a deer appears and fire. Works for me.

Walmart sells those, they're called glomitts. I have several pairs.

 

[Mn Fats]

Walmart sells those, they're called glomitts. I have several pairs.

Thank you. Glomitts. I would have never got that. Personal opinion for OP, I'd steer clear of Walmart for quality winter gear. My old "Glomitts" are Artic Cat. Not sure if new snowmobile gear is as up to snuff as the old stuff, but I'd start there.

 

[JumboJVT]

I have the same problem. As I mentioned in another thread re: the Browning BLR, I just picked one up but can't get a gloved hand into the lever loop, let alone the trigger guard. With apologizes to those of you in warmer climes, or different styles of hunting, in the NE, if you're not ready to shoot NOW with gloves on, you're not ready at all.

 

[mjsdwash]

good question, probably just style. It reminds me of people who remove the arctic mitten/glove compatible standard trigger guards from their AR's and put "winter trigger guards" on.

I have never seen a oversize trigger guard on a Mosin, or K rifle, or any modern rifle. Maybe they exist, but beyond Garands, and AR's I have never seen a glove friendly trigger.
The only practical thing I can think of is that gloves reduce feel, and that equals accidental discharge, and lawsuits.

 

[jmr40]

IMO if the trigger guard is big enough to work with a really heavy glove it is big enough to let tree branches and other stuff inside to pull the trigger. Even with a huge trigger guard it would be unsafe to try to pull the trigger on any of my rifles while wearing heavy gloves. There are better solutions I think. Pull the glove off prior to shooting. I will often leave the left hand gloved while on stand, and the trigger hand ungloved and in a jacket pocket with a chemical heating pad.

I have the same problem. As I mentioned in another thread re: the Browning BLR, I just picked one up but can't get a gloved hand into the lever loop, let alone the trigger guard.

That's one of many reasons bolt actions are preferred in any type of harsh conditions.

 

[JumboJVT]

IMO if the trigger guard is big enough to work with a really heavy glove it is big enough to let tree branches and other stuff inside to pull the trigger. Even with a huge trigger guard it would be unsafe to try to pull the trigger on any of my rifles while wearing heavy gloves. There are better solutions I think. Pull the glove off prior to shooting. I will often leave the left hand gloved while on stand, and the trigger hand ungloved and in a jacket pocket with a chemical heating pad.



That's one of many reasons bolt actions are preferred in any type of harsh conditions.

And the reason I continue to hunt with my 40-year-standing-date M77. Thought the BLR might be a nice, light, easy to carry change of pace. But as it turns out, as is most often the case with greener pastures, someone has spread manure on 'em.

 

[Ru4real]

In below zero weather, I use these type mittens. I’ve learned to let the lever push the finger cover out of the way as I shoulder the weapon. And for bow hunting, my release is secured around my wrist and the trigger is tucked under the flap, warm with my fingers.


View attachment 959149

 

[earlthegoat2]

Growing up hunting in MI, once I got one of these, all my problems like this just melted away. This is just a representation of the one I have. Mine is a Grabber branded product. The same company that used to be the worldwide distributor of Grabber Warmers chemical hand warmers until they got bought by Hot Hands. I even used to work for them long after I had bought that muff.

That combo makes your hands too hot, even in sub zero temps. I just wear a thin pair of fingerless gloves.

Amazon.com : HOT SHOT Men’s Camo Shaped Textpac Hand Muff – Insulated Warmer, Realtree Edge, Outdoor Hunting Camouflage : Sports & Outdoors

 

[George P]

I have had some gloves and mittens that had the ability to bring your finger out the mitten/glove for shooting.

 

[JDGray]

I do all my shooting from a truck cab, sometimes driving 50-60mph, ambush style! I have forgotten the days of sitting in the woods, freezing my ars off!! 5 yotes ago, that is exactly how I took them, 2 hunting pair of dogs had 2 of the 3 runways closed, and the ATCT had me drive down the runway to take them out! Was the 2 easiest kills ever

 

[Oldschool shooter]

I guess being out on the woods with others, not in time of war, I never would feel it safe to pull a trigger with gloves on. Not a safe practice IMHO.

 

[d2wing]

I hunt in Northern Minnesota often on a tree stand for 2 to 3 hours. I wear Thinsulate gloves with a hand warmer pocket in each one. Not so bulky that I can't shoot just fine. I also use a muff with hand warmers in it if it's really cold. I have them in my pockets and boots if needed. I haven't used thick gloves for decades. I also have gloves with a flip off cover but I seldom use them.

 

[army_eod]

How do Soldiers in combat do it?

 

[Laphroaig]

I think any glove that wouldn't fit in a standard trigger guard would adversely affect your feel on the trigger. I wear a lighter type glove on my trigger finger and often keep that hand in my coat pocket if it is really cold. Sometimes going for a walk gets the blood flowing in the extremities. But I like still hunting anyway, and get bored sitting in one place too long.

I used to have gloves that you could get your finger out to shoot. I don't have them anymore, so probably didn't like them that much.

 

[jar]

It was always a pair of Johnny Hand Warmers, one in each pocket and no gloves when sitting in the blind on the river for me.

 

[WrongHanded]

Two simple options which have nothing to do with the trigger guard are:

1) Wear a loose glove or mitt that you can "throw" off or pull off quickly.

2) Cut a slit in the index finger of the glove so you can poke your trigger finger out when you need to.

Some people who venture into the outdoors during winter wear a very light set of gloves, with mitts over the top. That's not a bad idea in my opinion.

 

[I6turbo]

How do Soldiers in combat do it?

Findin' soldiers willin' to fight with thin gloves in cold weather got to be such a problem in the past few generations that we started doing all our warring in warmer climates. Somebody starts layin' claim to new territory in a stupid cold region, they can have it. Who cares?

 

[Mr. Zorg]

Not all military rifles have had winter / arctic style trigger guards historically. A soldier on active duty in North Africa or along the Rio Grande has different requirements than a soldier on active duty in the Aleutians or Greenland. Same is true for hunters.

 

[sarduy]

If i have to hunt in a cold enough weather that my gloves don’t fit the trigger guard I'm not hunting.