What's your revolver trigger weight?

[LeftHand-Fu]

Have you tested your trigger pull weight? What is in your opinion the ideal number?

While adding a spring kit to a new "Chief's Special" (my post about that is here), I tested the following revolvers with a set of RCBS trigger pull scales.

DA lbs, BRAND & MODEL
09.50, Smith 36-10 (with Apex spring kit)
09.75, Ruger LCR
10.00, Ruger LCR-357
10.00, Smith 14-4 (1977)
10.00, Smith 17-8 (1993)
10.50, Smith 27-2 (1965)
10.75, Smith 586-8
11.00, Smith 586-7 L-Comp
11.50, Smith 36-10 (before Apex spring kit)
11.75, Ruger LCR-22
13.00, Smith 27-9

and here they are in single action...
SA lbs, BRAND & MODEL
2 lb 2 oz, Smith 36-10 (before & after Apex kit)
2 lb 8 oz, Smith 27-2 (1965)
3 lb 0 oz, Smith 586-8
3 lb 2 oz, Smith 14-4 (1977)
3 lb 8 oz, Colt SAA (1977)
3 lb 12 oz, Smith 17-8 (1993)
4 lb 0 oz, Smith 27-9
5 lb 2 oz, Smith 586-7 L-Comp

I find I'm comfortable with anything under 11 lbs, but prefer the smaller guns lighter. I'm not the original owner of the three oldest Smiths in the list, so I don't know if they've had work done or were just "well-loved" to that point, but 9 or 10 pounds double action is what was recommended for duty guns back in the day. Any lower than that is a goal for a specially modified competition gun that is probably unsafe for other uses. Comments?

[gsparesa]

Measured with a Lyman Electronic Digital Trigger Pull Gauge:

S&W 627 PC (Single Action) | 4.06# | 2.4 Std Dev
S&W 627 PC (Double Action) | 10.42# | 1.53 Std Dev
S&W 686 SSR (Single Action) | 4.43# | 0.98 Std Dev
S&W 686 SSR (Double Action) | 11.08# | 1.99 Std Dev
S&W 629 Classic (Single Action) | 4.27# | 1.41 Std Dev
S&W 629 Classic (Double Action) OFF the chart (> 12#)

I am the most accurate with my 627 Performance Center in double action. 14.6gr of 2400 behind a 140gr HP-XTP. Just like a tack driver! I shoot my 357 revolvers in double action for 100 rounds. I only shoot the 629 in single action for the obvious reason. Finger can't handle > 12 1bs for very long.

[billped]

Are your high standard deviations due to low n or big variances? 2.4 is pretty big.

[printrep]

Both of these have had action jobs by Randy and the guys at Apex Tactical. I'll admit I don't have the longest history with revolvers but the actions on these wheel guns are very smooth and predictable.

HFW=Hammer fall weight, TPW=Total pull weight

S&W 586L-Comp: HFW@2lbs15oz., SA TPW@4lbs10oz., DA TPW@9lbs4oz
S&W 386PD: HFW@2lbs11oz., SA TPW@3lbs13oz., DA TPW@9lbs2oz

[gsparesa]

Are your high standard deviations due to low n or big variances? 2.4 is pretty big.

Dunno. The data is what I got using the tool as described in the users manual. What should be the maximum?

[mjmagee67]

I don't know I've never removed it from the gun and weighed it!!

To answer your second question.

929 S&W with serious mods for USPSA Revolver Division. I had the single action removed and the double action is right around 5 lbs. average. Yes I have to use Federal primers. I could get it lower but I like the feel of a little heavier rebound spring.

[bountyhunter]

Have you tested your trigger pull weight? What is in your opinion the ideal number?

I always set my revos up for about 6 - 7# DA pull and about 3# SA pull.

[LeftHand-Fu]

I always set my revos up for about 6 - 7# DA pull and about 3# SA pull.

Interesting. Do you replace the firing pins and/or use handloads?

[gunprofit]

Spring Kits? Yeah, I know there are a lot of guys who buy reduced weight spring kits, install them in their guns, and call it a trigger job.

THAT IS NOT A TRIGGER JOB!

Lighter hammer springs are nothing but trouble. Slower lock times, lighter primers hits, none of which is a good thing.

Buy some stones, learn what and where to polish, reduce friction between metal, and be proud you did a proper trigger job.

[bountyhunter]

Interesting. Do you replace the firing pins and/or use handloads?

I have tested the "extended" firing pins and determined they do absolutely nothing to improve ignition in guns assuming the firing pin in the gun is not defective. They are prone to breaking, so I never use them (anymore).

I set the mainspring force to whatever I need to light my ammo which is just factory cheap stuff like S+B or Winchester. I adjust the rebound spring to give good trigger return. I also polish the internals and the DA pull usually ends up being between 6 and 7# after all that.

[LeftHand-Fu]

Spring Kits? Yeah, I know there are a lot of guys who buy reduced weight spring kits, install them in their guns, and call it a trigger job.

THAT IS NOT A TRIGGER JOB!

Lighter hammer springs are nothing but trouble. Slower lock times, lighter primers hits, none of which is a good thing.

Buy some stones, learn what and where to polish, reduce friction between metal, and be proud you did a proper trigger job.

Good points, but in this case I couldn't have shaved 2 pounds off my m36 trigger pull just by polishing. I did polish the rebound slide while I was in there, but the goal here was to get a pull like a Ruger LCR or Kimber K6. (So why didn't I just buy one of those instead of a Smith classic style snubbie? Different discussion.)

[Nick Adams]

I have a Ruger GP100 from Gemini Customs. Double action is about 7 lbs and smooth as butter. Single action is around 2lbs. As much as I love 1911's, my Gemini Custom GP100 is my favorite handgun.

[igorts]

What's your revolver trigger weight?

327-TRR8- 3.7lb - 9.45lb
686+PC 4.10lb - 10.0lb
929-PC 4.45lb - 10.5lb
All factory parts.

M610 3.0#- 8.8# bent main spring, 14# rebound

[wurger]

Ruger GP100 - DA - about 10, SA - high 4lbs

Stock. No mods...yet.

[LeftHand-Fu]

One more for the list:

Smith 627 V-Comp, 4.5 lb SA and 9.5 lb DA on RCBS trigger pull scales.