Please explain "great trigger"

[jarhead714]

A 1911 trigger.


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'Nuff said.

[Litespeeds]

I think the trigger on a Python is very nice. Some would say the CZ Tactical Sport with its 2 lb trigger is amazing but other's would say it's too light. After shooting many different custom guns, I really like a trigger to be around the 3-3.5 lb range with a smooth consistent pull and clean break with no creep.

[ElvenSoul]

Gunsmiths gotta make a living

[Sunday]

Great as compared to what?

[Barbarosa]

A Series 70 1911;
An S&W K38 Target or Model 14

[hermosabeach]

BeachTech-

Do you reset the trigger after every shot on a semi auto?

A good trigger job is 100% reliable and fits the role needed.

For self defense, a stock trigger that has been polished to remove and grit. This does not change the trigger pull but smooths out the overall trigger cycle.

On a hunting rifle, a 2 1/2-3 pound jewel type trigger. Very short clean break & 100% firing.

revolver- smoother than factory but not much lighter as you want every primer to be hit hard enough to fire.

Pistol- as light as possible with 100% reliability, short take up, grit free, clean break and almost no overtravel...



(If you don't reset the trigger on semi autos, you wont really get the full benefit of any trigger job)

[Fishslayer]

What exactly does it mean? A "great trigger" seems to be VERY subjective. Some people say that Glocks have "great triggers", and others say Glocks have awful triggers.

Nobody who has ever dropped the hammer on a vintage S&W will ever use "Glock" and "great trigger" in the same sentence....

Really apple & oranges though... completely different mechanisms...

[Robert1234]

When any unnecessary movement is removed, all necessary movement is smooth and the break is clean, at a resonable weight, and consistent. My 1911 guns have very nice triggers, no creep, smooth movement, and as little reset as possible. Because of this, the 3.5lb break feels much lighter.

It's possible to have a very nice Glock (or XD or M&P or whatever plastic, striker fired gun you have) trigger. It will never be a 1911 trigger because of the extra movement necessary to deactivate all of the internal safety devices. They'll have more pre-travel, more overtravel and have a tendency to feel spongy. But they are consistent so they're easy to master.

The 1911 trigger has one function; trip the sear (not so in the case of Colt Series 80 guns, and why they get a bad rap). That's why they're so easy to tune.

SA/DA guns are another story. You can get some pretty light versions (CZ Shadows with 2lb SA and 6lb DA pulls come to mind), but there's still going to be a bunch of take-up in SA mode and a bit longer reset than a 1911.

Some dudes like the super light triggers, I am not one of them. Most of my shooting is USPSA or other action pistol so in my opinion, it's not necessary.

[nothingextra]

I like a trigger that stays on target.
DA S&W, SiG, CZ all work fine.
SA 1911, High Power, revolver goes without saying work fine.
Been putting 200rds a week thru a Glock for GSSF BC it's more work to get used to that break without pulling a bit.

I don't care about perceived weight.
There's more to it than some random characteristics to check off and decide your gun is whatever.

Check out Bullseye shooters using DA revolver to maintain control.
Tall to accomplished 22 handgun shooters.

Get a lot of input, buy lots of guns and shoot them a lot.

[Robert1234]

I like a trigger that stays on target.
DA S&W, SiG, CZ all work fine.
SA 1911, High Power, revolver goes without saying work fine.
Been putting 200rds a week thru a Glock for GSSF BC it's more work to get used to that break without pulling a bit.

I don't care about perceived weight.
There's more to it than some random characteristics to check off and decide your gun is whatever.

Check out Bullseye shooters using DA revolver to maintain control.
Tall to accomplished 22 handgun shooters.

Get a lot of input, buy lots of guns and shoot them a lot.

Bullseye shooters shooting revolvers shoot them in SA mode. In this mode, a revolver trigger is probably better than a 1911; there's no take-up.

And they don't practice with a DA revolver because there's no sense practicing a long, heavy pull when all you need is a short break in the match.

Agreed about perceived weight, to a point. When you get to 5+ lbs, you start seeing it make a difference. Not so much in rapid strings (think USPSA or any other action pistol discipline), but for slow fire, heavy triggers suck, no matter how smooth they may be.

[nahpungnome]

I used to think a 1911 trigger was 'great' until I pulled my 686 Competitor in single action. Actually, I still think they are, but there's a level above...which is 'excellent.'

If you pull a 1911 trigger REALLY REALLY slow, you'll get some creep, it's just the way it is. Normal use will result in non-felt creep. My 686, pulling as slow as I can, has absolutely no creep. Breaks like a thin diamond rod For comparison...the 1911s I'm talking about are my Baer PII with a 3.5# trigger job and my Wilson CQB Light Rail.

As far as others mentioning the CZ Tac Sport...I found it way too light and it definitely creeps (the one I pulled anyway). The TS isn't mean for slow pulling though, it's for fast shooting so you won't notice it anyway.

In stock form, don't even mention the Glock having a 'great' trigger, if you do, it just shows that you've not shot much else. The only good thing I can say about a Glock stock trigger is the reset, which I enjoy very much. I just wish the opposite direction was just as good

A trigger job can mean many things. Smoothing the action, lightening the pull weight, fixing creep, fixing staging, etc.

[Oceanbob]

My series 70 1911
Walther PPQ
HK VP9
Ruger LC9S Pro

None of my Glocks have "Great" triggers, but they work.

[4EverPouring3WM]

I have ano older 629 with a trigger that feels as if you hit it with a feather it goes off. Mom wanted to shoot it at the range one day so I suggested she put a glove on. She went through a cylinder just find double action, but the next cylinder trying it out single action it caught her off gourd at how light the pull is. She hasn't wanted to shoot it again since unfortunately. I myself am head over heels about the pull.

[nahpungnome]

I have ano older 629 with a trigger that feels as if you hit it with a feather it goes off. Mom wanted to shoot it at the range one day so I suggested she put a glove on. She went through a cylinder just find double action, but the next cylinder trying it out single action it caught her off gourd at how light the pull is. She hasn't wanted to shoot it again since unfortunately. I myself am head over heels about the pull.

That's what's great about S&W SA trigger pulls...they feel way lighter than they are. I put my Lyman digital gauge on mine and it says 3.5# consistently, but I feel like if breathe on it that it'll break. My Baer, which I enjoy VERY much with the same pull weight doesn't feel the same and it's a damn fine SA pull.

[Germ1]

When people talk about triggers they are talking about trigger pulls. To me a great trigger (and trigger pull) is one that is:

1. Consistent
2. Medium to short travel
3. Smooth, without feeling steps or rough spots
4. Crisp breaking
5. Surprising every time.

And if we are talking about triggers:

Wider
Flatter
Serrated.

What this guy said, except I hate serrated triggers. I switched my Glock 19 trigger out for a 17 trigger because it's smooth. I also wouldn't agree with the Surprising every time. But I shoot so much it's easy for me to know exactly when the trigger is going to break. If there's two things I hate in a trigger it's long travel and non distinguishable reset.

Why I like Glock triggers, they have very little travel, and once you hit the wall it's a very predictable break. Plus they can be nice if you polish parts and spend like 10 bucks on OEM -connector. That and I'm experienced with them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj1hXbsAzPc