Automatic pistol: Your opinion regarding ideal trigger pull

[Dirtlaw]

So what is YOUR happy spot???

[IVC]

Do you mean "trigger pull weight," "trigger pull length," or "overall trigger feel/pull?"

Here's my order of preferred triggers: (1) Ultra short/light, sub 2lbs 2011, (2) Long, *very smooth* medium weight, 4-6lbs DA, revolver or DA/DAO, (3) any SA trigger that is heavy or mushy, (4) all the others, gritty, creepy, squeaky, etc.

[bohoki]

5-7 pounds anything under 5 i think is unsafe i'm ok with up to 12 pounds

[Zenderfall]

Vague general question about ideal trigger pull asked in the handguns section, ok, here goes:

One that is fired by mental thought. I hold the gun, I "think" fire, the gun then fires using electronics. Absolutely no outside movement of the gun to cause it to go off. This technology doesn't exist yet, or at least I don't think it does. But the question wasn't about if it exists, just "what is ideal." so this is going to be here, and certainly what I think is "ideal"

Next up. Gun with a remote trigger. Hold gun in right hand. Trigger is in left. I push the button on the remote, the gun fires. Again, no outside movement on the gun causing it to fire. This technology exists and the Russian Olympic team used it before getting caught and banned.

After that, guns with electronic triggers sensitive as a mouse click. The trigger is basically a mouse button, but sends an electronic signal to a servo that releases the sear. This is what I want for a bullseye pistol.

After that, mechanical triggers of the Olympic pistol makers, Hammerli, Pardini, Walther. Almost as nice as the electronic trigger above, but mechanical. Under 1 lb and fully adjustable for weight for all stages, take up, pre-travel, over-travel, trigger distance from grip, etc.

After that, 2011 triggers like Atlas, Staccato, and custom 1911 gunmakers Wilson, Nighthawk, Les Baer, etc. Also included here are single action revolvers from Freedom Arms. This is what I want for action sport pistol (IDPA/USPSA).

Then comes the 1911 triggers from Springfield, Kimber, RIA, Sig, Etc...around here is where I also include single action trigger pulls from double action revolvers. This is what I want for a defense gun.

And last would be striker-fired guns and DAO revolvers.

[newbie1234]

For me, 3# to 4# trigger pull , no creep, no mushy. No Glock style trigger pulled refer 1911 style pulled. For me more than 4# trigger will contribute to Lower-Left POI.

[plumbum]

One of my favorite triggers was on a Ruger P94 - I also like the NY1 spring in my Glocks.

[sigstroker]

Do you mean "trigger pull weight," "trigger pull length," or "overall trigger feel/pull?"

Here's my order of preferred triggers: (1) Ultra short/light, sub 2lbs 2011, (2) Long, *very smooth* medium weight, 4-6lbs DA, revolver or DA/DAO, (3) any SA trigger that is heavy or mushy, (4) all the others, gritty, creepy, squeaky, etc.

It also depends on what you're using the gun for. I was at a match and my gun sorta broke. Another shooter offered me has backup gun. He also happened to be a gunsmith based in San Leandro. His gun has a 2 pound, zero slack, zero creep trigger. Fantastic. Almost as good as my friend's 1911, which the same smith built. It had a 1 1/2 pound, zero slack, zero creep trigger.

[divingin]

After that, mechanical triggers of the Olympic pistol makers, Hammerli, Pardini, Walther. Almost as nice as the electronic trigger above, but mechanical. Under 1 lb and fully adjustable for weight for all stages, take up, pre-travel, over-travel, trigger distance from grip, etc.

The only Olympic pistol triggers under a pound were Free Pistols (no minimum trigger weight spec. Mine is about an ounce - less than that and I set if off while trying to find it to preload.) Not really any specs other than single shot 22, open iron sights, held in one hand, and no release trigger.)

Air pistols are a minimum 0.5kg (1.1 lb); Standard/Sport Pistol (22 rimfire), Rapid Fire (22 rimfire) and Centerfire pistols were all 1 kg (2.2 lb) minimum, as I recall.

[acaligunner]

Really don?t matter what the trigger pull weight is as long as you secure that trigger with a good holster / set up.

On my Glocks it?s usually 5.5 pounds on my Wilson and Nighthawk it?s around 3 pounds - keep them in a secure holster and my finger clears until I want to shoot and it?s all good.

Precision long guns may have less weights - because a light trigger aids in accuracy.

So, just depends on what and how you go about shooting to whatever situation you find yourself in.

Revolvers - 10 / 4 is usually how they stack up.

[Carl88]

i use thumb safeties, so 4 to 5lbs striker fire style triggers like m&p shield, 2.0, or plus is ok with me. even with thumb safeties i don't care much for suped up 1911 hair triggers either.

[Calisnaps]

Carry gun, 5-7 lbs, target, 2-3 lbs.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

As others have, sort of, crept up on the subject, the only answer, based on how the OP question and the thread title are phrased is... "it depends."

For self-defense, I want one thing. For competition, depending on what form of competition, I want another or 'set' of options. For hunting, I want still another.

Then there's the question of which semi-automatic firearm we're referring to. A single action trigger pull is going to be different than one which is double action and a double action/single action is going to be different yet again.

Taken together - which firearm and what am I using it for - the permutations become more complex than a single answer can respond to.

Is there a 'happy median' which crosses over? Not necessarily. At least for me.

Can I make one or one range of trigger pull 'work' across the spectrum? Sure. But, it's not necessarily my 'happy spot.' Each, individual, firearm is different and should be treated as such.

Do I personally know a gunsmith these days which can make it happen? Not right now. The one I used to rely on has passed and I haven't found another I'd fully trust.

[hermosabeach]

I'm totally fine with the OEM Glock trigger.
Love the snap reset
The OEM - connector on the G34/35 is fine too

I don't like the mush of the XD. Not consistent for me


I don't target shoot with a handgun so a clean break and reset are all that is needed.

[tacticalcity]

My primary concern is the type of trigger more than the pull weight.

Ideally I want the same trigger pull weight on every pull. I don't want it too heavy. But I am fine with a medium pull weight. Next I want a short, audible and tactile reset. That way I am only moving my finger/hand a little bit between shots. Then I want the trigger pull to be as smooth as possible, with a nice clean break. But I am willing to settle hear. Next, if I can get that on a gun without a thumb safety I am even happier. But I will deal with a safety if the pull weight is really low. Sound familiar? I like Glocks and 1911s. In that order.

If I have to deal with a DA/SA gun then something like the Sig 226 which has really similar and reasonable pull weights for both the DA and SA pull and a nice noticable reset will do.

[Vinnie Boombatz]

Trigger pull weight isn't the be all end all. I've shot revolvers like a 686 that have a heavy trigger pull, but it's smooth with a crisp break. Have shot M9's that have had a Langdon TJIAB in them and even though the DA pull is heavier than say most Glock stock triggers it feels great because it's a smooth trigger. I also like regular, from the factory Glock triggers because I've learned how to shoot them.

All three of the firearms have very different trigger pull weights. The amount of makeup, tactile feel of the wall, the amount of and feel of the reset, the way the trigger breaks, etx. There's more to it than just the pull weight, but if you want to go down that rabbit hole and wrap yourself up in it go for it.