doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Recommendation Needed on Trigger Pull

I don't know that I agree with him totally, but I do like good triggers set around 3 to 3.5lbs on my light field guns. I don't think it matters much when it comes down to it as long as the triggers are not excessively hard or sloppy.

I always assumed that it was tradition dictating the barrel that is normally fired second would have a slightly heavier pull to minimize the chance of doubling with heavier loads. I'm probably off base on that one.

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments. Since posting the question, I had my triggers measured. My front trigger pulls at 6 lbs. 11 oz. while my rear trigger is at an even 7 pounds. For a gun that weighs 7.8 lbs. it seems that I need to significanly reduce the trigger pulls. Is it possible to drop the pull down to about 4 pounds when starting out so high as mine are?

Yes. Kirk Merrington should be able to do it, there are others. You can Google Kirk.
Spend some money for a better gunsmith recommended for double guns. Don't go to a 'mart operation of any sort. You will get what you pay for in this example.

Best,
Ted

As easy as a quick Google, I found Kirk in Texas. Thanks for the recommendation. Although my local big-box sporting goods store could give me a measurement on the triggers, I know better than to leave that kind of job for them to get "experienced" on.

I'd ask Kirk or whomever you send it to set the triggers at 3.5# on the first & 4.5# on the second. Those are my personal prefs, but they are shared by many others & w/reason. Aside from what is already mentioned, those settings are adequate for good feel across most any ammunition you will use w/o being too light plus having the second trigger a pound heavier also helps to preclude the tendency otherwise to sometime bounce it or 'double' as in a very quick [read also uncontroled] second shot. I honestly don't know of many seasoned double gun two trigger shooters who wish them set the same, exceptions excluded, of course;-)

Just my two cents, but you can confirm that line of thot w/Kirk & see what he says &/or suggests.

Good shooting irrespective of your choices.

How do you KNOW which trigger is going to be your second trigger? Do you ALWAYS shoot the front trigger first, giving up the option of using the left, usually tighter choked, barrel first? That was the point of my earlier post. By making the choice that the front trigger is ALWAYS going to be the first, and having it as a lighter trigger pull, you have just given up that option. Or, if you DO choose to occasionally shoot the back trigger first, now that you have it heavier than what will be now the secondly fired front (lighter) trigger, you have now set yourself up for an even GREATER chance of a premature, or inadvertent trigger pull, according to that line of reasoning.

What am I missing here?

Stan

From my reading the reasoning for setting the second (rear) trigger pull slightly heavier was to add a margin of safety when firing the usually fired first (front) trigger. The thought being that the extra 1/2 lb of force required to trip the sear guarded against doubling. Quite frankly I don't know how much this helped stop doubling and I cannot tell the difference between a 3 1/2 pound trigger pull and a 4 pound trigger pull.

I like heavier trigger pulls; my hunting bud likes 'em very light. Whatever turns your tap is fine, everyone's different. However, one caveat: a trigger pull that is fine at clays might be way too light in the field. The excitement of the moment, the suddenness of a flush, the chill of fall air, the extra clothes you've put on, all change the feel of the triggers. I once had a little Parker 12 bore with fabulous light triggers that was a dream on a skeet field but several times in the field when a covey exploded at my feet the darned gun would go off way before I was ready--scared hell out of me. Finally had a good smith make 'em a bit heavier and have been happy (and much safer) ever since.

I absolutely agree with Joe Wood’s comments regarding trigger weight for clays vs. game. I have several clays guns that have trigger pulls slightly below 3 pounds, which work great for that purpose but would not be at all acceptable for game. I have a Poli sxs which I shoot a lot of clays with. It started with trigger pulls around 6 pounds and I had great difficulty shooting it consistently at clays. The trigger pulls were lightened to a clean 3 - 3.5 lbs and I shoot the gun well at clays. I think this is a reasonable but lower limit for game guns as well. If the gun is only to be used on game, 3.5 to 4 lbs for each barrel would probably be ideal. I do not see a need to have different trigger weights for the right vs. left barrel as I want both triggers to be similar in weight and creep. I believe that it is not only trigger weight but also travel/creep that impacts the ability to control when the shot goes off.
I notice that Dr. Bill, who started this thread, is in NY. Assuming that you are in the eastern part of NY state or in the city, I would highly recommend Mitch at Gunsmithing Ltd in Southport, CT. He does excellent work and it is always nice to be able to drive to a gunsmith to drop your gun off vs. putting it in the mail.
Good luck,
Z