The Importance of Trigger Pulls

When did you last have the trigger pulls tested on your gun?

If you ask the majority of sporting shooters when they last had their trigger pulls tested, a very high percentage will say never! They can vary enormously and many shooters do not realise the importance of trigger pressure. A positive, well regulated trigger pull can be the difference between hitting and missing the target.

Recently a woman client called to see me regarding a malfunction with her gun. While we were chatting her husband pointed out that she had never hit anything with the second barrel. I suggested we have a look at the trigger pulls. The bottom barrel was 3.5lbs but the top barrel was 1.5lbs. Not only would the lighter trigger pull cause her to regularly miss but it was so light as to be unsafe. It would be almost impossible to swing the gun and squeeze the trigger in a co-ordinated and consistently controlled manor.

Thomas Turner Gunmakers regulated the trigger pull to 4lbs pressure.

About a month later the lady telephoned us to say that she had just shot her first 'left and right' grouse and how she now realised the second barrel was not an ornament!

On average trigger pulls should be no less than 3.5lbs first or right barrel and 4lbs for the second or left barrel on a side by side gun.

On over/under guns the same applies except normally the bottom barrel is fired first unless the shooter has the preference to use the top barrel first. (That can be changed by the shooter in some cases).

A light trigger pull will almost certainly discharge before the completion of the swing causing a missed target (Behind the target).

A heavy trigger pull in excess of 5lbs will, in many cases, cause interference with the smoothness of the swing resulting in a loss of time and rhythm. We have tested some trigger pulls that have been as high as 10lbs!

If you can achieve consistency with ether a high or low trigger pull you must consider how much better you might be with adjusted triggers!

When you have your guns stripped and cleaned ask for your trigger pulls to be tested. It will cost extra but as a result you may find your shooting improves and you become knee deep in feathers!