Benchrest Rifle Triggers

tonykharper said:
PNW Skipper,

Thank you for your input.

I looked up the XTSP triggers and here is what I found.

www.snipershide.com

XTSP Mod 22 Two-Stage Trigger for 700 Platform Rifles Review

BigJimFish Reviews the XTSP Mod 22 two stage trigger for the Remington 700 platform
www.snipershide.com www.snipershide.com

They are not benchrest triggers. We are shooting triggers in the 12-20 grams pull weights.

Even a 1 oz. trigger would be a step backwards for our shooting.

The XTSP triggers look to be very well made. I'm sure they are good for their purpose, but they are not benchrest triggers.

TKH
Click to expand...
It would be a mistake to dismiss the XTSP MK22. XTSP confirms it can be set up as the same as their Kimber 82G trigger. It's all in the selection of the spring set. The shooter would have to contact them to substitute a benchrest suitable spring set.
 
PNW Skipper said:
It would be a mistake to dismiss the XTSP MK22. XTSP confirms it can be set up as the same as their Kimber 82G trigger. It's all in the selection of the spring set. The shooter would have to contact them to substitute a benchrest suitable spring set.
Click to expand...

You may be right. We could be missing out but let me ask have you ever shot a Flavio Fare trigger adjusted to 12- 15 grams that is in the 1/2 oz range. Once you get use to shooting those a trigger that is 1 oz or more seems way too heavy.

I know one can adapt to most things but at this stage I shoot 4 different rifles in competition and it has taken forever to get all of them feeling the same shot after shot. I don’t know I want to go through all of that again with a new trigger. Unless it has some
advantages like being available when needed and at least as good as I have now.
TKH
 
Tony,

I had a Flavio Fare on a Vudoo I had built. Liked the trigger very much, but not the workmanship on the Vudoo, which I sold on. Currently shooting primarily a KK500 with a factory trigger, a 2500X with a Jewell, a Turbo Mk 1 sporter with a B&A and a Flash Turbo also with a Jewell. I have a Kimber 82 w/the XTSP trigger and several vintage target rifles with a mix of older Anschutz, Jewell, Canjar & Kenyon triggers.

I am a serious club shooter out west with medical issues that keep me from traveling outside my local area for sanctioned matches. But I did qualify for the finals of Eley's 2023 international benchrest "postal" competition and finished 5th behind 2 Belgians, the late Johnny Montgomery, and a Brit, with a 1500-90X outdoors at 50M in November. So I am not a ARA or IR50/50 competitor, but by no means a neophyte.

In my experience I would rate the FF, KK500, and XTSP (82G) triggers essentially in a dead heat, the B&A a hair behind them, with the Jewell & Kenyons not far behind. My 82G XTSP trigger is set up for 3oz to the 1st stage wall, then an additional 0.5oz in the second stage to break the shot. Smooth, crisp & repeatable.

I brought up the XTSP in the context of the original thread premise... with Jewell gone are there any American made alternatives of similar quality? XTSP is not well known in smallbore circles, beyond those intent on improving the performance of a Kimber 82G. However, its owner, Tom Myers, is a competitive shooter, and XTSP is the OEM trigger supplier for Accuracy International's rifles, including its GI sniper rifles. His triggers generally run about $100 less than any of the imports. I would never suggest that anyone swap out a trigger they are used to and comfortable with, but if a replacing a Jewell, or selecting a trigger for a new build is in the offing, I would suggest contacting Tom Myers at XTSP to explore the options with his Model 22 target trigger.

Phil
 
I prefer the BixNAndy myself. It seems to be more crisp. I have had to polish a few surfaces inside to make it consistent on some of them though. The FF has an inherent design issue that causes creep. The sear is a ball bearing that meets with a hard edge. The bearing must be on the flat surface by several thousands to not fall off reliably. That creates a creep that cannot be eliminated. I worked with and analyzed all the common triggers and have actually done the design on an aluminum housed trigger with guts similar to the Jewell.

I started with a FF theory design, but dropped it due to the creep issue. It was going to be a rear hinged design such that a vertical sear could be utilized. If I ever get the ambition up, I may prototype and build some of the others, but I wouldn't hold my breath on it.
 
I've been out of the game awhile, but I liked the old Jewell triggers, they were reliable, and worked well, However, on my personal rifles I was using 90 degree sear set ups, On one I had adapter that used a Jewell trigger, and on another I had a custom made 90 degree sear trigger, and a 90 degree angle on the cocking piece, Worked very well, The stuff was experimental and I never made comments about it, til now,
 
Northland shooters supply for the Shilen competition trigger. I bought one and was going to use it in my 2500 but it did not fit in the hanger very well. Hanger would need some work. I called Dan and he said they never tried to use one, So he could not help me. I bought the B&A and have no complaints. Well other than I wish it was 200 bucks. The Shilen really is not a bad trigger for the money. I can remember them being quite popular with the CF BR crowd a long time ago and then everyone was going with the more expensive jewell. For 140 bucks it doesn’t hurt to have the Shilen laying around.
 
It's not much of a conundrum. The Shilen triggers have a small tension pin that protrudes below the rear cross pin holes. When using them in a hanger, you simply need to make two small relief notches so these pins will clear. If someone tried real hard, they might be able to stretch this tweak out for 5 minutes. 🤪

Good shootin' -Al
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Well I had it in there with no adjustments and it felt really nice, I thought. But the Bench Rest people were looking at me shaking their heads. So I had to buy the B&A trigger, plus I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I’m happy with it. I would use that Shilen if I was putting something together in a hurry or a 40X. There used to be a Hart 2oz trigger years ago. Was basically the same trigger as the Shilen. Jewell became the standard go to. Now it seems we have better triggers that are more expensive. Is the 200 dollar 1.5oz trigger dead, In favor of lighter more expensive triggers ?
 
Frankr said:
Well I had it in there with no adjustments and it felt really nice, I thought. But the Bench Rest people were looking at me shaking their heads. So I had to buy the B&A trigger, plus I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I’m happy with it. I would use that Shilen if I was putting something together in a hurry or a 40X. There used to be a Hart 2oz trigger years ago. Was basically the same trigger as the Shilen. Jewell became the standard go to. Now it seems we have better triggers that are more expensive. Is the 200 dollar 1.5oz trigger dead, In favor of lighter more expensive triggers ?
Click to expand...
Once you experience the new lighter triggers it is hard to go back. Some can do it, some can't.

There is a place for the 1.5 oz triggers. But if you look at what is being used in RFBR matches it doesn't appear this is their place.

Hence the saying "To each his own". Variety is the spice of life etc. etc.

TKH
 
Everybody likes to talk pull weight but not a single comment about any actual design improvements on triggers such as the Bix,
Most are aware that some RFBR builds are on the hairy edge of reliable ignition. One potential issue is when strikers that can drag along the top sear, often you can see visible wear along the bar. Does it materially impact ignition….ldon’t know, but assume it’s not ideal.
When I got my first Bix, Chris Harris indicated, their design allowed that bar to drop down with 70% less internal force than the Jewell.
Sure struck me as “ a better mousetrap “ and I never looked back.
As Stiller indicated, a polish on a couple surfaces, maybe a cheap swap to carbide bearings……that‘s about it, other than keeping them clean.
 
Bought a couple Shilen's from Northland recently for new PD rifles in process. Anxiously Installed one in a 700 action as soon as it arrived to compare it to a Jewell.

I was impressed.

2.6 oz out of the box and into the action with no slam fires and no discernable creep without any adjustments. Plenty good for a PD rifle.

Have a Kauger BRIII arriving Saturday. Will have to it a give a Shilen trial run in a full bore LRBR build.

@ Al Nyhus thanks for the heads up on the hanger so as not to have to recreate the wheel.
 
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