Trigger Weight

[jyanna]

Hello. I apologize if this has been asked before, but did not see it on FAQ or via a search. I would like to lighten the trigger pull on a Remington 700. I'd really like to know what people consider their optimum trigger pull weight. Thanks!

 

[Centerfire]

jyanna

Let's see.
It would be good to know a little more about how you use your rifle, caliber, how clean you keep your equipment, recoil, weather conditions, when being used, power of your scope, all enter into a correct decision.
If you wanted to swap out your factory trigger for a target trigger to be used on the bench primarily there are several aftermarket trigger manufactures that could be used. Some provide a safety and some do not.
By buying a suited for purpose trigger you could exchange back your stock trigger for what ever you use the rifle for now. Hope this helps.
Centerfire

 

[SGJennings]

In other words, like so many things in life, the answer is "It depends".

To give you an idea, my benchrest rifles are about 1.5 ounces. The trigger on my son's custom hunting rifle, at 2 pounds is over 21 times as much. The trigger on the Tikka T-3 that I hunt coyotes with, that is good enough that I've never messed with it, is about 3 pounds and is 32 times as heavy.

Also, there is weight, then there is how crisp it breaks. I'd rather have a trigger that is slightly heavier if it breaks better.

 

[virg]

For Your Remington...

Hello. I apologize if this has been asked before, but did not see it on FAQ or via a search. I would like to lighten the trigger pull on a Remington 700. I'd really like to know what people consider their optimum trigger pull weight. Thanks!

A great after market trigger for the Remington 700 is the Jewell trigger. It is available with a safety and three different springs which will allow you to pick from 1.5oz up to several pounds. All adjustments are available from the bottom without removing the action from the stock. Call Brian Jewell @ 512 353 2999, for more info. I have one on my Model Seven 260 Remington and my benchrest rifle. Once you put one of these triggers on your hunting rifle, you'll never go back. Any gun smith can install the trigger, or if you're the least bit handy, you can install it yourself.

Virg

 

[abintx]

I would like to lighten the trigger pull on a Remington 700. I'd really like to know what people consider their optimum trigger pull weight.

That's a very broad question. However, 1.5 ounces is the optimum trigger pull weight on both of my competitive Benchrest rifles. The 6PPC and 30BR. The bolt is never inserted until the command to do so is given. Definitely not the best choice for a hunting rifle, in terms of safety, even if there is a so called "safety" built-in to the firing mechanism.

 

[vtmarmot]

Varies with the rifle.

I have a bunch of Remington 700's and model sevens. Two now wear custom triggers, however the stock trigger can be quite good. I think how low it will go is dependent somewhat on luck of the draw. I have a 700 BDL .222 sporter that I got down to 2 crisp pounds with little effort. Others might not like to go below 3 pounds and still be safe. As always, be safe and do the drop test, the "pull the trigger with the safety on and then release the safety" test etc. I do not mess with the sear on the stock trigger.

 

[alinwa]

Hello. I apologize if this has been asked before, but did not see it on FAQ or via a search. I would like to lighten the trigger pull on a Remington 700. I'd really like to know what people consider their optimum trigger pull weight. Thanks!

jyanna, I've modified a bunch of (hundreds?) of triggers and it is my opinion that the various Rem700 triggers (there are 5 common variations that come to mind) can be safely set to about 3.5lb pull wt by a qualified gunsmith. It is also my opinion that a certain category of Rem700 triggers "manufactured more than 15yrs ago" can safely go down to 3lb, DONE RIGHT.

As has been mentioned, "optimum pull wt" varies by application. I use triggers from 1oz to 9lb and consider them all "optimum" for their usages. I actually set my walking/hunting rifles up at 2.8-3lb depending on 'feel' and This often excludes factory triggers.

Custom triggers exist for a reason.

hth
al

 

[virg]

Quite Different....

That's a very broad question. However, 1.5 ounces is the optimum trigger pull weight on both of my competitive Benchrest rifles. The 6PPC and 30BR. The bolt is never inserted until the command to do so is given. Definitely not the best choice for a hunting rifle, in terms of safety, even if there is a so called "safety" built-in to the firing mechanism.

The Jewell trigger for hunting rifles is quite different from the Benchrest model. The adjustment range is broader and the safety is far superior to the Remington trigger. If there ever was a premium trigger for Remington and Winchester hunting rifles this is it. I've had them on both my Varmint 308 and 260 hunting rifles and as far as safety and reliability goes, they beat the stock trigger hands down. Now...to be honest I am not familiar with Remington's latest trigger, but I've read that it is much better than the past trigger (which was one of the best factory triggers around.)

While the stock Remington trigger can be modified or adjusted for a lighter pull, be careful. When below two pounds, they can be very touchy.

Good luck...virg

 

[jyanna]

Thanks for the info! It gives me something to think about.