How much does lighter trigger really improve accuracy?

[wheedle]

Hi all,

New to the forum and shooting so go easy on my stupid questions

Regarding triggers for rifles. I'm no expert obviously and have just shot half a dozen different stock rifles.

Ruger, Tikka, and Savage, just all run of the mill.

I don't really get the deal around lightening a trigger pull being a big deal?

It's not like it's 'hard' to pull a trigger obviously.

I guess I'm missing something, someone just needs to tell me what it is

[grainweight]

It's not like it's 'hard' to pull a trigger obviously.

No, but the smoother and easier you can do it the less it can interfere with your accuracy.

A small hesitation or muscle tensing at the firing is a big difference at the far end of the range.

[Boatman]

A small hesitation or muscle tensing at the firing is a big difference at the far end of the range.

This.

If you're striving for the highest accuracy you can achieve, a heavy trigger can be a serious blocker.

[Humir]

Your style of shooting will determine how much you benefit too...

If you're banging away on a steel plate at 50m it won't make a difference.

If you're target shooting at 500m where a little twitch can put you inches off down range you would notice the difference.

[Lorgar]

I guess I'm missing something, someone just needs to tell me what it is

I think you'll discover what you're missing in your own time.

When I started I didn't think trigger pull weight had much/any difference either. At the time though I was flinching, didn't have a steady aim, hadn't done any load testing, and a dozen other things which were all costing me accuracy.

With all that, a little difference in trigger pull here or there didn't make any difference.

Once I became a better shooter though and had tailored loads and so on, the impact of how well (or poorly) I could pull the trigger started to become more obvious.

[Hardcast]

Weedle,

The twitch or movement they're talking about from a stiffer trigger comes about by the hand or wrist moving slightly as you apply more pressure to
the trigger to get it to release, then there's a slight movement of the Stock in your hand and bam, you're off target slightly.

Just like in the movies when they say 'squeeze the trigger, don't jerk it' . A mm of movement at the barrel is a lot at the target.

[Norton]

Once I became a better shooter though and had tailored loads and so on, the impact of how well (or poorly) I could pull the trigger started to become more obvious.

That's a pretty fair assessment I think.

No criticism intended wheedle, but if you're new to shooting you're probably doing heaps wrong (like we all did).

Like Lorgar said, the fine details of things become more apparent with every kink you iron out as you get better.

[on_one_wheel]

Trigger on accuracy ....... heaps !

[wheedle]

No criticism intended wheedle, but if you're new to shooting you're probably doing heaps wrong (like we all did).

None taken.

I'm half the problem at the moment I'm sure.

[Techc]

Get a heavy and light triggered rifle next to each other if possible and you'll appreciate the difference.

I know I didn't until I shot a pair side by side.

[wheedle]

Get a heavy and light triggered rifle next to each other if possible and you'll appreciate the difference.

I know I didn't until I shot a pair side by side.

I do now.

I got chatting with a guy at the range who has a regular sporter and a two-stage target savage set up who gave me a shot on his target rifle.

It was definitely better.

Still doesn't bother me for a hunting rifle, but for serious target shooting I can see the benefit.

[on_one_wheel]

I recon that my trigger job on my .243 was the second biggest improvment to my accuracy after putting on and using a bypod.

My trigger feels like it has zero creep, is light ( just a fraction under 2 pound ) and breaks like glass.

Once you have used an improved trigger everything else feels very ordinary.

[SendIt]

Once you have used an improved trigger everything else feels very ordinary.

Yup, going back from a finely tuned trigger to some heavy clunker is the worst.