Author Topic: trigger control (Read 681 times)

slopoke · « **on:** February 10, 2005, 11:20:56 PM »

Just wondering. How slow do you guys squeeze the shot off?

eroyd · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2005, 11:29:07 AM »

I'm not sure "squeeze" is the best word. I think the trigger break has to be quite deliberate when the perfect sight picture only last's a fraction of a second. If you try to mentally anticipate that point your gonna flinch and if you wait til you see it your probably to late.

Being relatively new to the sport I've sucked up as much advice as I can. One tip that really helped was learning to preload the trigger. Not only does it decrease the additional needed pull to release the trigger but the added tension smooths out he hold.

CB · « **Reply #2 on:** February 12, 2005, 04:48:06 AM »

Not an expert by any stretch but I'll give you a $.02 worth of something!
There's nothing slow about it, it's NOW: As quickly as is possible without changing a "snap" into a "jerk". differance is in not moving the gun.
I have heard some of the 36X scope shooters with the 2oz trigger set-ups speak of it as a "slapping" technique while the dot is in the target. Personally I can't handle that much scope nor that light a trigger, 8oz STD to 2# HTR leaves a similar feel with naturally more "squeeze" with the HTR, which is still not slow.
With that said, on the most rarest of wonderful days when all the planets are in alignment there is the sensation of "unawareness" then being awakened by the rifles firing and recoil and in that instant I'm "seeing" the dot in the animal. Calls are dead on when this rare phenomenon takes place, and I'm not aware of having "pulled" the trigger at all. I don't know for sure but I suspect that at the uppermost level of the game this is a regular occurance not a once a season--once or twice a relay event. Me thinks a regular dose of dryfiring may influence this as well as Rimfire or Air rifle practice.
Oh well, make it a $.05 worth
CB

dave imas · « **Reply #3 on:** February 12, 2005, 10:09:04 AM »

a few things come to mind that are extremely important. first, an extremely consistent trigger. regardless of it's weight, creep, or any other unique characteristics, if it does the exact same thing every time you can learn to shoot it. i'm not suggesting that correct adjustment of a trigger isn't a good idea but consistency is important.

consistent pre-load is extremely important. especially with a hunter rifle.
a two stage trigger is a mechanical and, hopefully, consistent form of pre-load. with the 2lb trigger it is the pre-load that allows the unconscious shot. there is nothing unconscious about pulling thru two pounds of trigger without it.

you have to be mentally prepared to break the shot. it is very common to hear of folks that hold all day long inside the animal but just can't get the trigger to break. and then when they do finally break the shot it doesn't go where they had hoped. as Marv says, "you got to get your mind right." i get there with a breathing pattern. others get there by training to break the shot as soon as they see white. that works just as well if you have a good follow-thru.
dave imas

Hornetx60 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2005, 03:09:03 PM »

I use a two stage trigger on my Hunter gun. I tried to preload the single stage trigger but found myself loosing to many animals to the shot going off prematurely. I just can't consistently preload a 2 lb. single stage trigger to the same amount and then get the shot to break the same when I want it to. So I switched to the 2 stage triggers. To me, but not to everyone, they are a serious advantage. As Dave Imas puts it, The "mechanical advantage" of the 2 stage trigger in preloading is a heck of an advantage over a single stage. I also won't pull up the first stage until I am in the animal...caught myself getting to heavy on that 2nd stage and loosing animals again.....Just another one of those lessons we learn. Hell it only takes a 1/2 second to pull up the first stage so there is no reason to take it up ahead of time and risk loosing one off the edge of an animal. There is great competition in every class and even more of it in AAA and below so giving away animals to dumb mistake is just not something I like to do. If you ever go to a State or Regional or even the Nationals one animal could move you quite a few places up or down. Every animal is worth the same and you need them all !!!