Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Need a quality trigger pull gauge

SD, I have the Lyman and a trick I learned for consistency is orings. Buy several small diameter orings slide one the trigger and then get behind the rifle and dry fire it, move the oring to the top of your finger. Once it's set, verify it's in the correct location, move to the lower oring, same process, once you have the area identified and orings in the correct spot, now it's time to test.

I put the barrel in the rubber jaws of my vise and I get the gauge parallel to the bore, use one hand to pull and the other as a rest to maintain parallel. I close my eyes and listen for the dry fire, never looking. I have repeatedly tested this process using calibrated "fish scales" from work and it has proved to be a very consistent method. I also have "calibration" weights, tungsten squares with a hole in the center, 2lbs 4oz, 2lbs 8oz and 2lbs 12oz, that I use to verify accuracy.

I am happy with my bent coat hanger and my Zebco de-liar. It will tell me if I have 7# or a3# trigger. Not good for ounces.

That's so funny because I did the same thing for 30 years. It's closer than you would think.

I have the wheeler manual one and it’s pretty consistent. No idea if it’s accurate, but I just measured my favorite trigger a bunch of times when I got it and set everything else to that value. Plenty good enough for my needs.

I learned how to use the Lyman one and get very consistent readings. Going in 20 years now.

87307

9450

If you are trying to be consistent in your pull speed you are pulling too fast. It needs to be slower than you can possibly go. That old velocity squared thing.

So basically, there is no good trigger pull gauge, unless you hold your mouth just right. It's unbelievable that all of the gunsmiths and gunwriters on here can't even suggest one.

I use the one with the weights, not a spring gauge.

Hold rifle pointing up.
hang hook on trigger
place weights on hook till trigger pops.

No it is not without problem but it works up to a few oz.

Never tried it on a 2 oz trigger

I’ve come to the conclusion getting a decent, mostly accurate, pull weight assessment involves a substantial dose of alchemy.

I picked up a new Lyman digital a few weeks ago prior to doing some internal work on a couple of my competition triggers. It's proven to be extremely consistent, even at the lower end of the scale (< 3 oz.). It clearly showed the changes after the work.

On triggers from 1-2 lbs, it's boringly repetitive. It's also not as sensitive to technique as my old RCBS. If you do a 10 pull average (my way of checking) and it's not consistent, it's not the tool.

Inconsistent trigger pull weight is often caused by things other than the trigger itself. These things are commonly overlooked.

Good shootin' -Al

SDHNTR,

I agree with you. Used the Lyman digital for at least ten years , but may only use it once or twice a year and seems trickier than it should for consistency. Mine recently quit working and been looking for something better than another Lyman digital, or easier to use may be the way to say it.

I don’t want to pay much more, so it may be another Lyman digital. I have not took time to research what all is out there in that price category, but doesn’t sound like much if any options.

Ozarks

To get a good reading with the Lyman is like shooting groups - all you have to do is do the same thing exactly the same 5 times in a row.

It is not rocket science but it does take a bit of finesse. I have a friend who has the exact same problem as you and on his Jewell trigger he will get readings of up to a 1/2# different, I can take the same gauge and trigger and my readings will be within an ounce.

My method -
1 - Lay the rifle on its side
2 - center the trigger pull hook on the trigger - make sure that it is in the same location of the trigger each time
3 - place your thumb on one side of the gauge and your index finger on the opposite side of the gauge
4 - be sure that you are pulling straight back parallel with the rifle barrel and that the gauge is not at an angle or touching the stock
5 - start pulling straight back SLOWLY
6 - stop pulling on the gauge when the trigger breaks or you will get a false reading
7 - now do the same exact thing 5 times or whatever protocol you decide on
8 - now check your average

p.s. - stabilize the rifle, either using your off-hand or by putting it in a solid rest or vise. Movement of the rifle while checking the pull weight is not a good thing for consistency.

drover

I work with adjustment til it breaks at the sweet point, by feel. I give a sh !t about ounces and such. More important is how consistent the trigger breaks shot to shot.