Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Best aftermarket trigger for a hunting rifle.

Putting the finishing touches on a new rifle based on a left hand Zastava Mauser action. I want the best trigger possible for this rifle but it is a hunting rifle and needs to be reliable and safe. I do not want or need a side safety for it and I don't need a 4 oz pull trigger.

Just trying to see if there is a census on what is considered the best aftermarket trigger and hopefully it is made for a Mauser action.

I have become a Trigger Tech fan. Even their less expensive trigger is smooth as glass. They usually will have a sale on holidays so I would keep an eye out. That said, I’m not sure they make a trigger for a Mauser.

As a second choice, going with a Timney is never a bad choice (IMHO).

I like triggetech.

My sample of two.

A built rifle and a Christensen arms.

I like my Timney's that I've installed on some of my sporterized m1917's and other rifles that had less than stellar triggers. YMMV.

I've put Timney Sportsman triggers in many rifles, and they are just right for me personally.

I’ve become a Trigger Tech groupy too. Great trigger with ZERO creep and breaks like glass at 3#. I’d buy nothing else knowing what I now know. 👍🏼

My vote:

https://dressels.com/mauser-trigger/

Formerly Alaska Arms, now sold by the Dressels. They aren't easy on the budget though.

I have a Timney in a Win M-70 and a couple of Trigger Tech triggers in Rem 700's. Both really good triggers. Much improvement over the originals.
Although I'm not sure either one will work in a Zastava Mauser.

Have you even shot it with the original trigger?

Thanks all, I have used Timney triggers with no complaints, but I had a gunsmith do his magic on a stock Winchester Model 70 trigger that I liked a lot better.

Has anyone used the Dressel M70 type trigger or the NECG's Recknagel trigger?

Paul died several years ago and you sure as heck don't want his widow working on your guns.

It sounds like a hunting rifle. If that’s the case, just how much time, effort and money needs to be spent chasing the ultimate in trigger performance? I would say reliability is paramount.

I only have a few aftermarket triggers in hunting rifles. A Jewel in a varmint rifle, and Timney for hunting rifles. Timney has been in the aftermarket trigger game longer than many here have been alive. I would guess that there are few hunting rifles and fewer shooters who can benefit from refinement beyond what Timney provides (at a very reasonable cost.)

Kenlguy, Dressels still seem to be in business. Are there verified reports of a drop in quality since Paul died? This looks like a viable option.

My vote is for the Alaska Arms trigger on the Dressel website. Like the original Winchester Model 70 safety, they're more weatherproof than the Trigger Tech or Timney--though both of those work well under most conditions.

Same here. Installed one in a 338 RUM Remington M700 & a drop in on my Rock River LAR15.

I've used Timneys in half a dozen rifles, mostly Rem 700s, and have been happy with them. I haven't tried Trigger Tech yet but might give one a try.

My Model 70s and Rugers have the original trigger tuned a bit as I like the open trigger design for a hunting rifle.

Try out the Zastava first. Mine is fine. As a general rule I don't like box triggers on my hunting rifles, a tuned M-70 is my ideal trigger.

I have an Alaska Arms (now Dressel) trigger on a M98 sporter, which I like very much. If you're happy with a tuned M70 trigger, you'll be happy with this one. Probably a better adjustment range is available with other aftermarket triggers, but as MD points out, it reduces some of the inherent reliability issues with housed triggers.

Also, if you want an all steel option in a housed trigger, consider the Blackburn triggers now sold by the Swift Bullet Company.

I prefer original Rem 700 Walker that has been tuned and especially Win 70 factory trigger with lighter spring.

I am super familiar with these Zastava box triggers and own a number of right hand and left hand Zastava Mausers. 4 of them are left hand models. First of all, they are not bad triggers at all, but a Timney is an improvement. My problem with them is that I have one .308 right now that will fire when on safety if it is bumped and I have another one that is just simply a piece of crap in terms of trigger pull. Most have been good triggers with no issues, but the reliability issues on two of them have turned me off on them.

I only trust a safety 100% if it mechanically blocks the firing pin, and box triggers have more failure points but is typically not an issue to worry about. Imagine spending $40,000 on a hunting trip only to have your $100 Timney fail, when you could have had a reliable Win 70 style for $150 more. And that kind of risk management is why I am using the Mauser instead of the Winchester Model 70, because if something did fail on it, I can get parts easier for that anywhere in the world faster, easier, and cheaper than any other make of rifle. Having the backup rifle in the exact same type and configuration including scope mounts, solves that issue 100%.