I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel, just looking for something accurate & affordable. Has anyone ever tried using one of the digital fish scales as a trigger pull gauge? I've been looking at a few in the ~15lb range. There are a couple by Rapala, a Berkley & an Accu-cull that look decent and supposedly are very accurate. Like to within 1/100th lb. on a couple of them.
Just wondering if others that have tried something like this has any recommendations or warnings.

A pull gauge is more or less a pull gauge.
I see no reason one wouldn't work as well as a dedicated trigger pull gauge.
In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if the companies didn't use the same gauge for fish and guns, just with a different label.

You do need to make up a heavy wire hook device that fits the trigger and curves around the gun so the gauge can make a straight pull back on the trigger.
If the gauge is off-set to one side results may not be valid.

And you need one that records the peak pull weight.

Ah. An excellent point. I have no idea if any of the models I'm looking at have a peak/record function.

There are trigger pull gages that are basically modified fish scales, Gander Mountain sells a couple in the 15-30 dollar price range. I started out with one of these cheapies and it didn't take me long to decide to spend 60 bucks on the Lyman Digital. I would suggest that anyone shopping for a trigger gage do the same, it's just so easy to use. About the only issue is that the upper limit is 12 lbs., right where S&W likes to "tune" the DA trigger on their new revolvers.

I have an RCBS sliding scale trigger pull gage and it's to inconsistent so I used the bent rod on my digital fishing scale. It works perfectly. If it's a digital scale it will record the peak weight but you have to be careful and pull very slowly. You also have to pull straight back on the trigger in line with the stock. I use mine mainly for setting trigger pull on rifles and since it records weight in ounces and pounds it's ideal.

I just purchased the Lyman digital gage for $56 plus tax. Works quite well and finally answered the question "which of my S&W's has the lightest SA trigger."

Well, that seems to answer the question about recording peaks. Which scale do you use, BTW?

I use a 25 pound spring scale with a home-made hook for measuring pull on DA revolvers. The lack of a peak recording feature is immaterial if you use the right technique. Pull slowly on the gauge and just note the weight where the pull starts to reduce. Brownells sell a better offset hook that I will eventually get. I also have an RCBS 8 pound gauge that I use for SA triggers (revo and auto) and for my competition DA's which run about 6-7 pounds.

The spring scale has a number of uses only limited by your imagination. I built a fixture that measures recoil spring strength as a function of compression with marks for 5" and 4" 1911's. It could be used for any spring for which you know the fully compressed length (not the solid length). I'm always finding loose springs to which I didn't attach a weight tag.

Buck

Why not just use a loop of heavy string at straddle the gun, with one end of the loop over the trigger at the right point, and the other end at the center point of the gage, eh? Dunno. never tried it but it seems logical. That is if the cord doesn't rub against the sides of the gun.

You can't trust a fishing scale. My scale reads my fish about 40% under actual weight. My fishing buddy has one that reads his fish about 50% overweight.

Fish scales work great. First check it for accuracy. Weigh something on a accurate scale and then hang it from the scale to see if it repeats the same weight. Check for accuracy in the weight range you will likely be seeing. Trigger pull 4-8 pounds. I have a "trigger insert bar" that is "u shaped", 2 inches wide by 8 inches long. It allows the trigger to be pulled and the scale attaches directly behind the gun, in line with the trigger. Nothing touches the gun except one end of the bar on the trigger. The other end attaches to the scale. That allows a direct straight pull. My pull weights are within 1/2 pound accurate to the expensive units. You have to pull the scale back slowly, in a straight line, and watch what the maximum pull weight reaches, at the break point.

Sure a $60 scale is better and easier, but you can get a $6 fish scale at Walmart. It has a large dial and is easy to read. Just check it first for accuracy.





Bob