Timney trigger 3lb or 4lb

[1sailor]

I'm going to replace the standard trigger on my Sport with a Timney. Not sure though if I should go as light as the 3lb. If any members have the 3lb have you had any issues with light strikes?

 

[dogzapper]

I faced the same decision with my S&W M&P 15TS. Ultimately, I tried some that friends had and eventually ended up buying the Timney 4.5-pound skeletonized trigger.

My rifle is for defense and recreational three-gun. I simply cannot afford any mistakes or an accidental discharge. If a bad guy is coming down our hall and into our bedroom at 3AM, I want a trigger I can feel and a trigger I can trust.

I wrote for gun magazines for about 25 years and I made the same decision on hunting rifles. Varmint rifles got light triggers, rifles for use on deer, antelope, elk, moose and bears got triggers no lighter than 3½-pounds. And on my dangerous game rifle, the one I've used for cape buffalo in Africa (and hopefully elephant one day), I run an expensive Jewell trigger at 4½-pounds. If a buffalo is fixing to stomp my butt, I want to feel the trigger and make no mistakes.

Anyway, I chose the Timney Skeletonized 4½-pound model. The trigger breaks like an icicle ... perfectly every time.

In my opinion, three pounds is crazy light and four-pounds is OK. The Timney 4½-pound is just right for me.

Good Luck in your choice.

God Bless,

Steve Timm

 

[1sailor]

Thanks for the reply Steve. I had questioned the "lightness" of a 3lb trigger myself. My AR is really used 100% of the time for target shooting. However I do get a lot of friends etc who ask to shoot it when we go out and I'd hate to have an AD caused by someone elses unfamiliarity with the rifle.

 

[DEG]

I purchased the 3lb Timney and it breaks right at 3.5 lbs. I don't believe you will regret the 3 lb trigger. The factory trigger on by sport broke at just under 6 lbs so you might not tell much difference between the 4 lb and what you have now. If you have a friend that you don't trust with a 3 lb trigger, I would not trust them with any gun regardless of trigger pull.

 

[Dutchs]

I purchased the 3lb Timney and it breaks right at 3.5 lbs. I don't believe you will regret the 3 lb trigger. The factory trigger on by sport broke at just under 6 lbs so you might not tell much difference between the 4 lb and what you have now. If you have a friend that you don't trust with a 3 lb trigger, I would not trust them with any gun regardless of trigger pull.

I absolutely agree with this statement..I have the 3 lb. on mine and to me it is absolutely perfect.....just keep the booger picker off the trigger unless you are going to shoot......Pretty simple to my mind.

 

[hangnoose]

TRIGGER PULL WT VS FIRING PIN STRIKE

Now I'm no gunsmith but I believe we are talking about 2 different issues. the way I understand it, depending on the type of gun, the firing pin strike is controlled by 1 spring and hits with the same force whether a 1 pound or a 4 pound trigger releases it. In a revolver say, where the hammer kind of in effect drives the striking force, lightening the pull wt, or bobbing the hammer thus losing wt/mass, it may change the force hitting the primer.

 

[Dutchs]

Now I'm no gunsmith but I believe we are talking about 2 different issues. the way I understand it, depending on the type of gun, the firing pin strike is controlled by 1 spring and hits with the same force whether a 1 pound or a 4 pound trigger releases it. In a revolver say, where the hammer kind of in effect drives the striking force, lightening the pull wt, or bobbing the hammer thus losing wt/mass, it may change the force hitting the primer.

My Bad...sorry OP this fellow is right.....But still I have never had a light strike either......

 

[DEG]

Correct changing the trigger pull weight will have no affect on how hard the firing pin strikes the primer.

 

[1sailor]

This is interesting news regarding light strikes. I was concerned about the 3lb trigger because somone had said it was recommended by timney to not go below the 4lb because of the possibility of light strikes.