Tag: Timney trigger

September 14, 2023 – Never Expected That

September 14, 2023 /

In all the excitement, I guess I forgot to take some pictures. Nevertheless, it is the words that are most important. Recently, I went to the rifle range to see how I liked my new trigger. It has been almost a year since I installed it and the day after installation burning desire has dissipated but still I wanted to know how I liked it. Plus, it is time to get ready for hunting season.

Maybe it is a luxury or maybe I am just not practicing enough but I have been shooting the same lot of ammunition since I bought the rifle. That is thirty rounds since 2012. There are a lot of variables at play but removing one by having consistent ammunition is one controllable one.

Last year I think I took five shots to verify zero and that was it. Then I cleaned things up and put the rifle away. Not only did I want to try out my new trigger but I also wanted to see how much variability a different brand of ammo had on my group. What would happen if I had to borrow some ammo in the field?

First shot, not on paper. Huh, this was the same ammo that zeroed perfectly last year. And the problem is, if not on paper, then where is it? I tried aiming at the edge of the paper and low and behold, I was 12 inches to the left. I checked my scope to see if it was loose and it wasn’t. Everything seemed to be in order. Twelve clicks on the scope and I was shooting one inch groups again.

The nearest I can figure is that banging pins out to change the trigger changed some sort of alignment with the rifle. I did a little research into the subject and saw other people reporting similar issues. It also seemed like most internet warriors kind of poo-pooed the idea that this should matter (just like I thought). That being said, I saw other comments that such things like new slings might change the barrel harmonics enough to make a difference.

After I got things back to where they should be, I tried the new brand of ammunition. and my zero pretty much stayed true at 100 yards. I know that at farther distances there will be some difference because I measured the velocity at about 200 fps between the two brands. But, unfortunately, my range only goes out to 200 yards. That is as far as I can realistically check.

I didn’t hang a target at 200 yards but there are 6 inch steel plates at that distance. That seems realistic enough to me for hunting purposes. I hit six out of six and I called it good. I was pretty happy about how things ended. I don’t think that there is going to be a shot beyond fifty yards anyway considering how flat things are and how many trees there are.

End Your Programming Routine: So, the lesson is always check your rifle before hunting season. The next lesson is always check your rifle after you change something. It really doesn’t matter why things had changed, just that they have. A firearm that doesn’t hit where you are aiming does no good at all. In fact, it might even be downright dangerous.

November 17, 2022 – ‘Tacticool’ Thursday

November 17, 2022 /

I am a long time listener of GunTalk. One of the things that Tom Gresham says is that the first thing he does is replace the trigger in a rifle. He says that a good trigger is necessary for good accuracy.

I personally have never had an issue with the trigger on my Remington rifle. It is a little stiff, but otherwise I have felt that it is consistent. However, there was a long standing recall for faulty triggers and that got me thinking. Now that Remington is defunct, the old recall is no longer active. Given the question, I decided to try and upgrade the trigger to a Timney Trigger.

The truth is, I did it because I wanted to try it. I wanted to see if it makes me more accurate. It doesn’t hurt that it is potentially safer as well. Now, I need to resist the urge to replace all of my triggers before I get any realistic data points. At $150, it is a luxury item. I only paid $350 for the entire rifle about ten years ago anyway.

The process is pretty simple. There are two pins right above the trigger in the action. Once out, the trigger unit slides right out. The unit installs in the reverse order. If you are careful about how you do this, then this is a five minute job. I took the entire pin out which also removed the bolt release mechanism. This caused me to have to fiddle with it for twenty minutes to get the springs in the right place and put back together.

I have not shot it, nor do I have plans anytime soon. Part of me thought that I should wait out until hunting season is over just in case I get a wild hair to buy an elk tag. The realistic part of me says that I didn’t do it when I wasn’t working, why would I do it now? I have a standing invitation from my neighbors to go out with them. The season is only a week and I would have to take time off to do it. I really want to, but this is not the year. So, I changed the trigger.

I guess hunting is one of my toolbox fallacies. I always seem to be finding excuses to not do it. We are too busy, the weather is too warm, I don’t have any vacation, etc. I suspect that next year we will get our deer tags drawn. It has been three years since we did. Unless I physically cannot go, I am going next year. It might be one of the last years my dad can go, he is getting into his mid-seventies now and if we have to wait three years, he will be almost eighty the next draw.

On my dry firing, The trigger breaks a lot lighter. According to the documentation, the Timney Hunter model is supposed to be set at three pounds. From what I have read, a trigger that is too light for hunting might be a problem when wearing gloves. A heavier trigger prevents premature discharge because you cant feel as well with gloves on. I guess I have never hunted with gloves on, so I don’t think this will be a problem.

This particular rifle, I have only fired around thirty rounds out of. I haven’t shot it enough to have enough brass to reload. So, now with the new trigger it gives me an excuse to really give this rifle some exercise. It seems like something I should do anyway. So, I look at spending some quality time with this rifle in preparation for possibly the last hunt with my dad.

End Your Programming Routine: I probably should be more glass half full about this. There is no reason I can’t go with him on over the counter tags in future years. But, I guess none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. I just look at him slowing down and hobbling around a lot more. My trigger isn’t the reason I didn’t go hunting this season but it motivates me to look forward and setting plans for next year.