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Author Topic: Am I a minority?  (Read 1338 times)

Offline No Powder

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Am I a minority?
« on: March 19, 2023, 02:49:08 PM »
I believe all of my flint lock rifles have double lever - double set triggers. I think that means I can fire the rifle with or without using the set trigger. I cannot get used to using the set trigger. I have always been a trigger squeezer. I've often read that you should be surprised when your gun fires. By using the set trigger, the light trigger pull using the front trigger, prevents me from being surprised when the gun fires. So I don't use the set trigger. Am I a minority, or are there others who feel the same as me ,and don't use the set trigger? I realize I'm sometimes dealing with a 5-6# or more trigger pull . I just lower the gun and start over if it doesn't go off the first time. Sometimes I will raise & lower the gun several times before I get it to fire.


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Offline Ohio Joe

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Re: Am I a minority?
« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2023, 04:33:17 PM »
I've got them with and without set triggers / and I'll admit that I like a lite pull.

I have never wanted to be "surprised" when my firearm fires - as I want to know exactly when it will fire in the trigger pull process...  :bl th up

Many say (back in the day) that the Trade Guns were notorious for a heavy trigger pull, and the trigger itself was designed to use two fingers... Some say the big trigger was designed to accommodate someone wearing gloves - (which I don't buy into because most folks wore mittens / not single finger gloves back in those days...) The Trade Gun Locks have huge heavy pull main spring!!!

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Online Hank in WV

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Re: Am I a minority?
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2023, 06:07:49 PM »
I have rifles and pistols in either configuration. I tend to like set,but after a few shots, it really doesn't matter. My un-set triggers are still pretty light.
Hank in WV
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Online rollingb

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Re: Am I a minority?
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2023, 07:31:39 PM »
I've got them with and without set triggers / and I'll admit that I like a lite pull.

I have never wanted to be "surprised" when my firearm fires - as I want to know exactly when it will fire in the trigger pull process...  :bl th up


I agree 100% with Joe!  :hairy

Since I have NEVER had a "rock steady" hold when shooting off-hand, I like a trigger pull that will trip the sear EXACTLY when I want it to.   :bl th up  :)
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Online The Miner '49er

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Re: Am I a minority?
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2023, 08:08:26 PM »
I'm with Ohio Joe and Rollingb. I'll take a double set trigger every time.
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Online BEAVERMAN

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Re: Am I a minority?
« Reply #5 on: March 19, 2023, 08:20:01 PM »
Except for my Derringer and trade gun, all mine have set triggers whether single or double set.
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Offline Jim in Wisconsin

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Re: Am I a minority?
« Reply #6 on: March 19, 2023, 09:24:37 PM »
I have a rifle with a set trigger, not sure what that type is called but you have to set it to fire. I wish it had a regular single trigger instead. It works ok, but no better for me than a regular one. The only triggers I don't like at all are ones with "creep". That make it hard to manage.

Offline No Powder

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Re: Am I a minority?
« Reply #7 on: March 19, 2023, 09:40:32 PM »
Been there and done that Jim . Know what you mean about  creep. Well in addition to being a member of two clubs (dry ballers & ramrod shooters ), now I'm a member of three minorities (brass shiners, touch hole liner removers, and trigger squeezers). I guess I answer to a different drummer. Perhaps he should be fired.


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Online Bigsmoke

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Re: Am I a minority?
« Reply #8 on: March 19, 2023, 11:39:52 PM »
I have had several rifles with set triggers and I like them fine.
But, mainly I have rifles with just a single trigger but things internally are polished to the point where it takes little pressure to fire.  I prefer those, so I don't have to mess with setting the trigger.
I have never attached a trigger pull scale to my SMR, but with it set, it has to be maybe an one ounce trigger pull.  It is light.
John (Bigsmoke)
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Offline Ohio Joe

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Re: Am I a minority?
« Reply #9 on: March 19, 2023, 11:51:26 PM »
No Powder, I wouldn't worry about any of those clubs you say you're in, 'cause I bet many of us here have done some of those same things at one time or another. I would add that if you are comfortable with your trigger pull - don't mess with it, 'cause you seem to know your rifles really well, and how they shoot! And that's what matters most!!!  :hairy
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Offline Firewalker

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Re: Am I a minority?
« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2023, 12:12:15 AM »
During the years I did competitive shooting I had the set trigger set so I just applied side pressure to the front trigger and it would release, maybe 1-1 1/2oz. Of course I set it just before shooting and never when hunting.
Worked quite well for me.
Firewalker aka Bob
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Offline No Powder

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Re: Am I a minority?
« Reply #11 on: March 20, 2023, 08:59:03 AM »
Thanks guys. I sure enjoyed all the info you've shared on this trigger squeeeezzzzeee issue. You know I think I'll be learning about these front stuffers as long as I can shoot em or kick the bucket, whichever comes first.And I don't think there is a better place to learn than right here. So keep on sharing your opinions and wealth of knowledge with others who are trying to learn about this great (except the cleaning) past time . I just wish I was smart enough to build those beautiful works of art like you guys do. Then I could join in on the conversations about the building end of it. Maybe one of these days I'll be able to have one of you guys to build me a fine rifle. Y'all offer a senior citizen disc. right?


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Offline Winter Hawk

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Re: Am I a minority?
« Reply #12 on: March 20, 2023, 03:30:16 PM »
The Hodgepodge rifle had the CVA set trigger, and while I have had several of those, I never really cottoned to them.  With the Hodgepodge I ended up removing the rear trigger and polishing the internals of the lock.  Then a while back we had a discussion here and I took another look at what I could do to lighten the trigger pull.  With a little judicious filing and drilling another pivot pin hole about 1/4" back from the original hole I ended up with a very usable, light trigger pull.  I LIKE my single triggers!

~Kees~
« Last Edit: April 26, 2023, 12:45:23 PM by Winter Hawk »
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Offline Butler Ford 40

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Re: Am I a minority?
« Reply #13 on: March 20, 2023, 08:06:42 PM »
LOL! I had to check my CVA Squirrel rifle! They will all fire either way.  I'm in the "I wanna know perzakly when it's gonna fire" group.
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Offline Firewalker

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Re: Am I a minority?
« Reply #14 on: March 20, 2023, 10:08:12 PM »
Thanks guys. I sure enjoyed all the info you've shared on this trigger squeeeezzzzeee issue. You know I think I'll be learning about these front stuffers as long as I can shoot em or kick the bucket, whichever comes first.And I don't think there is a better place to learn than right here. So keep on sharing your opinions and wealth of knowledge with others who are trying to learn about this great (except the cleaning) past time . I just wish I was smart enough to build those beautiful works of art like you guys do. Then I could join in on the conversations about the building end of it. Maybe one of these days I'll be able to have one of you guys to build me a fine rifle. Y'all offer a senior citizen disc. right?

One of these days you could just build a fine rifle for yourself. “Building the Pennsylvania Longrifle” is a book that comes to mind to teach basics. Any rifle you build yourself is a “fine” rifle even if it’s a kit. It’s like a new baby, if it’s yours it’s beautiful.
Firewalker aka Bob
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