Training with a heavy trigger?

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Oz
Posts: 384
Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:54 am
Location: SLC, Utah

Training with a heavy trigger?

Post by Oz »

My last post illustrates the method I used to test my trigger pull weight. I had a theory but was unable to test until now.

Before adjustment, my pistol was probably on the order of 1500 grams(!). As my shooting has improved, I have become more sensitive to how trigger pull was altering my groupings. I started to see some consistent issues that training hasn't been able to overcome.

After adjusting to 531 grams, this trigger appears to be SO easy to pull. I haven't had a chance to shoot with it yet since I just made the adjustments here at work. But I'm curious... Has training with a super-heavy trigger been good to this point? Does anyone else train with a signficantly heavier trigger and then reduce to competition minimums before matches?

Oz
David Levene
Posts: 5617
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2004 12:49 pm
Location: Ruislip, UK

Post by David Levene »

IMHO you should train with the same setup, including ammunition/pellets, that you would use in a match.

There will obviously be times during training that you will want to experiment with a different setup but I cannot see any circumstances where you would deliberately train with a heavier trigger than you would use in a match.

Training with a heavy trigger teaches you to shoot with a heavy trigger.
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Fred Mannis
Posts: 1298
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2004 8:37 pm
Location: Delaware

Re: Training with a heavy trigger?

Post by Fred Mannis »

Oz wrote:My last post illustrates the method I used to test my trigger pull weight. I had a theory but was unable to test until now.

Before adjustment, my pistol was probably on the order of 1500 grams(!). As my shooting has improved, I have become more sensitive to how trigger pull was altering my groupings. I started to see some consistent issues that training hasn't been able to overcome.

After adjusting to 531 grams, this trigger appears to be SO easy to pull. I haven't had a chance to shoot with it yet since I just made the adjustments here at work. But I'm curious... Has training with a super-heavy trigger been good to this point? Does anyone else train with a signficantly heavier trigger and then reduce to competition minimums before matches?

Oz
Not a good idea. You want your trigger action to be smooth and consistent and not disturb sight alignment. It takes a great deal of practice to achieve this, especially a consistent time from start of pressure to fire. Changing trigger set up between practice and match will be counter productive.
Take a look at some of Ed Hall's stuff on trigger training http://www.pilkguns.com/ehindx.shtml
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deadeyedick
Posts: 1191
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:55 pm
Location: Australia

Post by deadeyedick »

I agree with Fred and David......good advice.
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