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Roll trigger

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 11:49 am
by alchemist
Could someone explain to me what is a roll trigger and a very long trigger? How can one use a very long roll to control the sights??

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 2:14 pm
by Steve Swartz
Scotty our host could probably give a better explanation- and I'm sure I will be corrected if wrong! But my understanding is this:

Roll Trigger: A slight amount of "beveled" movement of the sear as the shot breaks, giving the feel of the trigger weight increasing *at a varying rate* with simultaneous movement. Feels like the trigger is "rolling" over a cylindrical object as the pressure increases then snaps off.

Long Trigger: A slight amount of "sloping" movement of the sear as the shot breaks, giving the feel of the trigger weight increasing *at a constant rate* with simultaneous movement. Feels like the trigger is "sliding" along a flat surface as the pressure increases then snaps off.

Anyhow these descriptions apply more to how the trigger force curve relates to movement right before the break- giving a distinctive FEEL that might not relate directly to how the gunsmith actually accomplishes the result . . .

HTH

Steve Swartz

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 6:43 pm
by GaryBF

Re: Roll trigger

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 3:38 pm
by scerir
BTW, is it possible that - in the case of a crisp trigger - the action of the finger on the trigger tongue is isometric (muscle or tendon contracts but the finger doesn't move and muscle fibers maintain a constant length)? While - in the case of a roll trigger - the action of the finger is isotonic (the finger moves a bit, and the muscle/tendon shortens)?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:07 pm
by Steve Swartz
To the best of my knowledge (which is admittedly limited), the following rules of thumb apply.

On a mechanical trigger of any design, the finger has to move in order to release the shot.

The "feel" of the trigger is a direct function of the "profile" between the distance moved and the force required.

"Crisper" feeling triggers have a rapid stack up/let off over a very short distance.

"Long" triggers have a rapid initial stack up, then movement over a long distance, with a rapid let off.

"Roll" triggers have an increasing stack up, over a moderate distance, with a moderate let off. This force profile gives the illusion of the sear "rolling over a cylinder."

Steve Swartz