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Set trigger
- Thread starter flyfish
- Start date
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the rear trigger when set makes the front trigger when adjusted properally will be a hair trigger, the the point that you can breathe on it and the gun will go off. the set triggers on my rifles can be shoot set or unset, while means that when in the unset position you have a greater trigger pull, which is useful when hunting with gloves on. set is good for target shooting where movement will throw your shot off. hope this helps, I'm sure that others will have a much more in depth explanition of how a set trigger works
The purpose of any set trigger system is to lighten the trigger pull. I think they are all adjustable, so you can set them to your comfort level, from say 5 or 6 pounds, to extreme hair trigger. In fact, you can set them so light that they could be considered dangerous. The rear trigger is actually what trips the sear in the lock.
You're probably looking at what is called "double set" triggers, which means you can fire the gun either by setting the rear trigger and then pulling the front trigger (hair trigger), or you can also shoot by pulling the front trigger in the un-set position (normal trigger), which will require more trigger pull.
I think most hunters don't use the set trigger feature when hunting, due to gloves, cold fingers, and buck fever, which have the potential to cause premature firing. Personally, I use the set trigger for both target use and hunting, simply because I don't want to change firing habits when it matters the most.
I'm hoping somone who can explain things better than me will add all the details I left out. I do think you'll like them though. Bill
You're probably looking at what is called "double set" triggers, which means you can fire the gun either by setting the rear trigger and then pulling the front trigger (hair trigger), or you can also shoot by pulling the front trigger in the un-set position (normal trigger), which will require more trigger pull.
I think most hunters don't use the set trigger feature when hunting, due to gloves, cold fingers, and buck fever, which have the potential to cause premature firing. Personally, I use the set trigger for both target use and hunting, simply because I don't want to change firing habits when it matters the most.
I'm hoping somone who can explain things better than me will add all the details I left out. I do think you'll like them though. Bill
The two triggers you may be referring to are a trigger and a set trigger.
Usually the rear most trigger is the set trigger and the front trigger is the
firing trigger.
This is not a 100% rule, however.
Pulling the rear trigger “sets” the front trigger, making for a much lighter pull.
Most let you use just the front trigger for say hunting, etc., if so desired.
Usually the rear most trigger is the set trigger and the front trigger is the
firing trigger.
This is not a 100% rule, however.
Pulling the rear trigger “sets” the front trigger, making for a much lighter pull.
Most let you use just the front trigger for say hunting, etc., if so desired.
Dave Rosenthal
70 Cal.
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Both of the previous posters did a good job explaining why some rifles have two triggers.
Now, I'm going to break from the "fold" and tell you why my favorite rifle has only one trigger! For me, it took a lot of time to try to get used to using a hare trigger! It takes me forever to sort of get used to it every time that I attempt to do it again. So my Trade Rifle .50 cal percussion sidelock doesn't have two triggers, only one! Every other firearm I own has only one trigger, from my custom .45 automatic, my 12 ga. shotguns, all of the way to the M-1 Garand! I'm just used to the timing of using one trigger!
Not knowing how extensive your shooting background is (or lack thereof), it's hard for someone like me to tell you which one you should stick with, but I will tell you this: some of the best shooters that I know use the hare trigger set-up, so if you can master it's use, you'll have a "leg-up" on other shooters. If using two triggers just isn't your "speed", don't fret, you're still in darn good company!
Dave
NRA Distinguished Expert ML Rifle
Now, I'm going to break from the "fold" and tell you why my favorite rifle has only one trigger! For me, it took a lot of time to try to get used to using a hare trigger! It takes me forever to sort of get used to it every time that I attempt to do it again. So my Trade Rifle .50 cal percussion sidelock doesn't have two triggers, only one! Every other firearm I own has only one trigger, from my custom .45 automatic, my 12 ga. shotguns, all of the way to the M-1 Garand! I'm just used to the timing of using one trigger!
Not knowing how extensive your shooting background is (or lack thereof), it's hard for someone like me to tell you which one you should stick with, but I will tell you this: some of the best shooters that I know use the hare trigger set-up, so if you can master it's use, you'll have a "leg-up" on other shooters. If using two triggers just isn't your "speed", don't fret, you're still in darn good company!
Dave
NRA Distinguished Expert ML Rifle
Tumblernotch
69 Cal.
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What everyone has said here pretty much nails it. To add to it, there are two types of double set triggers as well as a single set. First you have a double set/double action trigger which has been described. You can either set the rear trigger for using the front trigger as a "hair" or light pull trigger or just squezze off the front like you would most guns. The double set/single action trigger will not allow that option. You have to set the rear trigger for the gun to go off and in some cases to even **** it. The front trigger will only work in the "set" or "hair trigger" mode. Then there's the single set trigger. This is a one trigger set up where you push a spring loaded trigger forward to set. It is more of a cam action trigger which can be set very lightly like the double set. I've seen a few of these on rifles but most I've seen on dueling and other fine pistols. Being a single trigger with a shorter plate makes it handy for rifles with small trigger guards and pistols.
I prefer the double set/double action because you have the option of a less sensitive trigger when hunting in cold weather, but for target shooting or hunting if it's not too cold, I like the set trigger. You would be surprised how much movement of the rifle can be caused by squeezing off a round with a regular trigger even if the pull is not heavy. Another thing to remember is if you use a set trigger you need a detent or "fly" on the locks tumbler. This keeps the sear from dropping into the half **** notch. When you squeeze a trigger, it is held back by your finger pressure. When a set trigger is tripped it doesn't keep pressure against the sear long enough and the sear spring will force the sear back into the notch before the tumbler rotates past it.
Though I said I prefer double action triggers, I bought an old Walter Cain single action Saturday. It is probably the smoothest trigger I've ever seen and I got a great deal at $15.00! Now I need to build a rifle around it I reckon.
I prefer the double set/double action because you have the option of a less sensitive trigger when hunting in cold weather, but for target shooting or hunting if it's not too cold, I like the set trigger. You would be surprised how much movement of the rifle can be caused by squeezing off a round with a regular trigger even if the pull is not heavy. Another thing to remember is if you use a set trigger you need a detent or "fly" on the locks tumbler. This keeps the sear from dropping into the half **** notch. When you squeeze a trigger, it is held back by your finger pressure. When a set trigger is tripped it doesn't keep pressure against the sear long enough and the sear spring will force the sear back into the notch before the tumbler rotates past it.
Though I said I prefer double action triggers, I bought an old Walter Cain single action Saturday. It is probably the smoothest trigger I've ever seen and I got a great deal at $15.00! Now I need to build a rifle around it I reckon.
The only thing I see posted above that I can disagree with is the idea that the adjustment screw on a double set trigger can be used to increase the force required to release the "set" spring loaded rear trigger.
The small screw, usually located between the triggers controls the amount of engagement the front trigger latch has with the rear triggers blade.
Adjusting this small screw "in" will decrease the distance the front trigger needs to be pulled to release the set trigger.
Adjusting this small screw "out" will increase the distance the front trigger needs to be pulled to release the set trigger.
In other words, it adjusts the distance the front trigger must move. It does not change the force needed to move or 'fire' the trigger.
While speaking of double set triggers, these triggers can be "set" and "fired" as many times as a person wants to do so without harming them.
The only words of caution is when "firing" the triggers THE **** OR HAMMER MUST NOT BE IN THE HALF **** NOTCH.
The hammer or **** must be in the fired position.
Releasing the set triggers with the hammer or **** positioned in the half **** notch can break the sear or the tumbler making the lock unusable.
The small screw, usually located between the triggers controls the amount of engagement the front trigger latch has with the rear triggers blade.
Adjusting this small screw "in" will decrease the distance the front trigger needs to be pulled to release the set trigger.
Adjusting this small screw "out" will increase the distance the front trigger needs to be pulled to release the set trigger.
In other words, it adjusts the distance the front trigger must move. It does not change the force needed to move or 'fire' the trigger.
While speaking of double set triggers, these triggers can be "set" and "fired" as many times as a person wants to do so without harming them.
The only words of caution is when "firing" the triggers THE **** OR HAMMER MUST NOT BE IN THE HALF **** NOTCH.
The hammer or **** must be in the fired position.
Releasing the set triggers with the hammer or **** positioned in the half **** notch can break the sear or the tumbler making the lock unusable.
Tumblernotch
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You are correct. I should have included that info as well, although I must add that I didn't say anything about the adjustment screw lightening or stiffening the trigger spring. It does adjust how much contact there is.
One thing I wrote may cause some confusion though. I mentioned that with some single action triggers the trigger has to be set before the rifle can even be cocked. From what I've seen on a couple of my rifles, that has to do with the position of the trigger in relation to the sear. The trigger bar won't let the sear settle into the notches unless set first. I had a rifle like this once. On one I built a couple of years ago with a double action trigger, it would only fire with the trigger set. After investigating I discovered that the triggers were not inletted quite deep enough. I few more thousandths deeper and the front bar was close enough to the sear to push it out of the notch. Since I only use this rifle with the trigger set, it wasn't that big of a deal, but I still wanted the option just in case.
One thing I wrote may cause some confusion though. I mentioned that with some single action triggers the trigger has to be set before the rifle can even be cocked. From what I've seen on a couple of my rifles, that has to do with the position of the trigger in relation to the sear. The trigger bar won't let the sear settle into the notches unless set first. I had a rifle like this once. On one I built a couple of years ago with a double action trigger, it would only fire with the trigger set. After investigating I discovered that the triggers were not inletted quite deep enough. I few more thousandths deeper and the front bar was close enough to the sear to push it out of the notch. Since I only use this rifle with the trigger set, it wasn't that big of a deal, but I still wanted the option just in case.
I own both the Double Set (there are two 'triggers') Single Lever (only one blade on the rear trigger to trip the sear) trigger and the Double Set Double Lever trigger. The "Double Lever" refers to both the front trigger and the rear trigger have a lever or blade that can fire the gun.
The Double Set Double Lever style is what is sold on most of the modern reproductions and occasionally they will not be installed correctly by the factory.
My Pedersoli Tryon is an example of this.
Although the triggers were made to be fired either unset or set, they would only work when the rear trigger was first set.
A little work with a file corrected this.
As for the Double Set Single Lever style that is designed to ONLY work when the rear trigger is first set they are fairly common on some custom made Target Rifles where the shooter always fires the gun with the ultra light trigger pull.
They are also used when a lock without a fly in it is in the gun because they are the only type of set trigger that I am familiar with which will prevent the sear from entering the half **** notch when a fly is not present in the tumbler.
For most folks who do some target shooting and also like to hunt, the Double Set Double Lever trigger is the best choice because, as was pointed out by several folks, they can be fired without setting the rear trigger and the heavier pull in this condition makes using them this way much safer when the shooter is wearing gloves.
The Double Set Double Lever style is what is sold on most of the modern reproductions and occasionally they will not be installed correctly by the factory.
My Pedersoli Tryon is an example of this.
Although the triggers were made to be fired either unset or set, they would only work when the rear trigger was first set.
A little work with a file corrected this.
As for the Double Set Single Lever style that is designed to ONLY work when the rear trigger is first set they are fairly common on some custom made Target Rifles where the shooter always fires the gun with the ultra light trigger pull.
They are also used when a lock without a fly in it is in the gun because they are the only type of set trigger that I am familiar with which will prevent the sear from entering the half **** notch when a fly is not present in the tumbler.
For most folks who do some target shooting and also like to hunt, the Double Set Double Lever trigger is the best choice because, as was pointed out by several folks, they can be fired without setting the rear trigger and the heavier pull in this condition makes using them this way much safer when the shooter is wearing gloves.
