Trigger Pull length

[paco97]

How do you measure your trigger pull length?

 

[Rebel]

Yours or the guns? The gun measure from the back of the buttplate to the trigger. On you bend your arm up and measure from the bend of the elbow to your pad on the trigger finger. At least that is how i have always done it. Not really scientific, but it works.

 

[LRB]

The above, but for most, subtract one inch.

 

I generally use Rebels formula. I hate pulling a rifle up and sticking my thumb up my nose. Try it both ways though and see what ya like.


:hatsoff:

 

There seems to be a difference between pull length for a shotgun and one for a rifle. The old "crook of the elbow to trigger finger" method seems to be OK for rifles--at least as a first crude idea. For shotguns--at least by the British method, I believe that is considered too short. Like LRB said, the elbow to finger method is a little on the long side for rifles, but workable. Shotgun fitters have try-guns to go by.

 

[Roy]

It all boils down to size, shooting style and type of gun.

I tend to bring the gun straight up to my face and roll or push my sholder forward to seat the gun. Most people bring the gun forward then seat it to the shoulder and stretch their neck out a bit to get down on the stalk. Their is nothing wrong with either style of shooting but could be almost an inch of difference in lenght of pull. Ofcourse if your 6'5" you are going to have a long pull. :grin:

Different gun designs will call for different length of pull too. A more curved but meant to shoot more from the arm, rather than the shoulder, tends to be a bit more comfortable if longer than your "normal" length of pull.

:v

 

[renovato]

You might try using a yardstick. Place it inside your elbow and grasp it like a rifle stock. Bend your trigger finger comfortably and take a measurement at the pad of your finger. Now set it against your shoulder and grasp at the same point. Does that feel about right? I have a thingy for measuring length of pull (got it from Brownells) and alls it is, is a ruler and a slider to go inside your elbow. It's been pretty spot on so far.

 

[bob1961]

if ya have a gun that fits ya good now take that lop and use it...........bob

 

[Mike Brooks]

bend your arm up and measure from the bend of the elbow to your pad on the trigger finger.

When I measur this way I get a measurement of 15 1/2" :shocked2: Maybe I should quit swinging thru the trees..... :haha:
I can shoot guns with pull from as short as 12" up to about 14 1/2". I'm most comfortable with a 13 3/4" to 14" pull. I only know this by shooting alot of different guns and knowing what "feels right" to me.
Drop at the heel and comb will make a difference on what the pull feels like too.

 

[roundball]

"...Drop at the heel and comb will make a difference..."

And that's really the key... :bow: ...the crook of the elbow thing over-simplifies the problem...drop is a huge player in which LOP is best, and it varies by firearm type, size, and shape

 

[paco97]

Cool! Thanks guys! using reb's method I come up with 15", subtracing an inch method gives me 14", using the relax finger I come up with 14 3/4".

My Traditions PA measures at 14 1/2", and it feels pretty comfortable. It would be interesting to try a 14 3/4" to see if I can tell a difference. I start measuring my other rifles. Thanks

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Fitting up for pull is one thing wearing a T-shirt, with bulky winter hunting clothing, tain't quite the same. :grin:

 

[Mike Brooks]

Out of the 250+ guns I've built I have rarely built anything with a pull over 14 1/4. The longest pull was 16"! I have a repeat customer who requires 15 1/4". The fellows with these extream pull are pretty tall felllas, over 6'4". The most common pull in my experience is 13 3/4" to 14" with drop at the heel around 2 3/4" to 3" and drop at the comb of 1 1/2" to 2".

 

[sneakon]

The most common pull in my experience is 13 3/4" to 14" with drop at the heel around 2 3/4" to 3" and drop at the comb of 1 1/2" to 2".

For me, the drop at heel/comb might be more important than LOP. My TC Hawkens are too straight. I spend too much time trying to get the sites lined up, and the stock smacks my cheek if I'm not careful when shooting. How would I determine an exact drop at comb/heel that would be right for me?