I've had a Jewell trigger on most of my favorite rifles over the years. I have one on a rifle I've dragged all over Alaska hunting and hiking and have never had an issue with it. In researching my tactical rifle build I've come across some indications on here that the Jewell is not favored for a tactical rifle. Are there incidents of failure, and what were the failures? Have other trigger makers improved over the years to bring them up to Jewell quality?
- Thread starter blackfoot
- Start date
Re: Jewell Failures?
My Jewell, on an FN SPR, set at ~1.5lb, crapped out on me after being in the rain. Was fine until the rain quit and things started drying out. failure mode was inability to release the striker. I pulled the trigger, and nothing. Thought maybe it wasn't cocked, grabbed the bolt handle, and the instant I touched it, the rifle discharged.
It happened a couple more times, but I forced it to fire by tapping the trigger.
Got home, removed trigger, sloshed it around in a ziplock bag with acetone, hasn't done it again, but I suspect it would again.
Replaced it with a CG Xtreme.
IMHO, Jewells are "fair weather" triggers.
My Jewell, on an FN SPR, set at ~1.5lb, crapped out on me after being in the rain. Was fine until the rain quit and things started drying out. failure mode was inability to release the striker. I pulled the trigger, and nothing. Thought maybe it wasn't cocked, grabbed the bolt handle, and the instant I touched it, the rifle discharged.
It happened a couple more times, but I forced it to fire by tapping the trigger.
Got home, removed trigger, sloshed it around in a ziplock bag with acetone, hasn't done it again, but I suspect it would again.
Replaced it with a CG Xtreme.
IMHO, Jewells are "fair weather" triggers.
Re: Jewell Failures?
Best trigger I ever had, until it broke at the range. Live and learn. A factory Remington trigger is as reliable as any out there that I have seen. And a whole lot cheaper than buying a replacement.
Best trigger I ever had, until it broke at the range. Live and learn. A factory Remington trigger is as reliable as any out there that I have seen. And a whole lot cheaper than buying a replacement.
Re: Jewell Failures?
Never had one go down on me but I have seen a couple have issues. Usually it was some debris that got inside the housing. This could happen to any trigger. At last I looked all Surgeon builds have Jewell triggers and APA, at one time, recommended them.
I think many of us have had R700 triggers fail too. It is just easier to remember when it is a $200+ trigger instead of the run of the mill R700 one.
Never had one go down on me but I have seen a couple have issues. Usually it was some debris that got inside the housing. This could happen to any trigger. At last I looked all Surgeon builds have Jewell triggers and APA, at one time, recommended them.
I think many of us have had R700 triggers fail too. It is just easier to remember when it is a $200+ trigger instead of the run of the mill R700 one.
Re: Jewell Failures?
I have been using one for three years in the rain, snow, mud etc and no problem. I don't baby my gun either.
Sounds like turbo didn't have enough sear engagement! Often times people decide to mess with the trigger themselves and when they have a problem they blame it on the trigger.
I have been using one for three years in the rain, snow, mud etc and no problem. I don't baby my gun either.
Sounds like turbo didn't have enough sear engagement! Often times people decide to mess with the trigger themselves and when they have a problem they blame it on the trigger.
Re: Jewell Failures?
Any of them will have issues if not maintained. Jewell used to be the only one recomended, with the caveat that you needed to maintain it. However there are now triggers that are newer, and more expensive sothat is what everyone has to have.
I can honestly say I have seen more factory triggers fail than all the aftermarket triggers combined. I have seen precisely 1 Jewell fail, and that was due to a combination of not being properly adjusted, and someone having been inside it with a set of stones that should have never touched the thing.
All of my personal stuff has either Jewell or Shilen.
Any of them will have issues if not maintained. Jewell used to be the only one recomended, with the caveat that you needed to maintain it. However there are now triggers that are newer, and more expensive sothat is what everyone has to have.
I can honestly say I have seen more factory triggers fail than all the aftermarket triggers combined. I have seen precisely 1 Jewell fail, and that was due to a combination of not being properly adjusted, and someone having been inside it with a set of stones that should have never touched the thing.
All of my personal stuff has either Jewell or Shilen.
Re: Jewell Failures?
Jewell's are great triggers and have their place. With proper care they can be used anywhere. With that said, prefer Timney for my personal use. Troubles that can be had with Jewell are that their tolerances are tighter than most, so dust/dirt can cause malfunctions. Also the overtravel screw can come loose and back to where the trigger will not release. Both of these have happened to me while in the field. I sold every new and used one I had as a bundle package for about half their worth, and replaced them all with 510 Timneys. Haven't had anymore issues. I still use Jewell, but only in my bench rest rifles
Jewell's are great triggers and have their place. With proper care they can be used anywhere. With that said, prefer Timney for my personal use. Troubles that can be had with Jewell are that their tolerances are tighter than most, so dust/dirt can cause malfunctions. Also the overtravel screw can come loose and back to where the trigger will not release. Both of these have happened to me while in the field. I sold every new and used one I had as a bundle package for about half their worth, and replaced them all with 510 Timneys. Haven't had anymore issues. I still use Jewell, but only in my bench rest rifles
Re: Jewell Failures?
Had a Jewell break, mid-match. The sear broke in half, midway between the two pins. I sent it in for repairs and they attributed it to high-pressure loads. Still haven't met anybody, including them, who can explain how that worked.
They replaced a bunch of bits and it failed less than 100 rounds later, so I sent it back and they replaced a spring at no charge, must have missed it first time around. Great service the whole time, but I'm still baffled as to why it broke.
It's been on a heavy varmint gun for a few hundred rounds and works fine. Match gun now has a Timney or Shilen, I think.
1911fan
Had a Jewell break, mid-match. The sear broke in half, midway between the two pins. I sent it in for repairs and they attributed it to high-pressure loads. Still haven't met anybody, including them, who can explain how that worked.
They replaced a bunch of bits and it failed less than 100 rounds later, so I sent it back and they replaced a spring at no charge, must have missed it first time around. Great service the whole time, but I'm still baffled as to why it broke.
It's been on a heavy varmint gun for a few hundred rounds and works fine. Match gun now has a Timney or Shilen, I think.
1911fan
Re: Jewell Failures?
I've had a bunch that have never failed. One time I thought one of my Jewels was screwed up but the problem turned out to be a fatigued/cracking light weight alloy firing pin stem. The only time I clean them is when the rifle gets a new barrel.
I've had a bunch that have never failed. One time I thought one of my Jewels was screwed up but the problem turned out to be a fatigued/cracking light weight alloy firing pin stem. The only time I clean them is when the rifle gets a new barrel.
Re: Jewell Failures?
Have never had any issues with hundreds of them. Match guns have been so dirty that the Glock wouldn't cycle, but the Jewell in the bolt gun didn't have a single hickup during that match. Some people have them fail, but I haven't seen any yet. Also have several customers in Alaska that run them on hunting rifles without failure.
Have never had any issues with hundreds of them. Match guns have been so dirty that the Glock wouldn't cycle, but the Jewell in the bolt gun didn't have a single hickup during that match. Some people have them fail, but I haven't seen any yet. Also have several customers in Alaska that run them on hunting rifles without failure.
Re: Jewell Failures?
Same story as everyone else. Had a jewel in my custom 700 build for about a year when it broke. Don't know what happened, but the sear would not hold the firing pin back. Sent it to jewel, and they fixed it and had it back within 2 weeks, no questions asked. Great service!
Switched to a timney and haven't looked back.
Same story as everyone else. Had a jewel in my custom 700 build for about a year when it broke. Don't know what happened, but the sear would not hold the firing pin back. Sent it to jewel, and they fixed it and had it back within 2 weeks, no questions asked. Great service!
Switched to a timney and haven't looked back.
Re: Jewell Failures?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Here2Learn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have been using one for three years in the rain, snow, mud etc and no problem. I don't baby my gun either.
Sounds like turbo didn't have enough sear engagement! Often times people decide to mess with the trigger themselves and when they have a problem they blame it on the trigger. </div></div>
Explain to me/us how too <span style="font-style: italic">little</span> sear engagement would cause a failure to release the striker....?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Here2Learn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have been using one for three years in the rain, snow, mud etc and no problem. I don't baby my gun either.
Sounds like turbo didn't have enough sear engagement! Often times people decide to mess with the trigger themselves and when they have a problem they blame it on the trigger. </div></div>
Explain to me/us how too <span style="font-style: italic">little</span> sear engagement would cause a failure to release the striker....?
Re: Jewell Failures?
Watched a fellow competitor's Jewell go screwy 2 stages before the end of the Vegas PRS match, he probably would have won the match if it hadn't (but he would have never used it as an excuse due to his outstanding character).
Watched a fellow competitor's Jewell go screwy 2 stages before the end of the Vegas PRS match, he probably would have won the match if it hadn't (but he would have never used it as an excuse due to his outstanding character).
Re: Jewell Failures?
The only failures I've heard of are in regards to what was mentioned above...broken part and sticking.
In regards to the broken part...everything breaks. If you want 100% reliability, forget it, doesn't happen in firearms...it's not if it will fail but when.
as to sticking issue. Ever person I've known that had an issue with that the issue was user related...they used some type of oil, grease that either gummed up or attracted debris. In all those cases, cleaning up and switching lube resulted in no failures.
Jewel is a fine trigger that will work for all your normal usage.
The only failures I've heard of are in regards to what was mentioned above...broken part and sticking.
In regards to the broken part...everything breaks. If you want 100% reliability, forget it, doesn't happen in firearms...it's not if it will fail but when.
as to sticking issue. Ever person I've known that had an issue with that the issue was user related...they used some type of oil, grease that either gummed up or attracted debris. In all those cases, cleaning up and switching lube resulted in no failures.
Jewel is a fine trigger that will work for all your normal usage.
Re: Jewell Failures?
I have one on a Surgeon Scalpel in .308. I have run it in field matches for a couple of years with zero issues. Very nice trigger with great feel.
I have one on a Surgeon Scalpel in .308. I have run it in field matches for a couple of years with zero issues. Very nice trigger with great feel.
Re: Jewell Failures?
I have a few rifle basix triggers and had a couple Jewells (still have one in a rifle) for what I do hunt pigs/shoot varmints I prefer the rifle basix I have never had one fail and they have seen a lot of fine red dust in out back Australia, they are fine for me. Im not that great a shot and probably could not make use of the advantage a Jewell "might" give me at any rate.
I have a few rifle basix triggers and had a couple Jewells (still have one in a rifle) for what I do hunt pigs/shoot varmints I prefer the rifle basix I have never had one fail and they have seen a lot of fine red dust in out back Australia, they are fine for me. Im not that great a shot and probably could not make use of the advantage a Jewell "might" give me at any rate.
