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Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

lennyo3034

Gunny Sergeant
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Apr 18, 2010
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So I've decided to get a new trigger, and based on the reviews here, have decided on a Timney. I don't want to fiddle with the adjustments too much since I assume if I adjusted the pull weight, I would also have to adjust the sear engagement and over travel accordingly. Therefore, I will just order it from the factory with the pull weight I want. Does anyone know if they actually mess with the other adjustments, or just change the pull when ordered from factory?

I do not have a trigger pull gauge and estimate the trigger pull of my X-Mark trigger around 3 pounds. It is the non-pro model so I had to take the barreled action out of the stock to adjust it. I'm wondering what the recommendations are as far are ordering one from Timney. I could go for something a little lighter, say 2-2.5 pounds but wanted to get other opinions. The rifle has only been used at the range, shot from prone or bench. It will see some duty shooting groundhogs this summer, but unlikely to be taken deer hunting due to its weight. If I do, I will not chamber a round until ready to fire. Based on my uses, is 2 pounds too light? Or 2.5 pounds too heavy? A friend of mine has a Blazer Tac 2 with a 1 pound pull that I think is too light both from a safety standpoint and firing standpoint.
 
Re: Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

Trigger pull depends on what level of safety you consciously implement. I've had a lot of friends who safely use 1lb triggers for hunting and target shooting. Then I've had friends who I would not want to be around with even if their rifle has a 5lb trigger. I personally like 1.5lbs to 3lbs on my target and hunting rifles. However, if I was shooting strictly from the bench, I'd probably go as low as ounces.
 
Re: Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

I run 3-3.5 lbs on my tactical rifles.

If it's a bench only rifle that you are not going to load until in place, then you can go down to ounces if you wish.

However if you are not able to shoot half-MOA with a 3lbs trigger, the trigger is not at fault. I find WAY too often folks throw on a super-light trigger as a crutch for poor technique.
 
Re: Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

2 to 2.5 pounds is about as low as I will go on a hunting or tactical rifle, I see alot of strictly bench guns though that are down to ounces, you might want to go lighter (1 or 1.5) if its going to be strictly a bench/groundhog gun.
 
Re: Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LoneWolfUSMC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
However if you are not able to shoot half-MOA with a 3lbs trigger, the trigger is not at fault. I find WAY too often folks throw on a super-light trigger as a crutch for poor technique. </div></div>

Great statement!
 
Re: Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

I shoot for 2lbs 2oz when possible. For most R700 2lbs+ is a safe weight.

My bump testing for a trigger is a solid test for a scope if its on the rifle when I do it too.....
 
Re: Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

I tried messing with my Timney adjustments only to screw it up and have a competant gunsmith fix it right.

Anyway, my personal preference on a Timney is about 2.5 lbs. It's kind of a <span style="font-style: italic">'best of both worlds' </span>setting - from the bench to the field.
 
Re: Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

I have a Timney at 1.5#
Jewel at closer to 1#
X mark at 1.5#

All of these triggers are nice. the timney has a wide shoe which i like. the jewl is narrow and has sharper edges which i don't like and the xmark is normal width and nice round edges. the xmark is my favorite as far as the shape but the jewel breaks the smoothese, not that any of them are bad by anyones standards.

all of these guns see bench time, field time deer hunting and coyote hunting.
 
Re: Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

Have used 3 Timney's in Rem. 700 rifles, adjustment is very easy as you don't have to adjust the sear engagement to obtain a crisp light trigger. Would suggest you get a trigger pull gauge to confirm setting. Of my 3, two are set right at 2 lb. 2 oz, the other one on an F-class rig is set at 1 lb. 14 oz. Using the gauge you can set it while action is out of the stock and not have to fiddle with it any more.
 
Re: Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

I have a few Timneys and I have them all set to 2.5 pounds. It's enough that you can get a good feel for the trigger before it breaks with gloves on, and as said above, kind of the best of both worlds range.
 
Re: Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

Practice good safety and it's not much of a problem to hunt with a 1# trigger. True, it probably is light for most people, I guess i just like it that way. To each his own.
 
Re: Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

I have several Remingtons and have adjusted the triggers on them as well as the ones bolonging to my friends. I have found that from the factory, they are generally set in the 4-5# range.

I have also found that with a teeny bit of tweeking they can be adjusted down to the 2-3# Range.

If you intend to hump your rifle any distance, you might not want it below the 2-3# range you can get with the factory trigger.

Dedicated Bench rest is another critter completely. Triggers are set in single digit ounces and the scopes are fixed 30-40X with hair thin reticules and sometimes a 1/4 or smaller dot. If you are never going to shoot from other than a solid, prepared position like a bench, table etc. go ahead with a lighter trigger, deer stands ground blinds and having to hump the thing around you might want more like a 2-3# trigger.

You can adjust your own:

http://www.quarterbore.com/library/articles/rem700trigger.html

Dont even diddle with the engagement screw, just let out the over travel a bit, adjust the trigger pull, re-tighten the overtravel and be happy! On the X-marks, they do have a screw in the trigger shoe, but this thing does not do much.

I do advise getting a FAT wrench and a trigger pull scale, both are very very useful to any serious shooter. (You would not believe the number of brand new rifles that are not torqued into their stocks from the factory)

As far as going aftermarket, You can spend the money, but might have to do some fitting and I bet you sill still have to adjust it.

Two of the biggest rip-offs in the world are undercoating on cars and "trigger jobs" on Remingtons. Most gunsmiths will charge you $75.00 and take a week or so for a 5 minute job you can do yourself.
 
Re: Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

Thanks for all the help, I just ordered a Timney 510 with a 2# trigger pull. It'll be a little light for hunting and such, but I refuse to load the chamber until my crosshairs are on target anyways. I didn't want a really light trigger because I've tried those and did not like them.
 
Re: Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

I just got my timney in the mail today. I just finished putting it on. I got 2lbs on mine and its perfect. I would say right around 2 lbs. Opinions will vary, but you did good by gettin 2 lbs.
 
Re: Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

Light triggers are worse than drugs!If you ever get used to or shoot a good light one everything you have will have to have one!Even my 22WMR is set at 1lb.1oz.It is a bad disease but don`t let anybody you wouldn`t trust with your wife and kids borrow your guns.And the odds of that are "Slim to none and Slim just walked out the door"!
 
Re: Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

I ordered a Timney for a 700 in 264 Win Mag I have, I requested a 2.5# pull and it arrived and I shot it for a year before discovering it breaks at 1.5# I like it and now most of my guns wear 1.5# jobs, hunting or otherwise, except my bench gun it has a 2 ounce Jewel and no safety, but hey, it's a bench gun.
 
Re: Ordering a Timney, what pull weight?

Easy to adjust. The instructions state to not mess with anything other than pull weight. It is easy to adjust, an allen wrench and small open end wrench plus a pull gauge of course. Mine came at 3.5 lbs and I adjusted it down to 2.5 to match my other gun. Took all of 5 minutes.