Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

flyfisher117

flyfisher117

Professional Milk Jug Hunter
Full Member
Minuteman
Sep 25, 2010
772
401
Idaho
#1
Went shooting yesterday and took my Remington 700 sps tac with the x mark pro trigger. My dad took his gun which is built on a 40x receiver and has the old trigger, The one that if the safety is on the bolt won't operate. Well anyways I fell in love with his trigger and now my trigger feels like the stock trigger on my '79 10/22...

I use my gun for milk jug hunting and coyote/squirrel hunting. So I don't want a super light trigger but I still want something nicer than this x mark pro.

On a tight budget what would be a good trigger to look into? And are they hard to swap out? I've replaced the trigger on a 10/22 but never a bolt gun
 
#2
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

I replaced mine (SPS Tactical also) several months ago with a Timney. With no adjustments the feel was far better than the X-mark. I believe that if you are on a tight budget, you should probably wait until you can afford one of the better triggers: as with so many parts on a rifle, the trigger is NOT a place to look for a bargain price.

As for replacing them, it is a straightforward process needing only a small hammer and a punch, but read the instructions first....KNOW what you need to do. Otherwise you risk having small parts on the ground and a big headache.
 
#3
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

A good trigger is helpful and nice, so, as noted above, get a good one if you are going to. You can adapt to what you have in the meantime. I bought my twin sons Savage Axis rifles for Christmas to celebrate their first successful deer hunts, and managed a number of sub-MOA groups at 100 yards (including some 0.5" groups) while trying out a variety of handloads, and those triggers were in excess of 7 pound pulls. (They have since been upgraded!)

I have replaced other triggers based on review comments, and found little to no improvement, so make sure you are getting something that will truly be an improvement.
 
#4
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

When i say tight budget i mean $150 MAX not a penny over. It wont be a thing that i buy any time soon but if i can find what im looking for I will be able to keep an eye out for it on sale or something similar.

Im not sure, ive tried adjusting this x mark to see if i cant lighten it a little bit and at least make it a bit better but i personally cant feel any difference (dont have a trigger pull gauge) in the trigger. Its not a horrible trigger so thats why Im not replacing it very quickly but its not something i want to keep forever.
 
#7
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

Why not a pre x trigger? I have a 2003 trigger, and properly adjusted with the holland spring kit, it's reallllyyyy nice. I don't see why I'd go with another trigger. It's consistent and just really nice at 1.5 lbs. There is 0 creep. I love it, wish it was ligther, but that's probably not safe. Lol

You ca pro ably pick one of those up for a bargain.

Just a thought
smile.gif


But if your ,ax is 150 and you wanna spend it, that understandable too
 
#8
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: the noobie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When i say tight budget i mean $150 MAX not a penny over. It wont be a thing that i buy any time soon but if i can find what im looking for I will be able to keep an eye out for it on sale or something similar.
</div></div>

A Timney will fall nicely within your budget: Midway. And yes, you can live with the X-Mark for a while, but you will be happy when you do replace it. I certainly was.
 
#9
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

Go ahead and replace your trigger if that's what makes you happy, but in my experience a properly adjusted factory trigger can be more than adequate for >90% of all uses. I have never had a need to go to an aftermarket trigger.

I have a couple x-mark's where all that was needed was to reduce the pull weight somewhat and a few that have been tuned by a good gunsmith and they are just sweet.

Whatever floats your boat though. If you really want a sweet trigger you can save up for a Jewel, but perhaps the Timney will be adequate as suggested above.
 
#10
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

Well can you point me to a GOOD gun smith in the Boise area? that can get this trigger running good?

I know of a few but i have no clue how good they are at what they do. If i was still down in utah then i know of the perfect guy, but hes getting older so his wait times is getting much longer and im not driving down there just for a trigger job.
 
#12
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: the noobie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When i say tight budget i mean $150 MAX not a penny over. </div></div>

I have three rifle basix triggers, you can pick the pull weight you want on there web site. Mine are all 2.5 pounds and cost me around 120.00. I have not tried a timmey but may soon as I too have a couple sps tacticals with stock triggers. However they dont sound as bad as yours.
 
#13
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

If you are staying with a factory trigger, a good trigger job can be had for $45 around here. It will not compare with a Timney, much less a Jewell. I have some of all of them and I can assure you there are aftermarket triggers for a reason.
 
#14
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

I would say...Yes.

I replaced 2 Factory X-mark's with Timney's, and couldn't be happier.

It's not just the lighter pull weight, but the wider grooved trigger.

Night and day difference between the two.
 
#15
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

Go with Timney, and get on youtube to see how to change it. With a few tools it might take 20 minutes , the only tricky part is the bolt stop spring.
I also use some drill bits out of an index for guide pins while I am driving the trigger pins back in, also don't forget to move the safety handle before you drive the pin out. You will know what I'm talking about when you do it.
SScott
 
#16
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

I highly recommend having a good gunsmith do ANY trigger work on your remington 700. I had a good friend helping a guy out this fall on a deer hunt who had lightened the trigger on his 700. Had the gun go off when he closed the bolt on a loaded round. And on a giant mule deer. They went home and checked the gun, everything fine. Next day found the big buck again, and AGAIN on closing the bolt the gun went off!! Ended up borrowing a rifle and finding the big buck a third time and got it done, but talk about stressful! Not sure how much excitement played a part in all that but after hearing that I am not playing around with any of my 700 triggers!
 
#17
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

Do what nfoley said. And not just any clown with a sign GUNSMITH out front. Be open to suggestions and then get what you want but try it before you buy it.
 
#18
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

If you're on a budget timneys are hard to beat. The wide grooved trigger is very nice, and feels considerably better than the smooth rounded x-mark. Midway will put the timneys on sale from time to time for around $100 if you can wait.
 
#19
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

That's amazing. How low did he set it? Adequate range testing before the hunt? When you said he checked it, did he do a thorough job? Bump it on the floor and everything? I adjusted my own from 6-ish to 3-ish, and have had zero issues after 100s of rounds at the range.
 
#20
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

I too have an x mark trigger and if all you have done is adjust the screw on the trigger face your wasting your time. Well, IMHO. if memory serves me there are three set screws on the x mark including the one on the trigger face. If your dead set a new trigger then discard all after. But with reasonable adjustments to the x mark it can be tolerable. Old style factory triggers should set you back less than 50 bucks plus the cost of a trigger job.

As a disclaimer my tool set and I are infinatly more experienced with gas guns and things that sling shot at birds than bolt guns but a trigger is a trigger they aren't hard to adjust, they are hard to adjust well. I've only played with my own guns x mark so far.
 
#21
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

I put together my first bolt gun a few months ago. It is based on a factory 700 varmint in .308. I started with the x-mark trigger. First time I took it to the range I put 80 rounds through it and after the first 40 all groups were under 1 MOA. I didn't like the trigger. It felt gritty, inconsistent and too tight. I suppose I could have cleaned it out and oiled it up to see if it got any better.

Instead I ordered a Rifle Basix trigger. It was fairly easy to install. I've now got around 350 rounds through the gun and I think the trigger was a significant improvement. Shooting Hornady factory match 155 A-max, I was consistently 3/4 MOA. Now I'm handloading and I'm easily under 1/2 MOA (100yd). The new trigger has allowed me to actually lighten up my firing hand grip and change my hand position to further improve my accuracy. I highly recommend a new trigger if accuracy is something you will always strive to improve.

Bob
 
#22
Re: Would I benefit at all in a new trigger?

Cabinero, I don't know how much testing they did. I dont know the guy that had the tag. He may have lightened it too much but I am really nervous about messing with my 700 trigger after hearing that story.
 
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