

If your trigger is excessively heavy, consider lightening it, but only if you know what you’re doing. The majority of the adjustments available on a trigger are to do with the actual distance the trigger has to travel over each stage and the trigger-pull necessary to fire the rifle. As you continue to apply pressure, the gun will then fire. This is a warning that you’ve come to the end of the first stage and have reached the second. When you pull back on a two-stage trigger, applying consistent, even pressure, you will effectively come to a stop point. The main advantage of a two-stage unit is knowing exactly when the trigger is going to break.

Most of the triggers that are installed on air rifles today are two-stage. The amount of trigger-pull you want to set will depend on the type of shooting you do, your own preference and any club or competition rules that may be in place.Ī pellet must be released at the exact moment a deliberate shot is taken, and a shooter should never be taken by surprise with the gun going off when he or she is not expecting it. Trigger-pull is a measure of the force that needs to be exerted on the trigger to get the sear to release, or the valve to open, depending on the type of rifle. Get a gauge: A trigger-pull gauge like this one from Lyman will let you work out how much force is needed to actuate the firing sequence And if you already have a good rifle, a decent trigger will make it even better. If your rifle is inherently inaccurate, a good trigger won’t suddenly make it come good, but it can certainly help. While many gunsmiths and some amateur enthusiasts will happily tear apart a trigger to polish the parts or make minor design modifications, we’ll just concentrate for now on the two remaining factors that we can all easily influence – trigger set-up and trigger technique – both of which can transform the way an air rifle shoots.Ī crisp trigger, breaking at a sensible weight – which is known as trigger-pull – will inspire confidence and will help you keep the gun on aim during the firing cycle. There are three factors that make or break a trigger: the way it’s designed, the way it’s set up, and the way it’s used. But whether you think it’s the barrel, the ammo, gun fit or consistency of power delivery, the trigger will always be right up there – and for many people, a good trigger and trigger control are top of the list. What would you say is the most important component of an airgun apart from the operator? This is a great question to pose to fellow shooters over a mug of tea or a pint of beer at the end of a session – and you’ll get some great answers too. Trigger tip: Most triggers can be adjusted via access slots or holes in the trigger guard, while others require you to take the action out of the stock
