I have a number of rifles with set triggers, only 2 that I have hunted with. A bolt action and a muzzle loader. Since those are both used in cold weather conditions I have them set as  or about as heavy as they can be. And to be truthful, that isn't really all that heavy. FWIW my target rifles are set on the heavy side as well but thats just me, I kind of like to feel when the finger touches the trigger. I am sure others will have much different opinions. For the most part I think its an individual thing, go with what your comfortable with.
Sam

I personally would not even attempt to use my set trigger for hunting purposes. It is down to a few ounces and it is just not safe for myself to use in a hunting environment. It is soley meant to be used for benchrest competitive matches and nothing else. For my hunting rifles it would be a couple of pounds with no over travel and a very crisp let off and how I do my own. I also don't care for a two stage trigger or any prior free movement to the trigger when I am starting to squeeze it off.

What is the old saying about opinions?
Hunted for years with set triggers. Would not be without them, but only the two lever type.
Quick shots in the timber, not set, three or four pound pull.
Longer shots, usually prone, kneeling or on a rest, set the triggers.
For a hunting rifle, pay as much attention to unset pull as the set pull.

I go along with Westerner........I'v been a Outfitter for a very long time and if I found a client running around in the brush with a hammer back his hunt would be over............had a USFW agent in my rig with a round in the chamber and the muzzle banging me in the right side of my chest with muzzle up and his undercover hunt was over at that point.............

I had a German percussion hunting rifle when I was little. Dad let me use it anyway.  Beautifully engraved. Inlaid in gold on the top flat was Kormann. Shot a lot of Injuns on the Zenith back then.  It had double sets. 

My bolt guns all have single stage triggers set very light.

I hunt with set triggers. Same a target shooting.

westerner wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2020 at 11:17pm:


Huh, never really thought about it, must have been obvious and always taken it for granted, but you have a very, very good point. 

I had a problem using Canjar set trigger on a No. 1. There was no problem with the trigger function and I enjoyed the 'set' option. The problem was with the slow lock time of the Ruger. Between the time that the set trigger clicked and the rifle actually fired, my whole life could pass before my eyes;  I knew I was about to get belted! .375 Mashburn! Flinch inducing!

A set trigger increases lock time, only make matters worse for a rifle with slow lock time to begin with. You should be able to get the Canjar down to a very light pull without the set feature. Mostly depends on end use.

westerner wrote on Aug 14^th, 2020 at 11:54am:


I put a Kepplinger on my #3 Ruger and it speeded things up quite a bit. It's been a long time but I remember removing some of the linkage in the factory trigger to install the Kepplinger. Lots of overtravel when it kicks off but it's still light and fast. What's a #4 Ruger? Pictures??

Duh! I shoulda figgered it out my self! Never was good at math.

JS

If I remove the wood from a #3 does that make it a #2?

marlinguy wrote on Aug 27^th, 2020 at 12:16pm:


That would be a Ballard #3 with parts missing. Or a #3 Ballard barreled action.

Some might call my rifle a 3 1/2. I prefer to work with whole numbers as I never learned fractions but I know how to add a few numbers under ten. 

Far as I know it only works on Rugers. 

Central sight. Long range Canadian made Central sight. 

Canadians don't care what stuff looks like. 

Not taking a stand on this at all but my deceased brother guided in Wyoming and Idaho for some big time outfitters for 25 years and as I recall neither he or most of the guides he knew were in favor of DST’s.  Their experiences and reasoning went something like this. (1) most hunters don’t shoot in the field after larger game on a regular basis so instinct and split second reflex aren’t there, (2) those who use DST’s are most often target shooters used to breaking a shot at the perfect time and paper targets don’t move nor do they cost as much as a high priced Elk hunt, (3) seeing big game and knowing you may only get one shot and the clock is ticking tend to get a  hunter’s heart and adrenalin pumping enough that many hunters don’t even feel recoil or hear the muzzle blast, (4) in this condition an 8 pound trigger can break like a 4 pound trigger and DST’s are often unfelt at all, (5) the weather and conditions vary extremely in some hunt seasons so out of state clients not used to real cold, high altitude or horseback have plenty of obstacles to negotiate already and a sensitive setting trigger with numbing fingers ain’t a good idea. Of course every guide has the opportunity to work with the exceptional hunter/marksmen but listening to my Brother those guys a real rare. Anyway I really don’t have an opinion though most makes sense cause actually I hunt with my Shiloh and it has two pedals. When it’s real cold or a quick or stalking shot is in order I stay off the back trigger anyway.

I hunt with my Shiloh Sharps 45-70 using set triggers. However, my front trigger will fire the rifle without being set by the rear trigger. Without being set the front trigger is very similar in weight to my other hunting rifles. So my answer is "yes I use set triggers, but i don't usually set them".

I too use several rifles with set triggers, mostly Ruger #1s with both Canjar and Kepplinger triggers.  I do not use gloves when shooting so no issues.  As noted in a previous post it just takes a different mindset.  The Canjar is also excellent not set if needed.