Trigger Pull weight?

Why is the 22 target pistol allowed to have a 2 1/2 pound trigger pull and the 1911 45 it has to be at 4 pound trigger pull?  Why is a 1911 pistol shooting wadcutters allowed to have a 3 1/2 pound trigger?  What trigger weight due you guys like in your 1911 45? I have a Pardini 22 RF with a 2 1/2 pound trigger pull. I am spoiled. My Dan Wesson Pointman 1911 has a 4.5 pound trigger pull.

For Bullseye, trigger minimum for .22 is 2 lbs., center fire (not .45) is 2-1/2 lbs., .45 is 3-1/2 lbs. Service pistol is 4 lbs.

I go with 2-1/2 for .22 and between 3-3/4 - 4 lbs for .45 and, of course, over 4 for service pistol. I like a little extra as a margin of error so I don't get disqualified.

Thanks Mike

So revolvers in 38 or 357 is 2 1/2 pound trigger pull?

In revolver, the trigger weight is measured single action. At least for DR, NRA Rule 3.3a

chiz1180 wrote:In revolver, the trigger weight is measured single action. At least for DR, NRA Rule 3.3a

The same for CMP Service Pistol; weighed in single action mode.

I have wondered this, too. Why different weights? Why not make it 2.5 lbs across the board?

Because the bigger calibers and heavy slides in the bad old days could jar a light trigger to the point you’d end up with a 1911 machine gun.  Can we get a 2-1/2 pound trigger to hold up against the recoiling slide now, yes, but some of the older guns can’t.

Wobbley wrote:Because the bigger calibers and heavy slides in the bad old days could jar a light trigger to the point you’d end up with a 1911 machine gun.  Can we get a 2-1/2 pound trigger to hold up against the recoiling slide now, yes, but some of the older guns can’t.

Makes sense. Especially when they might have been shooting issued 230 gr ball, instead of light target loads. Thanks.

Same as every rule of every sport. History, mitigation of risks, and a bare minimum to level the playing field.

Every sport is a list of random rules that people agree to measure themselves by and/or compete under.

Even "free" pistol has rules. The Russians (IIRC) were the first to dominate using remote electronic triggers. Then the rule forbidding them was added.

Wobbley wrote:Because the bigger calibers and heavy slides in the bad old days could jar a light trigger to the point you’d end up with a 1911 machine gun.  Can we get a 2-1/2 pound trigger to hold up against the recoiling slide now, yes, but some of the older guns can’t.

I'd also guess that there are some off the shelf 1911's that can't hold a 2 1/2lb trigger today.  
- Dave

Wobbley wrote:Because the bigger calibers and heavy slides in the bad old days could jar a light trigger to the point you’d end up with a 1911 machine gun.  Can we get a 2-1/2 pound trigger to hold up against the recoiling slide now, yes, but some of the older guns can’t.

I'll also add that according to military manuals, the minimum trigger weight for a 1911 service pistol was 4#. Like you state, it had to do with safety concerns at the time.

Why not make it 2.5 lbs across the board?

Why not make it 4 pounds across the board?  It would probably make a lot of shooters better with the .45; and overall.  Gotta learn how to grip the gun and pull the trigger at the same time anyway.  

Maybe a bit off topic, but a .45 revolver trigger can be #2.5 also.  Of course, they're much different from a semi auto.  The only way a revolver can go full auto is if Jerry Miculek is behind the trigger.

CR10X wrote:

Why not make it 2.5 lbs across the board?

Why not make it 4 pounds across the board?  It would probably make a lot of shooters better with the .45; and overall.  Gotta learn how to grip the gun and pull the trigger at the same time anyway.  

Probably because these days, a lot of guns would have to be boosted *up* to make that 4lb limit, and it's hard with some than with others.

I see the trigger pull limits as an added challenge, but it has been a PITA, since when I started, all my 1911 guns I had from USPSA have 1.75 - 2.50lbs trigger pulls on them and I really didn't want to mess them up to give .45 and service pistol a shot.

CR10X wrote:

Why not make it 2.5 lbs across the board?

Why not make it 4 pounds across the board?  It would probably make a lot of shooters better with the .45; and overall.  Gotta learn how to grip the gun and pull the trigger at the same time anyway.  

Why not make it issued factory hardball? Gotta learn to control recoil.

Would level the playing field, lower cost of entry, and required skills and time (no reloading) to compete on even footing.

The reasons are simple. If it isn't a safety concern that necessitates a rule change it requires a very large grassroots effort to with overwhelming support to change the rules of any sport.

I always find it amusing that whenever 4lb triggers come up factory hardball gets mentioned. It has been my personal opinion that the specific trigger weight or Bullet(standard velocity vs high velocity in 22 or lead 160/185/200 or jacketed 185/230 in 45) make much difference in shot process. For quite some time my personal best SF target was shot with a ball gun, which could be argued as "harder" to shoot than a wad gun with a dot. A 4lb trigger is only harder to shoot if you personal make that argument to yourself.

Some of us old school shooters got distinguished with a 1911 and factory 230 gr. FMJ ammo. It made rapid fire more interesting regarding recoil recovery. I never could get my hardball pistol to group well with hardball, but it groups very well with 185 gr. JHP Nosler reloads. I once roomed with a chap at Camp Perry who had a 4# trigger in his .22 and hardball gun. That's what he shot 2700's with. His goal was to get distinguished. He made the President's Hundred that year, so I suppose his training regimen worked for him!

Not that it's reflected in my scores....but it's been my belief that I can shoot a heavy trigger that is consistent better than a light trigger that is variable.  It also seems to me that adding a little weight to a variable pull dampens out the variation.
Just sayin.

Heh, you guys complaining about high trigger weight could just switch from your 1911s to a Pardini GT45 with a two stage trigger.  Mmmm, so nice.  

As Steve said above, for a while, I just set my 1911 .22 conversion pistols to 3.75 lbs.  Really was not an issue and it may even have helped a bit.

willnewton wrote: I just set my 1911 .22 conversion pistols to 3.75 lbs.  Really was not an issue and it may even have helped a bit.

+1

Interesting discussion. I have always preferred a lighter trigger. The lighter the better. There maybe something to the argument that a consistent 4lb pull in all your guns would make you a better shooter. But it doesn’t FEEL that way to me. If you believe that argument then knock yourself out. Make all YOUR guns 4 lbs. The argument that requiring 4 lb triggers lowers barriers to entry falls on deaf ears to me because anyone can run 4lbs in their guns any time they want - and maybe it will make them more competitive!?

As long as your trigger holds the minimum weight for what ever game you happen to being playing nothing else really matters other than you being comfortable with that trigger.

Go back a few traumatic events involving my fingers I loved really light triggers, now I need more feedback.

So I feel that the RIGHT trigger is the one that fits the rules and the particular hand that's operating it....so no one right answer for me just what works at the time.

CR10X wrote:

Why not make it 2.5 lbs across the board?

Why not make it 4 pounds across the board?  It would probably make a lot of shooters better with the .45; and overall.  Gotta learn how to grip the gun and pull the trigger at the same time anyway.  

I keep all my guns at 4lbs, seems to help my scores across the board. All my triggers feel the same.

When I built 2 frames for conversions or do a trigger job the triggers are safe down to 1.75 in most cases I can drop the 45ACP slide and get no follow with a good sear and hammer. 

I then tune the main spring to #4 give or take for 45acp. If you prep the frame it feels like a #3 trigger rack grade gun.

I found 40 ounces had very low variation on the marvels.