If you happen to purchased a manufacturing unit rifle, what can be the very first thing you improve? Many specialists would say it must be the set off. The barrel has a extra direct/mechanical affect on precision, however some counsel the set off first as a result of the set off has such a dramatic affect in your capability to shoot a rifle precisely. You’ll by no means get the very best precision from a rifle with a heavy, inconsistent set off. Contemplating what different upgrades value, like a chambered, match-grade barrel may cost $800, a tactical inventory/chassis could be $1,500, an motion $1,400, and a scope $2,000+. However even the most costly triggers are a fraction of these prices (sometimes $200-320). An funding in a high quality set off may present extra bang to your buck than every other a part of your rifle.
This text will dive into the triggers that the top-ranked shooters within the Precision Rifle Sequence (PRS) are utilizing. All of this information relies on a survey I did not too long ago of the highest 200 shooters within the PRS Open Division. Let’s dive into the information!
Finest Rifle Set off
The chart beneath exhibits how most of the high 200 shooters within the PRS are working totally different manufacturers of triggers.
On the chart above, the assorted colours signify the place a shooter landed when it comes to season rank within the PRS. For instance, black signifies shooters who completed within the high 10, the darkest blue is individuals who completed 11-25, and the lighter the blue, the additional out they completed in general standings. The chart legend itemizes the ranks every colour represents, however mainly, the darker the colour, the upper the shooter’s general rating.
Set off Tech: 51% of Prime-Ranked PRS Shooters
Set off Tech was the preferred model, with 51% of those top-ranked rifle shooters selecting to run it. That included 3 of the highest 10 shooters and 13 of the highest 25. Set off Tech was additionally the preferred model set off once I final did this survey 5 years in the past (see the information), in order that they’ve held onto that high spot.
I’ll add that I’ve been publishing this “What The Execs Use” information because the inaugural PRS Season in 2012, and it’s exceedingly uncommon to ever see the vast majority of these shooters agree on a single model for any gear. So 51% of those shooters working a Set off Tech set off is definitely a testomony to the standard of set off these guys produce.
In 2017, the TriggerTech workforce began engaged on the Diamond set off and solicited suggestions from high shooters like Matthew Brousseau, Bradley and Christine Allen, and the remainder of the Okay&M capturing workforce. They put the brand new set off by way of the paces by way of matches in the course of the second half of the 2017 season. By the point the 2017 PRS Finale got here round on the finish of the yr, 7 out of the highest 10 shooters had been already utilizing the Diamond set off!
So what makes the TriggerTech so particular? The normal bolt-action set off, just like the inventory Remington 700, Jewell, and most others, makes use of a sliding friction design. The floor of the set off and sear slide in opposition to one another till the sear clears the set off, and that’s when the set off “breaks” and the firing pin is launched. The TriggerTech design includes a curler pin between the sear and the set off, which improves each the texture and security of the set off. The result’s nearly no friction or set off creep – only a clear break. To study extra about why that’s the case, learn extra right here (scroll to “Why It Works”).
TriggerTech provides the Diamond set off with three choices for the set off shoe (proven beneath).
I reached out to TriggerTech to see which set off shoe was hottest, they usually shared these stats, which mirror the variety of Diamond triggers they bought on to shoppers (excludes gross sales to different companies):
Whereas the crisp really feel with nearly no creep is nice, the most important cause so many have moved over to TriggerTech would be the excessive sturdiness. The shortest method to sum that up is to make use of a direct quote from one of many rivals who shot within the 2017 PRS Finale, which was held within the Oklahoma mud over a few windy days:
“The Oklahoma mud on the [PRS] finale wreaked havoc on rivals’ triggers. I noticed a number of triggers from each set off producer go down besides the TriggerTech. After seeing all the opposite triggers fail and TriggerTech’s capability to function in dusty environments, I’m shifting all my weapons over to your Diamond.” – Ken Sanoski, eighth in 2023 PRS Open Division.
It seems the curler pin design is much less apt to fail from mud getting within the set off housing. Actually, if that occurs, the inherent movement of the inner elements really clears it out naturally. And I’m not simply making that up. Exams had been carried out by impregnating just a few totally different manufacturers of triggers with “advantageous Arizona mud” (generally utilized in medical trials), and the TriggerTech was the one one which handed with flying colours. (Examine these exams on the backside of this text). TriggerTech is so assured that their triggers will carry out even within the harshest environments that they offer a spare “match saver” Diamond set off to every of their sponsored shooters, which might be made obtainable to any shooter who has a set off go down throughout a match. They don’t need any shooter to have set off issues on the vary – they usually’re betting after you expertise their product, you’ll turn into one other certainly one of their raving followers.
If you wish to study extra concerning the TriggerTech set off, try this text I wrote about it when it was first launched.
Road Worth for TriggerTech Diamond: $280 (EuroOptic.com at present has these marked all the way down to $233!)
Pull Weight Adjustment Vary: lower than 4 ounces to 2 kilos
Bix’n Andy Triggers: 40% of Prime-Ranked PRS Shooters
Bix’n Andy wasn’t far behind Set off Tech, representing 40% of those top-ranked PRS rivals. Actually, 6 of the highest 10 shooters had been utilizing a Bix’n Andy set off. 5 years in the past, they solely represented 14% of the top-ranked shooters, in order that they’ve had an enormous improve in reputation.
Bix’n Andy initially constructed their status within the Benchrest and F-Class world:
“The Bix’n Andy Competitors set off is fingers down essentially the most used set off amongst high shooters within the Benchrest world and F-Class as nicely. It has the bottom reset pressure within the trade, the flexibility to fine-tune your changes to make it appropriate together with your motion, supplying you with an additional edge over your competitors. The vary of this set off is 30 grams to 800 grams (1.0 to twenty-eight ounces). Shooters rave concerning the glass-like brake and over-travel for correct comply with by way of.” – Zach from BulletCentral.com (US Distributor for Bix’n Andy)
However, the PRS will not be like Benchrest. We shoot in dusty area situations and have to maneuver to a number of positions with the rifle whereas on the clock. So it wasn’t till round 2018 that PRS shooters began utilizing Bix’n Andy triggers after they launched the Bix’n Andy TacSport PRO Set off. Like their Benchrest competitors set off, the TacSport Professional additionally options their distinctive ball bearing system, and the single-stage model is adjustable all the way in which down to three.5 ounces! It’s machined from stainless-steel with a housing designed to additional defend the mechanism from the weather, so it’s extra acceptable for field-style capturing.
Two-time PRS Champ Austin Orgain advised me his TacSport PRO triggers “have a really crisp break just like the Benchrest set off does, and up to now, I haven’t had a failure.”
In June 2023, the Bix’n Andy TacSport Professional-X was launched. The first distinction between the TacSport Professional-X and the unique TacSport Professional is the brand new Professional-X set off goes by way of additional CNC sharpening and ending that was beforehand solely carried out on the Bix’n Andy Competitors sequence of triggers supposed for Benchrest use. These additional steps are purported to make for a good crisper-breaking set off than the earlier TacSport Professional triggers.
In addition they launched a TacSport X set off, which is a step beneath the Professional-X – however at a greater value level. The first distinction between the 2 is the set off weight adjustment vary. The TacSport Professional-X is adjustable from 3.5 ounces to 2.2 kilos, whereas the TacSport X is adjustable from 10 ounces to 4 kilos. The TacSport X additionally doesn’t obtain the identical machining and honing on the sear because the Professional-X.
The fellows at BulletCentral.com advised me the unique TacSport Professional set off will likely be phasing out. They could nonetheless have just a few left on the market, however they’ll ultimately get replaced by the brand new TacSport X and TacSport Prox-X variations.
How are these Bix’n Andy triggers totally different than most different triggers?
There are some things about Bix’n Andy triggers which are totally different than most, if not all, triggers available on the market. Listed here are the massive ones:
1) Distinctive ball-bearing design: Bix’n Andy explains: “This set off system makes use of the easy but efficient properties of staggered balls. Because of the particular association, the balls attempt to deflect sideways. Because of the already drastically diminished pressure of the firing pin, a low set off weight is feasible with absolute security.”
2) Potential to open the set off housing and fully disassemble to wash/keep: BulletCentral says this: “We encourage you to open your Bix’n Andy set off after a dusty or dirty match and clear it utilizing acetone after which fully blow it dry with a can of air. You then’ll know your set off is clear and prepared for the subsequent match.”
3) Swappable set off sneakers. Bix’n Andy provides just a few set off sneakers to select from. Austin Orgain stated he actually favored the Gator Grip set off shoe as a result of “controlling set off strain appears to be simpler with the Gator Grip shoe. You may actually inform how a lot strain you’re urgent with on the diminished floor space, however it’s nonetheless a pleasant huge shoe.” The beauty of the Bix’n Andy method is that the top person can exchange the set off shoe. They’re $35 every, so you possibly can strive a pair to see what you want greatest.
I requested the fellows at BulletCentral.com if they may share which of those set off sneakers they bought essentially the most of, and right here is the information they shared with me:
4) Overtravel, as a substitute of a agency wall. That is VERY totally different, however it may probably be vital. Right here is how Bullet Central explains it: “The Bix’n Andy set off has built-in sufficient overtravel. There are plenty of misconceptions about overtravel and the way it might not be a great factor to have. Right here is why it’s: Whereas capturing with any Bix’n Andy set off, in the course of the follow-through of your set off press, the set off lets you pull by way of the break and onto a spring with out hitting “a wall.” That enables your rifle to undergo its recoil course of with out being altered. In distinction, different triggers available on the market have a agency wall. Once you break a set off with a agency wall, hitting that wall in your follow-through can alter your rifle in the course of the recoil course of. That sometimes leads to a shot that’s down and to the correct for right-handed shooters, particularly once you aren’t firing from a rock-solid place. Recognizing affect or bullet hint may be crucial within the PRS, so the overtravel that the Bix’n Andy set off offers may be an added benefit, particularly when capturing from props or different improvised positions.”
5) Customise sear engagement to your motion. That is one thing I’d by no means considered earlier than, however Chris Harris (an completed Benchrest shooter and founding father of Bullet Central) shared with me at SHOT Present that Bix’n Andy triggers are designed to permit the top person to fine-tune the sear engagement to their motion. It seems totally different manufacturers of actions (even costly customized actions) have barely totally different set off positions relative to the cocking piece on the bolt. Bullet Central offers a fairly complete record of actions and the associated measurements, and it shocked me to see how a lot manufacturers would possibly differ. For instance, the measurement from the dowel pin to the highest of the cocking piece is 0.156” on a Surgeon motion to 0.186” on an Affect motion. If you happen to used the identical set off for these actions, the sear would clearly have various ranges of engagement. Bix’n Andy lets you choose a low, medium, or excessive sear top to fine-tune your set off to your motion so you possibly can obtain a extra exact quantity of sear engagement. If you happen to don’t match the set off with the correct sear, it could not perform correctly, however outfit it with the correct one, they usually say it’s going to present Benchrest high quality precision. (Discover the correct sear top, or watch the best way to appropriately setup your set off.)
The draw back of the brand new TacSport Professional-X set off is it has the very best road value on this record. Here’s a breakdown of the value level and adjustment vary of those Bix’n Andy triggers:
Timney Triggers: 3% of Prime-Ranked PRS Shooters
6 of those professional shooters stated they had been utilizing Timney Set off, together with 1 within the high 50.
Timney provides a greater variety of triggers than every other producer, from the favored AR-15 drop-in set off upgrades to a 2-stage set off improve for the Ruger Precision Rifle to an improve for the Browning X-Bolt looking rifle and numerous different choices. Most Timney triggers let you alter the sear engagement, pull weight, and overtravel. All 6 of those shooters stated they had been working a set off with a pull weight set between 8 and 12 ounces, which implies they had been almost certainly working Timney’s flagship set off: the Timney Calvin Elite Customized Set off, though the marginally lower-priced Timney Remington 700 HIT Set off may be adjusted down to eight ounces, too.
The Timney Calvin Elite set off was launched just a few years in the past and is adjustable from 8 ounces to 2.5 kilos. It’s named after Timney’s legendary designer, Calvin Motley. That is Timney’s spare-no-expense design, which they created to be strong however nonetheless delicate sufficient to be set with a pull weight as little as 8 ounces. It’s obtainable in each single-stage and two-stage variations. The Timney Calvin Elite set off comes with 4 totally different sneakers, together with curved, flat, heeled, and knurled. The sneakers are adjustable for size of pull, solid, and top for the last word in consolation, constructive contact, and management.
Timney Calvin Elite Customized Road Worth: $300 (Timney HIT has a road value of $250)
Pull Weight Adjustment Vary: 8 ounces to 2.5 kilos
Jewell Triggers: 3% of Prime-Ranked PRS Shooters
5 of those top-ranked shooters stated they had been utilizing a Jewell set off. The Jewell set off was thought of the “gold commonplace” for many years. The patent for the set off design dates again to 1985, and it was the go-to set off for many high-end precision rifles since that point. In 2015, I surveyed the highest 100 PRS shooters, and 40% of them had been utilizing a Jewell set off, which was not simply the preferred, it was greater than double every other model! (see the information). 5 years in the past, Jewell’s reputation among the many professionals had dropped to only 12% (see the information), and in the present day it’s dropped to only 3%.
Sadly, Jewell not too long ago went out of enterprise, and these triggers are not in manufacturing. Their web site is not up, I known as their important telephone quantity and it’s not in service, and I additionally tried to contact them through e mail with none response in weeks. The rumors are {that a} provider of a few of their inner elements went away, they usually couldn’t discover a totally different provider to fill the necessity. There are additionally rumors that they may come again sooner or later, however that looks as if hypothesis. I did discover that the inventor of the Jewell set off, Arnold Jewell, handed away in October 2022. Arnold made an enormous contribution to the capturing group with this set off design that was the best-of-the-best for greater than 20 years!
I personally have 2 of those Jewell HVR triggers on the market which are frivolously used and in full working situation. I do know there are some die-hard Jewell set off followers on the market, so I plan to record these on GunBroker this week, and I’ll share a hyperlink right here when these go up.
Different Triggers Used By The Execs
There have been just a few different set off manufacturers being utilized by 1 of the top-ranked shooters. Beneath is a full record of these, and if it was utilized by a high 50 shooter, I additionally included the title and place of the one who was utilizing it.
Set off Pull Weight
Lastly, I requested these shooters what set off pull weight they had been working. Here’s a full breakdown of the precise set off weight these shooters stated they used:
76% of shooters had been working a set off pull weight between 8 and 16 ounces. 56% had been working between 8 and 12 ounces, together with 8 of the highest 10 shooters. There have been two outliers when it comes to set off weight among the many high 10, together with Morgun King, who stated he ran his Bix’n Andy set off at simply 4 ounces, and Austin Buschman, who stated his Bix’n Andy was set to twenty ounces.
I interviewed Austin Buschman final yr, and we talked about his set off pull weight being heavier than most. Here’s what he stated once I requested him why he sat his set off to twenty ounces: “That’s mild sufficient that I don’t assume it impacts any of my photographs, even from positional. My it’s my basic idea is {that a} man ought to run it as heavy as he can with out affecting any of his shot placement or any precision. So, for me, 1 ¼ kilos is mild sufficient that I don’t assume it issues for any photographs, but when I went any heavier, I believe it could begin to matter. In my thoughts, that ought to get rid of some potential for a negligent discharge, which I don’t ever need to have one.”
A big portion of this comes down to non-public desire and attempting to strike the correct steadiness between mild sufficient that it doesn’t pull you off track and security in opposition to a negligent discharge. Within the PRS, a negligent or unintended discharge sometimes leads to a direct disqualification from the match (except it’s decided by the match director to be the results of a damaged or faulty a part of the firearm). I’ll say that it’s exceedingly uncommon to see any negligent or unintended discharges at a match (I’ve actually by no means seen one at any matches I’ve attended), so working at these lighter pull weights may be carried out safely – though 85% of the shooters select to not run beneath 8 ounces.
The one shooter who stated their set off was set to 32 ounces was Doug Koenig, who’s competing within the Manufacturing division and utilizing a manufacturing unit Ruger Precision Rifle. Doug obtained 4th within the PRS Manufacturing Division however shot nicely sufficient to be ranked fiftieth within the Open Division along with his Ruger Precision Rifle. If Doug was working a customized set off, it could doubtless be set lighter than 32 ounces – though clearly, he’s performing on the highest ranges even at 32 ounces.
Coming Up Subsequent
If you happen to loved this content material, there’s extra to come back! Over the subsequent few months, I’ll be publishing a ton of information on what the highest precision rifle shooters are utilizing. Try the opposite “What The Execs Use” articles which have already been printed.
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