Hope to hear back from Timney folks. They Responded.
In just a week or two Timney will send a Trigger for the X-Bolt to test and share with readers, including my removal of the original trigger, replacement and hunting/shooting tests. You don’t need a gunsmith! The shooter has choices of pull weights set at the factory. Mine will be 3 pounds pull weight.
https://timneytriggers.com/browning-x-bolt/
I have had great luck with these triggers.
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Experienced and successful hunters will tell you, It is not the accuracy at the bench rest that ultimately brings home the wild game. It is how you and your rifle work together in the field and forest.
Are you training for a field match or to shoot at a game animal.
Photo above, I took this South African SCI Gold Medal Kudu with a Ruger M77 with VX III Leupold scope with .338 Win mag and 250 grain Nosler Partition bullets. My training paid off, big time! I practiced in the field, off-hand, and could fire and keep 4 rapid shots on a pie plate at 80 yards. Of course plains game was often at 200 plus yards and may be out to 300 and 400. Your Professional Hunter – PH will tell you if your up for the shot or get you closer. Most opt for closer, say 200-250 yards.
It is very often the case that you will only get one shot.
Make it count!
First, bullseye targets do not move, but wild game does! Yes it sounds intuitive but it is often overlooked. Over the years I believe, the key to shooting accurately in the field is to know when your trigger will break and what clothes/jackets you will wear for hunting so that you will know in advance if you need to adjust “length of pull” to prevent snags. And finally to “understand” the felt recoil of your rifle. That comes with shooting and practicing in field conditions at the distances you expect to shoot. Are you using a tripod, bipod, shooting sticks or your backpack to use as a rest? If so, then practice with it. So many variables, right?
Length of Pull -The top of your list should be length of pull (LOP), trigger break in pounds, and having an adequate recoil pad and cheek weld. Most rifle hunters today use a scope, If the scope is too high then your cheek weld will float around and so will your shots. Typical LOP for a rifle is around 13.25 to 13.75 inches. Again, what clothing jacket are you wearing?
Triggers today are often adjustable in the 2.5 to 6 pound range. Most experienced hunter like a trigger at around three to four pounds. Having too light a trigger with cold fingers can cause you to not feel the trigger very well and result in accidental discharges. Conversely, a heavy trigger can cause you to miss game that is moving, by not knowing when the trigger will break. How to determine what is right for you… takes some shooting awareness when you “think” the trigger will break and fire but doesn’t. The closer you and your trigger agree is where you want to set your trigger. Keep in mind that you are hunting, not target shooting. Many gun-shops will often have a trigger scale to test the break point of your trigger. I own a digital scale and use it regularly.
Recoil Pads today on newer rifles are better than a decade or two ago. Most can reduce felt recoil by half. Older rifles often need harder rubber pads replaced. Why? Less recoil translates directly to improved accuracy. Shooting a .375 H&H with a state of the art recoil pad is like shooting a 30-06 or .270. Shooting smarter not harder!
Cheek weld for scopes is vital and often overlooked. If your cheek does not make solid contact with the comb of your rifle then your eye is floating as it looks through a scope. At 50 yard that may still work for you but at over 100 yards it can mean a clean miss. There are many devices out there as add-on’s for bringing your cheek higher and allow ideal eye alignment with your scope.
These variables are just a few of the vital aspects of good accuracy. Then comes breathing, trigger squeeze and understanding recoil.
Even the best game shots stay the best because they practice.
Good Hunting!
© Copyright 2020
The A22 comes in 22 magnum and 22LR. We are testing the 22LR with CCI Velocitors with a 40 grain hollow point.
https://www.savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=47200
The Savage A22 appears to be a well made basic Semi-Auto production rifle. Out of the Box I added a 3×9 Scope to test it. Weaver bases were pre-installed. Scope bases are picatinny type thus making scope swaps easy from one rifle to another these days. The barrel is pictured with a front sight. Mine had no front sight as it was intended for scope only. The price of $284 dollars is terrific for the features provided. The only feature that was lacking in my mind was the adjustable accu-trigger. I could not get it to adjust lower than 3 lb 10 oz. from the original 5 pounds it came with but performed crisply.
I am very impressed with the A22 as it shoots CCI Velocitor ammo at around 1400 fps and with great ease and accuracy. Wow!
The A22 with CCI Velocitors – Good for Coyote? I think so as there are several video’s that can attest.
The Savage A22 At the Range
Truth is, the average hunter could have lived with the original trigger. However, I am not an average hunter, the quality engineer in me wanted better. Reduce variation, Cpk. That said: I tried to adjust the original trigger. I noticed at the range that when I expected the trigger to break, it wasn’t, and had to apply slightly more pressure to the trigger. I took the rifle apart per the Manual to adjust the set screw to a lighter poundage. I could not. The spring in the trigger was at its lowest setting and could get just around 3 lbs. 10 oz. out of the Weatherby Trigger, that was it. Not bad, but ceteris paribus (all other things being equal) I wanted 3 pounds like my other rifles.
As a potential long range hunter who goes on hunts that can cost thousands of dollars and has high marksmanship standards, it made sense to upgrade the trigger. The Timney is adjustable down below 3 lbs too for target and also smoother and crisper than the factory trigger.
Some research with my friends at Timney finds a Timney Drop-in – Weatherby Vanguard Trigger pre-set at the factory to 3 pounds. Wow! Nice!
Easy-Peasy! In a few swift motions following disassembly procedures in the Owners Manual, I removed the stock mounting screws and removed and replaced the trigger as a drop-in and screwed a single screw in the trigger base to mount it. Then replaced stock and trigger plate and screwed the mounting screws back by torquing the rear trigger screw to its 35 ft-lb setting first, then did the same for the forward mount screw to the same torque.
Photo below is the removal of the stock and trigger housing. When reinstalled, remember to torque to 35 ft-lbs first ( I use a Wheeler Fat Wrench to set the torque)
Photo below of the forward mounting screw. Set to 35 ft-lbs after the rear screw has been torqued near the trigger.
The Vanguard Trigger is held in place by a single screw. Below image is the original trigger. This trigger has nearly 1/4 inch uptake movement to touch the sear. The Timney has no uptake and is right on the sear at the get-go.
Photo below is the new Timney Trigger installed and pre-set at 3 pounds pull.
Done! Total time was about 20 minutes. My Digital Lyman Pull Gage indicates that the Timney trigger brakes at 3 pounds or so and amazingly crisp. At a cost of $129 dollars, I think the Timney upgrade is worth it for those long range shot and increased accuracy. Further, that any shot at a moving target as in a walking deer, you want to know exactly when your finger pressure on the trigger will fire the rifle. Cheers to Accuracy!
Good Hunting!
©2018 All Rights Reserved.
Many of us have experienced the first shot of your rifle prints a little high and the rest settle into a group. Part of it is perhaps a cold shooter too. I have experienced this but I do not believe that I am the cause, all the time. New shooters more than veteran shooters experience lots more variation in shot placement on cold shots. Do you have a flinch? Some do! Do you know on the first shot where your trigger will break? Did you yank the trigger? No!
Some rifle barrels do this high and right thing, again in my 50 years of shooting, particularly thinner barrels. Call it what you want, temperature can change harmonics of a thin barrel more so than a thicker one on the first shot. Further that cleaning and shooting that first shot will go through the barrel faster and differently, hence it is wise to fowl your barrel with a few rounds. An article suggested running a bore snake before shooting or to run an alcohol patch. I don’t think that is necessary and neither do those that depend on the first shot.
Know your rifle on first shots and if necessary and adjust accordingly by adjusting your aim point on that shot. If you are shooting a 600 yard match and you are off by an inch (1 moa) at 100 yards then you are off by 6 inches at 600 yards. adjust the aim point for it without touching your scope. Again, know your rifle and ammo diet. That means putting shots on the target regularly. Every rifle is different…
Dry firing practice helps before shooting for groups! It aids in knowing where your trigger breaks. If your trigger is heavy, think that a new trigger can help!
Good Shooting!
© 2018
I am first and foremost, a hunter, more specifically a big game hunter. The AR-15 in .223 with a 55 grain pill does not add up for me as a big game weapon, but for Coyotes it is fabulous if you can get these smart song-dogs to stick their head out. My son gave me a Colt upper back in 2016 and I wrote lots about combining it with a Mil-Spec. lower unit. I disliked the stock trigger so I added a 2 stage Timney Trigger and tested it. See below. Wow! What a difference the Timney made!
http://www.nhrifleman.com/2016/03/21/new-timney-trigger-install-on-my-ar-15/
I put a scope on recently for yote hunting that had low rings and was uncomfortable with my cheek line up. I did not want to spend money on more rings so I put my best scope, a Leupold VX-6 3-18 and Leupold MK2 IMS mount for 30mm tube back on it as you see this photo. “LOVE MY LEUPOLD” As before sent some factory 55 grain FMJ pills down range at 100 yards at sub-moa groups. Since I have been out in the woods just three times this winter with my AR, I find that I am more comfortable in my handling practices and a sling. Taking the AR for a walk helps me know the best way to handle, cradle or sling it as I hunt.
Just got to get a Yote in my sights. They are not stupid here in New Hampshire. And yes they have some wolf genes!
Note: An AR-15 is a fine rifle for self-defense and home protection provide I train with it and shoot it regularly. There are lots of clubs offering training as do my friends at the Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH. Check them out and see the add I have for them on my front page!
Soon off on some well deserved vacation in the sunshine state and will swap a rifle for a fishing rod, sun block and time with my lovely wife.
Good Shooting!
© 2018
Formerly bellmtcs.com now 1gunshop.com who deals now in a wide array of technical gunsmithing, firearms, archery and so much more outdoor gear. A veritable Trading Post On-Line. The lowest prices anywhere says Kurt Bellm the owner. Now to the Trigger Job.
As I said in an earlier article, I was having difficulty installing the new lighter Trigger Spring so I sent the core frame (without barrel and stock) to Kurt Bellm in Colorado, owner of 1GUNSHOP.com. Note: The frame is serialized and must be sent via FFL.
Not only did he set the new Trigger spring but added a better custom firing pin and drilled the trigger guard, installing a trigger over-travel screw. I asked that set the trigger spring at between 3 lb and 3.5 lbs. My tests show it now at a perfect 3lbs. 5 oz. I went to the range today to see how the trigger, firing pin and trigger over-travel screw worked and was elated at the crisp trigger, The dimple of the firing pin on the primer was perfect. Oh and for a few dollars more he recommended the 1x Over size Hinge Pin which is 0.0005 more than the current stock pin and will increase accuracy.
Honestly, If I could have installed the new spring, there was no assurance to hit my set goal either, it would have been approximate. It may have even been in the 2. 5 lb. category for all I know and too sensitive for hunting. So sending it back was a more a blessing in disguise. I called him on the phone more than a few times and he was very helpful.
Further that he works on so many T/C’s that he has not only more knowledge on T/C frames than anyone outside of the company but customizes indestructible firing pins, and creates a trigger over travel stop screw besides having the best of all the T/C springs and created the Over Size Hinge Pin to tighten the often looser hinge action. Loose side to side movement is eliminated with the new pin and accordingly improves accuracy from shot to shot.
Thanks so much Kurt! If you need some TLC on your T/C see 1GUNSHOP for the solution and check out the Website and all that they offer.
© 2017