Could any one help explain any advantages of a single stage vs. 2 stage trigger? I'm looking at an anschutz vs. other types of 22lr and found different triggers (2 stage vs. single stage). Any important differences, advantages vs. disadvantages? Can the 2 stage trigger changed to a single stage trigger easily in case I change my mind? Thanks in advance.
2 stage trigger vs. single stage trigger
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Andrew Wyatt
Member
2 stage triggers have two stages, the first stage is a light takeup, followed by a heavier release, single stage triggers don't have the takeup. I prefer the two stage trigger.
cookhj
Member
what andrew said.
a two stage trigger is much better in my opinion.
a two stage trigger is much better in my opinion.
C.R.Sam
Moderator Emeritus
I prefer two stage for most applications.
And single stage for small bore serious target work.
Sam
And single stage for small bore serious target work.
Sam
Smokey Joe
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Single stage triggers rule--almost!
Cut my teeth on .22 target rifles back in high school a century ago when HS's had rifle teams. (That's been politically incorrect for many years in my state.) Those nice Remington 40X's, and the Win 52's, always had a single stage, with no creep at all. You maintain sight picture, slowly increase trigger finger pressure, and gun goes off when the trigger "breaks," as in breaking like a glass rod, with no warning.
Thus, have never liked 2-stage triggers, and replaced them as fast as money allowed on my sporterized milsurp hunting rifles through college. You usually like best what you learnt on, and look down your nose at those "other" ways of doing it.
Had to change my opinion recently, having acquired a Savage M12BVSS, which has Savage's new lawyer-proof "Accu-trigger." Yeah, right, I said to myself. Well, aftermarket decent triggers are available for Savages. Took new gun to the range, promptly, before having a chance to switch triggers. Lo & Behold! The "Accu-trigger" was very much so. There is a false trigger which you pull for about 1/4" (first few times it seemed more like 3'!) before you are in the triggering business. To me, the effect is very much like the military 2-stage. BUT: once you get down to the business at hand, the Savage's "real" trigger breaks very cleanly and I was impressed. No creep, no wobble, just the old familiar "maintain the sight picture and gradually increase finger pressure" and bang like a breaking glass rod.
This trigger I don't think I'll bother changing! Who says old dogs can't learn new tricks??
Cut my teeth on .22 target rifles back in high school a century ago when HS's had rifle teams. (That's been politically incorrect for many years in my state.) Those nice Remington 40X's, and the Win 52's, always had a single stage, with no creep at all. You maintain sight picture, slowly increase trigger finger pressure, and gun goes off when the trigger "breaks," as in breaking like a glass rod, with no warning.
Thus, have never liked 2-stage triggers, and replaced them as fast as money allowed on my sporterized milsurp hunting rifles through college. You usually like best what you learnt on, and look down your nose at those "other" ways of doing it.
Had to change my opinion recently, having acquired a Savage M12BVSS, which has Savage's new lawyer-proof "Accu-trigger." Yeah, right, I said to myself. Well, aftermarket decent triggers are available for Savages. Took new gun to the range, promptly, before having a chance to switch triggers. Lo & Behold! The "Accu-trigger" was very much so. There is a false trigger which you pull for about 1/4" (first few times it seemed more like 3'!) before you are in the triggering business. To me, the effect is very much like the military 2-stage. BUT: once you get down to the business at hand, the Savage's "real" trigger breaks very cleanly and I was impressed. No creep, no wobble, just the old familiar "maintain the sight picture and gradually increase finger pressure" and bang like a breaking glass rod.
This trigger I don't think I'll bother changing! Who says old dogs can't learn new tricks??
Steve Smith
Moderator Emeritus
Two-stage is target trigger with a safety margin
In circumstances where the gun could bump fire easily or the gun will be jostled around while loaded, the two stage is a better bet. You can have several pounds on the trigger and it will still feel like a great single stage after you take it up.
In circumstances where the gun could bump fire easily or the gun will be jostled around while loaded, the two stage is a better bet. You can have several pounds on the trigger and it will still feel like a great single stage after you take it up.
Nero Steptoe
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Two-stage, boo! Single-stage, yea!
The two stage is probably the military standard from the old days where you had partially trained troops, all kinds of varying conditions like gloved fingers etc. and they wanted a safer trigger pull. The classic two stage has a take up (first stage) and a solid pull (second stage). Most of your old bolt actions have two stage trigger pulls and if you try them it will be evident what they are.
The single stage is just one solid pull, like a S&W revo on single action. HTH
The single stage is just one solid pull, like a S&W revo on single action. HTH
Thanks for the excellent responses. For those using two stage triggers, do you find it a problem when you need a rapid follow-up shot? Can you bypass the first stage (on a two stage trigger setup) in case you want a change of pace? Thanks.....
The triggers I am familiar with are on bolt guns so your hand leaves the trigger as you cycle the action. What you may be thinking of is the shorter trigger reset of some autoloading pistols that fire with a long pull first and then reset shorter? Glock has a long pull for the first shot and if you let the trigger go gradually forward you will find it resets much shorter than the original pull. Some of the auto loading rifles like an M1/M1A have two stage triggers (sorta). They reset the same every time imho because the disconnector hooks catch the hammer and you have to release the trigger until the hook disengages whereupon the hammer is on the primary sear surface again. Same same, I believe. In other words, "No" to your question.
Get you a SIG autoloading pistol and note the huge slack there is in the SA pull before you get to the real trigger pull. That's a typical two stage trigger like the old military guns, imho.
As far as aftermarket or target triggers, you got me there.
Get you a SIG autoloading pistol and note the huge slack there is in the SA pull before you get to the real trigger pull. That's a typical two stage trigger like the old military guns, imho.
As far as aftermarket or target triggers, you got me there.
twoblink
Member
I prefer a 2 stage myself.
I like having the slack up, and then glass rod bang.
The long single stage (try a Kahr, and you will know what a long single stage feels like; or an HK in DA) it feels like forever, and you are there wondering if the gun is ever going to fire..
I like having the slack up, and then glass rod bang.
The long single stage (try a Kahr, and you will know what a long single stage feels like; or an HK in DA) it feels like forever, and you are there wondering if the gun is ever going to fire..
dbshabo
Member
I agree with Smokey Joe, the Savage AccuTrigger is one SWEET unit!! I'm betting that you will see the other majors come out with something similar in short order. Will only make some good firearms better. Not good news for the aftermarket trigger makers however.
Shabo
Shabo
Steve Smith
Moderator Emeritus
Some 2 stages reset faster than others. I'm happy with he reset on the RRA trigger (AR-15 trigger). As always, ou should be holding the trigger to the rear though your follow through, then release just enough for the trigger to reset.
BillL223
Member
I have two AR-15s set up for 3-Gun shooting. One has a Jewell two stage trigger and the other has a JP single stage trigger. I prefer the two stage for long range precision shooting as I can take up the first stage while refining the sight picture and then hit the second stage and break the shot. The single stage is better for the rapid fire often needed in 3-Gun. As there is more rapid fire then precision fire, I've decided to change out the Jewell to a JP single stage.
Smokey Joe
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Follow-up shots with 2-stage trigger
T-man, to respond to your question, in my experience, on follow up shots at real-live animals, the trigger ceases to be very important as a factor. The faster you need to shoot, the less important is the type of trigger. It's get your sight picture right now, as good as possible, but don't take time for perfect, and get that trigger down as quick after that as you can without actually yanking the trigger.
If the follow-up shot is less hurried than the above, then it's just another first shot, and you deal with it accordingly.
T-man, to respond to your question, in my experience, on follow up shots at real-live animals, the trigger ceases to be very important as a factor. The faster you need to shoot, the less important is the type of trigger. It's get your sight picture right now, as good as possible, but don't take time for perfect, and get that trigger down as quick after that as you can without actually yanking the trigger.
If the follow-up shot is less hurried than the above, then it's just another first shot, and you deal with it accordingly.
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