trigger delay in bushmaster varminter

[roval]

I was checking out a bushmaster varminter with the ss barrel in a store. I was dry firing it when nothing appeared to be happening till half to a second later when the firing pin would move. I thought I was imagining it so I handed the rifle back to the salesperson and he noted it too. Any idea what is happening? I've never had that experirience with any ar or gun for that matter.

 

[mljdeckard]

It is a two-stage trigger. Are you pulling it all the way?

If it is breaking, and there is a delay in the lock time, it sounds like the hammer is being inhibited by something. Lock time on that rifle should be about 16 milliseconds. Not a couple of seconds. I would guess something is stopping the hammer from moving, it might be poorly fitted.

I have fired a Bushmaster Varminter extensively and I loved it.

 

[roval]

it was a 2 stage trigger and I did pull it all the way till it stopped. the first couple of times I tried it it was a nice and soft trigger and then after the 3rd or 4th time. I had to check that the safety wasn't on even though I felt the trigger move since nothing seemed to be happening. I've tried the triggers on rock river 2 stage so i'm familiar with the initial travel of the first stage.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have installed one or two two stage triggers that had some delay in them as mentioned by the OP.

I remember changing the hammer spring to a heavier one on one of them that helped but I ultimately replaced the trigger. I decided it was in part the design of the trigger and the execution of the manufacturer and problems caused by the installer (me).

A different brand of two stage trigger corrected the problem. Currently, I like Giessele (spelling?) but there are other good triggers out there.

 

[mljdeckard]

I put the Gieselle in my AR-10 too.

 

[dvdcrr]

I'd knock out the pins, and replace with a gieselle trigger. The safeties on those can be a bear due to the adjusting plunger, youve got to take it out with some needle nose pliers.

 

[Mobuck]

"I was checking out a bushmaster varminter with the ss barrel in a store. I was dry firing it when nothing appeared to be happening till half to a second later when the firing pin would move."
How did you know "when the firing pin would move"? With rifle assembled, you can't see the FP. Did you mean the hammer? Sounds to me like there's something dragging. I can't think of any circumstance in which the sear would release but the hammer not fall immediately. A new rifle might have some burrs or debris trapped in the parts.
BTW if you dry fired an AR(or anything else for that matter) in MY store you'd be invited to not return.

 

[Beentown]

"I was checking out a bushmaster varminter with the ss barrel in a store. I was dry firing it when nothing appeared to be happening till half to a second later when the firing pin would move."
How did you know "when the firing pin would move"? With rifle assembled, you can't see the FP. Did you mean the hammer? Sounds to me like there's something dragging. I can't think of any circumstance in which the sear would release but the hammer not fall immediately. A new rifle might have some burrs or debris trapped in the parts.
BTW if you dry fired an AR(or anything else for that matter) in MY store you'd be invited to not return.

Well if you wouldn't allow me to dry fire a possible purchase I would never buy from you.

 

[243winxb]

The Varminter's trigger is fully adjustable for pull weight and overtravel. The overtravel needs adjustment, thats my guess. http://www.bushmaster.com/documentation/GunblastVarmArticle.pdf

 

[adelbridge]

I have owned adjustable triggers and you can work them to the point that they catch on the safety.

 

[roval]

"I was checking out a bushmaster varminter with the ss barrel in a store. I was dry firing it when nothing appeared to be happening till half to a second later when the firing pin would move."
How did you know "when the firing pin would move"? With rifle assembled, you can't see the FP. Did you mean the hammer? Sounds to me like there's something dragging. I can't think of any circumstance in which the sear would release but the hammer not fall immediately. A new rifle might have some burrs or debris trapped in the parts.
BTW if you dry fired an AR(or anything else for that matter) in MY store you'd be invited to not return.

first of all I always ask if I can dry fire the gun and I know enough not to ask about dry firing a rimfire. I would never go to gun store that would not let the customer dry fire the guns. if you're that touchy about it at most provide some snap caps for your nicer guns. ARs have such a variety of trigger qualities that that is one main thing I always look for in an ar. you're right it's the hammer that was releasing late and not the firing pin by itself.
regarding dry firing,a few months ago I was looking for a quality 1911 and there was a Wilson protector locally. It had a zip tie through the hammer and I was really thinking of getting it. I asked if I can dry fire it but understandably they said it gets dry fired by the guy who buys it(not unreasonable given the price). I didn't buy it. I just couldn't stomach the idea of a gun being right in front of me that costs close to 3 grand where I couldn't even dry fire it. Lucky for me I stumbled onto an online vendor that had a great pistol that I didn't have to wait months for. I didn't mind not being able to dry fire it since it wasn't available to me.

 

[Art Eatman]

Since nobody seems to know the "why" of the problem, and since this thread has degenerated into a squabble: Ask a gunsmith or forget that particular gun.