Best classic rifle trigger? (Other than Record)

[Geezer]

In your situation, I'd be looking at the Anschutz 333 and 335, the BSF S60 and S70, the Webley Omega, and probably end up with a Diana 35.

The Diana 45 is, as has been said, a good choice - but also a bit of long and heavy compared to the FWB Sport.

[ptdunk]

+ 1 for the Original 45. An older Original/ Diana 34 series gun with the TO1 ball sear trigger would also be good. Either can give performance close or equal to HW's.

If you do not require full power, then an old Walther LG or LGV would be excellent. Although Diopter sights are the norm with these. Depends on your comp. rules.

Thanks, it’ll need to be full power, I think a flatter trajectory would be an advantage with open sights and we shoot out to 35yds.
(They do a classic semi-recoiless catagory so maybe in the future I’d get a 300s or a 75)

In your situation, I'd be looking at the Anschutz 333 and 335, the BSF S60 and S70, the Webley Omega, and probably end up with a Diana 35.

The Diana 45 is, as has been said, a good choice - but also a bit of long and heavy compared to the FWB Sport.

Thanks,
I think the Anschutz’s have right hand stocks, so the Diana’s would be more appealing to a lefty.
You’re right, the FWB Sports is fantastically light. I think the Diana 35 is a bit heavier than the 45, we’ll need to try one to see how it feels.



I’m interested in the BSF rifles, seems they were popular before Weihrauch cornered the market in the 80’s, but I’ve never encountered one. Are the triggers any good?
I’ll check them out.

Cheers,
Matt.

[Drew451]

The standard 35 is lighter than the 45. The 35 Super and the 45 are almost the same weight. The 35 and the Anschutz are very good guns but due to your no cheeckpiece requirement you are really looking at a 45 of any age or a 34 T01 from 86 to 88 ish.

[Hsing-ee]

The best triggers on the older springers other than the Rekord are .....

Hammerli Model 3, Model 4, Model 401, 402, 403, and 420.

Original Diana three ball-bearing release triggers - Model 27, 35, and 50.

Anschutz 335 and 333

These are all near as dammit as good as the Record once set up and the shooter accustomed to using them.


The BSF trigger has a weird kind of hang-up between first and second stage and gets harder to pull with increasing mainspring strength, the Feinwerkbau Sport is OK but not brilliant, BSA triggers are very average, most early Webley triggers are not nice.. the Original Diana 45 and 50T01 triggers also had a sort of 'step' with the second stage and had horrible pressed blades.

The nicest trigger probably goes to the Feinwerkbau 150/300 series, but that was a match rifle and still pisses all over the Rekord and its clones.

As Le Geezer has said, the Original Diana 35 would probably be the one to go for, although the 27 is a very nice rifle if you can find one.

[ptdunk]

Cheers guys,

I’ll keep an eye out for a 35 or 27 ad they seem ideal.

Turns out there are a couple of Original 45’s in use at the club as well as a Anschutz 335 so we’ll give them a try at the next Comp.

Thanks,

Matt.

[I. J.]

Walther LG55DST (double set trigger). It makes even the famous Rekord unit feel like a bog door latch.



For (almost) full power and light weight I would go for the early Original 35.

[Hsing-ee]

Walther LG55DST (double set trigger). It makes even the famous Rekord unit feel like a bog door latch.

Ian, you shouldn't flaunt your DST in front of the Commoners, it just makes them green with envy and the next thing you know they will be storming the Winter Palace.

Just show them a photo of your BSF 65 like you normally do and we can all sleep safely.

[Drew451]

Cheers guys,

I’ll keep an eye out for a 35 or 27 ad they seem ideal.

Turns out there are a couple of Original 45’s in use at the club as well as a Anschutz 335 so we’ll give them a try at the next Comp.

Thanks,

Matt.

Let us know how you get on.

[ptdunk]

Let us know how you get on.

Will do,
might take a while but I’ll be sure to let you know what we end up going with. .

Thanks again,

Knowledge is power.

Matt.

[jonnyone]

The best triggers on the older springers other than the Rekord are .....

Hammerli Model 3, Model 4, Model 401, 402, 403, and 420.

Original Diana three ball-bearing release triggers - Model 27, 35, and 50.

Anschutz 335 and 333

These are all near as dammit as good as the Record once set up and the shooter accustomed to using them.


The BSF trigger has a weird kind of hang-up between first and second stage and gets harder to pull with increasing mainspring strength, the Feinwerkbau Sport is OK but not brilliant, BSA triggers are very average, most early Webley triggers are not nice.. the Original Diana 45 and 50T01 triggers also had a sort of 'step' with the second stage and had horrible pressed blades.

The nicest trigger probably goes to the Feinwerkbau 150/300 series, but that was a match rifle and still pisses all over the Rekord and its clones.

As Le Geezer has said, the Original Diana 35 would probably be the one to go for, although the 27 is a very nice rifle if you can find one.

Evening hsing-ee,
I note your observations on the 45 and the T01. Can you define what this step is? I've never heard of it before? Is it a general thing across all models? Or did you.notice it on your own.gun?
Only reason I ask is that I did an amount of shooting back.in the Autumn with a T01 and credit where its due the trigger performed flawless and broke like glass. I've shot two 45s a short time ago and cant recall this step on them either?
I've never really tinkered with the triggers in.my guns and almost all are pretty.much how they came to me.
I'll keep a look out for this now as I think I've six or seven 45/T01s

Dave

[Hsing-ee]

Evening hsing-ee,
I note your observations on the 45 and the T01. Can you define what this step is?

Dave

I didn't express it very well; on the BSF there is a point where the first stage is finished and the trigger sort of 'hangs' almost like a set trigger has been pulled, and then the second stage advances after an increase in pressing pressure. Jim Maccari has written on this somewhere. With my 50T01 and the 45 I used - bear in mind this is 30 years ago! - I found the first stage was taken up, then there was a kind of build-up of pressure before the second stage advanced followed by a lower pressure before the sear tripped. On mechanisms like the Rekord, or even something like the Mercury-S, there is the first stage pressure, then the second stage is a consistent pressure after that, without the slight spike in pull-weight I noticed on the Original Dianas. The three-ball mechanism on earlier Dianas was not like this, and while the greater power and range of the 45 and 50T01 were vaunted by the press and shooters, the triggers were seen as a retrograde step. The actual blades were not very nice pressings either.

This is just my memory of it, and of just two examples of these rifles. The 50T01 is one of the few rifles I really dislike for various reasons, so I may be prejudiced and overcritical.

[Drew451]

I didn't express it very well; on the BSF there is a point where the first stage is finished and the trigger sort of 'hangs' almost like a set trigger has been pulled, and then the second stage advances after an increase in pressing pressure. Jim Maccari has written on this somewhere. With my 50T01 and the 45 I used - bear in mind this is 30 years ago! - I found the first stage was taken up, then there was a kind of build-up of pressure before the second stage advanced followed by a lower pressure before the sear tripped. On mechanisms like the Rekord, or even something like the Mercury-S, there is the first stage pressure, then the second stage is a consistent pressure after that, without the slight spike in pull-weight I noticed on the Original Dianas. The three-ball mechanism on earlier Dianas was not like this, and while the greater power and range of the 45 and 50T01 were vaunted by the press and shooters, the triggers were seen as a retrograde step. The actual blades were not very nice pressings either.

This is just my memory of it, and of just two examples of these rifles. The 50T01 is one of the few rifles I really dislike for various reasons, so I may be prejudiced and overcritical.

Interesting. I will be paying very close attention next time out with a 45. It may be because im so used to them that this phenomenon is unnoticed. I have my 45s set up as close to my 3 balls as adjustment allows. They will never have the same feel, though.
Interesting comment on the Hammerli 400 series also. Guns that have always interested me but i have no experience of them.

[Drew451]

The 45 step was mentioned by Ian Law - Big Seth- in a thread recently. I have never detected such a step myself and I rate the trigger highly. The blade is fine with me also. l. For me, its a very easy step (no pun intended) from the 3 ball that most of my guns feature.
Regarding 3 baĺl Dianas- 70s and 80s 27/35's will have a stamped trigger blade and you will have to source an earlier example to get a cast blade. Pretty thin on the ground. As said, both are very good guns but a 27 will usually give around 7fpe or a touch more. A 35 would possibly be a better choice for outdoor competition with longer ranges and wind factored in.

[Hsing-ee]

The 45 step was mentioned by Ian Law - Big Seth- in a thread recently. I have never detected such a step myself and I rate the trigger highly. The blade is fine with me also. l. For me, its a very easy step (no pun intended) from the 3 ball that most of my guns feature.

'Big Seth' is not Ian Law although I think he would be somewhat flattered! Big Seth did use a 45 for FT as did that chap who used it in .22 calibre... can't remember his name. Ian Law used the FWB 300 and then I think he went to the FWB Sport like all the clever people.