5022 trigger in SA 54 ?

[SqHunter]

Has anyone converted the old 54 Sporters to two stage triggers? I have been shooting a '72 model this season, my first season shooting competitively, and like it. Its my old squirrel rifle. I have done ok with it too. But it is not legal for Hunter class because I keep all my squirrel rifle triggers at 1 lb, and right now I only have the one rifle so I have been shooting my partners rifle in Hunter class. If I had a two stage trigger I could have my 1 lb 2nd stage and still be legal. I am told that there are smiths that convert 54s by either wielding up the old holes and redrilling, or making an adapter that moves the holes. Has anyone done this? I don't want to ruin my old rifle by having to do extensive rebedding or anything. It would be nice if there was an older two stage trigger that would just bolt on. If anyone knows of one I would appreciate the info.

Thanks,

Rex

[sgrayner]

Have you considered conversion of your present trigger to a two-stage trigger? I had no idea that was an option until Evelio said he could convert an older single stage trigger on a used 1712 I had just purchased to two-stage operation. The cost was a lot less than a new 5109 trigger and a whole lot less than a 5022 trigger replacement and modification. The conversion feels exactly like my 5109A trigger on my new 1712 and is set at 24ozs first stage and 10ozs to break second stage. Evelio had to replace the trigger guard with new bottom metal because of the increased sear and overall trigger travel, but that would have to have been done with a new trigger anyway.

Talk to some gunsmiths and look seriously at a two-stage conversion of your current trigger.

Steve

[SqHunter]

Sgrayner, No, I did not know that was an option. Thanks for the idea, I will look into it. Not sure if I like the idea of a new trigger guard on such a grand old rifle, but its nice to know there are trigger options.

-Rex

[nomad]

Converting a 5108/9 trigger group from single stage to 2 stage is pretty straight forward. If you don't need/want the sliding staff, you don't even have to purchase any parts...if you understand trigger geometry and have a decent drill press. Takes about an hour from start to finish if you don't encounter any of the adjustment woes that sometimes rear their ugly heads.
The older Savage-Anschutz 54 sporter OTOH, used a different trigger group. I don't 'think' it is easily convertible. (Anything can be done if you're willing to spend the time and/or money but there's a point beyond which it doesn't make sense.)
Call Neal Stepp 817-595-2090 and ask him if there's a replacement for the older rifles. (You can convert some/most/all of the older, 54 series, wing-safety target rifles to a more modern trigger by replacing the original unit with a 5071-1(?) group but I don't think you can do that with the sporter very readily.)
Apropos of nothing whatsoever, there are a couple of ladies -- one named Winstead-Severin and another named Peery -- who both shoot single stage triggers 'reasonably' well...and, last I looked, a 'sorta' gunsmith and occasional silhouette shooter named Pharr was using one on his own rifles.

[SqHunter]

Thanks for the info Nomad. I love the rifle and have no issue with its performance or even my shooting of it, I am simply trying to make it legal for NRA Hunter class. Rt now it is not. Which I find very sad and perplexing, it is a 30+ yr old squirrel rifle which has taken literally a truck load of game, but it is not legal for a HUNTER class.

[nomad]

Type of release and weight of pull on triggers is always an individual issue.

That said, I've had the privilege of talking a number of times with Lones Wigger -- who knows his way around marksmanship more than a 'little' ! lol
At this year's SHOT, he and my wife and I sat and talked for some time and, at one point, I specifically asked his opinion of triggers. (There are very few people in the world from whom aspiring shooters can learn more than from Wigger.) Ref WOP, he said that it wasn't important (within reason). What IS important is that it has to be consistent...and the shooter has to be familiar with it.

You need to make your own decisions but, if it were my choice, I'd shoot a few offhand reference groups with the trigger where it is, then bump it up to 2 lbs, shoot a few hundred rounds to acquire the new 'feel' and then test it again in similar conditions. (This test needs, of course, to take place over some time. You won't learn much if your 2lb offhand groups come at the end of a 500 round 'practice' period!) lol
The results might be interesting.

IIRC, Cathy's 40s (3, I 'think') have ALL been done with her hunter guns and 2 lb, single stage triggers. I've been there to see 2 of them. While 1 is in standard rifle, I'm pretty sure she was shooting her hunter as a standard in that match. It's not that she doesn't have a standard rifle with a light trigger...I've just never seen her equal her hunter scores with the heavy gun.

Ball's in your court but I wouldn't screw up a nice, old rifle by searching for a golden chalice in the form of one less pound of trigger pull. Better to set it at 2 lbs, shoot it in both classes...and spend the money you save on more practice ammunition. lol

I'm going back to lurking.

[SqHunter]

Interesting Nomad, real interesting. I am jealous of your relationship with such fine marksmen and ladies. My shooting mentor is Cliff Whittaker, who shot alongside Lones and other fine marksmen in the golden era of American Competitive shooting. He has said several times you can shoot any weight, as long as other qualities of the trigger are excellent. His personal triggers are all 1.75 lb, except the 3 position rifle which is 2 oz.

I think my form is better with the heavier trigger anyway, less of a chance of punching the trigger and more often getting surprise breaks. Guess I just need to practice more

[BCloninger]

Most of my trigger time is on a single stage trigger and I've never learned to like a two-stage, so if you just can't give up the 1lb pull on your current 54 action, you might consider a new rifle for hunter class. A lot more expensive than turning a screw, but I've heard (and had) worse excuses for a new rifle.

[SqHunter]

LOL! BCloninger, I have never had to have much of an excuse for a new rifle

[hambone49]

Dang it Rex, set that trigger at 2lbs and forget about it. Thanks Nomad for bringing up one the true heroes of smallbore. Here's a pic from last week of Fred Shielzo, Lones Wigger, and yours truly at Camp Perry.

[Bob259]

Dang it Rex, set that trigger at 2lbs and forget about it. Thanks Nomad for bringing up one the true heroes of smallbore. Here's a pic from last week of Fred Shielzo, Lones Wigger, and yours truly at Camp Perry.

Geezzz Kevin, you look lost without Byron

[BCloninger]

Nah - he's not lost, the hangover's making him squint.

[hambone49]

Check out that flag behind us for the kind of wind hangover we were dealing with... but I do miss Byron, prone shooters are a different breed...