Are Set Triggers (AKA double set triggers) legal in Silh?

[chuckjordan2]

now I know the Set triggers can be set off in ounces, but, if not 'set' it has a heavier pull (varies by settings and could be 2-3lbs). You know when their 'set' by the snick (click) sound. Just wondering if that'll be allowed

Std class rules state "Triggers which function on release are not permitted" If you understand how a Set trigger works, it technically has a release. That's why set triggers have a separate and unique trigger housing (at least that's my airgun experience).

What say you?

[Jason]

Triggers that function on release are triggers that are pressed and then fire when you release the pressure on them. None of the rifles with double set triggers that I have owned work that way. Since a standard rifle trigger can be a few ounces, I don't see why a traditional double set trigger wouldn't be allowed in standard class. It wouldn't be legal for hunter class, of course.

[Trent]

I'm using a Canjar set-trigger on my standard HP rifle. It is a single-set.

[lone ringer]

Double set triggers were quite popular with a lot of the Mexican shooters when I started shooting in the late 1970's for several reasons the main one being that a lot of them were using Mauser style actions and nobody was making aftermarket triggers for them with the exception of the double set triggers that some gunsmiths were able to adapt to just about any kind of rifle. They were relatively inexpensive (not now) and as many of those shooters changed to the Remington 700 rifles with faster lock time actions they did not have to adapt double set triggers to their rifles since Canjar and many other manufactures were making their own version of a three lever trigger for the Remington rifles.

Double set triggers are still popular with European shooters and hunters and you can still find some of those European rifles in places like Gunbroker. Anschutz makes rifles with double set triggers but will not sell them in the US due to fear of law suits (read they do not think they are as safe as the conventional triggers).

The name of the game in rifle silhouette shooting is lock time and double set triggers are not as fast compared to conventional triggers. The problem that you would have is finding a gunsmith that even knows what a double set trigger is let alone knowing how to adapt it to your rifle. The double set triggers last time I checked and that was several years ago were around $250 add to the price what the gunsmith would charge to adapt it and you would be better off adapting a match Anschutz trigger to you rifle.

You should also know that some bench rest shooters in the US had double set triggers on their rifles and liked them because they could set them very light, what they did not like were the vibrations the triggers introduced to the rifle as the trigger was pulled. If you have ever seen how they work you will see that after you set the rear trigger as you pull on the front one it releases a part that hits the sear before it goes off and that was not conductive to fine bench rest accuracy.

Another kind of trigger that was tried by silhouette shooters early one were electronic triggers which were very fast indeed but were troublesome and hard to maintain so not too many silhouette shooters bothered with them.

[chuckjordan2]

Thanks to all who replied. I know DST's quite well as I have a few airrifles with them. They are two-piece units, and the sear housing is the item that differs by manufacturers. Most of the German set triggers-units (the bottom half) from the late 50's -70's were from the same manufacturer.

Technically, how the DST (set) triggers work is the lower trigger housing is under a spring pressure when set, on the release it 'flings' (maybe a better word?) upward and trips the sear in the upper housing.

I have a source in Germany for some .22lr rifles (unfortunately, they're not left handed - I am).

Enjoy the pics of the two parts of the DST and one of the rifles in Germany.