THE HUNTER'S TRIGGER

LOCK, STOCK & BARREL

- Lee J. Hoots

There came a time when the idea of providing unsolicited advice to another shooter became something I wanted no part of, and still don’t. This first started back when internet forums were wired up and became crammed with “factual opinions,” many of which made little sense to me. Twelve years later, such web chatter still goes on and on, though some pundits now provide good advice – although people will believe what they want anyway, no matter if it’s wrong or right.

However, when a subscriber sends a letter or email to Wolfe Publishing, asking a reasonable question, it should be responded to as a matter of course. Most recently, an anonymous fellow asked if an aftermarket trigger would “shrink his groups.” The response of “maybe, maybe not” didn’t seem reasonable, and in fact, it isn’t much of an answer at all. So I asked in a return email what rifle and cartridge he was working with – hoping it wasn’t a big boomer, like a Remington Ultra Magnum that shakes your teeth loose.

As it turned out, it was indeed a late Remington Model 700, though chambered in the mild-mannered .243 Winchester with a “barrel in good condition.” Most groups at 100 yards, according to the follow-up correspondence, ran about 1.5 inches or larger, and adjusting the Remington factory trigger was of no help – neither did trying new factory loads.