Most recently we have tested two new adjustable triggers designed for the Ruger M77MKII series of rifles, a Standard Adjustable Trigger, and a Target Trigger with adjustable overtravel and sear engagement. They are investment cast from 17-4 stainless steel, machined and heat treated units with grooved triggers and both are adjustable for weight of trigger pull and have a matt finish.
We installed one of the standard triggers on a KM77MKII in .30-06 Spgfld. The factory trigger had quite a bit of creep, and broke at a heavy 4 lbs 3.8 oz as measured with a Lyman Digital Trigger Pull Guage. The Ruger trigger has no provision for any kind of adjustment as is evidenced in the accompanying photograph.
The standard trigger is a great improvement over the heavy, creepy factory Ruger trigger. This standard model breaks cleanly without any perceptible creep, and each unit’s sear engagement surfaces are hand-finished for a perfect trigger let-off. The adjustment for weight of pull is from 1.5 to 4 pounds and is very crisp, note the allen screw adjustment on the trigger in the photo. These triggers are specifically designed for hunting rifles, and may be installed in less than fifteen minutes with just a little care, and following the explicit instructions included with each trigger.
The safety engagement surface on the trigger which stops rearward travel of the trigger when the Ruger three position safety is engaged, is slightly oversize to allow custom fitting to each individual rifle. The instructions are clear, and the process simple to carefully file down the engagement surface until it just clears the safety with no slop or play. Once done, the only fitting necessary to the trigger is accomplished. Our trigger functioned flawlessly, and was ultimately adjusted to a pull weight of 2 lbs. 7.5 oz. at which point the trigger felt outstanding on the rifle. Also, the trigger pull may be adjusted with the rifle fully assembled, as the trigger weight adjustment screw is located so that it may be accessed with an allen wrench through the trigger guard. This greatly simplifies adjusting the trigger pull to one’s own tastes and requirements.
The target trigger supplied by Spec-Tech allows for very precise and minute adjustment of both sear engagement and trigger over-travel, in addition to weight of pull. The instructions specifically denote this trigger for target application, discouraging its use on hunting rifles, due to the fact that rough handling of the rifle or roughly closing the bolt could cause unintentional discharge of the rifle if the sear engagement was improperly adjusted for that application.
Once again we used a KM77MKII rifle for the trigger tests, this one in .30-06 Ackley Improved. As with the standard trigger, the safety engagement surface needed minor fitting for a flawless fit. The machined hole for the trigger pivot pin was a glove-fit and the trigger didn’t have the slightest perception of slop or wiggle in the trigger mounting housing. As seen in the photograph of the trigger, allen screws are provided for both sear engagement and over-travel adjustment. Regulating the trigger was somewhat time consuming, yet extremely simple. Being rather finicky about triggers, I took great pains to get each element of the trigger’s adjustment in perfect order before putting the barreled action back into the stock. Once adjusted, that stock Ruger rifle behaved like a fine target gun with some well tuned handloads. These triggers are adjustable from ½ lb to 3 lbs. In pull, when adjusted to my tastes for target work, my trigger broke like a fine glass rod at 1 lb. 14.2 ounces without any hint of creep, and the overt-ravel adjustment made it feel rock solid when it broke. Although this light trigger pull isn’t appropriate for a hunting rifle, it sure can spoil a person at the shooting bench. As with the Standard Adjustable Trigger, the Target Trigger may be adjusted for pull weight with an allen wrench with the rifle fully assembled. However, the sear engagement and over-travel adjustments must be accomplished with the action removed from the stock.
The matt gray stainless finish on these triggers compliments either a stainless or blued gun, and the grooved trigger provides a custom touch in appearance and functional superiority over the smooth factory trigger found on these rifles.
Regardless of cost, I don’t feel that you can purchase a better aftermarket trigger for the Ruger M77MKII series rifles.
SPEC-TECH Industries
3257 E. Badger Road
Everson, Washington 98247
320-966-0443
866-773-2739 (Toll Free)
email: spectech@serv.net
www.spec-tech-industries.com
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