If you’re a firearms enthusiast like me, you might want to invest in a decent trigger pull gauge. There are both mechanical and digital gauges on the market. I opted for a digital gauge, and the top 2 on the market are made by Wheeler and Lyman. I researched both products online and couldn’t find a signficant difference so ended up purchasing the Lyman Electronic Digital Trigger Pull Gauge on Amazon.
Why would you need a trigger pull gauge? I’m a big spec geek, and also a trigger snob. My first firearm was a self assembled AR-15 pistol with a Geissele Super Dynamic Combat Trigger, advertised pull weight of 4.5 lbs. My second one was a Walther PDP Pro SD which the Dynamic Performance Trigger, arguably one of the best factory pistol triggers. My next project is to Cajunize my CZ P-01, so I wanted a trigger pull gauge to measure before and after pull weights. If you’re curious as to how accurate your triggers are to advertised pull weights or if you are tinkering around with your triggers and want to check before / after weights, then a trigger pull gauge should be part of your firearm tool set.
Design / Features:
The gauge comes with a plastic case with foam insert, and stores in a small footprint making it compact for easy storage. Trigger pull measurements can be made by extending and placing the arm on the firearm’s trigger, pushing the “Ready” button with an audible beep, then pulling the device until the trigger break. Averages of consecutive pulls can also be displayed with the “Avg” button.
Accuracy / Performance:
During my initial uses, I found that securing the firearm with a vise or similar tool produced more consistent results, especially with heavier trigger pulls. Simply holding the firearm with one hand showed inconsistent results, especially with the heavier (>10lb) double action pull of my stock CZ P-01. Also, pulling the gauge back too fast produces lighter results, while pulling too slowly gives heavier results. It takes some practice to get consistent results, which I would try to match with the advertised pull weights of a couple of my guns. This isn’t actually producing non biased results, but I think what is more important is the relative change after doing any work to your triggers.
Recommendation:
I think this device does a good job for what it’s designed for, and the price is decent for what you get. I only had a slight problem where the battery cover would slip off while take measurements, but the gauge is able to be positioned in different angles with a rotating arm so adjusting my grip fixed this problem. I would definitely recommend this if you’re a firearms nerd like me. In my other firearm reviews, I’ll try to note the advertised vs. actual pull weights for your reference.
Specs:
Dimensions: 4.88 x 1.97 x 0.87 inches
Weight: 0.86 lbs
Maximum pull weight: 12lbs / 5.4 kg
Accuracy: 0.1 oz / 2 grams
Battery: 2 x AAA (included)