No. 1 Trigger Quality?

[22/45 Fan]

How good is the factory trigger pull with current No 1 rifles and, if necessary, can it be improved fairly easily?

I have a Ruger Gunsite Scout with the LC6 trigger. Factory pull was about 4-1/2 pounds but crisp. A $7 aftermarket trigger spring brought it down to a clean, safe 2-1/4 pounds.

I also have a Ruger American Centerfire. The factory trigger could only be adjusted down to 4 pounds but was otherwise good. Cutting 1-1/2 turns off of the factory trigger spring (yes, I bought a couple of spares in case it didn't work) brought it down to a safe 2 pounds even. I did exactly the same thing with a Ruger American Rimfire with the same good results.

So, I have been able to greatly improve Ruger factory triggers at low cost but I'd hate to spend over $1000 on a No. 1 to find the trigger was heavy and not easily improved. What has been the owner's experience with these rifles?

 

[gtxmonte]

Number 1 triggers are made like nothing else.........and no, the factory trigger on a new one will NOT be good. Aftermarket selection is not good either

 

[picketpin]

Right now the choices for after market are either the Kepplinger pushing $300 but they are very nice and the Jard. I have never personally used/bought shot a Jard.

My smith can get the new ones to about 31/2 pounds safely. He got some mine as low as 2 pounds with no creep or backlash BUT he will not do THAT for anybody that he hasn't dealt with for 40 years or so. That said if he can other should be able to if they wanted to.

Ross

 

[dfletcher]

It's unfortunate Ruger can not or will not put a good trigger on their No1 rifles. I managed to buy up a few "pre-79" triggers from Numrich and they're much better than current triggers, offer true sear engagement adjustment. Cost me about $9.00 each. I'm surprised no one currently offers a substitute.

Edit: Not exactly $9.00 but I found this on EA Brown:

http://www.eabco.net/Ruger-Number-One-Trigger-Replacement-Black_p_15061.html

No idea how well it works, although it looks like (and costs the same as) a Jard, just found it -

 

[22/45 Fan]

Hmmm, it seems the consensus is the factory trigger is not very good and improving it is neither cheap nor simple. Too bad. The purchase of a #1 would have been a bit of a whim and I think I'll just wait until the desire passes. Both my GS Scout and American are such good shooters I don't think I'll be missing much.

Thanks for your advice and insights.

 

[redbeagle2]

Just my .02cents...I have 4 No 1's from just about every age class (red pads, black pads, new ones, Lipseys), and have owned more than a couple others over the years. and have found the triggers on all to be acceptable for my use (hunting mostly, but they all get shot at more paper than deer). The No 1 was designed as a hunting gun, not a benchrest competition winner. The forend pressure issue is more problematic at times than trigger quality, at least to me. Both can be resolved with some tinkering by the owner and/or a decent gunsmith.

I wouldn't let worries about the trigger hold me up from buying any No 1 that caught my eye. They are beautiful examples of Bill Ruger's pet rifle project. Single shots are my thing, and I like Rugers (Brownings too, but that's another thing entirely).

 

[SAJohn]

I have a 1975 red pad Number 1. The trigger is adjustable and is about the best factory rifle trigger I have ever known. I wonder what happened?

 

[wunbe]

Lawyers!

wunbe

 

[jkingrph]

It's unfortunate Ruger can not or will not put a good trigger on their No1 rifles. I managed to buy up a few "pre-79" triggers from Numrich and they're much better than current triggers, offer true sear engagement adjustment. Cost me about $9.00 each. I'm surprised no one currently offers a substitute.

Edit: Not exactly $9.00 but I found this on EA Brown:

http://www.eabco.net/Ruger-Number-One-Trigger-Replacement-Black_p_15061.html

No idea how well it works, although it looks like (and costs the same as) a Jard, just found it -

That looks like the JARD trigger. I have not tried one but on a couple of other forums have read good things about it. I installed the Kepplinger set trigger in three of my #1 rifles and like them quite a bit. The housing on it actually pushes and rotates on the bottom of the sear bar, so I found by polishing the bottom of the bar where it rotates improves the unset pull, so that unset pull was better than the the factory trigger.

On a couple of tropical rifles, I used the Moyers trigger, an investment cast replacement for the standard trigger which I believe has two adjustment screws. The Moyers trigger has three screws like the early Ruger triggers and can get a much better adjustment. My problem with it was that the castings were quite rough ( I had used one much earlier that was a nice smooth casting but had later replaced it with a Kepplinger, and lost it) so I ground out the trigger face serrations, and polished off all the roughness , actually angling the face for a right handed shooter, and rounding off all the edges that contact my finger.

It took a bit of work but was worth it, I have them adjusted for about 2 3/4 -3 1/2 pounds which is nice, maybe a little light for a .375 and .458, but I like them.