Set triggers on Big Bore

[CBH Australia]

Why do CZ550 Safari magnum rifles have set triggers? I found a reference once saying it’s for hunting Cheeters in the blind.

I only have a .458 but I’m not sure where I’d use a set trigger if I were hunting Buffalo etc you wouldn’t be using it on follow up shots.

I have a Timney trigger not yet fitted. I thought a simple trigger with a reasonable pull weight would suit me. I have lightened triggers on my hunting rifles and lighter again a a varmint.

 

[Velo Dog]

Why do CZ550 Safari magnum rifles have set triggers? I found a reference once saying it’s for hunting Cheeters in the blind.

I only have a .458 but I’m not sure where I’d use a set trigger if I were hunting Buffalo etc you wouldn’t be using it on follow up shots.

I have a Timney trigger not yet fitted. I thought a simple trigger with a reasonable pull weight would suit me. I have lightened triggers on my hunting rifles and lighter again a a varmint.

G’day CBH Australia,

Great minds think alike / I agree with you that, set triggers are not wise on dangerous game rifles.
However, being the happy owner of several CZ rifles, I can attest to the fact that, their set trigger actually works very well indeed unset.
In other words, just practice mightily with it unset and at the end of the day, no doubt you will put many animals in the salt.

Regards,
Velo Dog.

 

[Bullthrower338]

I also have several 550s and can’t remember ever using mine in the set position. They are plenty good in-set and just about perfect for DG work. Might not serve well as a prairie dog gun but I’ve only rarely been charged by one of them

Cheers mate,
Cody

 

[BeeMaa]

I tried the set trigger several time on my CZ550 and never grew to like it.
Matter of fact the regular trigger on my rifle had a lot of creep, was mushy and I just didn't like it.
It ended up with Wayne at AHR for a #2 upgrade and has a perfect 3.5# trigger now.

 

[matt85]

set triggers require practice to use properly, some don't like them while others love them. I started out with muzzle loaders (many have set triggers) before I moved to modern hunting rifles and I absolutely love set triggers! a set trigger much like a better sight radius will make it easier to make a more precise shot. but in order to properly use a set trigger you need to follow the philosophy of "keep your finger off the trigger until your ready to fire". my medium game hunting rifles all have set triggers with 0.5-1.0 pound trigger pulls. once set, the trigger on my long rifle (muzzle loader) will go off the instant you touch it.

with dangerous game you could argue that precision accuracy isn't needed so a set trigger isn't needed. but personally I would rather have a set trigger and not use it then not have a set trigger and want it. in the case a CZ 550 rifles the stock trigger in "non-set" form isn't great. but that isn't the fault of it being a set trigger, that's the fault of it being a inexpensive trigger group.

a bonus of set triggers on large bore rifles is it will reduce the affect flinching has on your shot. the more pressure it takes to squeeze a trigger the more people tend to brace for the shot. if the gun goes off the second you touch the trigger there is less time to tense up.

-matt

 

[TTundra]

Ive used my set trigger on my 416 rigby 550 to get it zeroed in, and practiced with it. I read, and I believe here, that a set trigger is a nice feature when taking a shot at a croc or a hippo, especially in the water, where that light trigger may aid in the shot. Haven't hunted either so that's just my recollection, but I can see where it may be nice if you have the extra time to setup and take a shot.

 

[Dirtdart]

Why do CZ550 Safari magnum rifles have set triggers? I found a reference once saying it’s for hunting Cheeters in the blind.

I only have a .458 but I’m not sure where I’d use a set trigger if I were hunting Buffalo etc you wouldn’t be using it on follow up shots.

I have a Timney trigger not yet fitted. I thought a simple trigger with a reasonable pull weight would suit me. I have lightened triggers on my hunting rifles and lighter again a a varmint.

Please forgive me but could you tell me what "Cheeters in the blind" means?

 

[Mort Hill]

Both my CZ’s, .375 and .416 have set triggers. I have only used the set triggers three times as mentioned before on croc, hippo, and once in the leopard blind. The shot was basically off and true before my brain had fully completed the squeeze command. All one shot kills. Not for every shot or instance, but a nice feature to have when that split second shot needs to count. Just my opinion.

 

[bruce moulds]

a good unset trigger is better and here is why.
a set trigger used set has an increased locktime over a std trigger.
this means that hold and follow through are far more critical.
you will note that benchrest and fclass shooters do not use set triggers, even though they shoot from rests.
my m70 and my Dakota have jewell triggers in order to have the best of both worlds.
they are so old I got them from arnie jewell himself.
they are so old that I could import them directly to Australia, and had to pay by cheque.
bruce.

 

[thi9elsp]

I have two CZ 550's (375H&H and 404J) with set triggers. I only use the set triggers when sighting in my scopes. Once sighted in, I then practice with the trigger as is. Both of my triggers are nice and crisp and others that have shot them have commented that they break nicely.

 

[CBH Australia]

Please forgive me but could you tell me what "Cheeters in the blind" means?

That was meant to be Cheetahs from a hunting blind.
I rushed that before work but I had a question and wanted to hear what others think.

 

[CBH Australia]

I also have several 550s and can’t remember ever using mine in the set position. They are plenty good in-set and just about perfect for DG work. Might not serve well as a prairie dog gun but I’ve only rarely been charged by one of them

Cheers mate,
Cody

Geese, I. Glad we don’t have them prairie dogs here. That’s sounds scary. Keep a DoG rifle close when in that country.

 

[TTundra]

you will note that benchrest and fclass shooters do not use set triggers, even though they shoot from rests.

Very True, however BR and Fclass shooters have their triggers tuned down to oz's because in that environment, it can be done safely with control. Where as the lightest you will typically find a trigger on a hunting rifle is mid 2#'s, I have mine at about 3-3.5#'s where possible. BR and Fclass shooters simply don't need a set trigger as they only ever use the 'set' weight (or lighter), whereas on a hunting rig the ability to use the light/set trigger when desired has the same benefit that is employed by the BR and Fclass shooters on their tuned/installed triggers, albeit not quite as low in oz's.

 

[Shootist43]

I agree with those that espouse the use of set triggers for zeroing the rifle and or precise shots on game as previously mentioned. I had Triple River do a little work on my CZ's trigger and use it in the "un-set" mode for normal hunting.

 

[bruce moulds]

for some people, perhaps there is an argument for a good 2 stage trigger.
this does not include the military crap triggers so many have experienced.
there are now match grade 2 stage triggers available, commonly seen on palma and fclass rifles that are second to none.
they can have the first stage at 3 lb and the second stage at a further 8 oz, or whatever you want.
bruce.

 

[bruce moulds]

good single stage triggers like Kelbly or jewell can be set in ounces with as much or more safety than a reworked factory trigger at 1 - 2 lb.
this is because they have more levers in them than factory triggers.
most factory triggers can be described a 2 lever, and some can be converted to 3 lever.
modern match triggers are often 4 lever.
you can slam the bolt or drop the rifle and they will not go off.
all the parts are more carefully hardened so they do not wear out.
a worked over factory trigger can have hardened surfaces removed, and become dangerous as the remaining soft surfaces wear.
bruce.

 

[njc110381]

I used the set function of my CZ trigger when I was shooting it for the first time the other day. Quite frankly, as it is it's shocking! I know they can be improved as I did my 527 .223 years ago and it actually turned out quite nicely, but for now it's terrible! I don't think I could shoot any sort of group with anything that creepy...

 

[colorado]

I tried the set trigger several time on my CZ550 and never grew to like it.
Matter of fact the regular trigger on my rifle had a lot of creep, was mushy and I just didn't like it.
It ended up with Wayne at AHR for a #2 upgrade and has a perfect 3.5# trigger now.

Mine too has Wayne's AHR trigger it's awesome.

 

[Shootist43]

I used the set function of my CZ trigger when I was shooting it for the first time the other day. I don't think I could shoot any sort of group with anything that creepy...

There must be some adjustments that can be made. My CZ trigger was tuned up (not replaced) by Triple River Gunsmithing and it is absolutely great in both the single action and set modes.

 

[CBH Australia]

Does anyone know why CZ use these over a standard trigger?
Is it just something they run on all Cz centrefire?
All response have valid points but I am curious why they are made like this.
Secondly are they reliable or are they less reliable than a non set factory trigger. Are there more parts to go wrong?