When placing the trigger pull gauge on a firearm with a trigger-mounted safety, which statement is correct?

When placing the trigger pull gauge on a firearm with a trigger-mounted safety, which statement is correct?

• A. The gauge should disengage the safety before using the gauge.
• B. The gauge should ignore the safety and only measure the trigger weight.
• C. Engagement of the safety is not relevant to trigger pull measurement accuracy.
• D. The gauge should engage the safety in addition to the trigger.

Answer: (D)

When a trigger has a mounted safety, the safety is part of the trigger’s movement path. To measure trigger pull accurately, the gauge must reproduce the same movement and resistance the shooter experiences, including the actuation of the safety. Engaging the safety while pulling ensures the gauge encounters the additional resistance and clearance the safety adds, giving a true trigger pull weight. If you disengage the safety or ignore it, you won’t measure the real load required to fire, since part of the force goes into moving the safety. So, the gauge should engage the safety in addition to the trigger.

When a trigger has a mounted safety, the safety is part of the trigger’s movement path. To measure trigger pull accurately, the gauge must reproduce the same movement and resistance the shooter experiences, including the actuation of the safety. Engaging the safety while pulling ensures the gauge encounters the additional resistance and clearance the safety adds, giving a true trigger pull weight. If you disengage the safety or ignore it, you won’t measure the real load required to fire, since part of the force goes into moving the safety. So, the gauge should engage the safety in addition to the trigger.