Tag Archives: lyman

Shooting Sports

Can you use a Luggage Scale to measure a gun trigger?

The short answer is yes. Though the devil is in the details. And as we shall see, it’s takes much more work and potentially requires a bit of crafting.

I recently tested a Lyman and Wheeler trigger gauge. One was digital and the other mechanical but both essentially measured the weight of pull on a trigger. So if they both measured weight, it got me wondering if I could use a cheap luggage scale to measure trigger pull?

I have a cheap digital luggage scale that I bought to well, measure the weight of luggage for airline travel. I don’t remember if I got it at TJMax or a Brooklyn dollar discount store, but I’m certain I paid less than $8 for it. It’s actually cheaper today on Amazon (see link below).

It’s reasonably accurate when testing the dead weight of a soda. A full-sized can of Diet Coke contains 12oz of liquid and the empty aluminum can itself weighs about 0.5oz; so a full can should weigh about 12.5oz. The readings from my cheap scale gave me a 13oz. While not a precision scientific instrument, this is pretty darn accurate for my purposes.

My cheap scale comes with a small built-in hook to hang a luggage handle from. I made a trigger extension arm from an 1/8″ metal rod to transfer the force from the gun trigger to the hook and scale. This is a similar setup to the built-in metal arms of most commercial digital trigger gauges, like the Lyman.

Unfortunately my luggage scale requires a 1-3 second pause to lock in a final weight. As soon as the trigger broke and I released tension, the scale went back to zero. I had to closely read the displayed weight on the display in real time to try and estimate the final trigger break weight. It can be done but requires vigilance and concentration. Exact, this is not.

The Lyman digital trigger gauge was much easier to use because it displays the maximum force applied without resetting itself. But that convenience comes with a cost easily 5x more than the luggage scale. And it’s not like I need to measure a trigger every week, so the Lyman will get far less use than the luggage scale.

Would I rely on my luggage scale for a trigger job? Probably. I’m more interested in figuring out if a trigger adjustment put me closer to 4lbs than 8lbs, than if a trigger is closer to 4oz. than 8oz.

Help support us by buying this product through our Amazon affiliate link
Cheap Luggage Scale: https://amzn.to/3JPfH8Q
Lyman Trigger Gauge: https://amzn.to/3AiAs9z

Gadgets, Product Reviews, Shooting Sports

Lyman Digital Trigger Gauge

If you ever plan to install a drop-in trigger or adjust a trigger spring, it would be a good idea to test the results of your work. Did it actually improve your trigger pull as advertised. And in the case of swapping springs or similar modification work, did your work end up with the results you want. This is why you need a trigger gauge.

A few years ago Lyman introduced their electronic digital trigger gauge with a street price of around $50. A bit more than mechanical gauges but a lot cheaper than other electronic trigger pull gauges. I borrowed one from my friend to test and review.

It runs on two AA batteries and has an auto-off function when left unused for a couple of minutes, further extending battery life. It features a a built-in, extending trigger arm, which stows away inside the unit when not in use. It’s easy to use and has a clearly readable display.

But is it the most accurate? I weighed a full Coke can with a calibrated precision scale and it weighed a consistent 13.14oz. I used the Lyman to pick up the can I got an average reading of 13.5oz. So not as accurate as a dedicated scale but for my purposes this seems an acceptable margin of error.

Next, I tested my 22LR Ruger Precision Rimfire rifle. It has a factory stock trigger which can be adjusted up to 5lbs or down to 2lbs. I had adjusted it down to as low as it would reliably set.

The Lyman gave me an average reading of of 2lbs 1.4oz. Oddly, I did note that the numbers would shift slightly higher if I pulled on the trigger exceptionally slowly. Could the Ruger’s trigger have a variable weight depending on pull velocity? This bears further study at a later date.

All in all, the Lyman is a super easy and convenient piece of equipment. Is it worth $50? Yes, I think it is but it depends on how often you think you will need to adjust or change your triggers on your firearms. Though the claim of being the “World’s most accurate trigger gauge” remains unproven.

Help support us by buying this product through our Amazon affiliate link
Lyman Trigger Gauge: https://amzn.to/3AiAs9z