Update on the Timney triggers for Howas.

[JimG]

A long while back I said I was going to order a Timney drop in for my .308Win Howa. Well I never was successful in finding a vendor who actually had one in stock let alone two (need one for my .204). Make a long story short, today I found out from Brownells (after a talk with one of their techs) that Jards is now making drop in triggers for Howas. They are preset in pull weight but adjustable for overtravel and such. I don't have the exact data in front of me but the preset weights range from something like 12 ounces to 36 ounces. Brownells does not offer all of the preset weights but you can order direct from Jards as well. I ordered a 19 ounce for my .204 and a 28 ounce for my .308. They are NOT in the Brownells catalog as they are brand spankin new but you can search for it on the online catalog. They are pricey at $132 each but they are all steel and I do believe that the Jard trigger would be a small step up from the Timney, not that there is anything wrong with the Timney mind you. Brownells says I should have 'em by Friday or Monday at the latest. I'll report back with what I think of 'em then.

[JimG]

Have received the Jard trigger groups. So far my opinion is mixed but I'll reserve final judgment after I finally get them properly adjusted.

[JimG]

In my opinion, these triggers are not engineered properly. In plain English- JUNK. The trigger group is not a block that is machined out, it consists of two side plates made out of steel. The way the T.G. attaches to the action is via a single machine screw with a washer that fits into the side plates. There is no way to properly tighten the T.G. to the action because the bolt and washer spreads the side plates out largely due to the fact that the side plates are not connected together in the front. The more you tighten the more spread you get. The end result is that the T.G. still wobbles on the action and gives inconsistent pull. A fix would be to drill and tap the front 'ears' of the side plates to connect them, but at $132 plus shipping I'll pass. I guess I'll hunt for a Timney again. I think and I stress I think the Timneys are a solid block of aluminum.

[safetysheriff]

i adjusted the factory unit on my vanguard and found that it shot very well.   but it's good to know who is not producing an item worth our time.  sorry you got stung by it, however.

take care,

ss' 

[JimG]

Note- I should add that I'm not claiming ALL Jard Inc products are junk, just this particular line of drop-in trigger groups. Definitely an inferior design. I'm returning them to Brownells today. I tinkered with the factory trigger some more and really have come to the conclusion that it would take an act of God himself to smooth out and lighten the pull on the factory triggers AND STLL HAVE THE SAFETY OPERATE CORRECTLY! Heck I can get a very nice and light pull but of course the safety refuses to work. For those who have discovered the black magic involved with the safety/light pull weight/smooth pull, my hats off to you! It is a good safe design but whomever engineered that trigger should be flogged daily with a handful of boresnakes till he/she understands that not all gunowners are simpletons who can't be trusted with a wrench and a hollow ground screwdriver. I decided to try to talk to Timney to see if they had a couple triggers floating around some dark corner of their shop out of sheer desperation. I found that they do in fact have a very limited number availible for phone and internet orders. They now have two less in that bin. I'll sure that there will be no suprises with the Timney units when I get them on Friday or Monday like there was with the Jards.

[Slowpoke Slim]

I had a Timney installed on my vangaurd right before deer season. You can order them direct from Timney, I don't have the contact info, but if you search web, I'm sure you'll find it. The Timney is a great field trigger. I also like the 3 position safety feature. I've always been a fan of being able to load/unload the bolt action with the safety on.

I like my Timney. It's made a hell of an improvement over the crappy factory trigger. Mines sitting on 3 pounds pull and it's plenty crisp.

If you want, I'll try to get Timney's contact info for you.

OOPS---Sorry, I re-read where you have the Timneys coming. You won't be disappointed, made mine a different gun altogether (but my stock trigger was REALLY BAD...)

[JimG]

Installed both Timney triggers today. Two thumbs up! It's like night and day compared to the factory units. No grittiness, no creep, no excessive overtravel, just the proverbial 'breaks like a glass rod'. Super smooth and light. I'm thrilled with the results on both the .308 and the .204. My only anal gripe is that the trigger itself is not as nicely finished as the factory trigger was. But like I said, I'm being way too anal. As far as I'm concerned every time I buy a Howa, I'm buying a Timney! Excellent product.

[tn_junk]

Just installed a Timney trigger on my .270 1500. Even with grinding the ear off of the safety it was a 15 minute job.
This trigger breaks clean and smooth. If the wind wasn't blowing 40 MPH I would ease over to the range and try it out.

alan

[Graybeard]

If the wind wasn't blowing 40 MPH I would ease over to the range and try it out.

Boy do I ever know what ya mean. I'm not so far south of you and that wind is blowing the same here it is really bending the trees over and shaking the leaves loose. We've sat out on the front porch some but the wind is so strong it's not pleasant to sit out in it and way too windy to shoot today.

[cobraa]

i don't know why ya would want to buy a Timmy trigger and pay the extra $$$ when all the new howa's and weatherbys are fully adjustable factory trigger and they are nice when there been adjusted properly by a gunsmith and ya normally get that done before it leave the Gun shop. 
or if you got a howa that don't have an adjustable trigger then ya get a trigger job done on it by the gunsmith to the poundage that ya require. in Australia the trigger job only costs $65aud.

[tn_junk]

i don't know why ya would want to buy a Timmy trigger and pay the extra $$$ when all the new howa's and weatherbys are fully adjustable factory trigger and they are nice when there been adjusted properly by a gunsmith and ya normally get that done before it leave the Gun shop. 
or if you got a howa that don't have an adjustable trigger then ya get a trigger job done on it by the gunsmith to the poundage that ya require. in Australia the trigger job only costs $65aud.

I bought my Howa in 1995.
None of the gunsmiths around here would touch a trigger job for less than $150.

alan

[Slowpoke Slim]

cobraa,

My gunsmith said it would be like polishing a turd. Yes, he could make it better, but it's still a turd. Crappy quality and tolerances compared to a Timney. I want a trigger that'll still be crisp in 30 years, that's not the Howa. Yes it was more expensive, but it's worth it. Plus, it's not been even a year since I had mine done, and I'd have to look it up to tell you what it cost me. I guess what I'm trying to say is it's not always about what's the cheapest route. I also like the way the safety works now, 3 positions instead of 2. I never like having to load a bolt gun with the safety off.

[nodlenor]

The three pos. safety has nothing to do with loading with the safety off. The only difference between the two and three pos. safety is the fact that the three pos. lets you lock the bolt if you want to. I own three Howa rifles. Two have the two pos. safety and one has the three pos. safety. All three can be loaded with the safety on or off. Also two of my Howas have very nice triggers but the third one leaves a lot to be desired. I suppose a Timney could be in it's future.

[WayneJessie]

I recently got a new 1500 heavy-barrel and it has the sweetest factory trigger I have seen. I easily adjusted it down to 2lbs with no creep. It has been truly an impressive gun for what I have in it. Apparently, the newer Howas have better triggers. I would not change mine for any aftermarket trigger: it's that good.

[cobraa]

LOL Well here in Australia Weatherby have released a new trigger exclusive to Australia they have a one piece trigger and mate i tell ya, ya will never ever want to replace it its that good and is 100% fully adjustable. mate... we cant help it if you Poor yanks only get Turds that are Crappy quality and tolerances  mate... Not like the High quality well made one piece Factory triggers that Us Aussies get.... so we don't need no expensive Timney trigger. 

[nodlenor]

I finally got around to adjusting the trigger on my Howa 270 Win. I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet but it seems to have helped. As soon as I can get to the range I'll find out.

[JD11]

Midway stocks the Timneys for 1500 Howas but I'd order by phone to specify whether you have the 3 or 2 position safety.  Seems like it was right around $50 bones and worth it.  I adjusted my original Howa trigger as per factory rep's instructions and couldn't get the creep out of it without locking up the safety lever, evidently they vary in tolerances.

[sholling]

I dropped a Timney into my Howa 30-06 without a hitch. It's a simple drop in and simple to adjustment. I got mine from Midway who usually has them in stock. To be honest though it wasn't really necessary. My 30-06 is a hunting rifle and the stock trigger broke crisply at 4lbs with no slop at all. To me that's about right for carrying in the field. But we have a 10 day wait here and I ordered the Timney while I was waiting aound bored. It's currently set for a still safe 3lbs. I have a second Howa, this time a 2N1 Youth model in .308 on order for use as a short and handy hog hunter. I'm told that the factory adjustable trigger is pretty sweet and that there is no reason to replace it. We'll see.