Inertia versus Mechanical Triggers for O/U

dreadpirate · Dec 27, 2018

Are there any practical reasons to pass on a an inertia trigger shotgun for a mechanical trigger? The only reasonable con I see is for using 410 inserts that may not be able to reset the second shot (if you are using inserts); and a dud round could be a problem (which almost never happens). Does an inertia trigger have less of a chance to double shoot? I have read some who say yes, and some say no.

Is cost the reason we see more inertia triggers than mechanical?

Aamdskeetshooter · Dec 27, 2018

Any high quality shotgun will be reliable whether it has inertia or mechanical triggers. Picking a shotgun based on what type of trigger isn’t necessary. If you have Briley or Kolar subgauge tubes made for the gun you will need to have the trigger converted so it will reset with the .410. The same would apply for adding a .410 barrel to an inertia triggered gun.

By high quality I mean Browning, Beretta, Caesar Guerini, Kolar, Krieghoff, Perazzi, Zoli. There are others but this list covers the most popular competition shotguns being used today across Skeet, Trap, and Sporting Clays. Both the International and American versions.

PJDiesel · Dec 28, 2018

Clothing, your mount, your stance and overall size (larger adult vs women/child) will have as much or more effect on an inertia trigger setting for the second shot than the gun.

That being said.... a true "mechanical" trigger (in the case of a Krieghoff for example) is ready to fire the second barrel (even dry), regardless of recoil.

Redcobra · Dec 28, 2018

^What they said.

John from MD · Dec 28, 2018

Inertia triggers are just as reliable as mechanical triggers on today's shotguns. However, for those idiots who spray WD40 on their guns, their inertia triggers will stop working eventually.

dreadpirate · Dec 28, 2018

John from MD said:
Inertia triggers are just as reliable as mechanical triggers on today's shotguns. However, for those idiots who spray WD40 on their guns, their inertia triggers will stop working eventually.

Glad you told me that

PJDiesel · Dec 28, 2018

dreadpirate said:
Glad you told me that

I didn't mean to imply they weren't reliable, sorry if it came across that way.

John from MD · Dec 28, 2018

PJDiesel said:
I didn't mean to imply they weren't reliable, sorry if it came across that way.

I wasn't commenting on your post, just making a comment on my years of experience with both.

OP, the type of trigger should not be one of your concerns when purchasing a new shotgun. Lord knows, there are many other model and brand differences to consider before giving away your hard earned cash. :lol:

dreadpirate · Dec 28, 2018

PJDiesel said:
I didn't mean to imply they weren't reliable, sorry if it came across that way.

I am totally kidding.

dreadpirate · Dec 28, 2018

I was totally taken by surprise after I bought my Browning; I had never heard of inertia triggers. I went to put the shotgun away and wanted to release the firing pins before doing so. To my surprise, only one barrel fires. Hmm - after a bunch of google searches I become one bud wiser. I also found out that Browning allows you to manually set a trigger by toggling the safety. Problem solved. Just wondering why they use these things in the first place, and why Browning puts mechanical triggers on some models (Cynergy and 725) and inertia on others?

PJDiesel · Dec 28, 2018

The way I read it, the 725 isn't exactly a "true" mechanical trigger (still).

Easy fix (for guns without the safety fix) is to just smack the recoil pad with your palm, that's usually enough to set them.

John from MD · Dec 28, 2018

PJDiesel;5427749 Easy fix (for guns without the safety fix) is to just smack the recoil pad with your palm said:

fabsroman · Dec 28, 2018

dreadpirate said:
I was totally taken by surprise after I bought my Browning; I had never heard of inertia triggers. I went to put the shotgun away and wanted to release the firing pins before doing so. To my surprise, only one barrel fires. Hmm - after a bunch of google searches I become one bud wiser. I also found out that Browning allows you to manually set a trigger by toggling the safety. Problem solved. Just wondering why they use these things in the first place, and why Browning puts mechanical triggers on some models (Cynergy and 725) and inertia on others?

Beretta has the same trick on the 680 series. Just have to select the second barrel with the safety selector and it will fire. Come to think of it, I have not been doing this for over a decade. Used to store the o/u guns with snap caps or spent shells in them that I could lower the hammers on, but cannot remember the last time I did that. Going to have to go find those pesky snap caps now. Probably easier to find spent shells instead.

dreadpirate · Dec 29, 2018

From what I have read, dropping the hammer on an empty center-fire chamber infrequently is probably ok, but I myself ordered a couple of snap caps; better safe than sorry. I don't think it's a good idea to leave the hammers cocked a long time.

Aamdskeetshooter · Dec 29, 2018

dreadpirate said:
From what I have read, dropping the hammer on an empty center-fire chamber infrequently is probably ok, but I myself ordered a couple of snap caps; better safe than sorry. I don't think it's a good idea to leave the hammers cocked a long time.

We have forbidden the dry firing of assembled guns in the clubhouse. No snap caps, hulls or with empty chambers. There has been many a hole put in the ceiling or walls of shotgun ranges from the releasing of hammers. I release my hammers with the gun unassembled. I’ve never replaced a firing pin in 25 years. I did break a hammer about 7 years ago. A $50 fix. I refuse to believe I broke the hammer due to firing the gun without snap caps. I’m pretty much a one gun shooter. And I used to shoot a lot. The debate of releasing the hammers on a shotgun is like the debate of 9 vs 40 vs 45. Everyone is NEVER going to agree.

fabsroman · Dec 29, 2018

Aamdskeetshooter said:
We have forbidden the dry firing of assembled guns in the clubhouse. No snap caps, hulls or with empty chambers. There has been many a hole put in the ceiling or walls of shotgun ranges from the releasing of hammers. I release my hammers with the gun unassembled. I’ve never replaced a firing pin in 25 years. I did break a hammer about 7 years ago. A $50 fix. I refuse to believe I broke the hammer due to firing the gun without snap caps. I’m pretty much a one gun shooter. And I used to shoot a lot. The debate of releasing the hammers on a shotgun is like the debate of 9 vs 40 vs 45. Everyone is NEVER going to agree.

Yeah, now that I think about it, I don't see any reason to release the hammer on any gun. It all comes down to how a spring wears. Springs wear from use. They don't wear from being compressed all the time. That is why we can leave mags loaded for 30 years and they will still work. There has to be some science out there regarding how springs wear.

Yeah, that was clear as mud. lol

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/does-static-tension-wear-out-a-spring.661309/

Think I am going to go back to not worrying about lowering the hammers on all my shotguns. Some are my dad's from the 60's and I know he never worried about lowering the hammers on his Auto 5 or Winchester 101 and they still go bang without a problem 50+ years later.

Pinecone · Dec 29, 2018

Same here, I leave them cocked.

My 325 sat for some 15 YEARS with the hammers cocked. Still works fine.

If you are really worried about inertial triggers there are two options. Tube set makers, like Briley, will modify them to set with a lighter recoil, so the work with the .410 sub gauge tubes.

Or I found one reference of a place that will modify your inertial to mechanical.

My 325 never had an issue, and I shot a lot of 1 ounce light loads without issue.

PJDiesel · Dec 29, 2018

Just got home from hunting this morning, wanted to admit that my Cynergy is not an inertia set trigger (as must be with the 725). Second one feels like about 9lbs pulled through a sandbox.

But, "mechanical" nonetheless.

dreadpirate · Dec 29, 2018

Pinecone said:
Same here, I leave them cocked.
My 325 sat for some 15 YEARS with the hammers cocked. Still works fine.

It's good to get feedback from a known quantity (which I consider members here) versus a random Internet source.

dreadpirate · Dec 29, 2018

Aamdskeetshooter said:
I release my hammers with the gun unassembled.

Good to know.

Inertia versus Mechanical Triggers for O/U

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