Carry vs. Competition Trigger Jobs

[alzo]

What is the difference between a carry trigger job and a competition trigger job on an XD ? I mean what is done differently between the two that makes the carry job have a pull in the 4-5 lb range and the competition job have a pull in area of 2.5 lbs ?

[dosei]

As a general rule...Competition trigger jobs have lighter springs, less take-up and less overtravel. The lighter springs make the difference in pull weight.

[alzo]

Which springs ?

[nateroach]

Originally Posted by alzo

Which springs ?

The sear spring and trigger spring. Canyon Creek makes a lighter set that can be found on pistolgear.com

nateroach

[alzo]

So is it just the case that the same springs are replaced, but the competition springs are even lighter than the ones used for a carry trigger job ?

[Chapie+]

Originally Posted by alzo

So is it just the case that the same springs are replaced, but the competition springs are even lighter than the ones used for a carry trigger job ?

There is more to it than that. In addition to springs, some gunsmiths replace parts with their own improvements while others do work to the existing parts.

With competition triggers there is less take up and reset. With carry trigger there may be less take up but not reset. My plan is to have a competition trigger done, but set at 4-5 lbs for carry. Why? To improve the trigger and reduce both take up and reset.

Chapie+

[alzo]

What's confusing me is that I see the spring kits out there, but I don't see a 'Competition spring kit' vs. a 'Combat/Carry spring kit'. So granted, these kits offer springs lighter in weight than factory springs, but there have to be other differences that affect the weight as well. Take up, overtravel, and reset are one thing (and generally addresed by the sear and trigger bar I believe), but I don't think they affect the pull weight. There's a big difference in feel between a 2.5lb trigger and a 4.5lb trigger. What is accounting for that difference ?

[dosei]

There is no real need for a "carry spring set". Mix and match between the stock springs and the lighter ones to play with weight. Bottom line is, the XD already has a proper "carry trigger". It's a little like asking "what do I do to make my Prius get good gas mileage?"...Um...dude...it already does...

[Archer1945]

There is much more to a good trigger job than just changing a few springs. A gunsmith will also smooth and polish all mating surfaces in the trigger mechanism. Might also do a bit of reshaping to make sure all surfaces that mate will meet at all points on the mating surfaces, not just one or two.

[dosei]

Originally Posted by Archer1945

There is much more to a good trigger job than just changing a few springs. A gunsmith will also smooth and polish all mating surfaces in the trigger mechanism. Might also do a bit of reshaping to make sure all surfaces that mate will meet at all points on the mating surfaces, not just one or two.

Very true. Much of what is done greatly improves how smooth the trigger pull is. And while those things do impact trigger pull weight, the impact is very minor. The impact they have on feel, however, is major.