Quoted:
If you guys want to see a real nice trigger job for the mini 14 , ck out the "nutnfancy mini 14 trigger job" on you tube . I had two of these done and the trigger is soo smooth about 3.5lbs.
First of all, I have no experience with this particular vendor, and he might––or might not–– be an expert on the subject. Secondly, my following remarks are certainly not intended as an offense to you or him.
The Mini-14 trigger group is very similar to that of the Garand and M-14/M1A. Any gunsmith capable of Garand/M-14/M1a trigger jobs should be able to a tolerable, or better trigger job on the Mini's trigger group.
That said, there are two VERY good reasons why Garand and M1A shooters do not go below 4.5 lbs of trigger pull on their firearms:
1) It is not allowed by the rules. because
2) Anything lighter than 4.5 lb trigger pull on Garand/M1A trigger groups has been demonstrated to be mechanically UNSAFE.
Although of very similar design to the Garand/M1A trigger groups, the Mini trigger group is an item to itself, and specialized Mini trigger group tuners are likewise a group to themselves.. I have heard of very light trigger pulls being achieved with Mini trigger groups, but never a word on overall safety. Hmmmmmmmm. Something missing there. I admit to some ignorance on the subject, but given the trigger groups very close resemblance, I would demand proof that going lower than 4.5 " of pull weight in the Mini-14 trigger group was mechanically safe.
There some over-riding issues to consider here, before going for an ultralight trigger pull on your Mini.
1) Safety. will your very light pull trigger group withstand normal––or abnormal–– jostling/bumps?
2) Will such a highly-tuned trigger group be reliable over the long-term? Ruger will not sell you most of the parts that would be modified in a trigger job, so sending the thing back to Ruger for new parts totally reverses all your work and money. No need to discuss this policy here. It is what is is.
3) There is a reason why general-issue military firearms have a fairly heavy trigger pull weight, and this to reduce the incidence of inadvertant discharges. In high-stress situations––such as combat–– it has been found to be better to make the shooter have a higher trigger weight pull, rather than lower. This is because stress greatly reduces fine motor control of body parts, and the trigger finger suffers also.
so, it has been found, over the years, that fewer friendlies get shot, and fewer ambushes get inadvertantly revealed with higher weight trigger pulls. It is also less costly to design-in a high trigger pull weight.
The point here is that is is possible to go to a trigger pull weight on your firearm that is too light for your firearm (depending on its' design), too light for YOU, depending on your stress level and training, and too light for the sanctioning body of your shooting sport.
If I had a dedicated range rifle, then the weight of pull would be the least weight consonant with performing my range-based intent. I would NEVER take that same rifle out into the real world, because doing so might easily cause an AD with such a light trigger pull.
To sum, your ideal trigger should be smooth and crisp. The exact weight of pull should be in relation to your intended purpose. I have shot clean, crisp 8 lb triggers that felt better than poorly done much lighter triggers. Above, all, remember the MECHANICAL safety factor!