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[Tested] Best Trigger Pull Gauges: Mechanical & Digital

All Trigger Pull Scales
We tested several trigger gauges to find the very best ones. From affordable mechanical options to pricier digital, come see what we recommend.
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    We’ve all gone to the range and had someone ask “what’s the trigger like” on our new guns. What do you say?

    If you’ve ever wanted a tool that could tell you exactly what the pull weight of your triggers are, you’re in the right place.

    All Trigger Pull Scales
    Wheeler Digital, Lyman Digital, and Wheeler Mechanical trigger pull gauges

    We’ve tested the big names on the market and got some great results for you.

    We’ll cover what a trigger pull gauge does, if you need one, and run down the list of the best options on the market.

    By the end of this article, you’ll know whether a trigger gauge is in your future (and which one you should snag).

    So, take a look and get your gauge on!

    Table of Contents

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    What Is A Trigger Pull Gauge?

    This handy tool tells you how much pressure it takes to pull a trigger. They come in two flavors, mechanical and digital.

    The mechanical ones basically all use a strain spring calibrated to show weight. These are normally much cheaper than digital options, but they are less accurate, less precise, and harder to use.

    Wheeler Trigger Pull Scale (3)
    Wheeler spring loaded, the label is a bit faded from multiple oil and solvent spills over the years — but it still works and is readable!

    Digital gauges can be a little pricey, but they are much more accurate and offer higher precision while being super simple to use.

    They can often also do some fancy math for you like showing averages over multiple readings.

    Why Do I Need One?

    Really, most shooters don’t. This is a more niche tool that often falls under “nice to have” but rarely falls under “gotta have it.”

    Knowing your pull weight can be nice to know for fun, but also serves an actual use. 

    CZ Shadow 2 Trigger

    For precision shooters — having triggers set at as close to the same weight as possible makes repeatability more reliable. 

    If you’re not sure if you want to upgrade a trigger, it helps to know where you’re starting. The difference between a 12-pound DA trigger and a 9-pound DA trigger is massive.

    What To Look For

    Balance your needs versus cost.

    If you’re just the inquisitive sort, you likely won’t care much if your trigger is 4.2-pounds or 4-pounds. In that case, you can easily get away with a cheap mechanical option.

    Shut Up & Take My Money

    If you want to know down to the ounce, so that you can try to standardize your trigger weights across multiple firearms, you’ll need to get a nicer digital model.

    To compare multiple triggers against each other (maybe you’re not sure what to keep or if you actually need an upgrade) a digital model is easier to use.

    Best Trigger Pull Gauges

    1. Wheeler Manual Trigger Pull Scale

    This was my first trigger gauge and the one I’ve used the longest. Serving me well for over three years, it’s simple to use and pretty cheap.

    For the average hobbyist, this is by far my highest recommendation

    Trigger Pull Gauges (13)
    Wheeler Trigger Pull Scale, easy to read if you have good light and good eyes.

    But it does have some downsides.

    While it is acceptably precise with 2-ounce increments, getting perfectly repeating results takes some technique.

    It’s also kind of awkward to use sometimes.

    Depending on if you’re holding the firearm or have it in a vice, getting the right angle can take some tries.

    It also can only measure up to 8-pounds. If you’re wanting to test heavy DA triggers or especially old triggers, this might not have enough upper limit.

    2. Wheeler Professional Digital Trigger Pull Gauge

    If you want digital, this is my top recommendation.

    Wheeler has a long history of making great tools and their trigger pull gauge is no exception.

    Wheeler Pro Trigger Pull Scale (1)
    Hard case and a calibration card!

    Something right out of the box that I love about Wheeler is precision tools come with calibration cards. Telling me info like when it was inspected, what variance it showed, and who inspected it.

    It’s the little things like this that set them apart from the rest of the industry.

    Plus, they make a great product.

    With a 12-pound limit, you can test most DA triggers with ease. The arm is easy to fold out and adjust to get the best angle, and the entire unit comes in a hard case to keep it safe.

    Trigger Pull Gauges (7)
    Wheeler, very nice

    And it can do fancy math things like averages or display other units of measurement like newton meters…why you would want that, I’m not sure. But hey, it’s there at least.

    Last but not least, the screen is huge and super easy to read.

    What do you think about the Wheeler Professional Digital Trigger Pull Gauge? Rate it below!

    Readers’ Ratings

    5.00/5 (1255)

    Your Rating?

    3. Lyman Electronic Digital Trigger Pull Gauge

    If you want digital but insist on saving like $5, Lyman’s offering isn’t bad. The Wheeler is just a lot better.

    First off, there are two major models of the Lyman gauge — ours is technically the older one I believe.

    Lyman Trigger Pull Scale (1)

    The newer one improves some areas but doesn’t address others.

    It seems like older stock is still out there so you might run into both versions.

    The old version used a gauge arm that screwed into the unit for each use…very annoying.

    It also came in a soft case that left the chance for the unit to get damaged.

    Lyman Trigger Pull Scale (4)

    The new version uses an extending arm that comes out of the body of the unit. It ships with a hard case for better protection.

    However, the screen is small on both versions. And on ours, the buttons are not super responsive. 

    That said — it has a 12-pound measurement limit. It also works great and can do some fancy features like averages and such.

    If you see it on a solid sale, I would scoop it up. But if you’re paying full price, spend a couple of bucks more and get the Wheeler.

    Conclusion

    Trigger pull gauges are definitely one of the most niche tools a firearms hobbyist can have, but they are nice to keep around for times when you just gotta know.

    I can’t say I’ve ever NEEDED to know what my trigger pull weight was, except for when I was trying to write a review of something, but I almost always want to know even if it’s just for fun.

    Do you have a trigger pull gauge? Why did you get it? Let us know in the comments! For some more awesome tools, take a look at AR-15 Build Tools! Or if you’re looking for trigger replacements, check out our list of the Best AR-15 Triggers and Best Glock Triggers.

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    9 Leave a Reply

    • MIchael R Walls

      Going with the Wheeler. Just purchased a Sig Sauer P365X Macro and a Canik TP9SFX. I'm upgrading the P365 to a flat trigger and replacing all springs along with a Titanium striker assembly. Going to check the trigger pull before and after.

      January 9, 2024 10:42 pm
    • Michael G

      I spent $27 on a GPS mechanical one and it gives me a different reading almost every time. The cheap plastic ring is made to brake. I'll pay more but will get something I can use, a digital one. Should have remembered an old saying: I'm not rich enough to afford cheap products.

      November 14, 2023 11:10 pm
    • Rick

      I calibrated by Wheeler fish scale from 1 to 6 pounds. R-squared is 0.998. Good enough for me

      September 29, 2023 6:58 pm
    • Jerry Hawkins

      Realize I'm joining this conversation late but I happened to be looking for something else and stumbled into this article. How could you possibly not have Timney as number 1, let alone, completely left off your list? I have purchased, installed and shot almost every trigger on your list and none of them compare to the Timney Alpha trigger.

      August 19, 2022 10:43 pm
      • Marc

        Because there talking about a Trigger Gauge Not a Trigger!

        June 18, 2023 2:02 am
    • Stephan

      There are a few reasons to know your trigger pull.
      1. When working on a firearm where one begins and then ends when working on a trigger group is important to know. How else would you know if your improvements (honing, springs, pins, etc.) actually did any good? This goes for cleaning a weapon, as well. Taking a before and after measurement will tell you with certainty if the cleaning treatment did any good.
      2. There are competitions that require a minimum trigger pull. Going to compete with an inappropriately light trigger is simply wrong.
      3. Safety - while premium triggers are adjustable, how low do you want to go? Taking a field grade gun down past 2 lbs takes some forethought. Some would argue that 3 is just about the minimum for field use.
      4. There is a certain weight (range?) that one can shoot really well. After cleaning/trigger work it is a good idea to double check the trigger is what you intend it to be.
      5. When working with a premium adjustable trigger, figuring out the pull weight that works for you is essential. Adjust, test, then establishing the weight is an essential part of making a gun yours. Why diminish safety by making a trigger lighter than it needs to be?
      6. Some days at the range just do not go well. Testing and confirming the trigger pull is one element in tracking down equipment issues.

      August 18, 2022 8:38 am
      • maplepuck

        and this is the reason I read comments... helpful precise and lucid input. thank you sir.

        February 19, 2024 5:14 pm
    • Brett Lyde

      I bought my wheeler mechanical scale because I was curious what the trigger pull was on my new SR1911... 4 lbs every time

      July 24, 2021 4:02 pm
    • John Cannon

      Very helpful in helping me choose a product

      July 5, 2021 7:34 am
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