pistol length of pull

[patkinson]

I am building a dueling pistol(perc) using a precarve stock.  I am now ready to install the trigger.  Is there a way to measure where to place the trigger (length of pull)?  Thanks    Phil

[Mark Elliott]

The location of the trigger is relative to the sear bar.   Usually you pin the trigger about 1/4" in front of the sear with the pin going in the upper corner of the trigger.  The length of pull is set based on where you cut the grip.    With a pre-carve,  you really don't have much, if any,  adjustment there.    This assumes you are using a simple trigger, but should also work for a single set trigger.   

[jerrywh]

 Mark is right. you don't adjust the trigger for pull length-- never.

[L. Akers]

I'm assuming you have the barrel and lock already installed in which case Mark is correct--you're pretty much limited in trigger placement.  When I build a custom  pistol, I make it to fit the customer's hand.  For measurement, hold your hand like you are reaching for a beverage and using a tape measure, measure from a point half way between the base of the thumb and base of the index finger  to the center of the pad of the last joint of the index finger.  This will be a straight-line distance from the point on the rear of the grip where the thumb-base/finger-base normally is positioned to the trigger shoe.  When I am laying out a pistol, I start with trigger position which then dictates lock placement which dictates barrel placement.