89: Timney Triggers, Lever Guns, and the Rise of DIY Accuracy | No Lowballers Podcast

In this on-the-road episode of the No Lowballers podcast, hosts Logan Metesh of High Caliber History and Allen Forkner of GunBroker.com travel to Louisiana for LeverFest and set up shop at the Gun Talk Studios. They’re joined by Chris Ellis, Vice President of Marketing at Timney Triggers, for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of aftermarket triggers, the legacy of Timney, and why accuracy matters more than ever.

Chris takes us back to the founding of Timney Triggers in 1946 and explains how the company helped transform old surplus service rifles into capable hunting firearms through affordable, drop-in trigger upgrades. From humble beginnings improving Mausers and Springfields to becoming the go-to name in precision triggers for ARs, shotguns, lever guns, and more, Timney’s journey mirrors the rise of America’s DIY gun culture.

With LeverFest as the backdrop, the group also discusses the growing popularity of tactical lever guns, how user feedback drives Timney’s product development, and what it means to bring consistency and customization to every platform—from Glocks to Mosins.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Origin of Timney Triggers:
• Chris walks through the early post-WWII days when returning GIs wanted to make their surplus rifles accurate enough for deer season—and how Timney delivered with the first mass-market drop-in trigger.
• Drop-In Triggers and Accessibility:
• No gunsmith? No problem. Learn how Timney’s plug-and-play approach opened up custom triggers to the average shooter and laid the groundwork for today’s home-built precision rifles.
• The Rise of the AR and the Modern Era:
• Chris explains how the early 2000s AR boom pushed Timney to innovate again with cassette-style drop-in AR triggers, expanding their reach beyond bolt guns and into every major firearm platform.
• Tactical Lever Guns and the Modern Market:
• From Marlin’s Dark Series to Smith & Wesson’s new stealth builds, lever guns are getting the modern treatment—and Timney is right in the middle of the movement with upgraded triggers designed for fast-paced precision.
• Listening to the Shooter Community:
• Whether it’s 10/22s, Glocks, shotguns, or even Mosin-Nagants, Timney’s catalog of triggers has been shaped by shooter feedback. If it’s got a trigger, they’re looking at it.
• On-the-Range Comparisons:
• At LeverFest, Logan and Allen shoot both factory and Timney-equipped lever guns side-by-side, revealing how much of a difference a great trigger can make in real time.

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#NoLowBallersPodcast #TimneyTriggers #LeverGuns #TriggerUpgrade #LeverFest #AftermarketFirearms #DIYGunsmithing

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Hear the truth behind the trigger on this show that highlights the insanity, calamity and oddity of firearm history, collectibles and the crazy valuables. Every week historian Logan Metesh of High Caliber History joins the GunBroker team to discuss topics such as mobster favorites, collector pieces, war-time weapons, hunting gun history, competition firearms and more.