Abstract: This invention relates to a trigger mechanism for rifles wherein a tooth on the hammer engages an opposed cam surface on the sear when the trigger is actuated so as to use the bias of the hammer spring to retract the sear far enough for the tooth to pass by a notch on the latter thus enabling the hammer to strike the firing pin. This same tooth and a notch on the front face of the sear coact upon actuation of the trigger with a controlled release of the hammer to enterengage and lock the hammer in a "half-cock" position before it reaches the firing pin. The sear floats loosely on its pivot and includes another cam surface which coacts with the hammer tooth when the hammer is cocked to move the sear out of the way of the trigger thus permitting the hammer to reach fully-cocked position.