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06-23-2009, 05:45 PM
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enhancing trigger on a 686 & 629; what is recommended?
recently my dad gave me all his firearms (chronic illness and living with my sister) and among them was a 686 PowerPort which 'matches' my 629 PowerPort; during a cleaning and dry-firing (with A-Zooms) session I noticed that the doulbe action trigger on my Ruger GP100 seemed a bit lighter and smoother that both of my late production S&W revolvers;
now I find myself wondering what can be done to enhance the trigger on late production S&W revolvers...please note that I do not feel confident to fiddle with the handguns myself; thanks
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06-23-2009, 06:30 PM
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Have a gunsmith work on it. I've had several of mine done for carry purposes as I hate a stiff trigger. I don't believe in changing springs as it leads to more trouble than it's worth. One smith changed mine and it required 3 trips back before it would fire reliably.
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06-23-2009, 06:38 PM
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Take this for what it's worth.....
No criticism, just a recommendation.
If you want your gun to smooth out the best thing for it (and you) is extended trigger time, i.e., shoot it a lot. The late model guns will smooth over time, and I am always reluctant to take a new (newer) gun and have it worked on, seems like a waste of time and money. If you put some trigger time in, shoot it a bunch, not only will it get better, you will also get better, my recommendation is to shoot double action, your finger will get stronger, the action will get smoother, and you save the gunsmith $$ for ammo purchases.
Just my thing, but not all new guns need gunsmith time to get better. If it's really horrible, you have a lifetime warranty on your side, and sending it to the factory on their nickel could also be a good, cost saving, tactic.
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06-23-2009, 10:40 PM
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A Wolf full power replacement spring with the "recontoured" arch can be had for about 10-15 through Brownells or Midway. Tends to smooth things out without the concern brought on by a reduced power spring. I would also get a replacement rebound spring as a back-up since you are paying the same shipping.
DD
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06-24-2009, 08:43 AM
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as expected mr smith nuts advice is still the best. follow his advice and everything will smooth out
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06-24-2009, 09:34 AM
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Go to http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...ectionId=11522
The link takes you to the S&W Performance Center. I use them regularly and have had over 30 revolvers modified with the Master Action Revolver Package. The cost by the way is not set. They often drop the price depending on what in their judgement does NOT need to be done. I have not tried their other revolver packages but the guns I've gotten back have been uniformily superb. Utterly reliable, but much much smoother and lighter in pull.
While I don't disagree with Smithnut on the value of shooting and dry fire practice, I hesitate to send guns to the factory for warranty work. My relationship with the Performance Center is long and solid and I've found going back to them for almost anything to be better than the normal warranty channels. That probably comes across as bias, and you'd be right.
Keith
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Keith Herrington
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06-24-2009, 10:11 AM
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Personally, I believe in a good trigger job. Most of my Smiths that I have bought over the last 40 years or so have needed them. The notable exceptions were my M19, purchased in the early '70's, and my 629, which was one of the first production run.
The springs that come from the factory are unnecessarily stiff. They are meant to enhance reliability and reduce warranty work. This doesn't mean that the lighter spring thing can't be overdone. It certainly can. When I change springs in any revolver, I immediately fire at least 100 rounds of reloads that utilize CCI primers. If I don't get 100% ignition, then a stiffer hammer spring is in order. Test is repeated. There are also a lot of parts in the action that can benefit from some polishing. True, the same effect can be had from X-thousand cycles of dry firing, but I'm not that patient. I refuse to try to shoot DA while struggling against a 12-14# or greater trigger pull. For me, somewhere around 8# is about right. I like my SA pull in the 3.5-4# range with little or no creep or overtravel. Back in the days of Bullseye Competition, I liked a little less, but not for general purpose shooting
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06-24-2009, 08:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SmithNut
No criticism, just a recommendation.
If you want your gun to smooth out the best thing for it (and you) is extended trigger time, i.e., shoot it a lot. The late model guns will smooth over time, and I am always reluctant to take a new (newer) gun and have it worked on, seems like a waste of time and money. If you put some trigger time in, shoot it a bunch, not only will it get better, you will also get better, my recommendation is to shoot double action, your finger will get stronger, the action will get smoother, and you save the gunsmith $$ for ammo purchases.
Just my thing, but not all new guns need gunsmith time to get better. If it's really horrible, you have a lifetime warranty on your side, and sending it to the factory on their nickel could also be a good, cost saving, tactic.
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+1
After you break it in then you can have a trigger job done, untill then you are wasting time and money.
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06-24-2009, 11:37 PM
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thanks all for the various ideas; I'll talk to the 'preferred' gunsmith tha my hunting goups uses and see wha his prices are like (has done other work for us and nothing needed to go bck for a tweaking or repair); I'll keep the full power replacement spring kit on the back burner; as far as shoot, shoot, and shoot some more goes...good thing I've got A-zooms and I'll take occasional trips to the range
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06-25-2009, 05:59 PM
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I installed a Wolf spring kit in my 686-2 about 6 months back and have had no problems. I would be willing to bet I have sent 500 rounds through it with maybe 1 or 2 that didn't fire.
I then tried those couple rounds in my Taurus 672 and they didn't fire even then, so I would be willing to bet it was a bad primer and not the Smith.
I think it's a great upgrade and it's easy to install, so if it don't work, just change back to the original springs and you're out only a few bucks and some time.
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Tags
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629, 686, brownells, bullseye, gunsmith, m19, model 19, overtravel, performance center, powerport, primer, ruger, taurus |
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