Main spring adjustment

[skeeter_denison]

I have a 686 no dash. Shot it for the first time today. Was kinda stiff at first so I backed the main spring screw out one full turn from screwed all the way in. It still give a really good primer punch and lightened the trigger pull up some. Anyone have an opinion on if I can go more or live with it or do the trial and error test? What have you all done with yours?

[TAROMAN]

The official line is that that strain screw should screwed in tight.
Some will install a lighter (Wolff) mainspring and rebound spring.
Others will shorten the strain screw and then tighten it.
Trigger is a balance between these two springs, easy to mess up.
To learn a lot more about this, Jerry Miculek has an excellent DVD that shows this and a whole lot more about tuning S&W revolvers.

[chief38]

I personally will just shorten the strain screw a hair to achieve what I want. After shortening and polishing it then gets tightened down. Strain screws are plentiful and inexpensive. If you screw one up, just throw it out and start over. I will usually shorten a replacement screw and put the original Factory screw in the box should I ever want to sell the gun.

Chief38

[ken158]

The mainspring screw / strain screw is not an adjustment. chief38 gave good advise if you feel you must mess with it but it is designed to always be tight. If not tight, it can loosen and cause light primer hits potentially when needed most.

[H Richard]

"The mainspring screw / strain screw is not an adjustment." Unless you know what you are doing, do not mess with the springs or screws. Take the gun to a qualified gunsmith to do a trigger job.