So, I have a 642 Airweight that I purchased (new) about 2-3 years ago.

When I got it, the trigger return was just terrible. When I first fired it, the trigger even failed to return forward once. I had an Airlite prior to this, and the trigger was OK. Not great or smooth, but not gritty.

So I opened it up, did the standard polishing stuff I read on the internet, and it got somewhat better. But still bad, especially on the return.

A couple of weeks ago, I bought a 1980s Model 60. Much better trigger. So I decided to take another look at my 642.

I took it apart, poked around a little, but couldn't see anything obviously causing the gritty return. So I put it back together, one piece at a time. I didn't even take the return slide out this time.

Somehow, this thing now has the smoothest trigger of any revolver I own, including some older pre-lock K-frames. What the heck did I do?

The only thing that might be a clue is the firing pin retaining pin popped out while I was dry firing with the side plate off. I put it back, of course.

But what did I do? I love it, but it's weird.

Also - it passes the pencil firing pin test. So I'm pretty sure everything is back in place.

Thanks.

OK, new update:

Something is missing. The cylinder "hand" (I think it's called won't stay forward. So the cylinder will only index when pulling the trigger if pointed own. Point the gun up = no index. I lost a spring, maybe?

Hand tensioning spring.....small "pigtail" spring that sits in the cavity above the trigger lever. Tension leg puts pressure on small pin on hand.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Sounds like the problem.

The good news...it's a super cheap part. That's not a big deal.

The bad news...it can be a pain in the *** to install if you've never done it before, but it's not that hard.

(insert string of every swear word I know here)

Yeah, it was the "hand spring" or whatever it's called. Not lost, but out of place in the trigger. "Not that hard", my ***. I got everything back right, but it took me a quarter bottle of the corn and a lot of squinting to do it.

Thanks for your help, guys.

Oh, hey - the trigger is still pretty good, somehow. So the original question stands.

I wonder if the spring was previously slightly out of position causing the gritty feel and you got it back properly. It's a wonder you found the little guy, though. Oh, and do not dry fire with the plate off, because stuff happens.

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

Another possibility is when the OP had it apart, he inadvertently cleaned out something that was causing the problem. A broken off piece of burr from the frame machining operation can/will cause this kind of problem. It doesn't take much, kind of like a pebble in your shoe.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

OK, figured it out.

The hand spring was out of position.

When it's back in place, the hand drags over the extractor star on the down stroke, accounting for the gritty feel on the trigger return.

This can be verified by swinging the cylinder out, holding the cylinder release back, and dry firing. Smooooth return.

Otherwise, not so smooth.

I polished the underside of the hand, and the top side of the star spokes. Better, but still not as good as my 1980s Model 60.

Oh well...