i have a newish 586 with a couple hundred rounds through it with a really heavy trigger pull. I slicked it up a bit using instructions found on this forum and it helped, but the trigger is still very heavy. Is there any other way to lighten the double action pull on this gun short of sending it to a gunsmith?

You could start replacing springs with a Wolff's Shooters Spring Pack.

I wont mention what a fine trigger job ClarK Custom Gun's did on the model 58 in my avatar. Nor will I mention it was worth every penny.
My trigger job attempt was pathetic in comparison.

You pays your money and makes your choice.

Gary

What are you calling a heavy trigger??

Out of the box most Smiths have about a 3.0 to 3.5 lb SA pull and around a 11 - 12.5 lb DA pull.

You need to be a bit more specific and use a trigger scale for more real weights. just "heavy" is a bit subjective.

You're correct, I don't have a trigger pull gauge, I'm just comparing it to my 25-5, 29-10, and 640-1 and it is significantly heavier.

Not every supposedly identical spring from any source is exactly the same. Your hammer spring and/or trigger return spring may be a bit on the stout side. Not every hammer spring tension screw is exactly the same length either, although they're much better than in olden days. You might try leaving the unloaded gun cocked for several days to see if the springs will let down somewhat. You can also dry fire a lot.

Removing tool marks, sharp edges etc per the usual work has only a marginal affect on weight of the trigger pull, DA especially. You're basically duplicating a lot of use.

Besides the Wolff spring kit, the S&W Performance Center does outstanding work and you keep your warranty.

I would guess it has a lot to do with the length of the mainspring strain screw. The strain screws seem to be quite long at times, which results in an unusually (and unnecessary) heavy trigger pull. If it's a gun consigned to range duty, you could always tune the mainspring to your handloads, or to the ammo you use most often.
As others have mentioned, the rebound spring could also be changed to a lighter rated aftermarket one.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

I'm thinking hard about letting the PC have their hand at it as it has to go back for a finish issue anyways. I'm just very leery of S&W these days as I've had 4 brand revolvers needing to go back to them for non finish issues within the last year or so.

My 586-6 was very heavy as well. I swapped in a mainspring from an earlier gun and it was much better. I think the newer guns have thicker mainsprings or shaped "heavier ".

Well I found a Wolff reduced power hammer spring and tried that today. Felt great but I'd get 2 to 4 rounds per cylinder that just wouldn't fire even after multiple strikes with factory (Federal) ammo. I'm going to give the extended firing pin a shot and if that fixes the misfires, I'm done as the double action pull is far better now.

The Wolf standard hammer tuning spring has a different tension ratio (it's bent different) and will not cause light primer strikes,but substantially smooths out the DA trigger pull. It's not necessarily tons "lighter" but it sure is a LOT easier to hit targets with.

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My Daddy was a pistol..

Ydennekb, if you have installed a reduced power mainspring, and you are getting misfires, then you probably need a longer strain screw. You can add a shim to the end of the strain screw to see if it resolves the issue.

The cup from a spent small primer makes a good shim for the strain screw. Take a spent small primer and clean out the inside. Then put the primer cup over the strain screw. If that is not a thick enough shim, you can put a large primer over the small primer.

You could also measure your firing pin. The stock pin should be .495. If it is less than .492, you should replace it. If it is over .492, then it is probably fine, and the mainspring is the issue. Recently manufactured stock firing pins generally work fine.