Main Spring Adj. on J Frame?

[bluetopper]

I just bought my wife a 36 no dash (from J&G) and the main spring is very stiff/stout, both DA and pulling the hammer back and it gives her trouble to the point she is having second thoughts about it. Is there any way to lighten up the spring?

 

[HAWKEYE10]

The short answer is yes. The longer answer is
you can buy reduced power springs from Wolff Springs.
You have to be careful and not get a spring so light
that the gun doesn't fire. You can also ghange the
rebound spring. If you don't know much about these
things you might take it to a gunsmith. Don

 

[jrd1976]

The J frame has a coil hammer spring, which is difficult to adjust: you cut off little pieces till it won't shoot anymore.

A friend recently bought a model 642 for his wife and had a gunsmith install a Brownell's spring kit to lessen the trigger pull; however, according to him, now it misfires about 1 time every 200 rounds. Assuming this gun was purchased for self defense, it #$%^ well better fire every time you pull the trigger.

I know some arthritic seniors who have to shoot using the trigger fingers on both hands.

Since the 36 no dash is an older gun, the internal parts may just need a really good cleaning and lubricating. I'm cleaning a M36 for a friend and it has rust on the inside of the gun and even inside the extractor rod housing. Grit and rust equal friction equal a hard trigger pull.

Find a COMPETENT gunsmith to do this for you. Competent meaning someone who has experience working on S&W revolvers, and not just semi-auto's. Have him clean the gun and polish the internal parts to remove any rough places and give it a try. If that is not light enough, go to a reduced power trigger return spring. Lastly, consider the reduced power hammer spring. Keep your original factory parts to reinstall if you have misfires.

You can probably find more information in the Gunsmithing section.

 

[bluetopper]

Thanks, I'll take the side plate off and give her a good cleaning. Buy a reduced power coil spring (main spring) then do some experimenting.

 

[OKFC05]

Thanks, I'll take the side plate off and give her a good cleaning. Buy a reduced power coil spring (main spring) then do some experimenting.

First thing I would do is remove the grips and be sure the coil mainspring is clean and not damaged. You don't have to take off the side plate to get to the mainspring, or even to change it. All it takes is a paper clip.

I bought a used 63 with a horrible trigger pull caused by hardened caked grease inside the coil spring; only 1/2 the spring was still working.

 

[2hawk]

Parisite, you should also look into getting a reduced power rebound spring. In fact, you may be able to reduce the pull sufficiently with just a rebound spring change without changing the hammer spring at all.

If you don't have the tool for the rebound spring, it might be worth taking to a 'smith. It's possible to remove the rebound slide without it, but it is a real @#%$ing chore if you don't have the tool.

I'd also suggest getting the Kuhnhausen S&W shop manual if you want to do any work on your gun. Good Luck!

 

[pred]

Parisite, you should also look into getting a reduced power rebound spring. In fact, you may be able to reduce the pull sufficiently with just a rebound spring change without changing the hammer spring at all.

If you don't have the tool for the rebound spring, it might be worth taking to a 'smith. It's possible to remove the rebound slide without it, but it is a real @#%$ing chore if you don't have the tool.

I'd also suggest getting the Kuhnhausen S&W shop manual if you want to do any work on your gun. Good Luck!

+1,,, This it the way to go, Just clean like new, stone rebound slide and install a Wolf 13lb rebound spring!
Make sure that the cylinder spins freely as well, If not clean up that bugger too!!!
Just by replacing the rebound spring and stoning the rebound slide can make a world of difference!
Peter