I put the Wilson Combat mainspring and 13lb rebound slide spring in my 66-8. Shot several cylinders of various .38 Special that I had around and everything shot fine. Last night I was using Geco 158rgr JHP and started having light strikes. Some went off on the second time around but out of 32 rounds fired, I have 6 left with light strikes and at least 2, 3 or 4 that went off on the second try.

Has anyone had any issues with Geco 38 Special?

Any similar issues with the Wilson Combat mainspring and 13lb rebound spring?

I have put the factory springs back in and will try this ammo again, just looking for any similar experiences.

Thanks, Matt

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Model 60, 15-3, 66-8 & 28-2

Welcome to the world that competition revolver shooters live in everyday. Finding that one sweet spot where the trigger is pleasantly light, but all the rounds go bang.

Generally, the primers in foreign ammo (Geco is Swiss I believe) tend to have harder primer cups than domestic product. Federal primers are the softest and what most competition shooters use.

If you are using this as a S/D gun, I'd consider putting the stock springs back in it, or at the least, only carry Federal ammo. Springs are fine as long as you're not betting your life on them.

JMHO

Adios,

Pizza Bob

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NRA Benefactor Member

Matt -

I have this exact same setup, a 66-8 with the Wilson Combat main spring, and 13# trigger return spring. It's worked perfectly with a variety of Winchester, Federal, and American Eagle 357 and 38, never a light strike in DA on any of these brands of ammo.

Oddly enough, this same setup (with a 14# trigger return spring) in a 686 Plus 3" gives me the same light strikes in DA you are reporting with your 66, even after installing an extended firing pin. When I set the 686 back to factory specs, all is well with the world.

Please report back after you revert to the factory setup. Wish I had a magical suggestion, but I don't, unfortunately.

I had switched out to Wolfe 13# trigger and main springs in my 686+. Had a consistent 1 light strikes out of each cylinder. I went thru 100+ rds of .357/38sp Freedom ammo. Also on my buddy's 38sp loads too. I had shot mostly SA, but it did happen in DA too.

The SA with the 13# spring is a hair trigger. I dont have a trigger gauge, but I'm guessing DA is ~7.5lb.

I switched to the 14# and will return back to the range shortly.

The trigger is now much heavier, maybe 25% more than the 13# spring.

To answer/comment on some of the suggestions so far...

It is a competition only gun and will not be used for self defense.

I got a deal on the case of Geco ammo, under $12/box plus shipping. It is made in Hungary.

After intially puttig the Wilson mainspring and 13lbs trigger spring, I didn't really notice the trigger was that much lighter. My SA was consistent 4.5lbs and DA was still well above 8lbs (only gauge I have). After putting the stock springs back in, holy cow the DA is heavy.

I should be able to shoot some tomorrow and see if I can at least get my use out of this case of ammo.

Thanks

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Model 60, 15-3, 66-8 & 28-2

The reduced power rebound springs will reduce your single action trigger pull but will not change (for better or worse) the strength of the hammer strike.

The hammer is powered by the mainspring. Installing a reduced power mainspring, backing off or shortening the strain screw that tensions the mainspring will reduce the double action trigger pull. It will also reduce the amount of energy the hammer transfers to the primer. This may result in failures to fire cartridges that contain harder or less sensitive primers.

Chances are the Wilson mainspring is a reduced power item. Reinstall the factory mainspring and try the Geco ammunition again. Let us know your results.

Ok. I just backed off the screw that presses onto the main spring and it lightened up the trigger a good amount. Prior I had just screwed it into the main spring til it wouldnt go anymore.

Trigger feels nice. No where nearly as light as when I had the misfires with the 13# setting. We'll see how it performs at the range.

You will now have more light strikes than you had previously. The more tension on the strain screw, the heavier the hammer blow (and the trigger). The rebound spring is only responsible for trigger reset and has nothing to do with ignition.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

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NRA Benefactor Member

If it's to be a competition gun, use Federal primers only; everything else will at some point throw off your action work.

Here's an excellent thread on competition tuning: 625PC Hammer weight Adjusting

Check it out, and head over to the revolver subsection of the Brian Eno forum where competition tuning is the order of the day.

Happy shooting.

The only thing I can think of is when i had the #13lb trigger spring in there, maybe the strain screw wasn't as tight as I thought. Thus invoking in such a light trigger.

But when I had first installed the #14lb trigger spring, the screw was for sure hard pressed against the main spring. I now lightened it a little from that point. Trigger currently is still significant amount heavier than when I was at the range and getting the misfires.

Appreciate all the feedback. Sorry about hi-jacking your thread Matt..

The main spring strain screw should always be screwed in all the way and tight. Otherwise it could work its way loose and create malfunctions.

Changing spring weights to insure a lighter than factory trigger with 100% reliability is a trial and error method for your particular gun. As far as I am concerned, a competition gun needs to be as reliable as a self defense gun. A gun with misfires in a competition gun causes a loss of points and a lot of frustration. Frustration leads to poor shooting too. So, not good!

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102