Making Trigger Pull Heavier

[Ben_hutcherson]

I know I may be one of the few people to ask about doing such a thing, but I have a model 14-1 that I feel like the trigger is too light on to the point where it is dangerous. I also generally get an FTF on about 1 out of 12 rounds(with CCI primers) in single action.

I did a tear-down on the gun this evening, and both the mainspring and rebound slide spring seem very weak. The mainspring is ribbed, making me think it is probably a reduced power Wolf.

I'm guessing that I need to increase the strength on either or both of these springs, but I'm wondering if I should start with one or the other. I really like the DA pull on the gun now, and don't want to mess it up too much, but also realize that increasing the SA pull weight is also going to increase the DA weight.

I did try putting a spent primer under the strain screw, and that didn't seem to change things very much.

I'd appreciate any suggestions as to how to proceed.

 

[BMCM]

Being unsure of what exactly those springs are that are in there, I'd probably go with replacing the mainspring, rebound slide spring and the strain screw with new factory parts. Restore the lockwork to factory condition then go from there.

Cheers
Bill

 

[papajohn428]

Send me a PM if you're interested in heavier springs, I buy the Wolff Gunspring kits, and they come with several weights. I can only use one!

 

[tomcatt51]

I did try putting a spent primer under the strain screw, and that didn't seem to change things very much.

I'd appreciate any suggestions as to how to proceed.

Simplest test is to replace the strain screw with an 8-32 socket set screw. 1/2" long will work in a square butt gun. You'll be able to adjust it for reliable ignition and use it as a gauge for length for a stock strain screw if you choose to use one.

More mainspring tension will increase your SA pull some. It's pretty light if you're getting SA FTF's. If you need more you'll need to play with rebound springs but you start with mainspring tension. As in enough for reliable ignition.

What's "just enough" for shooting SA isn't enough for DA so you need to adjust for DA reliability unless DA clicks insteads of bangs are ok. But you adjust for reliable ignition before adjusting rebound.

 

[tomcatt51]

You cant fix a weak spring. CCI is one of the harder primers. So is Tula. Federal & Winchester are softer.

May not be a "weak" spring. Could easily be a gun set up for Federal primers. A Wolff reduced power mainspring has no problem firing CCI primers if a long enough strain screw is installed.

 

[scooter123]

The single action trigger pull is determined by two factors. Note, mainspring tension is NOT one of those factors and the effect of the mainspring tension on the single action trigger weight is almost unmeasurable.

One is the angle of the sear on the trigger. Part of the "old school" method for tuning the trigger on an S&W was to stone the sear on the trigger to an "assist angle" to lighten the weight. The problem with this method is that it places all of the wear on the "tip" of the sear notch on the hammer and that will in time lead to push off.

The second method is the more modern technique that pretty much eliminates the problems caused by stoning the sear on the trigger. The one issue with this method is that the lower limit on the single action break that can be achieved is in the range of 2.25 to 2.5 lbs.. This method is to replace the rebound spring with a lighter rebound spring. My testing has shown that a 14 lbs. rebound spring will produce a single action trigger break at just a tick over 3 lbs if the sear on the trigger is factory stock. BTW, the factory rebound spring will yield 4 lbs. even and a 11 lbs. rebound spring will get you down to that 2.25 to 2.5 lbs. range. However in order to get the trigger to reset consistently with a 11 lbs rebound spring you have to spend a LOT of time totally eliminating any rubs in the lockwork.

Personally I consider a 3 lbs. single action trigger to be just perfect, so that is where every one of my revolvers is tuned with one exception. That exception is a 617 that was picked up used with an "old school" trigger job. Right now I don't shoot the 617 in single action and at some point I plan on purchasing a new trigger for it. Yeah, I could try stoning the existing trigger but that would require the purchase of a jig that costs more than a new trigger.

 

[tomcatt51]

Person said he wanted a harder pull.

Yes, and he also said "I also generally get an FTF on about 1 out of 12 rounds(with CCI primers) in single action". Gotta look at it all together...

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

I took the gun apart last night, and did not see any evidence of stoning or other work on the hammer or trigger. I think that the light trigger pull is probably coming completely from the light springs.

I'm going to give some thought to exactly what I want to do, as it sounds like I may need to order several springs and try them to get exactly what I want.

 

[boatbum101]

PM / E mail me & I can send you some springs . Target guns are usually modified for light pull . Personally I polish all engagement surfaces except hammer / sear & reassemble with tiny dabs of moly paste . It's all about reducing friction & with use the moly is burnished into surface of parts . For NRA competition a centerfire gun must be able to lift 2 1/2lbs & if 45acp must lift 3 1/2lbs . These are minimum legal pull weights . As stated in a previous post rebound spring is what sets SA pull weight . If you've got FTF mainspring / strain screw tension are insufficent . Hope this helps .

 

[aviserated]

Does the gun misfire also? Check for loose strain screw. The strain screw on my 686 backed out 1/4 turn and gun would misfire. I simply retightened screw and problem solved. Strain screw puts tension on hammer spring.

 

[hangnoose]

CHANGE TRIGGER PULL WT

I often tell people in many different situations to trust their instincts, I find they are way more than generally correct. First however I'd probably try some factory ammo with a different primer. you did say it happens with cci's, or are they the only ones you tried?

 

[aviserated]

Does the gun misfire also? Check for loose strain screw. The strain screw on my 686 backed out 1/4 turn and gun would misfire. I simply retightened screw and problem solved. Strain screw puts tension on hammer spring.

Sorry i misread your original post. Sounds like you have spring that is too weak for your liking.

 

[shawn mccarver]

The two easiest things to do are to replace the mainspring and the strain screw with factory originals. Once you do, be sure to have it checked for push-off. That should do it for you.

 

[tomcatt51]

The two easiest things to do are to replace the mainspring and the strain screw with factory originals.

The OP said: "I really like the DA pull on the gun now, and don't want to mess it up too much..." guess you missed that.

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

Just to follow up on this, member papajohn428 very generously sent me a factory mainspring along with a 15 and 16 lb rebound spring. I'm going to sit down with the gun tomorrow evening, and find a combination of parts that gets me to where I want to be.

Thanks again to papajohn428, as well as to everyone else here for the advise and suggestions.