Newbie First Post Trigger Pull Q

[jwr689s]

Hello everyone. Although this is my first post, I've been lurking for over a year. I finally bought my first S&W wheelgun based off of info I found on this forum. I got a 686-2 with a 4" barrel and I LOVE it. It's way more accurate than i'll ever be and the double action trigger pull is sooo smooth. I loved it so much that I started looking for another S&W wheelgun and I ended up almost stealing a 617 no dash with an 8-3/8" barrel.

I haven't gotten an opportunity to shoot the 617 yet, but I've dry fired it with snap caps and the double action pull is at least twice as heavy as my 686. I got the 617 from the original owner and he told me that he probably shot less than 100 rounds through it and I have to believe him based on the condition of the gun.

I guess my questin is: why is the 617 trigger pull so much heavier than the 686?

I have a few theories: 1. the 686 has been modified and I don't know how to tell if it has been or not. 2. The 617 has just been shot so little that it isn't broken it yet.

Any suggestions? How can I tell if my 686 has been modified to have a lighter pull?

Thanks for reading my (first) long, rambling post.
Joe

 

[Macinaw]

617's need a heavier hammer drop(strong mainspring) in order to fire rim fire ammo consistently.

 

[Realzebub45]

Make sure the strain screw on the front of the grip frame is all the way in. Some people loosen these up to get a lighter trigger pull, but I think the general consensus is that this is not a proper way to get the desired effect. Possible they just changed the hammer spring also.

Good luck with your new "sickness".

 

[jwr689s]

617's need a heavier hammer drop(strong mainspring) in order to fire rim fire ammo consistently.

I never thought of that...makes sense to me.

 

[jwr689s]

Make sure the strain screw on the front of the grip frame is all the way in. Some people loosen these up to get a lighter trigger pull, but I think the general consensus is that this is not a proper way to get the desired effect. Possible they just changed the hammer spring also.

Good luck with your new "sickness".

I'll check the strain screw this weekend. Is there any definite way to tell if the hammer spring has been changed just by looking at it?

It IS a sickness, but I don't plan on looking for a cure anytime soon!

 

[Mike McLellan]

I'll check the strain screw this weekend. Is there any definite way to tell if the hammer spring has been changed just by looking at it?

Wolff reduced power springs have a rib or groove running the length of the spring. Another possibility is that the strain screw has been shortened. Still another is a changing or shortening of the rebound slide spring. With tinkering and time, you can get the trigger pull just about even on both guns, keeping in mind what mackinaw said about the required slap to ignite the rimfires.