So the tiny screw finally loosened on one of my revolvers - no biggie, overdue for a detailed strip/clean anyway

[chief38]

As usual I was at the outdoor range today and I brought the Marlin 1894-S .45 Colt carbine back out for another session since I enjoyed it so much last week. I had to do some fine sighting on the windage with a hammer and a punch as it was printing slightly to the left of POA at 50 yards. Took a few seconds and I was pretty much spot on. After sighting it in, this was the first target I shot. I shot 50 rounds of 45 Colt, then let my shooting bud's each shoot a magazine full - then tucked it back in its case.

I then broke out my 6" M586 which is still in spectacular condition and started shooting some Speer full house factory 158 grain 357 magnums. After the very first shot the trigger felt a bit funky and in 10 seconds I knew exactly what the issue was. The tiny screw that holds the trigger stop in place had loosened up. I did not want to start fiddling with the revolver at the range so I used a small piece of masking tape to hold the stop in the most rearward position so I could continue to shoot it without the trigger stopping before the hammer fell. That worked and I repaired it properly after I got home.

After cleaning the Marlin I started to clean the M586 and decided to do a detailed strip, clean and lube as it has been a few years and I figured it was due anyway. I needed to pop the side plate off to tighten the trigger stop screw anyway, so what the heck. I disassembled the gun and to my surprise the innards were still fairly clean, the tiny amount of oil I put on the studs and pins was still somewhat wet and all looked perfect. So I disassembled, cleaned, lightly lubed and reassembled the M586 and tightened the trigger stop screw decently. That was the very first time a trigger stop screw had ever come loose on me! I probably never checked that screw since the gun had been built - lesson learned (just something I had forgotten to check).

Some of my revolvers have a trigger stop and some don't. I've got plenty of them in stock but don't really care if a revolver has one or not. If this screw in my M586 comes loose again, I will probably just remove the stop but since this is the first time it has happened since purchasing the gun in 1983, I just tightened it back up. That said, if this was a HD, SD or carry gun I'd just remove it to err on the side of caution.

I was also pleasantly surprised and pleased that the G96 synthetic oil I used on the gun last time was still there, still wet and still working. It has been in there for at least 4 years and the revolver has been shot a bunch of times - good to seethe longevity of the G96 Synthetic. I really enjoyed shooting the M586 with magnums today (usually just shoot .38 specials) but I was just in the mood. My M586 could possibly be the smoothest, slickest, best action I have on any revolver. I can also tell you that out of the box it is the best tuned and fit S&W I have gotten from the factory in a new gun. Occasionally even S&W gets it right - lol. Other than the "M" modification for the hammer bushing which I had them do just because (never actually had any issues) the gun has never been repaired. It is truly a fine shooting super slick revolver and I have got zero complaints with it!

 

[stansdds]

Those adjustable stops can come loose. Worst case is that they move forward and get stuck, preventing the full rearward travel of the trigger, thus rendering the revolver to blunt force object status. Many law enforcement agencies would remove these stops for that very reason. You could always clean the screw and the threads in the frame and set the screw with some blue Loctite.

 

[chief38]

Those adjustable stops can come loose. Worst case is that they move forward and get stuck, preventing the full rearward travel of the trigger, thus rendering the revolver to blunt force object status. Many law enforcement agencies would remove these stops for that very reason. You could always clean the screw and the threads in the frame and set the screw with some blue Loctite.

Yes - exactly the scenario at the range. That is where an inch of masking tape came in handy. I put a piece in to hold the loosened stop against the trigger guard until I got home and repaired it properly.

BIG HINT FOR ALL:

My Grandfather taught me this when I was about 5 years old. He ALWAYS put about 2-3 feet of masking tape wound around a yellow #2 pencil. I always carry multiple pencils in my shooting bag and one has the masking tape on it. It has bailed me out many times! Once in a while I will forget to replenish a box of staples for my baby Arrow staple gun and I use masking tape to hang targets. I also use it for drifting rear rifle sights. I use a small piece of tape with a pencil mark on it as a reference to how much the sight has moved. It can be used to pick up little tiny pieces or parts that fall into a crevice you can't get your fingers into. Repairing something like a big target that got ripped, adhering a score sheet to a wall, putting your name temporarily on a piece of equipment when many guys have the same equipment, etc. etc. Such a simple thing but it has come in very handy over the years!

 

[VincentW]

As usual I was at the outdoor range today and I brought the Marlin 1894-S .45 Colt carbine back out for another session since I enjoyed it so much last week. I had to do some fine sighting on the windage with a hammer and a punch as it was printing slightly to the left of POA at 50 yards. Took a few seconds and I was pretty much spot on. After sighting it in, this was the first target I shot. I shot 50 rounds of 45 Colt, then let my shooting bud's each shoot a magazine full - then tucked it back in its case.

I then broke out my 6" M586 which is still in spectacular condition and started shooting some Speer full house factory 158 grain 357 magnums. After the very first shot the trigger felt a bit funky and in 10 seconds I knew exactly what the issue was. The tiny screw that holds the trigger stop in place had loosened up. I did not want to start fiddling with the revolver at the range so I used a small piece of masking tape to hold the stop in the most rearward position so I could continue to shoot it without the trigger stopping before the hammer fell. That worked and I repaired it properly after I got home.

After cleaning the Marlin I started to clean the M586 and decided to do a detailed strip, clean and lube as it has been a few years and I figured it was due anyway. I needed to pop the side plate off to tighten the trigger stop screw anyway, so what the heck. I disassembled the gun and to my surprise the innards were still fairly clean, the tiny amount of oil I put on the studs and pins was still somewhat wet and all looked perfect. So I disassembled, cleaned, lightly lubed and reassembled the M586 and tightened the trigger stop screw decently. That was the very first time a trigger stop screw had ever come loose on me! I probably never checked that screw since the gun had been built - lesson learned (just something I had forgotten to check).

Some of my revolvers have a trigger stop and some don't. I've got plenty of them in stock but don't really care if a revolver has one or not. If this screw in my M586 comes loose again, I will probably just remove the stop but since this is the first time it has happened since purchasing the gun in 1983, I just tightened it back up. That said, if this was a HD, SD or carry gun I'd just remove it to err on the side of caution.

I was also pleasantly surprised and pleased that the G96 synthetic oil I used on the gun last time was still there, still wet and still working. It has been in there for at least 4 years and the revolver has been shot a bunch of times - good to seethe longevity of the G96 Synthetic. I really enjoyed shooting the M586 with magnums today (usually just shoot .38 specials) but I was just in the mood. My M586 could possibly be the smoothest, slickest, best action I have on any revolver. I can also tell you that out of the box it is the best tuned and fit S&W I have gotten from the factory in a new gun. Occasionally even S&W gets it right - lol. Other than the "M" modification for the hammer bushing which I had them do just because (never actually had any issues) the gun has never been repaired. It is truly a fine shooting super slick revolver and I have got zero complaints with it!

You would have made Clint Eastwood proud.

 

[Yendor357]

Wow, nice shooting Chief!

I’d need a scope to shoot a group like that at 50 yards with any of my lever guns.

I am rediscovering how nice those old 5/686s are. I bought a 6 inch 686 no dash last week. Super good guns.

Did you use Loc Tite on that screw?

 

[bigggbbruce]

Another thread about Loctite and guns

This is one location for blue loctite.

 

[chief38]

Another thread about Loctite and guns

This is one location for blue loctite.

Nah.... it took 4 or 5 decades for that screw to come loose and quite honestly I never even remember even checking it when I bought the revolver - my bad. If it takes another 40 - 50 years to loosen up I'll let the new owner worry about the Loctite. lol

If it loosens up in my lifetime, I will simply replace it - got plenty of them, some brand new. I will also let you know you were right and I was wrong.

 

[bigggbbruce]

If it takes another 40 - 50 years to loosen up I'll let the new owner worry about the Loctite. lol

Just a suggestion for those that don't want to tighten theirs more than once.

And if a carry gun this should be attended to before this happens.

 

[chief38]

Just a suggestion for those that don't want to tighten theirs more than once.

And if a carry gun this should be attended to before this happens.

Now here we agree - but IF I carried a gun that had a trigger stop (I don't) I'd simply remove it completely. This was on my M586 which is just recreational shooter.

 

[bigggbbruce]

Yep.. in a carry revolver.. No Trigger stop, and No internal lock.

 

[stang1911]

What I do is tighten the stop all the way forward then file it down for proper overtravel.

 

[Yendor357]

I’m not that guy who does the same thing over and over and expects different results. And I don’t like fixing things twice.
If something has proven it is a failure point, measures are taken to ensure the problem doesn’t turn into a pattern. Re: Loc Tite. Done. Done. And done.

But you do you. Some people advocate carrying a screwdriver…..

 

[KWW]

Not getting into the Loctite debate, but we were taught to remove the screws, clean the screw qnd hole with alcohol to remove any/all oil, then reassemble. The screws will stay where they are. I’ve done this with scope mounts and rings my while life and never had one come loose.

 

[Rock185]

Those early 586s were really nice guns. I bought one and started carrying it soon after they were introduced. No long after, I replaced it with a 686 and can't remember if the 586 had a trigger stop; probably did, but I never thought about it. At some point, those trigger stops went away. My 66 and 686 no dash guns have the slot behind the trigger, but no trigger stops..

 

[schutz5]

Nice shooting there Chief!