Spring kit question: j frame- Taurus 85 compatibility

[mjbreivogel]

I recently put the Wilson combat spring kit in my 49 and its great but more importantly my mom can also work it in double action. She asked if I could do something similar with her 85 so I got on Google and quickly found the Wolff spring kit for the 85. Issue at hand is there are plenty of bad reviews and videos about light strikes. I know my step dad will not even consider the possibility of using that kit now. I then find the apex j frame kit with the extended firing pin. I call Apex and understandably they say no it will not work. Also, I contacted Wolff who told me the only difference between the j frame and Taurus kits was differences in weight so I have verified commonality there.

So my question, does anyone here have experience with j frame parts in the 85? Specifically the firing pin and spring? My Taurus 66 has a Smith firing pin and spring in it without issue but I don't want to make assumptions especially with a modified part.

Thanks for any help I can get. I posted this here because I trust the Smith guys over their Taurus counterparts. Also, buying her a Smith is not possible due to the damage they received from Harvey so lets just leave that out.

 

[GerSan69]

Unless you're absolutely certain that the parts are identical - and I mean completely, not just within .01 or even .001 - I wouldn't consider it. I don't have anything against Taurus (I have a couple really nice Taurus 431 .44 SPL revolvers) but there might be the tiniest of differences in the firing pins that could cause a failure to fire. The springs may or may not be identical, but I'd take an electronic caliper to those, too. Your best bet is to always use parts from the same manufacturer or parts that are made for your specific gun and if you can't get them, don't try to make-do with something that's close or seems to fit.

 

[colt_saa]

Do not, I Mean NOT, mess around with unknown parts in something that you plan to defend your life with

If she is unhappy with her model 85, get her a 36 or 60 instead.

 

[JAREDSHS]

Good advice from colt saa.

 

[mjbreivogel]

Without enough evidence I had no intentions of doing so, my current plan is to leave the factory hammer spring and put in the wolf reduced trigger return spring. I was simply curious because the 85 is a j frame replica.

 

[Ray1970]

My only advice would be to buy a reduced power trigger return spring made for the Taurus and leave the hammer spring alone and give that a try. Looks like the Taurus factory spring is 14# (where the S&W is about 18#) and Wolff offers a 6.5# and a 9# spring. Just make sure to check the trigger after the install and make sure it returns smoothly and positively.

 

[shakyshoot]

My Taurus 85 has a very nice trigger in DA and SA. I haven't measured the pull on any of them, but the DA pull on my 85 is very similar to my new Smith 638, and way better than my old 36. If it's a gun she's carrying regularly, I think your plan of trying out the trigger return spring only is a good one. (Assuming we're talking about the kit made for the Taurus) If it was a gun not being relied on daily, I'd say put in both and try it for 200 rounds or more.
Leaving aside any judgements on where you might find the most knowledgeable people, the gun you're really asking about is a Taurus, not an S&W, so you might get more info from people who have actually dealt with this over on the Taurus board.