Heck of a time to find this out about my deer rifle....Trigger Trouble

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Hokkmike

Hokkmike

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Was sighting in my Winchester Model 94 yesterday. Really, just brushing up as I have been shooting it for a while. For some reason unbeknownst to me, I noticed that the trigger pull has become very sensitive,

I cock the hammer, pull the lever up to contact the safety button, and just have to touch the trigger to discharge the round. My SAKO had a trigger pull of 3.5 pounds. This seems to be such less.

I am not happy about this!!! GRRRR

I am hoping there might be some way to remedy this without expensive smithing. Any ideas out there?
 
I am not familiar with the mechanics of the 94 but its possible there is debris or gunked up oil on the sear surface. Clean it with some spray. I have all kinds of grain and feathers come out of my shotgun during its spring cleaning.

My guess is something is worn though.
 
I know absolutely less than zero about this, but a quick guess would be something in the trigger mechanism preventing full sear engagement. Maybe try to wash or clean it out with solvent.

Sounds like it could be an issue of safety.
 
Have you called Winchester?
Click to expand...

Winchester closed their New Haven factory in 2006 and stopped making the 94 then. Winchester is just a name stamped on guns made by other companies today. And that isn't necessarily bad, those companies are making very good guns. Since 2008 the lever actions have all been made in Japan by Miroku. The model 70's are made in Portugal by FN, with other guns made by various companies all over. I doubt Winchester would be any help.

It might just need a good cleaning, or you could need some parts replaced. If a good cleaning doesn't help then it is time to find a local gunsmith. The good news is that parts are easily available.
 
M
jmr40 said:
Winchester closed their New Haven factory in 2006 and stopped making the 94 then. Winchester is just a name stamped on guns made by other companies today. And that isn't necessarily bad, those companies are making very good guns. Since 2008 the lever actions have all been made in Japan by Miroku. The model 70's are made in Portugal by FN, with other guns made by various companies all over. I doubt Winchester would be any help.

It might just need a good cleaning, or you could need some parts replaced. If a good cleaning doesn't help then it is time to find a local gunsmith. The good news is that parts are easily available.
Click to expand...

Mine was made in 1953
 
Sounds like you may have a problem with the trigger or the sear. If you don’t feel confident looking at it yourself I would most definitely get it checked out. It sounds to be in a rather unsafe condition (not normal).
 
Hokkmike said:
Was sighting in my Winchester Model 94 yesterday. Really, just brushing up as I have been shooting it for a while. For some reason unbeknownst to me, I noticed that the trigger pull has become very sensitive,

I cock the hammer, pull the lever up to contact the safety button, and just have to touch the trigger to discharge the round. My SAKO had a trigger pull of 3.5 pounds. This seems to be such less.

I am not happy about this!!! GRRRR

I am hoping there might be some way to remedy this without expensive smithing. Any ideas out there?
Click to expand...

HB said:
I am not familiar with the mechanics of the 94 but its possible there is debris or gunked up oil on the sear surface. Clean it with some spray. I have all kinds of grain and feathers come out of my shotgun during its spring cleaning.

My guess is something is worn though.
Click to expand...
I'm betting gunk as well, seen several guns suddenly develop a hair trigger(one previously had a 12 lb pull) and it all came back to gunk
 
It could be as simple as hardened oil or dirt built up in the notch on the hammer that engages the sear.

I found several illustrations of the Winchester Model 94, including the NRA page on limited disassembly for maintenance of the pre-1964 Winchester 94 with the full cock and half cock notches on the hammer.
"Winchester Model 94 Rifle And Carbine", American Rifleman, Nov-Dec 2000.
https://www.americanrifleman.org/Webcontent/pdf/external/R20011_EXPLODED_VIEW.pdf

Which does bring up the question of which version of the Model 94 is your gun. The "new model" post -1964 Winchester 94s have a rebounding hammer (no half-cock) more recently with a crossbolt safety. Disassembly may differ.
 
HB said:
I am not familiar with the mechanics of the 94 but its possible there is debris or gunked up oil on the sear surface. Clean it with some spray. I have all kinds of grain and feathers come out of my shotgun during its spring cleaning.

My guess is something is worn though.
Click to expand...

That was my first thought, something causing sear engagement to be less than it should.

I think a thorough cleaning should be the first order of business with any malfunctioning firearm that is absent an obvious defect.
 
Took it to National Sporting Goods in Williamsport, PA. Gun smith and two other gun pros looked at it. Their verdict: Trigger is light sure enough, but SAFE to use. Caution to me is not to even touch trigger until I am ready to shoot. That is one of my gun safety rules anyway. It is still too light for me but I guess I can work on it later.
 
Hokkmike said:
Took it to National Sporting Goods in Williamsport, PA. Gun smith and two other gun pros looked at it. Their verdict: Trigger is light sure enough, but SAFE to use. Caution to me is not to even touch trigger until I am ready to shoot. That is one of my gun safety rules anyway. It is still too light for me but I guess I can work on it later.
Click to expand...

I would still give it a good cleaning at minimum. If it went from a 5# trigger to 1# something has changed.

Espcially on a rifle that might be dropped from a tree/fallen on. Not to mention you have to cycle having to cycle action to unload.
 
The pull weight isn't really the issue in my opinion.
It's the fact that the trigger pull CHANGED and quite suddenly......or that's at least how I'm reading it.
If it's always been that weight ignore me.

I'd at the very least strip it down for cleaning and check the contact surfaces for ware or chipping.
 
LoonWulf said:
The pull weight isn't really the issue in my opinion.
It's the fact that the trigger pull CHANGED and quite suddenly......or that's at least how I'm reading it.
If it's always been that weight ignore me.

I'd at the very least strip it down for cleaning and check the contact surfaces for ware or chipping.
Click to expand...
Totally agree. It's easy to remove the stock and pull the hammer.
A small tooth brush and solvent should do the trick.
I bet the rifle was over oiled and stood up.
 
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