SSN Vet
Member
I posted a couple times last fall regarding my efforts to improve the trigger on my older 336CS...
I purchased the rifle used several years ago and despite what many post about Marlin triggers, I never really thought mine was really terrible. But still I enjoy playing amateur gun smith and I wanted to see if I could improve it.
Once I got into the complete disassembly, I discovered that my trigger had obviously been worked on.... hence it made sense that it was already pretty good.
I had a chance to inspect a WWG Happy Trigger sear side by side with my once worked stock sear and made careful note of the sear angle. I then carefully hand stoned the sear to blunt my sear angle... coming closer to, but not quite approaching that of the Happy Trigger.
I started with a medium India stone and then polished the sear surface up with a soft Arkansas stone.
My inspection of the main spring revealed that it also had been cut down. Thanks to the great photos on Midways web sight, I could count the coils on a stock replacement trigger, which if I recall correctly were around 13-1/2 to 14. Mine had been cut down to just under 13. So I cut half a coil off each end with a small cutting wheel on a dremel and then smoothed both ends off with a sanding wheel.
I also relieved some of the spring tension on the trigger spring.
Upon reassembly I could tell that there was further improvement. Both a lighter pull and a crisper break.
Range testing back in November gave some of the best groups I've achieved with this rifle at just a shade under 2-1/4" (five shot groups at 100 yds with glass).
I gave the rifle several controlled impacts and was not able to make the hammer fall, so I believe I'm still safe.
I only just recently was able to borrow an older model RCBS trigger pull scale and just tonight measured the pull.
The trigger is releasing at between 4 and 4-1/4 lbs.
Not to shabby me thinks.....
Since this rifle is for me a range puppy, and will likely not see use in the field, I had initially intended to try for 3 to 3-1/2 lbs.
I'm not going to fiddle around with the springs any more, but I may attempt to knock the sear angle back just a tad more and polish it up as best as I can.
A fun little project!
Not really difficult to do at all.
This rifle is still my personal favorite, as she has really nice Walnut and has been kept in excellent condition.
Once I'm done tinkering and work up my best load, I've got a brandy new William's Foolproof that's replacing the scope.
Had a 5D on it previously and liked it a LOT! So I'm looking forward to having the "click" adjust of the FP.
I purchased the rifle used several years ago and despite what many post about Marlin triggers, I never really thought mine was really terrible. But still I enjoy playing amateur gun smith and I wanted to see if I could improve it.
Once I got into the complete disassembly, I discovered that my trigger had obviously been worked on.... hence it made sense that it was already pretty good.
I had a chance to inspect a WWG Happy Trigger sear side by side with my once worked stock sear and made careful note of the sear angle. I then carefully hand stoned the sear to blunt my sear angle... coming closer to, but not quite approaching that of the Happy Trigger.
I started with a medium India stone and then polished the sear surface up with a soft Arkansas stone.
My inspection of the main spring revealed that it also had been cut down. Thanks to the great photos on Midways web sight, I could count the coils on a stock replacement trigger, which if I recall correctly were around 13-1/2 to 14. Mine had been cut down to just under 13. So I cut half a coil off each end with a small cutting wheel on a dremel and then smoothed both ends off with a sanding wheel.
I also relieved some of the spring tension on the trigger spring.
Upon reassembly I could tell that there was further improvement. Both a lighter pull and a crisper break.
Range testing back in November gave some of the best groups I've achieved with this rifle at just a shade under 2-1/4" (five shot groups at 100 yds with glass).
I gave the rifle several controlled impacts and was not able to make the hammer fall, so I believe I'm still safe.
I only just recently was able to borrow an older model RCBS trigger pull scale and just tonight measured the pull.
The trigger is releasing at between 4 and 4-1/4 lbs.
Not to shabby me thinks.....
Since this rifle is for me a range puppy, and will likely not see use in the field, I had initially intended to try for 3 to 3-1/2 lbs.
I'm not going to fiddle around with the springs any more, but I may attempt to knock the sear angle back just a tad more and polish it up as best as I can.
A fun little project!
Not really difficult to do at all.
This rifle is still my personal favorite, as she has really nice Walnut and has been kept in excellent condition.
Once I'm done tinkering and work up my best load, I've got a brandy new William's Foolproof that's replacing the scope.
Had a 5D on it previously and liked it a LOT! So I'm looking forward to having the "click" adjust of the FP.
