EMF Winchester 73

[buffalohunter]

I never liked shooting this rifle because the safety tab which Was depressed by the closing of the lever, was so hard to depress that it interfered with trigger squeeze. I removed the butt stock and saw a screw which appeared to put a strain on a flat spring which put tension on the safety tab. I loosened the screw a bit and the depressing of the safety tab was lighter. However the trigger pull had decreased from 5-6 lbs to 2 lbs. I retightened the strain screw but trigger pull remained at 2 lbs.
Could someone tell me what happened ?
Thanks

 

[dfariswheel]

Possibly the trigger safety spring or the trigger spring slipped off.
Check the springs to make sure they're in place and resting on the safety and trigger properly.
The trigger spring had to be resting on the small ledge on the rear of the trigger.
Here's a schematic of the '73.
Note that the screw that retains both the trigger safety spring and the trigger spring is only accessible from inside the lower tang.

Part 36 is the screw that puts tension on the mainspring and makes trigger pull lighter or heavier and the action easier to operate or harder.
Tighten that screw and tension on the mainspring gets less. Loosen it and tension gets higher.

http://www.stevespages.com/ipb-winchester-1873.html

 

[buffalohunter]

Thank you very much.

 

[Jim K]

I wonder if the safety catch is interfering with the trigger in a way it shouldn't and the trigger is not fully engaging the full cock notch. If that happens, the trigger pull will be very light. The safety should keep the trigger from being pulled unless the lever is fully closed (which is why it is called a safety catch), but it should not prevent the trigger/sear from full engagement with the hammer.

Jim