Enfield #4 trigger question.

[Rubberberner]

Gunsmithing is a hobby for me, and a buddy brought me a Savage Built Enfield .303 Mk I No. 4. It was missing quite a few small pieces: the entire safety assy, rear trigger guard screws, butt plate, front sight, etc...
The main concern with the actual functionality and safety of the gun that I have is the trigger. Trigger creep and heavy pull is to be expected with a rifle from 70+ years ago.
But when this gun is cocked the trigger has a large amount of (for lack of a better term) flop: the trigger is able to be moved forward (towad the front of the trigger guard) and the clearance between the sear and the trigger increase to a significant distance. This makes me wonder if there was some kind of retainer or spring that originally held the trigger from falling forward with gravity as the nose of the gun goes down. Is this normal for this type of rifle? or is there another part missing that I haven't been able to find?If this is normal I'm going to drill and tap the trigger assembly, and insert 2 set screws to 1)prevent the forward travel of the trigger and 2)prevent over travel when pulling the trigger, that movement is extremely undesirable, to me, and unacceptable in an operational firearm.
Thanks in advance

 

[deimos256]

I have heard that the slop in the trigger is normal. My savage does it too.

 

[DougW]

Your trigger is totally normal, basically a 2 stage trigger. The trigger usually has a bit of "slack" and wiggle before it gets stiff to fire the rifle. (I do have one #4mk1 that though it has the normal trigger, it is a definate single stage feel to it.) There is no spring or pin missing. It is a very simple system.

Parts can be had from Springfield Sporters to fix up the missing bits and pieces.

 

[Rubberberner]

alright, excellent. thanks for the answers, now I'm going to modify the trigger to get rid of that "old military rifle" feel.

 

[madcratebuilder]

The No4 mKI is a two stage trigger. The trigger is hung from the trigger guard, not the receiver like the MkII's. A unmodified trigger wel have a light first stage and about a 6lb second stage. It's not uncommon to find someone has filed material from the trigger, that's when you see a floppy first stage. There should be two distinct humps on the trigger it self, guys file on these and fubar them.

This photo is a MkII but similar to the MkI, you can see the two humps on the trigger and how they push against the sear.