Have Questions About Refurbishing SAA Replica

[Tallball]

I have a 44 magnum SAA "replica" made by Sauer and Son(s). It is a good shooter. The cylinder is just a tiny bit loose, but it does not shave lead and is quite accurate. The trigger is the lightest trigger I have ever felt on any firearm.

My FiL has reloaded about 1,000 rounds of 44 special for me over the past couple of years, even though he does not own anything in 44. I though it would be nice to give him this revolver as a Father's Day gift. The only thing is the hair trigger. He has told me that the springs are probably worn or something and that I should replace them before (insert amusing tirade here about my hands blowing off and so forth).

My MiL is willing to pay for some springs, partly because it will make him happy, and partly because she hopes it will be a long project that will keep him busy and out of her hair for a while.

I am in awe of the knowledge and expertise of many of the board members here, so I am asking your advice about which springs should be purchased to keep the old curmudgeon busy refurbishing the old hog leg.

PS: I am not worried that the job will be too challenging for him. He is a retired engineer and very gifted mechanically. He does tons of research before he starts any project, and is incredibly careful with everything he does. He is a perfectionist and a stickler for details. His micrometer will get a heck of a workout.


Here is a gratuitous poor-quality cell phone picture:

 

[BobWright]

A trigger pull that is too light may be, or may not be, due to a weak spring. Admittedly the mainspring does often tend to create a heavy pull, but if the hammer whacks the primer with enough force to fire the gun, its just possible that a new hammer might be needed. It is that notch in the hammer that may be worn too shallow to cause a hair trigger. Also examine the trigger in the sear area to be sure it is not broken and not engaging the notch fully.

So you are talking about the possibility of replacing hammer, trigger, and/or mainspring.

Bob Wright

 

[yugorpk]

Assuming its anything like a Colt there are 6 springs in the gun. Two of them , the main spring and the bolt spring , are the ones that have anything to do with trigger pull. Theres a lot more to trigger pull than just the springs though. Hammer notch condition and the trigger tip where it contacts the hammer are as or more important. There are some good books on adjusting timing and the trigger on SAA's but the lockwork in them has been in constant use for 170 years and really isnt that difficult to figure out.

 

[45 Dragoon]

For safe operation, it should have positive (+) hammer sear engagement (meaning that pulling the trigger will actually rock the hammer backwards slightly before "breaking" and allowing the hammer to fall).
The 170 yr old actions are "simple " till you want them to do certain things a certain way and when exactly to do it.

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram @ goonsgunworks

 

[Tallball]

My FiL is more observant than I am. I did notice a very light trigger, but thought, "Oh, that's nice." He is the one who thinks it might be dangerous. Since he is an engineer and I am an English teacher, he is the one more likely to be correct.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

There is no normal replacement interval for springs. I have Colts that are over 100 years old and they still have their original springs in them. But the split trigger/bolt spring can break. Here is a broken one. However, sometimes this spring will develop a hairline crack across one of the legs. In this condition the spring will be weak and will not offer much 'push' forward to the trigger, resulting in a very light apparent trigger pull. Usually a cracked trigger/bolt spring will break completely if you try to remove it. Then you will know. I don't know if the gun in question has a flat leaf spring like this, or a wire spring. Wire springs seldom break, flat leaf springs like this can and do break.




As already stated, weak springs are not the only cause of a light trigger pull.

The point about the hammer rocking back ever so slightly is a good point. Pull the trigger very slowly and watch to see if the hammer rocks back ever so slightly before it falls. If it does, that is good. It means the angles of engagement between the sear and full cock notch are positive.

Here is a simple test.

Make sure the gun is unloaded.

Cock the hammer.

Keeping your finger off the trigger, push forward against the hammer with your thumb. Push pretty hard, but don't try to break anything.

If the hammer falls without touching the trigger, something is wrong.

It could be a worn full cock notch on the hammer, it could be the sear (tip of the trigger). It could be both.

If the hammer falls when pushed without the trigger being touched, the gun is dangerous and should not be fired until the actual problem can be ascertained. In this condition it will feel like the trigger pull is very light, but it is usually caused by wear or poor gunsmithing, not light springs.

 

[45 Dragoon]

I'm sorry but a hair trigger is never safe, especially if you are gifting it to someone else. It's generally an accident waiting to happen.

As far as I know, there isn't a normal replacement maintenance program for S.A.s. the springs may last as long as the revolver itself and a new spring may break tomorrow. The old adage "if it ain't broke . . . " applies here. The best thing for a S.A. is a good tuning which will ensure long parts life. The worst thing to do for someone is to give them a gun with a hair trigger, setup by someone that doesn't know what they are doing.

That is my personal and professional opinion.

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram @ goonsgunworks

I'm a slow typest !! I agree with what DJ said as well.

 

[yugorpk]

"hair trigger" is a subjective term. I'm sure theres people who would find the triggers on some of my guns to be "hair triggers" while I find them long and creepy. If they, or you, don't know the platform well its hard to make a good judgement on the condition of the action.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

My Colts have 2 1/2 pound trigger pulls. I consider that optimal.

For a little while, one of them had a trigger pull under 2 pounds. I did not like that and put a heavier trigger/bolt spring back in to bring it back to 2 1/2 pounds.

I consider any trigger pull under 1 pound to be dangerous.

 

[yugorpk]

If you are used to a 10 lb double action trigger pull and someone hands you a well tuned 3 lb trigger pull SAA you will call that a hair trigger. Its a subjective thing. Without objective criteria and experience in the platform its not fair to call a trigger pull a "hair trigger". You figure out a few things dealing with SAA's or their clones. Hold it up to a light upside down and cock that hammer back. Watch the bolt and see where and when it drops . 4 clicks and when they click. Push the hammer as noted or better yet pull the hammer out and inspect the notches. Learn what those notches do and how the trigger,bolt and hammer interact. Spend a few hours learning how it works.

Its a simple lock work that is easily manipulated if you spend a few hours learning how it works and how changes you make affect the lock work.

 

[45 Dragoon]

D J is correct. Nothing leaves the shop with anything less than a 2 1/2 lb. trigger pull. I set all engagements that aren't to positive.
According to the OP, the trigger pull is the lightest trigger he's ever felt on any firearm, and then proceeded to call it a hair trigger. He then asked for "our " advice and in the interest of safety, I gave him the answer I was taught by a master tuner that's been tuning S.A.s longer than I've been alive. I'm 58 yrs young. I respect his advice over any in the "gun business" so, that's what I stick to.
Yugorpk, I understand subjectivity and in my business, "hair trigger" is a bad word (no matter who says it ). Folks send me revolvers to tune and get rid of "hair triggers" ( which, as already mentioned, is anything less than 2 1/2 lbs. period from my shop ). Obviously, you can do whatever you want, I gave my opinion (which was asked for ) and I'll stick to my opinion.


Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram @ goonsgunworks

 

[Tallball]

Thank you all for your expert advice. I will examine it more carefully this afternoon.

 

[CraigC]

IMHO, "hair trigger" isn't enough information. It's too vague and completely dependent on one's perception. In the age of really crappy factory triggers, it is entirely plausible that someone accustomed to heavy factory triggers (especially something like New Model Rugers) would think a perfectly safe 2lb trigger on a revolver was a "hair trigger". Most of my guns are in the 2lb range and that's where I like them. They are perfectly safe, in my hands. Someone who's only shot box stock Ruger New Models would probably think they were too light. Let alone someone who only shoots modern striker fired autos.

 

[Tallball]

When I cocked the hammer back all the way I couldn't push it back forward with moderate pressure. Hopefully that means it will be okay.

The trigger is fine by me. I like them light. Also I have way too many projects going and am lazy. If it were up to me, I would probably just shoot a few rounds through it every couple of years (I have a SBH which I prefer) until it broke or didn't. NBD, it is just a range toy that I didn't pay much for.

My FiL is the one who is so concerned about it. I will probably give it to him. If he wants to take it all apart and examine everything, that is even better. He was retired involuntarily and is often bored. He is good at mechanical work and it will give him something to do. My MiL will be grateful to me if it is a long project.

Thank you to everyone for your advice and insight. My MiL wanted to pay for springs or something as her part of the gift. Maybe she can just give him a gift card to a place he can order SAA parts from, should he decide to buy some.

 

[yugorpk]

Get him a brownells gift card and within a few years he'll have a tool box full of this stuff.