lighter mainspring in S&W 340/442/642?

[1KPerDay]

Starting to like this little gun but the trigger feels like around 15 lbs, and my delicate girly XL sized hands actually get tired from pulling the trigger after a box of ammo. What's the scoop on lighter mainspring that will reliably ignite primers? Or should I man up?

 

[chuckpro]

I have tried some of Wolfs replacement main springs and I am not a huge fan. Have someone slick up the action if you are not comfortable doing it yourself and try a reduced trigger return spring. My 642 has a smooth 7lb trigger with a factory main spring after some work.

 

[243winxb]

Replacement main springs may work when fine tuned for one brand of primer. Change primers and you have misfires, light strikes.

 

[Telekinesis]

Apex has a set of Duty/Carry replacement springs (main spring and trigger return spring) that are designed to reduce the trigger pull from 15+lbs to about 9 lbs but still maintain reliable ignition of primers. I have heard good things about them and they're only $25 so I ordered a set recently but they haven't arrived yet. If you pair the spring set with a good trigger job, it should make a world of difference in how the gun shoots.

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

If you have the right screwdriver and know how to tap off a sideplate, spraying out the factory grease with some clp and then spraying out the clp with some canned air leaving only a little in there as residue should improve the trigger noticeably.

Tension on the mainspring should be released prior to removing the plate and the action should not be engaged when the plate is off.

 

[springer99]

Apex has a set of Duty/Carry replacement springs (main spring and trigger return spring) that are designed to reduce the trigger pull from 15+lbs to about 9 lbs but still maintain reliable ignition of primers. I have heard good things about them and they're only $25 so I ordered a set recently but they haven't arrived yet. If you pair the spring set with a good trigger job, it should make a world of difference in how the gun shoots.

Either the Apex spring kits or get individual trigger return springs and reduced power hammer springs from Midway, etc. Also, if you go to Midway, pick up a Brownell return spring tool while you're at it. Well worth the $20 cost. IMO you can get to around 9-10lb pull weights without sacrificing any reliability. While you have the sideplate off, lightly stone the surfaces of the rebound slide, it will make a big improvement in how smooth the pull becomes.

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks all.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Apex has a set of Duty/Carry replacement springs (main spring and trigger return spring) that are designed to reduce the trigger pull from 15+lbs to about 9 lbs but still maintain reliable ignition of primers. I have heard good things about them and they're only $25 so I ordered a set recently but they haven't arrived yet. If you pair the spring set with a good trigger job, it should make a world of difference in how the gun shoots.

Another vote for the Apex spring kit. It works very well and I have never heard of reliability problems.

 

[Jim Watson]

I would not reduce mainspring load without reducing friction. I have a stock gun that demands a stock mainspring to fire all brands. I have a tuned gun that has never failed with a SLIGHTLY lighter mainspring.

You can reduce the rebound spring to a certain extent but beware of sluggish trigger return.