M44 trigger question

[DrDeFab]

I recently purchased a Mosin-Nagant M44 Carbine at a gun show. It looks like it has never been fired. (With a mfg date of 1946, that seems possible.)

I stripped it down for a thorough cleaning and stock refinishing, since the varnish was flaking off.

On reassembly, I noticed that when cocked, the trigger freely swings through about 1/2" of take-up travel. When dry-firing, the sear engagment seems secure, the trigger pull is about 8 lbs, and everything seems to function just fine - but I was still wondering if that amount of trigger slack is normal in a Mosin-Nagant.

If not, what could be wrong?
If it is, any ideas on how to get rid of it w/o paying more for new parts than I did for the rifle?

TIA

 

[grimjaw]

I don't know if it will reduce the travel, but this fix is supposed to lower the trigger pull weight. It's not much more than the price of a soda.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2005/mosinnaganttrigger/index.asp

jmm

 

[cracked butt]

On reassembly, I noticed that when cocked, the trigger freely swings through about 1/2" of take-up travel. When dry-firing, the sear engagment seems secure, the trigger pull is about 8 lbs, and everything seems to function just fine - but I was still wondering if that amount of trigger slack is normal in a Mosin-Nagant.

Perfectly normal. The trigger on the Mosin Nagant is like that of a double action revolver- a DA revolver with a really bad trigger that is.