Need help with Swedish Mauser trigger

[Beetle Bailey]

I bought a M38 Swedish Mauser last year and found out it had a single-stage trigger that broke like "a glass rod." It being my first Swedish Mauser and me being an ignorant Mosin Nagant fan, I just thought to myself "Wow, those Swedes must have been some serious shooters to make all their rifles with single-stage triggers. I thought most military rifles had two stage triggers."

When a fellow forum member tried my rifle out, he was a bit surprised that it went off when he was trying to take up the slack on what he thought was a two stage trigger . Luckily the rifle was pointed in a safe direction and actually he hit the water jug he was aiming at (but that's besides the point). He then showed me his Swedish Mauser and its two stage trigger. I was a bit surprised obviously (and now I always warn people about the trigger if they are gonna shoot that rifle) and disappointed that my rifle wasn't in "as issued" condition, but what's a guy to do? It's a nice looking rifle and very accurate.

Well, last week at the range I was talking to another guy who owned two Swedes and I mentioned to him I had a M38 but the trigger had been altered. He said "Oh, those Swedish Mauser triggers are very easy to work on and you can turn it back into a two-stage trigger!" Well, at this point I guess I should mention that the most I've ever done to any of my guns is a field strip and I don't even know how a trigger works. What exactly is involved in getting this trigger back to the way it's supposed to be? All my other rifles have two stage triggers so I'm thinking it might be a good idea to "fix" my Mauser but I don't know how. Thanks for any help.

 

[MAXM]

If your M96 has a single-stage trigger, for sure someone has "worked" the trigger group. The trigger group can have been changed entirely (OK), or the trigger piece modified. This last choice can be very dangerous. Take the rifle to a gunsmith.
Regards, MAXM

 

[Clark]

When the second hump of the trigger starts prying off the receiver, the leverage is less, making a second stage.

I routinely grind off the second hump, but you can I have not got around to it yet in this picture.

 

[Jim K]

To get back a two stage pull, you will probably have to replace the trigger and/or sear. But no matter what you do, check for sear reset as follows.

Make sure the rifle is not loaded. Cock the rifle in the normal manner. Set the sear to the ON position. Pull the trigger, hard. Without touching the trigger, move the safety to the OFF position. The firing pin should not drop. If it does, replace the cocking piece as well.

The reason for this note is that amateur trigger work on Mauser type rifles often involves not only stoning or grinding the trigger humps or sear, but also cutting back the cocking piece, not allowing sear reset. This can be very dangerous, since a loaded rifle will fire when the safety is removed.

Jim

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Thanks for all the help. I continue to have PC trouble and couldn't post until now, but I do appreciate the help. Luckily the safety functions normally and everything seems to be in order. Looks like I have to track down a few parts . Thanks again.