Trigger job

[Sam1911]

And if you're using the gun to shoot some kind of competition that rewards or requires single action fire, of course you wouldn't remove that feature. But I'd not wander into discussions of that when doing defensive practice/teaching with your wife. That's where your AD worry becomes real.

 

[MoreIsLess]

And if you're using the gun to shoot some kind of competition that rewards or requires single action fire, of course you wouldn't remove that feature. But I'd not wander into discussions of that when doing defensive practice/teaching with your wife. That's where your AD worry becomes real.

Thanks for the good input. The gunsmith I was talking to about it told me he thought it would probably be around 9 lbs when he got done with it.

 

[Sam1911]

That sounds exactly like what I'd expect, and there's no way anyone short of a pro football player is going to accidentally pull through a 9 lb DA trigger.

 

[788Ham]

I've got a Ruger SP 101 I got about 2 months ago, gritty DA trigger, felt like it had sand inside. I took mine to a good smith, he agreed, "Probably casting inside." He smoothed out the casting projections, honed out the hammer and trigger parts, installed a Wolff 12# hammer spring, {factory is 14#}. Now that DA is smoother than the SA, shoots so much better, and only $60 OTD !

 

[MoreIsLess]

That sounds exactly like what I'd expect, and there's no way anyone short of a pro football player is going to accidentally pull through a 9 lb DA trigger.

Do you think there could be any legal ramifications of having a trigger job done on my revolver. I had the Apex DCAEK kit installed on my M&P45c now I don't carry it anymore because everyone is telling me that if I shoot someone in self defense and the prosecutor finds out the trigger has been lightened it could come back to bite me in court.

 

[Sam1911]

Several answers to that:

1) If you trigger is SO light (and other factors help suggest) that you accidentally shot someone, that's a problem. You can't claim both self-defense (a deliberate shooting to stop a threat) and an accidental shooting (negligence). If a prosecutor was able to convince a jury that you really didn't even mean to shoot the guy because he really wasn't a credible threat, and that your gun accidentally discharged because that trigger was so light -- well, you'd be on the hook for manslaughter.

2) The "mindset" question: Can a prosecutor hold up your modified weapon and use that and other aspects of your "gun-nuttery" to sway a jury into thinking that you're some kind of Rambo sort who wasn't legitimately FORCED to defend himself, but was out looking for an excuse to shoot someone?

So, there's no law to say you can't use a modified weapon as a carry gun, or in self-defense. There is some non-zero (though I'd contend, pretty small) chance that the fact that your gun is modified could be brought up in court (if your case even goes to court) and could be presented in a negative way by the prosecutor. Of course, that's why you'd be paying your defense attorney -- to parry such tactics.

I don't have any carry guns that haven't been modified in some way, so take that for what it's worth.

 

[highlander 5]

Before I had the Ruger worked on the trigger pull is what I like to call "nothing short of a tranquilized gorrila could use". I have a SRH that's the same way. I don't have trigger gauge,but I'd say DA 10 lbs and SA 4 lbs.

 

[bassdogs]

Am still confused about "a trigger job". Have watched the TV [Am Guns] and that seems to be their answer to everything, a new gun, a used or classic, or one they build from scratch. But their work [with gun] always seems to be thousands of $$'s. In a recent episode, a guy walks in wanting to by matching pistols for himself and wife and were directed to a pair of 38 stubies. Seems they took a $1200 or $1500 pair and more than doubled the cost with some kind of humpty dumpty special package [bobbed the hammer, a trigger job, and of course a trademark etching and of course pink grips for the lady]. I can understand the lighter pull and maybe a smoother action for target or match work, but in a SD situation who notices a slightly stiff action? This thread talks about $100 or $200 for a GS to do a trigger and action job. Am I missing something or is the $1500 and higher custom work mostly "feel good" vs needed?

 

[Sam1911]

Well, if you're picking up your understanding of gunsmithing and/or useful firearm tuning from shows like American Guns or the other TV crud you can be excused for thinking its all a bunch of useless drek.

Fortunately, that's not really the case, and those shows are simply absurd junk food for the masses' mushy brains.

A lot of modifications make real sense for how you might want to use a gun. A bobbed hammer, for example, is a great idea for a defensive revolver that you'll be carrying as it removes a big snag point which can grab your pocket lining or other clothing and slow your draw. It also removes the temptation/tendency to cock the revolver single-action style, which is generally inappropriate and dangerous in a self-defense situation.

As for a trigger job, no you don't need a "match" trigger job like a bullseye shooter would require, but there's also no reason to live with a needlessly rough or heavy pull just because this is a "defensive" gun. (Really, this is the most critical shot you'll ever make. Why muff it fighting a nasty trigger?) For one thing, your defensive gun really aught to be the one you practice with MOST. Having a good trigger on that gun just makes your practice sessions more enjoyable and effective.

 

[bassdogs]

I'm not fooled by the dribble on the TV shows, but they do tend to imply that a trigger job is something of a magical moment. No question about the importance of that SD shot, my Judge has a bobbed hammer but thats another topic, but the only gun I have that has an objectionable trigger pull is a Davis derringer. I don't it anything other than a bad idea. What would I gain from a trigger job on my Colt trooper MkIII or Glock. Maybe I just don't know what a smooth action feels like.

 

[Sam1911]

What would I gain from a trigger job on my Colt trooper MkIII or Glock. Maybe I just don't know what a smooth action feels like.

Could be, but most Troopers I've shot, like most Glocks, have fairly acceptable triggers. Some guns end up with a little schmutz in the works from the factory and could use a little cleaning up to make practice time more enjoyable, target work more accurate, and even perhaps help a desperation shot in self-defense land where it was supposed to.

And some folks just like making sure their gun is as "good as it can be." A factory-stock modern handgun will probably work just fine without any attention. But some shooters really appreciate having an expert go through that gun and look for machine burrs, rough edges, and other imperfections of the manufacturing process. It can be confidence-inspiring to know that the gun is as close to perfection as you can make it, so the only factor you have left to blame for poor performance is YOU!

 

[highlander 5]

A good smith should be able to do a trigger job in the $80-$120 dollar range. Any more that that he's picking your pocket.

 

[bassdogs]

Thanks Sam that answer goes a long way in explaining the issue.

 

[788Ham]

SAM1911,

This is exactly what I had done on my SP 101, had the smith clean up the casting edges, the burrs, honing the trigger and hammer, lightening the hammer spring from 14# to 12#, this is what made the difference. This smith knew what needed honing on, he'd been one of Les Baers smiths for several years, beautiful DA now.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

So, who are the BEST action smiths out there, and for which types of guns?