Trigger Stick

[Holydoc]

This is a cut-&-paste of the same topic I just placed in the 642 club thread. After I placed it there I started considering that someone who knows a cure for this problem may not read all 88 pages of the 642 club thread to find it.
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Went to the range again today. Shot the Beretta and the little mule. Mule fights back pretty good at 15 yards. With the exception of one shot (dead center, must of been a mistake on my part), I have no great bragging rights. But I had a problem pop up that I have never encountered before.

While shooting my Personal Protection Rounds (Remington and Speer), the trigger was acting funny. For about every other shot, the trigger would not return to home. In other words, the gun would go off, and the trigger would stay in the back position. I had to gently push the trigger with the back of my trigger finger to make it pop back into place. This only happened when I started shooting my PPR. I did not have any more target rounds to test to see if the trigger would continue its silly actions.

My questions are:

Is this a common problem?
What causes this to occur?
What can I do to be sure it does not happen again?
Is this a serious problem that I should get S&W to look at?


Thanks everyone for your advice. I will be going out to the range tomorrow as well.

 

[tnieto2004]

I know they call it trigger slap in some and its common in some guns .. Someone else will know A LOT about it I am sure .. You could always send it back for repairs!!

 

[huntershooter]

I would pull the sideplate and check the rebound bar/frame for burrs, lubricate same and check the spring. If it's a used gun someone may have cut a couple coils in an effort to lighten trigger pull. If it's a new gun I'd check it (and replace if needed) anyway. You could send the gun to S&W for warranty work, I think it's easier (and much quicker) to do it myself.

 

[Holydoc]

It is a brand new gun. If it was burrs wouldn't the gun do it all the time? In other words, I am sitting here dry firing it probably 100 times and it has yet to perform a trigger catch. No matter how slow I release the trigger, I am not getting a catch. It only happened today at the range.

 

[VA27]

[1] It's not a common problem, but I have had it happen.

[2] It could be a bur in the action or the trigger return spring is too weak.

[3] Clean (or have it done) the action. If you purchased it used and the previous owner had a ''spring kit'' installed, put factory spec springs back in it.

[4] This is a serious flaw in a personal protection gun. If you are not familiar with the take down procedure, you'll need to find a 'smith to fix it. If it is a new gun it should be covered by the manufacturer. Call 'em.

If it's just a metal chip floating around in the action it will only happen when the chip bounces into the right place.

 

[huntershooter]

Since it's a new revolver, if you are not experienced with "detail stripping"/reassembly of S&W's, send it back! 100% function is a requisite in a firearm, especially a SD gun.

 

[Holydoc]

Trigger Stick ~ Update

This is once again copied directly from my post in the 642 club. I really appreciate all the advice here. I just wanted to keep you informed of what is happening so far.

Went to the range today. Loving that range! Well anyway I used Winchester Range rounds, Remington PPR rounds, and Speer 125grain rounds. In total, I put around 35 rounds through the gun.

On the fourth round being shot, Winchester Range, the trigger stuck and had to be pushed with my trigger finger. After that initial stick, the trigger worked flawlessly. Basically 31 rounds in a roll without a catch.

I have sent S&W an email on the subject. Looks like this is going to be a wait and see scenario since I will be gone TDY next week. This means that I have one more range trip with the little mule before I determine what the best course of action I should take with this problem.

In case anyone is interested, I was shooting at 15 yards with the little mule. Well basically I was set at 15 yards for the beretta so I shot at the same spot with the 642. I was shooting a bit low until the sun went behind a cloud, and I suddenly noticed a familiar red dot bouncing around on the target. I lowered the gun from my normal shooting stance to a more comfortable little over waist high stance and just concentrated on holding the little red dot still. I was grouping at 3 inches at 15 yards. Man, I love those laser sights! I tell you, I sometimes feel like it is just cheating.

 

[Holydoc]

Update to the trigger stick problem.

Well the email got no response at all. I got a return receipt that S&W opened the email. A return receipt that S&W read the email. But no response after 21 days. Bottom line, if you are thinking that email would be an option for a viable communication route, forget it. Score "F"

I then contacted S&W via telephone. They were very cordial and never questioned any of my statements or even worried about reason pistol was performing as stated. They simply took my name and address and stated that a mailing label was on the way. Score "A"

Mailing label was received 5 days later with paid overnight via UPS air. Packaged up the gun and sent on Friday 13th. I know...I know...did not even consider the consequences of sending it out then. Score "A"

So now the wait begins. We shall see how long it takes for me to receive my little mule back and if the problem is fixed. Besides the email incident, S&W has performed better than my expectations on all accounts.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Every time I've sent email to S&W Customer Service they have answered my question within 3 days, no longer. I can only guess there was a serious mess-up if you got no answer in 21 days.

 

[jt1]

Packaged up the gun and sent on Friday 13th. I know...I know...

Holydoc - I was born on Friday the 13th. Always been lucky for me.

 

[fiVe]

Holydoc: Here's hoping for a complete/thorough repair and a speedy return of your 642.

 

[jad0110]

You made the right decision by sending it back to S&W. They'll fix it right and not charge you a dime.

If I were to venture a guess, I would say that in addition to a burr hanging up the rebound slide, the cylinder hand could be hanging up in the hand window. Just a thought.

 

[Holydoc]

Final update:

Recieved my little mule back from S&W today! Woo Hoo! Now that was quick service. The receipt says:

Replaced Rebound <-- Assuming rebound spring?
Repair Trigger <--- No idea.

Anyway, I am looking forward to taking my little mule back on the range this weekend. Super kudos to Smith & Wesson on their extremely efficient and superb customer service.

On a related note, this type of customer service is going to be costly to me. Now I can only think about my next S&W pistol.

 

[Holydoc]

In Closing:

Took the 642 to the range and put 45 rounds through it. Mixed rounds of standard target (winchester) to +p hollowpoints. Never got a trigger stick or even any indication of any.

At 20 yards (closest my target range has ) I was able to make a grouping in a diameter of about 6 inches. I was so proud of my little mule! She's a keeper!