Triggers...hmmmm....

[gspn]

I know there could be a huge number of differences between triggers...BUT...I'm still surprised by just how different they can be.

I have a S&W model 586 whose double action trigger is light and smooth and consistent from start to finish...there is no change in feel from the time you start to the time the hammer falls...it is a delight to pull the trigger.

I also have a S&W Model 29 with a fairly heavy double action that seems to hit a brick wall right before the hammer falls. The trigger gets noticably harder to pull when you get to the back of the stroke...enough that it throws the sights off a bit when you have to put more muscle into it to get it to fall.

Am I a simple trigger job away from greatness on my Model 29? Have you ever tried to get one guns trigger to act like another that you own? Was it successful? Did you do the trigger job yourself or take it to a smith?

I'm new to revolvers so I'll listen to everything y'all have to say...I'll learn something no matter where this goes.

 

[MrBorland]

Your 586 sounds like a gem. As you discovered, a good DA trigger is a delight.

Have you ever tried to get one guns trigger to act like another that you own? Was it successful?

Yes and no. It's difficult to get one trigger exactly like another, but a good action job by a good 'smith can make a huge difference, nonetheless.

The stack in your 29 might be a simple matter of a cat's whisker too much material at the end of the sear/trigger engagement. Or the mainspring might need a bit more bend at just the right place. Or it might take some additional sleuthing to find the cause.

Did you do the trigger job yourself or take it to a smith?

I've sent them out, but am now starting to dabble in some basic action work. Basic smoothing of the internals is pretty straightforward, and can certainly improve an action, but to get an action as good and consistent as your 586 may take a lot of fine tuning.

A gunsmith can also look your gun over to be sure everything's in spec and fix anything that's not.


BTW, if you haven't read them yet, here are a few articles you might enjoy reading:

http://www.grantcunningham.com/good_trigger.html
http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/action_performance.html

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

As MrBorland pointed out, it is more than likely a little on the fat side on your sear. I've stoned a few of mine and you would be amazed at how well that works. Just smoothing out a sear with a fine grade honing stone can make a big difference. If it's TOO fat and requires the possibility of some file work, I would send that out. You can get into timing issues then. Not a pretty site to have your timing off.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Did you do the trigger job yourself or take it to a smith?

Smith & Wesson "trigger jobs" are of two kinds:

1. Replace the springs: a quick and easy do it yourself project that costs very little and tends to take about half an hour. Incidentally, any time you replace springs, you need to verify the gun still works properly, because you can end up with light primer strikes, which is to say: the gun goes "click" rather than "bang."
2. Replace the springs and work on the sear and hammer: not for the faint-hearted, but also not very difficult.

Colt trigger work also tends to be of two kinds:

1. Tweak the main spring: a quick and easy do it yourself project that costs nothing, but will forever ruin the spring if you do it wrong.
2. Work on the hammer and sear: I used to do that until I found a gunsmith who knows what he's about. It's easy to hash things up, expensive and difficult to find replacement parts.

If you don't have Kuhnhausen's manuals, (not expensive, very well illustrated, definitely worth reading from cover to cover,) I'd suggest relying upon gunsmiths who know what they're about.

 

[DPris]

I've had an action job done on a 25-9, an N frame like your 29, that left it as good as any DA action job I've ever owned.
Guns vary greatly from the factory, your 29 is perfectly capable of improvement.
If you don't know what you're doing yourself, get it to a pro.
Denis

 

[Hk Dan]

Geez with my 629 in single action, I think a harsh thought could set one off. Seriously, it's a touch and <kapow> DA is probably 10 pounds but it feels like 5, and as you said it's consistant all the way through.

I'm not a big trigger whore, but that SA pull is right up there with my competition 1911s.