Adjusting "set trigger"

[BillAlvord]

(I think I posted this question already but in the wrong place. My apoligies to the management and anyone else i goofed up or confused)
I have a TC .54 Big Bore Mountain rifle. I can't adjust the set trigger. I turn the screw up or down and nothing changes. When I use the "set trigger" I end up with such a light pull hair trigger that I can hardly controll it. Is there anyway I can fix this problem without going to a gun smith? Appreciate any help I can get. Thanks---Allegany

 

[rafterob]

If you haven't already, take the trigger out of the rifle and observe how it works. You can learn a lot by doing just that. It should have two screws, one adjusts the amount of spring pressure applied when the triggers are tripped and the other adjusts the engagement of the set trigger to the firing trigger.

 

[Zonie]

Notice that Ghettogun said the "other screw adjusts the engagement." (Italics added)

As you've found, the rear trigger is just a spring loaded part. It has a blade on the upper side and when it is released, it slams into the locks sear arm which releases the tumbler.

The front trigger has its own blade too and if it is pulled without setting the rear trigger it pushes the same sear arm to release the lock.

The front trigger also has a small 'catch' on it.

When the rear trigger is "set" by pulling it against the force of its spring, that front trigger 'catch' latches onto the rear set trigger holding it in a cocked position.

The screw that is located between the two triggers adjusts the amount of "catch" the front trigger has with the rear trigger.

Notice, this does not increase or decrease the force needed to move the front trigger.
It only increases or decreases the distance the front trigger needs to be pulled to release the rear "set" trigger.

Screwing the screw between the triggers out increases the amount of 'catch' and the distance the front trigger must move to release the set trigger.

Screwing it in decreases the amount of 'catch'and the distance the front trigger must move to release the set trigger.

I've seen more than one TC that the owner, not knowing what he/she was doing had adjusted the screw so far in that the catch didn't work at all.

By unscrewing the screw a few turns I "fixed" their guns.

Now that you know what is being adjusted I think you will notice a difference with your TC triggers.

For those who own a Lyman GPR:
The maker of the Lyman guns has decided that it doesn't want you adjusting the amount of engagement between the front (shooting) trigger and the rear (set) trigger.

Because of this the screw that is located between the triggers is too short to do anything at all (except to screw in and out).

With these short factory screws the front trigger is automatically set to the maximum engagement with the rear trigger.

If you want to decrease the amount of the front triggers movement to release the rear set trigger you will have to replace the screw with a longer one.

Personally, I don't recommend this.
The ultra light force needed to fire a set trigger is hardly noticeable and the "extra" distance the front trigger needs to be pulled to release the set trigger helps to keep the gun safe.

 

[BillAlvord]

Jim, I appreciate your answer and I'm sure going to check it out. One thing though, I told you my rifle was a TC when it is actually a CVA. Don't know if they're the same trigger assemb., lock etc. but I will sure check out what you said. Thanks a bunch! Bill

 

[BillAlvord]

Ghettogun, thanks a bunch. Between what you and Zonie told me I hope I can correct the problem or at least lessen it.(Is there such a word as "lessen"? Thanks a bunch. Bill(Allegany)

 

[Zonie]

Most of the common double set triggers work about the same way.

As for the "problem", as I mentioned, you can not increase the force needed to fire the gun when the rear trigger is "set".

That super easy to pull "hair trigger" is the whole idea behind having these.
The super light trigger pull won't disturb the aim when it's pulled.

As I mentioned, your front trigger should also be able to fire the gun when the set trigger is not set.
The pull will be heavy and often quite long but there isn't much that can be done about that either.
Unfortunately the design of a double set trigger places the pivot pin for the front trigger quite a ways in front of the locks sear arm and that results in a heavy trigger pull.