bending a trigger plate?

[tnlonghunter]

Okay, I inlet for the trigger plate today on my York rifle. It fit really well, except that the area on the plate where the triggers actually are attached sits about 1/16" above the inlet, while the two ends are flush with the stock. What is the best way of alleviating this? Can I bend the trigger plate to match the curvature of the stock? If so, what's the best method?

 

[Roy]

If its set triggers be sure to take them apart, remove the springs and the triggers. Heat the plate up red and bend to fit.

 

[Birddog6]

I usually bend the triggerplate Before I inlet it all the way, as now when you bend it the plate will be shorter than the inlet. Most likely you will have to weld on to the end of the plate now to make it a tad longer, unless the triggerguard will cover up the gap. In that case I would glue in a shim of wood & bend the plate & reinlet.
From what you are explaining (If I understand you correctly), the plate needs to go just a tad deeper in the middle & both ends of the plate bent up slightly. I would try to refrain from bending where the triggers go thru the plate as it is real easy to mess one up there if not done Very carefully, as the plate will try to bend at the screw holes or the pin holes & etc. If I am bending one where there is a screw hole or a pin hole, I put the pin or screw back in it & then bend it so there is no void or weak spot there while bending.
Most plates I bend cold with a nut on one side & 2 nuts on the other side (depending on what way I want to bow it) & squeeze it in a vice. On a cast plate I would heat it first.

 

[aragorn]

Here's my York about 5 mins ago.

Draw file it - that's how I dealt with the problem. If you try bending it, you could mess up your inletting at either end. If it's 1/16", you should be able to file that off without affecting the strength of the plate. If you draw file right down to the wood you should be able to get an absolutely flush finish.

PS ignore the little hole beside the bolt screw hole - it was my guide hole when I used my drill press to drill the bolt hole through the stock. I'm going to fill that little hole by hammering in a tiny piece of silver wire, I think.

 

[tnlonghunter]

Thanks for the advice. I ended up opening the jaws of my vice wide enough to rest one end of the plate on each jaw, upside down. Then I got a second clamp and hooked it around the plate at the top and the bottom of the vice at the other end and tightened it up until it got the correct amount of bend. Worked like a charm.