Cabela's Hawken Rifle trigger problem

[lonewolf465]

I picked up a Cabela's Hawken Rifle, left hand model in their Bargain Cave yesterday for a very good price. Looks like it has never been fired. I asked for the counter guy to take off the trigger locks so I could check the set trigger. He absolutely refused but said I could bring the rifle back if there was a problem. Well, low and behold checking it today the set trigger does not work and their store is 400 miles away. I'm not really interested in getting my money back, I want the trigger to work. Could someone give me an idea on what the problem could be and how big of deal it would be to fix it? I am an armorer for several handguns and rifles so I have some mechanical aptitude. Just don't want to get in over my head. Thanks, in advance

 

[Black Hand]

You'll need to be more specific than "the set trigger does not work"...

 

[lonewolf465]

Sorry-- I left out the important details! Pulling the rear trigger will set the front trigger. When I pull the front trigger there is a "click" but the hammer will not fall. Pulling the front trigger the second time, the hammer will fall but the trigger pull is heavy. I can use only the front trigger to drop the hammer but the trigger pull is heavy (as expected since I'm not setting it). Hope that description helps.

 

[Bill Hall]

I'm not familiar with that brand of triggers, but they are all pretty much the same. It sounds like the rear trigger blade is not hitting sear bar hard enough, or maybe not at all.

Could just be a loose trigger spring screw. Check that first be removing the trigger assembly and finding the screw that holds down the spring. Make sure it's tight. Reinstall the triggers and try it again.

If that doesn't work, it could be a couple of other things. But I would try that first and get back to us for other ideas. No need to throw a bunch of troubleshooting rememdies at you if it's just a simple fix. Good luck. Bill

 

[lonewolf465]

thanks I give it a try. My son in law just showed to shoot his new right handed model. Christmas came early for him and my son

 

[necchi]

Take the lock out, and makes sure it's well cleaned of all the packing grease they load in those things for shelf storage, brake cleaner or gas works,, re-lube the lock parts and make sure those screws are snug on the bridle. You need to make sure the Fly has free movement under the bridle.
Here's a good thread with photo's that covers about all there is to those triggers,, http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/...268832/post/1140654/hl//fromsearch/1/#1140654

 

[BrownBear]

I didn't have any problems with mine, but changed it out for a RE Davis Deerslayer trigger. It's basically a Lyman (they're both made by Investarms), and the trigger unit is a straight drop-in. It's so much better than the original on Cabella's, Lymans or TCs that I wouldn't even bother trying to sort out the one you have.

 

[Zonie]

lonewolf465
If you follow necchi's suggestion, while you have the lock removed look into the hole where the sear arm normally sits.

With the trigger still installed, push the rear trigger all the way forward.
You should see a steel blade rise up into that hole at least half way. Further is better.

If the blade is not rising that far, the problem is it is hanging up on some wood in the stock.

With a little trimming you should have it working like it should.

If the blade is rising up at least half way thru that sear hole the problem is probably the rear trigger spring.
These are often adjustable with a small set screw providing the tension adjustment.
You will want to increase the load on the spring.

This will drive the rear triggers blade up against the locks sear arm harder causing it to release.

I assume you know that you should never release the rear "set" trigger when the lock is at half cock?
If you do, there is a good chance of breaking the nose off of the locks sear or busting the half cock notch in the tumbler.

 

[lonewolf465]

I'm giving up for tonight. I have a rifle just like it and the trigger assembly from that rifle works fine in the other rifle. Can't see any difference by my wife is making popcorn and that wins. thanks for the advise.

 

[necchi]

Then it's the rear leaf spring. :wink:

 

[Lock Nut]

Another thing to check as I've had a similar situation.
Pull the trigger out and look into the slot and you'll see the sear lever. make sure there is enough space around it when cocking the hammer back. Then check to make sure there is enough space between the end of the arm and the stock. Hold onto the hammer so it doesn't snap and push on the arm with a screw driver. There can be enough play in the sear/arm to hit the side of the stock when you push on it. Thus causing the hard trigger pull. If thats the case, pull the lock and simply and carefully remove some wood with chisel or drill the hole alittle deeper with a forstner bit.

 

[lonewolf465]

Thanks for the replies folks. I took the trigger group from my rifle and installed it on the new one and it works great. I don't use my rifle much since I use a flintlock. Looks like someone got in there and really messed things up. There are some chips on the internal parts and I can't get the main spring adjusted. The lock had loose screws and the heads were all dinged up. It's shooting fine now and this gives me an excuse to upgrade my rifle with a Davis trigger. I am waiting to see what Cabela’s has to say. It also gives me a project for an upcoming cold winter night. Thanks again

 

[Zonie]

If I worked in Cabela's Bargain Cave I'd tell you that there are reasons those guns are in there for a bargain price. :grin:

Your bargain was probably a return from someone who couldn't get the set trigger to work and had been in there trying to "fix" things.

I really don't know about Cabela's but I know that with some stores, once that sort of thing is done they can't return it to the factory and they can't sell it as new.

 

I have a really dumb question. Granted, I'm just a dumb Hungarian, but couldn't you just buy a new trigger assembly for it? I'm not sure who makes that gun, but I'm sure you can buy replacement parts for it. That way you can have two working rifles, and if you decide to sell the one you cannibalized the parts from, you can sell it for a bit more since it has a working trigger.

Also, I once looked at a used gun at Gander Mountain, and I asked the fellow if he could remove the trigger lock off of it so I could fully examine it. He said they were not allowed, so I just turned and walked away. Not being able to inspect the trigger action is a huge issue for me if you are asking for my money.

 

[BrownBear]

I have a really dumb question. Granted, I'm just a dumb Hungarian, but couldn't you just buy a new trigger assembly for it? I'm not sure who makes that gun, but I'm sure you can buy replacement parts for it.

Not a dumb question at all, but worth a followup.

Lyman triggers should drop in since they're both from Investarms and other parts have been interchangeable in my experience. I can't find the parts link at the moment, but IIRC replacement triggers from Lyman are actually more expensive than the Davis. And the Davis are vastly superior.

For one thing, the adjustment screw between the Lyman triggers is too short to do anything, for decoration only. You have to track down a replacement (metric), but standard lengths I've found are too long and have to be cut down a little to work. A hassle for something that's more expensive, yet still needs mods before it works right. No fiddling at all with the Davis.

 

[lonewolf465]

I don't want to come across as a fool in this transaction. They gave me a 30 day return option. I knew what I was getting into. I have several friends that work in the Cabela’s gun dept and gun libraries. According to them, refusing to remove a trigger lock to inspect a firearm is unheard of under supervision. The bargain caves I have been in have always had the defect marked on the tag. Perhaps I am more disappointed in the staff I had to deal with and not the purchase. That is an entirely different story and Cabela's in the process of remedying that. My plan is to order a new trigger and even then I will still have only about $250 in a left handed rifle for my son. I had it out yesterday and it is a great rifle, straight shootin, and now working fine. thanks again for all the responses

 

I don't think of you as a fool at all. I know sometimes we see things and we want to believe everything is okay, but sometimes we let our guard down. I think the person who wouldn't let you see the gun with the trigger lock off is the fool.

Left handed rifle... I shot one of them once. Was a bugger for me to shoot since I am right handed. Only two things I can do left handed... eat and pee.

 

[newtewsmoke]

Perhaps I am more disappointed in the staff I had to deal with and not the purchase.

True Dat!! I really don't like the kind of staff cabellas keeps around, un-helpful, un-friendly, un-knowledgeable, they see that you're looking for something and they ignore you. You ask for help and they hand you off to someone else, who hands you off to someone else, I could go on and on!!Thier prices usually aint that great anyway, but still anytime we're goin by someplace thet has a cabellas...we stop in and look around. ok...done ranting. Scott
p.s. FWIW we much prefer Scheels, not sure where thay are all at, NE and S.D. for sure.

 

[lonewolf465]

Update-----Cabela's came through and sent a replacement trigger. (I hope they got their staff member straightened out.) Honestly, I have never had a problem with their customer service and have found them to be very accommodating. Since my son lives 200 miles away, I took the trigger out of my rifle and replaced his defective trigger. I placed the new replacement trigger in my rifle. It was creepy and not very smooth, a typical trigger for that rifle. I took the forum's advice and purchased two R.E. Davis triggers. Wow, they are great and simple to install. They were an inexpensive way to vastly improve the rifles I have. (Replace one in my percussion rifle also.)