first project - double set trigger

[flm_shooter]

I'm halfway through my first project. Fortunately, it's on my wife's rifle, not mine.

I'm adding double-set triggers to a LH Lyman deerhunter. I'm using the replacement trigger sold by TOTW. I very carefully lined it up with the original trigger so it would fit the existing triggerguard, and slooowly inlet it.

I now have it inlet perfectly into the stock, and the triggerguard fits just right. And I only made one minor scratch.

Feeling cocky, I assembled everything and found my error: the trigger bar on the new trigger is about 1/16th of an inch too short to hit the sear. Unlike the picture in TOTW catalog, the trigger bar curves sharply at the end. This curve makes it too short.

It appears I have a couple options:
1) Move the entire trigger assembly back just a little bit. This will require a lot more inletting and purchase of a complete new trigger guard.

2) weld a small bar onto the existing bar. My friend the welder doesn't think this is a good idea.

3) Heat the curved bar and attempt to bend it straight. Welder guy thinks this is possible.

Any ideas?

(This was going to be a surprise completed Xmas gift. I just boxed up the trigger instead. Let's see her figure THAT one out!)

 

[flm_shooter]

Well, I answered my own question. I need to back up the trigger almost a quarter inch to get the bars to line up properly. So as compensation, I gave my wife TOTW's catalog and had her pick out a triggerguard she liked. Unfortunately, she turned the page away from the hawken-style guards.

Her: "Ooh, this one is pretty."
Me: "No, dear, that's copied from an original French fusil fin gun. Wrong era."
Her: "Well, how about this one? It's got lots of curleyques."
Me: "Hmmm, dear? See where it says 'Pope style Schuetzen'?"
Her: "Here's a nice small one."
Me: <sigh> "Honey, that's for a pistol. Weren't you going to call your Mom today?"

And then, she discovered the inlays...

 

[Terry Zboril]

Fillmore,

Confused a bit. The bar that trips the sear on most "double set" triggers is the REAR trigger bar.

If this is too short, you need to move the trigger asssembly FOREWARD, not backward.

Ideally, the set triggers should engage the sear bar at about the point where the front and rear trigger bars CROSS, so that the arm can be fired either set or unset.

Regards,
Terry

 

Not sure I understand the problem. As Terry pointed out, bar too short requires the triggers to go ahead. However, if the problem is that the triggers need to be moved back it may be easier to cut 1/4" off of the back of the plate and weld 1/4" to the front of the plate. This will move the triggers without changing the inlet and the welding will be just on the plate so it won't affect your temper on the triggers.

Cody

 

[flm_shooter]

Yes, I had the wrong bar hitting the sear. Here's the trigger:

I didn't pay close enough attention when I started the project, and lined up the new trigger wrong. I used that "step" that is in the plate, because the existing single trigger had the same step. However, if I had aligned the nose of the triggerplate instead of the step, they would have been in the correct location. I should also have noticed that the front (firing) trigger was too far forward.

Moving the original stamped-steel triggerguard back would leave an ugly hole in the stock, so I'll put a new one on, one with a forward extension that will fill the hole.

 

[Old40Rod]

I can't help you with your trigger problem. I can, however, give you some useful advice. Buy your wife the trigger guard she likes :winking: the more curliques the better ::

 

[Terry Zboril]

Fillmore,
Am not confused anymore, thanks to the pics. :sorry:

Yes, you need to move the triggers FOREWARD, in your situation, about a FULL INCH, to where the location of the sear bar is at the trigger bars crossing location. Plug the back incision with wood and glue, and hope the triggerguard covers all the flubs.

Remember that the mark of a good gunsmith is not so much how many mistakes he makes, but how well he can hide them!
Regards,
Terry

 

Fillmore,
Am not confused anymore, thanks to the pics. :sorry:

Yes, you need to move the triggers FOREWARD, in your situation,

You mean BACKWARD...... right????

 

[flm_shooter]

Please tell me he means backwards.

 

He means backwards

 

[Terry Zboril]

Yes backwards. Too much eggnog that night. Thanks Cody.
Sear bar should be at the crossing point of the two levers.
Triggerguard front extension should cover the gap.
Regards,
Terry