Hammer and Trigger ?

[Stan N]

HI there
I have a 50cal Hatfield i just bought and the hammer wont stay back . My question is . If i turn the set screw (it is a double trigger) counter clock wise willl it do any good? Also the hammer wants to hit to the right of the nipple . Any help will be good
Thanks Stan

 

[necchi]

Well the first thing you need to do is take the darn thing apart. It's hard to diagnose lock problems when you don't know it's internal condition.
Pull the lock.
Check it's overall condition. Dry? Rusted parts?

Old oil/lube will get dry and gum things up, so give it a good cleaning with a solvent (brake cleaner) and then make sure there aren't any broken parts inside like the sear or tumbler.

Re oil/lubricate the lock internals and see if it functions properly.
Once you know the lock is in good working condition outside the stock we can move on to possible trigger problems.

What typically happens with older guns is the wood dry's out and guy's (all the previous owners)with a heavy hand on the screwdriver will over tighten screws crushing the wood inside the mortise.
Don't worry, this is all fixable, but one step at a time.

So, How's the lock condition?

 

[Zonie]

I agree with necchi but to answer your question, that little screw between the triggers controls how the rear set trigger is latched by the front trigger.

It has nothing to do with the lock staying cocked.

 

[crockett]

Just in case it is another issue it might be a good idea to take the lock off the gun and cock the hammer to see that it locks up okay. Trip the sear arm with your finger. If the lock is okay then it is the trigger and the instructions you were given will work. Since it sounds like you bought/have a manufactured gun (not a kit) I cannot image the mortise was cut too deep but if you attempt to fix the trigger and still have problems, as a last resort, try putting a paper shim between the trigger plate and the stock- to move the trigger farther out of the stock; however, this problem usually only occurs with a kit where the maker inlet too deeply.

 

[Chris Hayes]

Necci, you are spot on. I just bought a dixie Poor boy that the wood was holding it and keeping it from going to full cock.

 

[Stan N]

Thanks Guys
The question i have is there only 1 screw holding the lock in? i only see the one on the left side of the rifle or do i have to take the trigger guard off .
Stan

 

[crockett]

On most percussion locks only one screw is used to hold it in place. You shouldn't have to remove the trigger guard. On most set triggers a tiny allen head wrench is used to adjust them. To pull the trigger off you have to remove the trigger guard but this isn't needed if you are just using the allen head wrench.
Others folks are more experienced at gun repair than I am but I found that I had a bad habit of over complicating things. Usually you are better off to go for the most easy solution as that often fixes the problem. The other thing to keep in mind is whenever you have a problem it is likely a problem that others have had as well, you are not alone.