Lightening the Trigger Pull ? (03A3)

[Hylander]

My Trigger pull is just to heavy
I like the 2-Stage, just want it lighter, atleast down to #3.5 or
even #2.5 if possible.
Can it be lightened without removing the 2-Stage pull ?

Information

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[Jim Tarleton]

Yes.

Jim

[Chuckindenver]

to get that trigger to less then 3 pounds would be tough...
however, you can get the heavy feel out by replacing the rebound spring with a lighter one.
look for a nice 1903 trigger and cocking rod that have a nice crisp edge.
unless you get real lucky, most A3,s are a little rougher and will have a heavy feel. 5 pounds is normal..and not bad for a military rifle.

[Jim Tarleton]

I have had tremendous success stoning the sear surfaces with trigger stones to a mirror like finish, then Gunjuicing the surfaces. It produces a very light and crisp trigger pull with no other modifications. You have to cook the Gunjuice on them in a stove for it to work properly. All surfaces must be perfectly flat, thus the trigger honing stone usage. There are other things that can be done, like shortening the trigger sear, but you better know what you are doing before you attempt such a modification, as the odds are you are going to screw it up.

Lighter spring (as Chuck suggested) will help, or slight (and I mean slight) shortening of the present spring will help. You can actually get to the point that you have a dangerously light trigger pull if you get too carried away.

I have examined some eliptical trigger sears (only) that seriously reduce trigger pull (less drag), but those are intricate pieces of work. I own a USMC rifle used in competition (USMC Pearl Harbor SRS hit with not one of the typical USMC indicators) that has a modified trigger that I, as of yet, have been unable to exactly reproduce. It appears to be a combination of all the above with the top of the trigger sear VERY slightly rounded and a slight reduction in the first stage (no Gunjuice of course). It is the best 03 trigger I have ever seen. Shorter pull, very little creep, VERY crisp break, and a significantly lighter pull (< 3 lbs). Using Prussian Blue, I finally figured out that the trigger releases without any detectable compression of the firing pin spring.

In the past, I have been an advocate of very light trigger pulls, but an incident on the firing range made me rethink my position. The hole in the roof made the range rethink my presence. I had a similar incident while hunting. Sufficient sear engagement is a lifeline to seeing your children grow older.

My "Dumbest Stunt" light trigger story:
Many years ago, while deer hunting in Texas near the tire testing track outside of Laredo, I walked up on a very high deer stand. Since my partner and I were the only two people on the lease that day, I decided to use the stand. I had been walking through the brush with my 257 Roberts with Timney Target Trigger on safety hoping to jump a resting buck in the heat of the day. For those not familiar with the old Timney Target Triggers, they are single stage triggers capable of set trigger let-offs with an external adjustment for trigger pull. Mine was set to release at < 1 lb. In a moment of lapsed brain activity, I started up that ladder with the rifle loaded on safety. Very dumb mistake. It is so easy to open a bolt.

About ten feet off the ground, my sling let loose and the rifle dropped to the ground. I had just enough time to look down as the rifle hit the ground butt first. It fired. That round came screaming up past me, missing me by inches and I felt the muzzle blast on my face. I had been shot before, and I knew the result of being hit; but for some reason, that shot scared me more than any other shot ever fired at me. I nearly fell off the ladder and it was difficult getting down. I was so weak kneed I had problems just standing.

To this day, when I pick up that rifle, or any other, I instinctively open the bolt, which I was taught to do as a small kid hunting with my grandfather. It was a hard way to re-learn an old lesson.

Light triggers can kill you, or worse yet, someone else. Beware.

Jim

[Hylander]

Thanks for the input.
Where might I get a lighter Rebound spring ?
I hate heavy Triggers, all my hunting guns are #2.5 or lighter.
My Varmint rifle is #1.75, even my Carry 1911 is only #3.25
Only thing that is heavier is my Carry Glock at #4.25 and that is because Glock triggers just are not very workable
Anywho I will do some Stoning and try to find a lighter Rebound spring.

What about a Hubard Trigger ?
This is for my Sporter so worries with Originality

[JGaynor]

Thanks for the input.
Where might I get a lighter Rebound spring ?
I

Woolf Spring has sear springs for O3's:
Springs for SPRINGFIELD Rifles & Shotguns

Unfortunately there is no spec so whether they are lighter, heavier about the same is anybody's guess. you could try calling them i suppose. They might even be able to wind something special.

Another thing you can do is totally strip the assembly. make sure everything is scrupulously clean, deburred and well but not over lubricated.

good luck!

Regards,

Jim

[Lancebear]

Hylander,

I like Jim G's approach. Maybe very slightly bevel the inside slot edges of the sear with a Swiss file. Clean everything well and then take a fine brass brush with oil and polish the top of the trigger, sear and sear notch on the bolt assembly. Then polish everything with Flitz.

A trigger is cheap if you want to try the stoning and mess it up, I like a project, but only replace a part if it doesn't work.

Marine armorers certainly knew their stuff. Best trigger on any rifle I have ever owned in a USMC M1903. Have no idea how that was done.

Let us know how it works out.

Lancebear

[Jim Tarleton]

What is Flitz?

Jim

[Lancebear]

What is Flitz?

Jim

Hey Jim,

Flitz is a fine metal polish paste made in Germany, good gun shops would have it. Doesn't scratch metal surfaces but leaves them slick as hell. You would like it. You can even use it on blued surfaces but that is a choice left to the user.

Think I tried it on an M1917 S&W. Very clean revolver, no visible rust. Some came off, microscopic bits I guess.

You can even use it to polish a bore. Say for instance you have a rifle with a fine bore and Hoppe's soaked patches come out perfectly clean. Run a few patches with Flitz on them through and more junk will come out.

I bought a five and a half oz. tube off the net. That will last for years. Doesn't take but a dab to do the work.

I'd try your stoning, but am happy with my triggers.

Thanks for more dangerous stories. Lessons well learned and nobody kilt.

I do have a rifle with a freaky trigger pull. A nice Finnish M28. Bubba or some Finnish soldier took the second stage out. Not dangerous but have to remember that if I take it to the range. Very smooth, but it just pulls back and trips the sear. Favored rifle of the worlds highest scoring sniper, Finn Simo Hayha (sic?), supposedly over five hundred kills. Five foot tall, only shot with iron sights and killed hell outa' the Soviets during the Finnish/Soviet war from 1939-1944. He was only in action for three months or so.

Lancebear

[Jim Tarleton]

I will try it.

Jim