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Testing a Ruger poor man's trigger job #195201 10/28/2018 7:13 PM
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Chance Weldon Offline OP
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I've occasionally seen members reference a poor man's trigger job. If you don't know what that is, it's where you unhook one or both trigger springs from a pin in a Ruger single action's grip frame. Having spoiled myself with the light, crisp trigger jobs on my Encore, Weatherby, and AR-15, I thought I'd do a little experiment.

For fear of royally screwing something up this close to season, I started with my 357 Blackhawk, which I don't plan on using. My trigger scale showed a force of 4 pounds was necessary to break the trigger. I removed the frames, unfastened one of the springs, and measured 3.25 pounds, a bit less of a change than I was expecting. I wanted to try removing both springs, just to see what happens, even though I heard that it typically leaves the trigger dangerously light. To my surprise, it measured 2.5 pounds, which is still heavier than my Encore.

With the technique figured out, I tried it with the 41 Blackhawk. Unmodified, the pull was 3.75 pounds. With one spring unhooked, 2.25 pounds. Again, just to test, I unhooked the other spring. I barely put pressure on the trigger before it broke, a pull I measured at a mere 1 pound. Yeah. . . no. Way too light. I hooked one spring back onto the pin in both guns, even the 357.

All in all, pretty interesting experiment.


Formerly TN Lone Wolf

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Re: Testing a Ruger poor man's trigger job [Re: Chance Weldon] #195206 10/28/2018 10:57 PM
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racksmasher1 Offline
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I did the same thing on 2 of my Blackhawks Chance, one side only, made a huge difference, for the good!

Re: Testing a Ruger poor man's trigger job [Re: racksmasher1] #195220 10/29/2018 10:47 AM
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bluecow Offline
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I've done this one side only on my SBH it seamed to work fine. To be honest with my stiff hands I didn't notice any change. Tried the same with my single six and ran into problems. When pulling the hammer back the hammer would stop about half way and not go any further no matter how hard I pulled. Not every time. Not even every cylinder full. Say once out of every 10 -15 shots. Now this single six is 40 years old, been shot a lot, and not hand the easiest life. Still this was enough to convince me that his was not a good idea. I returned the leg on the SBH even though i had no trouble with that. I have never heard of anyone else having this happen, so maybe it was a one of. JMO if you really feel that you need a better trigger {your a better shot that i am. we are talking hand guns not match rifles} then learn to do a trigger job your self or have a pro do it.


Everything before "but" is B.S.
Re: Testing a Ruger poor man's trigger job [Re: bluecow] #195227 10/29/2018 3:12 PM
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Gregg Richter Offline
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Another "PMTJ": Cock the hammer on an empty cylinder, then push down hard on the hammer while pulling the trigger. Do several times. This will usually help smooth the trigger pull.












Re: Testing a Ruger poor man's trigger job [Re: Gregg Richter] #195234 10/29/2018 10:37 PM
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Chance Weldon Offline OP
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 Originally Posted By: bluecow
JMO if you really feel that you need a better trigger {your a better shot that i am. we are talking hand guns not match rifles} then learn to do a trigger job your self or have a pro do it.


Yeah, I'll do it the proper way later. This is an interim measure with season so close.

 Originally Posted By: Gregg Richter
Another "PMTJ": Cock the hammer on an empty cylinder, then push down hard on the hammer while pulling the trigger. Do several times. This will usually help smooth the trigger pull.







Hmm, never heard about that one. I'll have to give it a try.


Formerly TN Lone Wolf

"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling
Re: Testing a Ruger poor man's trigger job [Re: Chance Weldon] #195266 10/30/2018 11:57 PM
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Muddy Offline
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Bluecow

Your hammer locking up on your single six may have been from the "leg" that you removed getting caught in the main spring. It happens!

When I lift off one leg of the spring on a Ruger SA I test fire the gun first, and if all is well then I cut that leg off of the spring. Not sure why, but my friend Ron Power always says to remove the leg from the right side. He knows a lot more about those guns than I ever will, so I follow his advice.

I have never heard of or tried removing both legs. I guess I am surprised that it still works that way.

Dan

Re: Testing a Ruger poor man's trigger job [Re: Muddy] #195271 10/31/2018 5:59 AM
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sw282 Offline
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I made a recent purchase of a NIB BH HUNTER in 41magnum.. MY

first purchase ever of a new Ruger handgun. 0nly second Ruger

l have ever owned. First was a used SBH 10 1/2'' 44 l briefly

had in the late 70s...

This new Hunter has 400+ rds thru it now.. The trigger is

breaking @ app 4 pounds.. lts better now after shooting some.

lt has a slight creep, but no amount of shooting or spring

mods will cure the creep. 0nly an action tune from competent

gunsmith will cure that. Challenge is find a ''competent'' one.




Last edited by sw282; 10/31/2018 6:00 AM.
Re: Testing a Ruger poor man's trigger job [Re: sw282] #195439 11/05/2018 10:47 PM
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BushytailBasher Offline
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Every Ruger I've owned had one side of the spring unhooked doesn't help that fuzz of creep but it bothers me less when I'm not trying to extrude the grip out of my hand trying to fire a good shot

Re: Testing a Ruger poor man's trigger job [Re: BushytailBasher] #195449 11/06/2018 12:50 AM
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H2OBUG Offline
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Buy a good set of Wolf springs and do it properly.

Polish the parts while you have it apart.


If it jams force it! If it breaks it needed replacing anyway.
Re: Testing a Ruger poor man's trigger job [Re: H2OBUG] #195467 11/06/2018 12:04 PM
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BushytailBasher Offline
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Oh I took the creep out and polished it all with a good Stone but I couldn't see buying springs when the trigger ended up perfect the way it was

Re: Testing a Ruger poor man's trigger job [Re: BushytailBasher] #195469 11/06/2018 12:22 PM
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bluecow Offline
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MUDDY

Thanks. That's what I suspect, and I'm not so keen on cutting a leg off a spring that at least for me seams to be little or no gain.


Everything before "but" is B.S.
Re: Testing a Ruger poor man's trigger job [Re: bluecow] #195525 11/07/2018 1:32 PM
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rob-c Offline
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H2OBUG is correct, I shot my 357 black hawk with one leg off the peg for some time. I removed my grips just to check it out and I could see the leg rubbing on the coil spring.i looked up a spring kit and it was like $14 , pretty cheap really..


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