870 trigger job in VA?

[Coop de Ville]

Hi All,

Have talked to 2 of the top smiths here in Northern VA and they won't touch an 870 trigger. The last P model I had had a nice 4.5# trigger, but my new one has an awful trigger. Any suggestions. For combat shooting it's fine, but I am having trouble benching it with slugs for accuracy...

Thanks and regards, Coop

 

[Dave McC]

Try Bill Gillette of Big Ridge Gun Smiths, currently seen at big clay shoots. He's got a good rep and knows 870s. Cell phone # 561-371-3685, he's on the road.

(Picking myself up after being stuck by a thought) I suggest first giving it a good cleaning with a gun scrubber like the 725 Cleaner I've written about here from SLIP 2000. Did Frankenstein's TG last night and was amazed at the stuff that came floating out. Relubed with SLIP, of course.

Reason I suggest this is I've run across a few bad triggers that were much better after degrunging. 870s should run 3 1/2 to 6 lbs. Couple of mine came in under 4 from the factory.

HTH....

PS, watch for a new thread about triggers...

 

[DML]

Coop de Ville:

No "professional" gunsmith with a brain would mess with an 870 trigger. The liability problems alone give me the "willies". Remington warns against lightening the trigger pull. It can be smoothed up a bit, but changing sear engagement it asking for trouble. If 2 good gunsmiths already said no, I would think that you have your answer.

I think the main problem is that the mechanism is not very rigid like a rifle trigger. The housings are made of aluminum alloy or plastic which are fairly soft compared to steel. Timney used to make an all steel trigger group for 870s, but it was pretty expensive and they don't show it in their catalog anymore.