Simple J-Frame Trigger Mods

[BarkSlayer]

I'm interested in a slightly lighter DA pull on my 442 and wondered what the consensus was on recommended mods that can be performed without professional smithing. I'm mechanically competent with plenty of tools and just want smoother, lighter action. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[James K]

Smoothing the action by stoning surfaces used to be the common way to do that, but MIM parts don't have the tool marks the old parts did so stoning will produce little gain with the new guns. One suggestion is to take a coil or two off the trigger return spring, but it is best to have a new spring on hand in case you go too far. You can also do the same for the mainspring (hammer spring) with the same proviso.

Be warned that shortening springs or or reducing their tension might make the gun less reliable, especially under adverse conditions, like dirt, cold, or hard primers. And make sure you test the gun well after doing any such work; don't wait until you need the gun before finding out it doesn't work any more.

Before doing any work, though, you might try simply putting a few drops of a good gun oil down into the mechanism; sometimes, that is all that is needed to improve trigger pull.

Jim

 

[hAkron]

MIM parts will burnish with use, which is to say - mating surfaces rubbing against one another will mutually 'polish' each other with normal use. This can be sped up with some dry firing practice -- dry fire practice has the added benefit of working the muscles in your hand and arm, which will further result in an easier trigger pull. This method sacrifices almost no reliability.

 

[pete2]

My 642 smoothed up nicely just by shooting it. I wouldn't install lighter springs in a carry gun. Dry firing will do the same thing but doesn't make enough noise.

 

[g.willikers]

If you want to lighten the trigger spring, it's better to buy a lighter one that still has the proper length to guarantee full trigger return.
Clipping a couple of coils off of the standard one will lighten the pull, but might cause the trigger to hang up on the release.

 

[AK103K]

This can be sped up with some dry firing practice -- dry fire practice has the added benefit of working the muscles in your hand and arm, which will further result in an easier trigger pull. This method sacrifices almost no reliability.

I agree.

Get that trigger finger muscle tone up, and its amazing how "all" triggers seem better and easier to shoot. All that dry fire helps in other ways too, if you do it right.

 

[MrBorland]

Drop in an Apex kit. It'll lighten the action some, though you'll probably get some additional benefit from smoothing of the action, and/or a good cleaning and lubing.

https://apextactical.com/store/product-info.php?pid49.html

 

[Dragline45]

I don't like to mess with the mainspring, I usually add a slightly lighter rebound spring as well as stoning and polishing of the internals.

 

[OxyGuy]

Wolff springs make an amazing difference.

 

[BigD_in_FL]

I replaced the springs - both the man spring and the trigger return spring and also used a hard Arkansas stone and oil VERY LIGHTLY to smooth out the rebound slide that seemed to do more than the spring.

I used the Apex tactical spring kit and they have two You Tube videos - one for disassembly and one reassembly