Trigger job on older revolver?

Prof

New member
I recently asked advice about a 1970's Colt Trooper .357mag revolver I own (it was "spitting" lead). Following said advice, I sent it off to the Colt factory to have it fixed. They sent me an estimate ($52.00)and I called to authorize the work. While I had them on the phone, I asked if they could do a trigger job since I had already paid $38 to send the gun to them and would be paying them $25 to send it back (all for $52 worth of work!). They said that they couldn't really do a trigger job on the Trooper. ???? As usual, I didn't think to ask the relevant question ("Why not?") until I was off the phone! Just took his word for it. Does this sound right to all of you or are they just not wanting to do such jobs for liability reasons?
 
Sintered metal was used in the fabrication internal parts. Basically, metal powder was compressed and heated to form the part (somewhat like a primitive form of MIM - metal injection molded). Well, sintered metal is only surface hardened and once you go beneath the surface, it falls apart rapidly. Your Trooper may be one of the early Mark III transition that is tricky to work on.

Either that, or it could be like my Trooper that has the same internal lockwork as a Python. In that case, Colt probably doesn't have the skilled labor to work on them. They retired!
 
By 1970's, I assume you have a Trooper Mark 3. A custom 'smith can do an acceptable trigger job, by doing some light polishing on key parts, and replacing the trigger return spring and mainspring, with reduced power springs. I think Brownell's still stock these.

Get a copy of Kunhausen's Colt Revolver Gunsmithing, Vol. 2 on the Colt "J" frame guns, and you can do it yourself, since the "J" guns are much simpler to work on than the earlier "I" frame Trooper/Python guns.

Colt doesn't seem to do action jobs on the "J" guns, since just polishing won't seem to make a big difference, and Colt didn't want to put lighter springs in, because of possible misfires, and liability issues.

If your gun is a "I" frame Trooper/Python, Colt still makes the Python, so they have to have personnel capable of working on them. They may not have the current capacity at the Custom center to do trigger work at this time.
 
Thank you for the feedback, gentlemen! Dfariswheel, you are correct. My Trooper is a Mk III, "j" frame. I will get a copy of Kunhausen's book and the parts from Brownell's and give it a try.
 
PROF:
Make sure you get Kunhausen's VOLUME 2, the Colt "J" frame guns, not volume 1.
You'll get more out of the spring kit than any polishing.

The spring kits I saw were made by Trapper.
 
I don't think it has to do with the material in the parts, I think it has to do with the issue of liability. Factories all have certain standards and parameters they have to keep within to avoid lawsuits. They will not release a gun, new or repaired, that falls outside their standards. They will either fix it or refuse to work on it in the first place.

The ugly fact is that the guy who is loudest in demanding a light trigger pull is the first to sue when he puts a bullet through his leg.

Jim
 
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