Which S&W revolver has the best trigger?

C

croyance

New member
So, not having tried a great many revolvers, is there a model or frame of S&W that is considered to have the best trigger? SA, DA, or both?
 
Of the new S&W revolvers I've bought in the last 5 years or so, they all are about the same. Double action is around 10# and single action about 3# out of the box. Intial break in generally drops about a pound off both.

A simple spring swap can drop anther pound off the double action pull and a little less off the signle action. If you need to go lower, a regular trigger job will be needed.

The abouve info is for K/L and N frames. I don't have an X frame, but would assume they are similar.

J frames use the coil spring and can be a little trickier to improve. They start out and break in about the same, but I've never had any luck with spring swaps on J frames.

Good Luck...

Joe
 
My guess would be anything from the Performance Center would have better triggers than the normal line. I'm sure this isn't always the case, but on average...

:confused:
 
If I had to pick one for out of the box then

If I had to pick one for out of the box then it would be a good condition Registered. I've found a good K-38/Model 14 to be pretty good. Performance Center had some good years but not in my not so humble opinion lately. Performance Center used better quality parts than the run of the mill mim in some years and so were either better or could be tuned better.

Don't think there is a meaningful answer for current production - pure luck of the draw.
 
I have several S&W wheelguns to compare triggers on. All have good triggers, but the best of the bunch in my safe, by a fair margin, is my old K38. I suspect that the trigger has evolved into a great one just due to use. The old revolver has many a round down the pipe.
 
Triggers on S&W may be a service type trigger or a target type trigger. The target trigger breaks more cleanly in either double or single action mode. The service type triggers are generally more buttery smooth but without a crisp break. My model 27 has a target trigger that breaks like glass. I have a model 10 which has a service trigger almost as smooth as my Colt Python worth 4 or 5 times as much. I like them both.
 
omegapd said:
My guess would be anything from the Performance Center would have better triggers than the normal line. I'm sure this isn't always the case, but on average...
Click to expand...
Which is what I would have thought. I spend the majority of my time with semi-autos, but recently found a great 19-3. The trigger was at least as good as that of a Performance Center 625 I had handled a while back. I didn't know if that was because N-frames didn't have triggers that were as good (maybe due to heavier cylinder) or because they used to spend more time making things right.
Although you would think anything from a 'Performance Center' would have time spent on it and done right.
 
Any K frame with a good tuning job.

I agree it is hard to get a good feel on a J, but I have put Wolff springs in all 3 of mine and they are improved, but not superb, and all just a little different frome each other. I have a 66 with a selected factory mainspring and a lighter trigger spring, that is about as good as it gets. Out of the box, I suppose then, the mid size frames with the smooth wide trigger. The large frames I have handled in .44 are pretty good, but you have alot more moving mass with the huge cylinder and the frame does not fit my hand as well. But then there is some variation in production guns so some guns just feel like gritty sand inside. I have not handled the guns with more than 6 shots, so I have no idea if the timing of the mech. feels different.
 
My 686, 2 1/2" is the best DA revolver I have ever fired right out of the box. It shoots DA rings around my 19 & 66. Maybe it's just one of it's kind.;)
attachment.php
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top