How much tweaking can I reasonably expect with my factory trigger ?
Currently at 8 pounds pull , would like to
Reduce to 3-4 pounds.

Is it a new one or an older one? The triggers are very different. My newer one (2011) had a sweet, crisp 3# trigger right out of the box. I never had a problem adjusting an older one to 3#.

I have always been able to get the older M-70 triggers to 3-3.5 lbs. The older style triggers are heavier and more prone to bounce off than the new style trigger. It seems easy to get the new style to ansafe 3 lbs. I always make sure to slam test the bolt and drop test the rifle to make sure the trigger is safe.

both of my M-70 rifle triggers are set to 3#.. you should have no issues at all reducing your weight from 8#...

If it is the new trigger, you can order a set of springs from Ernie the Gunsmith and get whatever trigger pull you want. Easy to install.

The pre 64 trigger is the best or at least as good as any hunting trigger ever made..I can do 3.5 pound trigger on one, and know a number gunsmith that can do 2.75 lbs.and apparently you can't bounce one off if its done properly....The late Tony Barnes did one of mine on a mill with a Ruby stone, Jack Belk can do with an axe and a pocket knife , and Dennis Olson has done a couple with a hone I guess..They all worked, even after I messed them up! It took me a long time to do a trigger job on anything to there benefit.

A good gunsmith will do much more than adjust the trigger to reduce the weight. When simply adjusting the pull weight on any M-70 tigger prior to the MOA trigger, it’s hard to get much below 3.5 lbs and have it pass the bounce off test. It takes some knowhow to get the pull weight below that and most likely involves some stoning, which if not done properly results in a dangerous trigger.

The MOA trigger will go to three lbs easily simply by adjusting it. I just did one the other day.

quote:

The MOA trigger will go to three lbs easily simply by adjusting it. I just did one the other day.

Some will. Some will not.

quote:

Originally posted by boliep:

quote:

The MOA trigger will go to three lbs easily simply by adjusting it. I just did one the other day.

Some will. Some will not.

Go figure. That just shows why each rifle needs to be bounce tested after adjusting the trigger.

quote:

Originally posted by INTJ:

quote:

Originally posted by boliep:

quote:

The MOA trigger will go to three lbs easily simply by adjusting it. I just did one the other day.

Some will. Some will not.

Go figure. That just shows why each rifle needs to be bounce tested after adjusting the trigger.

The secret to a decent M70 trigger is the spring, get a lighter one, don't shorten the original, get
a newer, lighter one

Check with Ernie for a great selection of trigger springs. He did several for me several years ago before he retired. He still sells trigger springs and other great items for your rifles.


http://www.erniethegunsmith.com/

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Kobe:

quote:

Originally posted by INTJ:

quote:

Originally posted by boliep:

quote:

The MOA trigger will go to three lbs easily simply by adjusting it. I just did one the other day.

Some will. Some will not.

Go figure. That just shows why each rifle needs to be bounce tested after adjusting the trigger.

The secret to a decent M70 trigger is the spring, get a lighter one, don't shorten the original, get
a newer, lighter one

A lighter spring often doesn’t stop bounce off. I assume that is when you adjust the sear angle?

quote:

Originally posted by INTJ:

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Kobe:

quote:

Originally posted by INTJ:

quote:

Originally posted by boliep:

quote:

The MOA trigger will go to three lbs easily simply by adjusting it. I just did one the other day.

Some will. Some will not.

Go figure. That just shows why each rifle needs to be bounce tested after adjusting the trigger.

The secret to a decent M70 trigger is the spring, get a lighter one, don't shorten the original, get
a newer, lighter one

A lighter spring often doesn’t stop bounce off. I assume that is when you adjust the sear angle?

Yeah! If you set it too light! There is a limit you know! Don't alter the sear angle!

Well that’s why I never do anything other than adjust the trigger to it’s safe minimum pull weight. I don’t even mess with sear engagement on triggers where that can be adjusted. I have installed lighter springs, but a lighter spring in trigger like the non MOA Winchester trigger often makes things worse.

The issue with the factory mainspring is you can run out of spring length before you get to 3 lbs. A lighter/longer spring can help, but that heaay trigger lever assembly has too much inertia during bounce off tests to go much below 3 lbs.

Since I don’t want to change angle I am very reluctant to even polish the sear. A better solution is a trigger specifically designed to go below 3 lbs.

quote:

Originally posted by INTJ:
Well that’s why I never do anything other than adjust the trigger to it’s safe minimum pull weight. I don’t even mess with sear engagement on triggers where that can be adjusted. I have installed lighter springs, but a lighter spring in trigger like the non MOA Winchester trigger often makes things worse.


The issue with the factory mainspring is you can run out of spring length before you get to 3 lbs. A lighter/longer spring can help, but that heaay trigger lever assembly has too much inertia during bounce off tests to go much below 3 lbs.

Since I don’t want to change angle I am very reluctant to even polish the sear. A better solution is a trigger specifically designed to go below 3 lbs.

That's where the problem lies, DON'T shorten the spring! use a new one longer or the same length with lighter coils

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Kobe:

quote:

Originally posted by INTJ:
Well that’s why I never do anything other than adjust the trigger to it’s safe minimum pull weight. I don’t even mess with sear engagement on triggers where that can be adjusted. I have installed lighter springs, but a lighter spring in trigger like the non MOA Winchester trigger often makes things worse.


The issue with the factory mainspring is you can run out of spring length before you get to 3 lbs. A lighter/longer spring can help, but that heaay trigger lever assembly has too much inertia during bounce off tests to go much below 3 lbs.

Since I don’t want to change angle I am very reluctant to even polish the sear. A better solution is a trigger specifically designed to go below 3 lbs.

That's where the problem lies, DON'T shorten the spring! use a new one longer or the same length with lighter coils

I didn’t say anything about shortening the spring. That would be ignorant beyond belief. My point is that when you have a heavy trigger lever as in the non MOA M-70 trigger, just because you change to a lighter and longer spring does NOT mean you are automatically safe to set the pull weight below three lbs. The trigger lever is heavy and will often bounce off when the rifle is dropped on its butt when set below 3-3.5 lbs REGARDLESS of what trigger spring is installed. I have seen this many times.

I was hoping that a gunsmith like you had some techniques that would keep the trigger from bouncing when set below 3 lbs. I had hoped that by slightly changing the sear angle you could have a light pull and no bounce off. If you don’t have a way to do that then it can’t be done, meaning the only answer to setting a non-MOA trigger below 3-3.5 lbs is to change the trigger to one designed to be safe at the lighter pull weights.

As for me, I am happy with a 3-3.5 lb pull on a hunting rifle and yes, it sometimes takes a different spring to even get there.

I like a nice 3 lb.to 3.5 lb. trigger on a hunting rifle, much below that works at the bench and in the shop but not on a snowy mountain at 5 below zero and perhaps with gloves on.

The poundage of a trigger isn't a must with me, but a clean break of the trigger is.. Actually I don't mind a mushy light milsurp Mauser trigger for hunting as long as I know its a mushy light milsurp trigger and have shot it enough to know what it does...It however isn't my favorite for sure. I shot a lot of deer in my youth with a 95 Mauser with a light mushy trigger, I did the trigger job and was proud of myself

Ray, I have hunted with a jewell with a 1lb pull on my Model 70 classic for 20 years without issue.. And I assure you it works pretty dang good.
Im not talking about road hunting while on safari either.

quote:

Originally posted by Ben Walker:
Ray, I have hunted with a jewell with a 1lb pull on my Model 70 classic for 20 years without issue.. And I assure you it works pretty dang good.
Im not talking about road hunting while on safari either.

Ben,
I'm curious and not trying to be an arse or anything but have you measured that 1 lb trigger? When I used to shoot silhouette my contender was set at about 1 lb and it was way too light for a hunting rig. All you had to do is THINK that you wanted it to fire and it did! I like light triggers too but 2 1/2 - 3 lbs is as light as I feel like hunting with except on a varmint rig.