I just picked up a new Winchester model 70 coyote. The trigger was terrible as in 8 pounds. I pulled it out of the stock to adjust it. First of all the trigger had a bunch of epoxy around the adjusting nuts. Since when did they start doing this crap. When I backed off the double nuts to the range where I wanted the trigger set the return spring no longer had any tension causing the gun to fail to cock. I have never had this happen on a model 70 before. My question is can I stretch this spring? If I need to replace this spring can someone suggest where to purchase one? Thanks.

I had the same thing happen with my Classic Safari Express. Not the epoxy, but the spring thing.

I found that I could get down to a pull weight of 3.5 lb. and there was just enough pressure on the trigger return spring to keep it from rattling. Taking the spring out altogether gave me 3.25 lb., so having a longer or weaker spring is going to give me a 3.25 lb. trigger pull at best.

What I did was have Mark Penrod do a trigger job. He put in an oversize trigger pin and surface ground the trigger/sear surface(s). I don't recall whether he said he grinds the trigger or the sear, but I think it's the sear. Kind of hard to get a big old grinding wheel down in that little notch, eh.

Anyway, with the surfaces smoothed, and with the old spring in there, the pull weight can be adjusted down to ~2 lb. Mine is adjusted to 3 lb.

H. C.

HenryC470 has hit this nail squarely on the head.

Chuck

I can wholeheartedly attest to Mark Penrod's work, it is fantastic. You won't go wrong sending him your rifle and letting him know how you'd like it setup. He did my M70 Featherweight 7mm-08 and it is now one of my favorite rifles. Do yourself a big favor and let him handle it.

It really takes more skill to aim a rifle, make sure of the target and backstop than to adjust a M70 trigger.



I use lighter springs. I have a big box of them. Perhaps Brownells has some as well.



You don't need to surface grind the sear surfaces unless they are defective from Winchester. If they are defective send the rifle back to them. Rub moly powder on the sear surfaces, put in a lighter spring and do the drop test.



http://www.snipercountry.com/Articles/AdjustingWinTrigger.asp

I don't know why someone would go to the trouble to set up the trigger or sear in a surface grinder when the job could be done by hand in a fraction of the time. I think the trigger return spring on the current model 70's was bought from General Motors. GM used it in the front suspension of a Buick.

Dave

Savage 99, you've obviously never had the pleasure of pulling a properly tuned model 70 trigger.

Chuck

Savage,

I did the easy trigger job, and it was easy. Just spin the nuts and put nail polish on them when you're done. By this method, I could get the trigger pull down to 3.25 lb. -- with no spring at all in there. That's the lower limit with this trigger the way it was. Putting a light spring wasn't going to lighten it any furhter than having no spring. I was limited by suface roughness in this case.

Nopride,

I figure the surface grinder was used in order to get the edge of the sear nicely perpendicular and not change the angle of the face. A hand-held stone could do the same, and it could also booger the thing by changing angles.

I figure that Mr. Penrod put the sear in the surface grinder for 3 reasons. First, the one I just mentioned.

Second, unlike you or I, Mr. Penrod does have a surface grinder; so why not use it?

Third, I certainly believe Mr. Penrod has the skill to do this job with a hand-held stone and not booger it up. On the other hand, he is a professional who gets paid for turning out work, not for spending time in his shop. If he can do a job in much less time with a surface grinder, he can use that time to work on other jobs and make more money.

I think that's why he used a surface grinder.

Oh, and why not send the rifle back to Winchester? Well, I'd sent it back twice already. It was going on a year after I paid for it when I got it back for the third time. I didn't want to send it back again, because 1) USRAC would take a long time to fix it and 2) they wouldn't fix it anyway. They'd just take 6 weeks to tell me it look as if it was within specs and ship it back.

And yes, USRAC definitely uses Buick springs. The factory rejects that were too stiff.

H. C.

Dear Mr. Nelson.

You don't know me nor do you know what I can do and have done. Since you have suggested sending the gun to someone else it's possible that you also do not know what to do. On the other hand you may know what to do as I don't know you either.

I'll bet you a years wages that Mr.Penrod does a noticeably better job than you Mr. Martin.

Chuck

I've adjusted a whole bucketload of M70 triggers for others, but my own rifles get sent to Mr. Penrod for their trigger jobs. I understand the M70 trigger about as well as any amateur gunsmith, and I know that the sear is never perfect from the factory. You can send them back and change springs until your ears bleed and they'll never come close to working as well as one that's been properly ground by a good gunsmith.

I have a surface grinder. I find it easier to stone triggers by hand.

Dave