Traditions Trigger pull

[msgfox]

have a .50 cal traditions Kentucky rifle with a heavy trigger pull. Asked around and am told that nothing to do to get the pull lessened except possibly internal sanding of a part - beyond me.

Anything else or is that about it? Real good shooter from the bench but otherwise, off hand I keep pulling off - not much but enough not to place in the club shoots.

Thanks.

JP

[Cuts Crooked]

I wouldn't "sand" anything in there!!!!!!!!! But A light polishing of the sear and possibly the tumbler might be in order. Also, going to a lighter main spring might help if you can keep up consistant ignition of yer caps. A lighter sear spring might help too.

Ya go ta "sanding" parts and you might/could ruin the hardening on the surfaces and accelerate wear. If yer not familer with polishing those internals, might want to take it to a smith who knows his way around inside these traditional style gunz...shouldn't be too expensive and could save you some grief.

[necchi]

Several,,not all,,Traditions and CVA locks have a screw on the top-rear of the tumbler to adjust sear engagement. Just turn this screw down so the sear is not "as fully" engaged. Care must be taken for proper safe setting , because too far down and you'l have a hair trigger!!

Here's a photo of an early simple Traditons Kentucky lock. The screw I'm talking of is the black one with a tension spring on top of the shiney tumbler (the sear is in the half cock saftey notch) some have a plate over the tumbler to hold it in differently, but the screw is still there.

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

yep my traditions kentucky has the adjustable tumbler screw.  Screw it in a little at a time and check trigger pull. I actually put a little teflon tape on that screw because it kept coming loose and tightened up the trigger pull after 20 shots.

[DennyRoark]

On both of my T/C Hawken locks, I have taken them apart completely and polished all metal to metal contact area with crocus cloth.  Getting the main spring back in place can be challenging!  Doing that takes a fine lock and makes it even better!  Don't use anything coarser than Crocus.  I've always wondered if polishing with jewellers rouge after the crocus would be better, but couldn't justify buying it for the little bit used.  Also, sent the first lock back to T/C to replace the sear, wondering if I voided the warranty, and got it back no questions asked.

[necchi]

Bigblock, ya those things do seem to wiggle around and come loose don't they, i donknow, transport,temp swings,,but I always check and not presume it's where I left it.

DennyR, I use a 2" x 4" 1/4" thick fine india stone (oiled) for polishing, that way I'm sure too not tip the pieces and/or round any of the edges. Ya hafta be carefull with the tumbler and sear pivot points, But polishing especially those Trad/CVA lock parts and the plate itself really helps alot! It's good to know T/C will honor a polished/messed with lock. I have one second hand that is just plain wore out and needs factory parts, I can't help it any more. The fly and it's hole in the tumbler,,the sear,, is just too far gone to salvage.

[Cuts Crooked]

Fergot all about that adjustment screw in Trad/CVA locks, 's been a long time since I worked on one of those and many of the earlier CVAs didn't have it.

A word of caution: when you adjust that screw make sure you stop with the sear fully engaged in the full cock notch. It's tempting to to adjust it until you just have partial engagement, in order to get a better trigger pull but don't! If the sear isn't fully engaged you can damage the sear and/or the tumbler.

[msgfox]

Thanks all - I'll pull 'er apart this weekend and see what I can do with her.

Good suggestions and direction.

Thanks again

JP

[Winter Hawk]

So what did you find?

-Winter Hawk-

[msgfox]

Winterhawk:

sorry for not getting back sooner - long & short - hadn't gotten the time to get to it. Partialy my fault - partialy other commitments.

Our club rendezvous is this weekend so it looks like I'll be using "as is" unless I find some "extra" time. Maybe get a chance to do it there.

Will keep you advised. Thanks again.

JP

 

[necchi]

Cheesh,,all ya gotta do is pull two screws to drop the lock. Do it at the vous, right there with the other shooters, someone there is bound to know just what's going on.
Good luck,,aim small 

[msgfox]

OK - took your advise and took it apart at Rendezvous and poished as instructed - yes, wuth help. I had previosly worked with the screw as recommended but that really didn't do much - that I could tell.

After the polishing it did pull a bit lighter. Shot and while again no proze, shot better.

Will continue working on it.

Thanks for the help all.

JP

[necchi]

I'll betchya that screw is wore out, you should be able to turn it all the way down and trip the trigger sear with just the screw.
A trip to the local hardware store with the lock in hand and a small screwdriver,, look in the small METRIC screws drawer
Good luck with it,,