After market triggers???

[qajaq59]

I'm getting tired of the heavy trigger on my Marlin 336 lever. Has anyone had experience with some of the after market triggers, that are supposed to improve trigger pull, that could advise me on this?

[J'hawker]

The simplest fix is to simply install the WWG Happy trigger.  Midway sells them for around $80-$90.  Definitely on the expensive side, but, IMO, well worth it and you can swap them out yourself.  It will leave you with about a 3 lb crisp trigger pull.  If you live near a good gunsmith, he should be able to do a trigger job for about half that.  I don't know how many rounds you have through your rifle, but another way to smooth out the trigger is to run about 3,000 rounds through it.  Time and use does wonders to Marlin triggers.

[Bob A]

I couldn't find a gunsmith who would work on my Marlin 336 trigger, so I bought the Wild West Happy trigger. Installed it myself in about 15 minutes and it is great. Crisp break with no creep. I would have to guess at the trigger pull weight but would say about 3 pounds or less. I think it is a great investment and would probably do it again, even if I did have a gunsmith because I know exactly what I would get.
Also, I am not very experienced at working on guns and it really was very simple to install. Just pay attention to which screw is which. A couple of the screws are the same thread but one is longer than the other. I would also advise getting a set of gunsmith screwdrivers. You can get them from Brownells or Cabelas for sure, probably available from Midway. I think mine were about $25 or $30 couple of years ago.

Give it a try, you'll be glad you did

Bob A

[Coyote Hunter]

Another vote for the Wild West Guns Happy Trigger.  I put one in my Marlin 375 before I started doing my own trigger jobs.  It is an excellent trigger.  You will want to download disassembly instructions, but mine was a drop in once I got things apart.

[Winter Hawk]

You might want to try c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y using a fine Arkansas of diamond stone to polish the seer on the trigger.  Make sure that you keep the same angle where it mates the full-cock notch on the hammer.  My 1976 model 336 got so smooth it was scary, and I deliberately roughed it up a touch to increase the trigger pull.  It's a lot cheaper than a drop in trigger assembly, though you have to pay attention to that angle.

-WH-

[jager]

I decided against the Happy Trigger, in spite of all the good advice and reviews, because I did not want a 3# (or less) trigger on a 444 (I hunt with gloves on and feel 3# is a bit light). I took it to a gunsmith who made me an "adjustable" trigger by drilling a hole in the top portion and installing a "set screw". He set it at 4# and polished the "face" of the trigger. It "breaks clean" and the "Marlin flop" is eliminated. It cost me $65 and I'm happy even if I had to wait 4 weeks for the job. Jager

[qajaq59]

Thank you gentlemen. It seems to be all good advice. And it gives me several things to think about. Not sure which one I'll do just yet, but at least now I know it can be done one way or another. I'll get it fixed up before I start hog hunting again in the fall.

Qajaq