New to the club with a 357

[kodiakemt]

I picked up a new 357 the other week and got it sited in yesterday. Handles real nice and with 38's I think my son will really enjoy it. I need to get a trigger job done on it. I have no clue what it is set at, but it takes a lot to pull it. Just need to figure out if I have what it takes to do it myself or send it in.

[VT30-30]

I'm sure happy with my 357 and making it a max. As most guys on here will tell you a 357 mag. barrel shooting either
38 Sp. or 357 Mags are very accurate and are a blast to shoot. When my grandson gets a little older, I'm sure I'll
start reloading more 38 Sp. as it's a neat caliber. Probably should send another frame in and get another 357 Mag.
barrel so we both can have fun.
 
Steve

[thejanitor]

I have been chicken to dig in the guts of my handi.... I just add a trigger shoe. I was buying them from Tyler MFG. But a member here turned me on to making my own from a PVC pipe. It won't change anything if you are dealing with a 12 pound trigger but if you need it to be a managable 5 or 6 the shoe does make a difference. Hope this helps. PM me if you want more info, but if you choose to do the trigger just make sure you make/use slave pins.... I have read enough to know you won't enjoy it at all if you don't.
Oh- and welcome "home".  thejanitor

[quickdtoo]

Detailed trigger hone info can be found in the FAQs, hundreds of first timers here have done their own trigger work, the hardest part is building up the confidence to just do it, it's not all that hard if you know you can use hand tools, just go slow and easy on the honing and test often so you don't go too far and make the trigger too light and unsafe.    Parts can be ordered from Numrich, so even if you do, all is not lost. You also have the option of sending it to H&R for a trigger job, that info can be found in the FAQs also, they may or may not charge for it, depends on how heavy the trigger is.

Tim

[gcrank1]

The 'trick' to the reassembly and testing is to have the 'slave pin'. For testing you use it and push the slave pin out with the action pin, and you dont fit that pin all the way thru, just to the splines and test the pull. Wait to hammer them home when the pull is good, but dont try to go too light!.A good anti-friction dab of lube upon the sear tip and in the hammer notch will make it pretty nice.

[myarmor]

And if your worried about taking it apart, try what I like to call the "Push,Pull" method in the FAQs. Basically just pushing the hammer, and with a cushion between the hammer and transfer bar,  pulling the trigger. I usually use this method a few times before I ever take apart my Handis to do a trigger job. Works most of the time.Seems most people over look this method    Also easy way to lighten up a Marlin LA trigger too.
 O and congrats on the 357, it's one of the more fun calibers in a Handi.
 
-Aaron

[quickdtoo]

It's also a good way to break the sear notch off the hammer, it's happened to more than a couple that have tried  it, so go easy on the push part. Mic McPherson recommends this method in his book, but I discussed it with him by email, all his work was done on pre-'87 H&R firearms, modern hammers are likely more brittle. 

Tim

[myarmor]

Yeap, key word easy    I have done it as well on a couple by pressing too hard.

[kodiakemt]

Thanks Janitor. I'll be messaging you soon. I need to find out the what the poundage is so I what what I am dealing with.

[Dinny]

Just do it!    I learned to order spare parts before taking it apart. Too bad I learned that lesson afterwards...   I know, I'm a little slow, but I got it now.




Like Tim said, the hardest part is getting the confidence up to do it. I finally saved the instructions to the desktop of my laptop computer. I charged the battery and took it out in the garage so I had the instructions handi.


Thanks, Dinny

[kodiakemt]

Or I could try to find a member who lives close to me that has done it before. LOL

[Dinny]

Or I could try to find a member who lives close to me that has done it before. LOL

There's a member or two that live in VA. I've had the opportunity to meet 6 or 8 different GBO members in person. They're a good bunch!


Thanks, Dinny