new hot rod triggers

[skunkworks]

i have a new sti trigger, all neat and high tech looking but...[1] it has an over travel stop screw. is over travel an issue? will it bend the bow? how does one properly set the stop screw? [2] it has "adjustment tabs" on the fore end of the bow. what do these adjust? and how do i set these? vice-grips? life is so complicated, my old trigger is starting to look better already. thanks for the help. :lh:

[robot1911]

The overtravel stop is to keep the trigger from moving any futher back after the hammer has fallen. It's used mostly by NRA Bullseye competitors and recreational target shooters. When you turn it clockwise, it will stop by touching the magazine release inside the gun. You can move it in a ways and then cock the hamer. Hold the trigger back while letting the hammer down slowly and see if you can feel the hammer touch the sear as it passes. If not, screw it in a bit more and try again. When it does touch, back off on the screw about half a turn and you're done. Try it again to make sure it doesn't touch.
If your gun is a defense/duty/carry gun, I recommend you do not use it...you can even remove the screw if you want. Those little tabs on the front of the bow are for adjusting/removing most of the trigger's 'takeup' before you come to the actual sear/hammer engagement. You can bend one of them out so that it'll touch the trigger's cut in the frame and move the trigger rearward a little at a time. However, this will have an effect on other parts of the ignition system...like the grip safety and firing pin block on a series 80 Colt...so be careful if you decide to remove some of that excess takeup. And here again, this feature is used mostly by competition shooters, both Bullseye and Action.

Bob