Swapping out a trigger

[Curmudgeon]

I did a search without any luck on this one, so forgive me if the answer is already posted.

I have decided that my trigger is a bit short and I would like to replace it with a longer one. Am I safe in assuming that this would be a simple disassembly and reassembly?

For the record, it is a Springfield GI.

[wichaka]

In most cases it is, but with some it may have to be fitted to the grip safety and disconnect, then if it has an over travel adjustment screw, that will alos need to be set correctly or it will ruin the feel of the trigger let off.

[Greyswindir]

Make sure you get a drop-in if you don't want to have to file off any material from the trigger pad. You'll most likely be aright concerning your grip safety working properly, but it can be an issue like Bob said, same with the overtravel screw, still simple stuff to set up. If you have a good file, I would go with an oversized trigger over a drop-in.

[AeroScoper]

Hello gentlemen,

With my newfound confidence after my successful(lucky?) extractor tuning I was considering placing a short trigger into my Kimber. Does anyone have any experience with Cylinder and Slide's solid short-trigger? Does this need some filework, and if so, how extensive?

Any general "rules of thumb" when it comes to originally setting the overtravel screw?

Again I"m very grateful for anything anyone could contribute, and best wishes with your project curmud!

Keith

[niemi24s]

Any general "rules of thumb" when it comes to originally setting the overtravel screw?
With an empty magazine in the gun, the overtravel screw should be adjusted out (counter clockwise) enough so that not only does the sear release the hammer hooks, but far enough so that the nose of the sear clears the half-cock notch on the hammer.

Feel for this by restraining the hammer's fall when pulling the trigger. After the sear releases the hammer from the full-cock (hooks), you can feel if the half cock notch hits or scrapes the aft edge of the sear.

Keep turning the overtravel screw CCW until you can't feel it do that.

[AeroScoper]

Niem,

That's the kind of info that makes me want to order parts yesterday...

You have any suggestions on a short trigger or are most of the ones from reputable names pretty standard fare?

[niemi24s]

You have any suggestions on a short trigger or are most of the ones from reputable names pretty standard fare?
No, I sure don't.

The only long or short triggers i've fiddled with were USGI ones - with the exception of one somebody made for me long ago.

Maybe somebody familiar with the after-market ones will chime in with some helpful info. Or you could do a "short trigger" search of the site.

Cheers

[br6ppc]

Snip You have any suggestions on a short trigger or are most of the ones from reputable names pretty standard fare?

Be careful of what you order. BTDT.

Check the Brownell's catalog. Greider Precision makes 3 different lengths.
Short - 2" - #377-000-004
Med. - 2 1/8" - #377-000-003
Long - 2 1/4" - #377-000-001

Most, if not all of the others start at 2 1/4"
It depends on your hands.

I have the 2" on both of my 1911's. Fine for me.

EGW also has triggers of these lengths. They can make any length you want. Maybe a bit more in cost, but they are as good as the Greider's.

You should get the trigger die from Brownell's. They will let you smooth out and dent's or bends in the bow so the trigger will move smoothly in it's track.

Roy

[Frank]

I've fitted Greider Precision (or their predecessor, Videki, or Kings which look similar) short triggers to all my 1911s. I've never found them to just drop in. They've all needed to have the top of the shoe trimmed, and that's a simple job with a file.

In one case I had to take a very little material off the bow on each side to allow a magazine to fit so as to drop free and at the same time so the trigger wouldn't bind in the frame. Again it wasn't hard. I've never had to fit on at the grip safety.

DVC

[Greyswindir]

I found a drop-in that actually dropped in with only the slightest amount of vertical travel. It was a Fusion Firearm's drop-in trigger. I've since installed a few oversized triggers; Two Cylinder and Slide solid triggers and a Caspian Trik Trigger. Oversized triggers are by far the better way to go, especially if you want zero vertical movement. I fitted my Caspian perfectly, no vertical movement at all. The Caspian Trik Trigger has a Flat serrated face. I thought it might help me with more consistent finger placement. I shoot bullseye and wanted something a bit more precise. I still have the Fusion drop-in in my other pistol, it is a traditional curved faced trigger.

[Frank]

I found a drop-in that actually dropped in with only the slightest amount of vertical travel. It was a Fusion Firearm's drop-in trigger....
Funny, I just looked at the Fusion site. They showed some triggers with carbon fiber shoes, and mentioned in the descriptions that some fitting may be required.
They also have a couple of solid aluminum match triggers that look a lot like Greider triggers, and they are not described as drop in. I'd be surprised if they weren't made by Greider. In most cases, these small parts are made by only one or two companies and marketed by others under their own labels.

DVC

[Greyswindir]

Hi Frank,

You're right. Bob Serva has to order the parts from somebody. As far as I know he isn't fabricating his own parts. I bought a copy of the Nowlin Speed Demon hammer from Bob, along with some other parts. Nowlin is selling their hammer for $63.00 bucks!!! Bob offers the same exact hammer for $44.00 bucks. George, from EGW offers the same Nowlin copy for $29.00 bucks! Wish EGW was selling that hammer a year ago! Frank, do they still offer any drop-in triggers at all?

-greyswindir.

[Frank]

I don't recall anyone offering a trigger described as "drop in." And if I had, I'd be skeptical.

DVC

[Greyswindir]

I bought exactly such an offering about 8 or nine months ago from Bob's site. It dropped right into my S.A. G.I. and the fit was on the tighter side of things, even though there was bit of vertical movement.

Bob revamped the sight, added things like "Made in the U.S.A." etc. So the sight has been changed around a bit since i bought some of my parts from him. Before these changes he definitely had triggers for sale described as "Drop-in Trigger." I probably have the invoice in my files but unfortunately all my files are packed up. My house caught fire on the 23 of January, 2008. Everything I own, except my gun paraphernalia is in storage.

You know something Frank, I checked Brownells, Midway, and Fusion and none of them offer any drop in triggers. Maybe the drop-in fad is passing away?

-greyswindir.

[AeroScoper]

Gentlemen,

Thanks again for all the input. I'm sold on the Greider's and plan on purchasing the 2" part. I'm going to give it a go possibly this weekend. Niem gave me some excellent advice on the over travel screw, if there's anything else anyone can forewarn this nervous noob it'll be much appreciated.

I"m all about that saying "smart is learning from your mistakes, wisdom is learning from other's mistakes".

Pray that my Kimber survives without too many wounds, if you're not religious, wish me luck! :)

[Greyswindir]

Good luck!...and God Bless!

[niemi24s]

. . . if you're not religious, wish me luck! :)
What (pray tell) would you want those who are religious to do? :D

[AeroScoper]

Niem,

That's usually the only hope for me when it comes to such things. :)




Pray that my Kimber survives without too many wounds.... :)

[ElrodCod]

I don't recall anyone offering a trigger described as "drop in." And if I had, I'd be skeptical.

DVC

Nowlin Drop in Trigger (http://store.nowlinguns.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=NG&Product_Code=N18&Category_Code=SP)

[Greyswindir]

Sheew!

Thanks Elrodcod,

I was beginning to think I had imagined seeing and buying a drop-in trigger!

-grey.

[Terry-828]

Please don't forget to check the aft end of the trigger bow in relation to the aft side of the mag well. Actually, you will be checking the trigger bow's relationship to the disconnector. If you find you have a newly generated sticky disconnector problem after trigger bow adjustment it will probably be related to this bow/sear relationship. An extremely general rule of thumb is to flush the aft edge of the trigger bow with the aft edge of the magazine well web in the frame. If your trigger bow has adjustable fingers on the front, this is an easy to set dimension. If not, check it anyway so that you don't have any surprises.