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Gunsmithing Trigger issues

avidflyer

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 18, 2011
814
102
St Louis
I have a new Stiller Tac 30AW that had a new Timney trigger set at 1.5lbs at the factory....The rifle fired fine for the gunsmith and was shipped to me. I thought the trigger was a little heavy but thought what the hell lets go break it in.....I did notice once working the bolt that it did not cock but didn't give it much thought because I thought the pull weight was a little heavy and would adjust it later....At the range, did the fire and clean for the first five....on shot #3 the round didn't go off. I was using some 70's ball ammo and chucked it up to a hard primer cup. Went back the next day and fired 3 more shoot and clean just to be anal....last one didnt fire. Brought 40 rounds for an OCW and lo and behold about 5 CCI BR primers didnt fire out of the group.....now I'm curious as too WTF....Called the smith on the way home, his and my remarks were the same....clean the bolt out make sure there isn't any junk in bolt and check the sear engagement. Ok I wanted to lighten and adjust the trigger anyway.....I checked the trigger before I adjusted it and it was at 3.5 lbs.....I couldn't get it to adjust below 3lbs. I called Timney and discussed what was going on and they suggested I ship it back it needed a longer sear. OK so back it goes....I'm the meantime we put on an old remington trigger....it adjusts fine and off I go back for more OCW work. Not one miss fire, no issues, rifle is fine and pull weight is around 1.5lbs...Got the trigger back today with a note in it, installed longer sear, set pull weight at 1.5lbs your set....Hey fucking perfect, installed it without dicking with anything, immediately noticed trigger broke clean but was very heavy....checked pull weight it was 3.5 to almost 4lbs....went to adjust it and once again it wont adjust to anything less than 3lbs....WTF any ideas?...and no I'm not buying a Jewel for this rifle...yes i do own one...
 
I installed a Timney that had very inconsistent trigger pull and wouldn't adjust below 3.5#. Adjusted the screw until the screw and spring were completely out of the trigger and still 3.5#.
I removed the trigger shoe retaining pin and shoe and there was a burr on the housing at the retaining pin hole that was causing a hand-up. Cleaned up the burr and fixed!

Edited to explain in more detail.
 
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Something going on with the trigger housing. Driving the pins in is most likely crushing the sear.
 
I'm intimately familiar with this trigger. AvidFlyer had me give my opinion on it before he sent it back. I donated the remington trigger while it was sent back to Timney.

My opinion was that there was interference where the sear met the cocking piece of the bolt. You could feel it dragging while actuating the bolt. We swapped another bolt into the action and it dragged and bound too. The trigger pull was all over the range of the gauge. We put the stock remington trigger in it and it worked fine. I told him to send it back to Timney. I don't know what they did (they said they put a longer sear in it). It is at least consistent now, but can't get it below 3.5 lbs or so.
 
I just installed the 510 timney, can only get it own to 2 lbs, when I hold the rifle at 45 degree angle and cock the bolt the trigger will not release the pin, no problem when the rifle is level, same with stock on or off. Strange one for sure , I will call timney tomorrow.
 
Did you try the trigger in a different gun to see if it was gun or the Trigger? I'd hate to believe that Timney didn't really adjust the trigger or change the sear and put a note in that said they did.

Unfortunately, You may have to call Timney again if it turns out to be the trigger.
 
If it's dragging on the bolt, I'd try putting a .010" shim between the action and trigger and see what that did.
 
I've got a simple answer...that trigger is fucked up. I've never seen an after market trigger that made me drool and and ahhhhh over. Put a tuned old school remmy in there an go on. Whenever I've seen a gun go down at a match with a trigger issue it's either been a jewel or Timney.
 
Only problems I've had with Timney triggers is when I've used a PT&G bolt. Their bodies are slightly bigger than the factory's. I end up with bolt drag until I relieve the top of the sear.
 
Only problems I've had with Timney triggers is when I've used a PT&G bolt. Their bodies are slightly bigger than the factory's. I end up with bolt drag until I relieve the top of the sear.

On a few I've had to switch to factory or Shilen triggers because of excessive drag on the bolt body.