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Marlin bolt 22 and 17 trigger tip

jayd4wg

jayd4wg

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 12, 2009
504
1
53
Steel City
#1
I've been poking thru old threads here on marlin rifles and it seems that the marlin Bic Pen trick is fairly unknown on this board. Most guys go with the RifleBasix trigger. 6 years ago, I was cheaper than I am now (hard to believe eh?) and I stumbled on a thread at RimfireCentral. With a few "clicker" pens and some patience, you can get a reliable, light pull, crispy feeling trigger.

I basically removed my trigger group from the 882SSV and cleaned up the sear engagement with a polishing stone. about 20 very light strokes was all it took. I also removed a couple thou' of the engagement surface (NOT recommended unless you have another sear and trigger ready to go back in when you fawk it up), and replaced the stock springs with heavier sear spring and lighter trigger spring.

My rifle now breaks at 1.75-1.90 lbs with no creep and it feels really nice. I have drop tested the trigger and have never had a failure. Right after I did the trigger job, i did have a problem where the sear would not engage regularly when closing the bolt, but found out that the rear mounting screw for the action was too tight causing a flex or pinch in the works of the gun. as soon as I took some of the torque off this screw it hasn't failed since.

Point is...the biggest complaint about Marlin rimfire bolt guns is the trigger. And you are $5 and an hour away from a nice crispy trigger if you like to tinker. It takes about as much time as installing and adjusting the RB trigger to do really...
 
#6
Re: Marlin bolt 22 and 17 trigger tip

Once the barrelled action is removed from the stock, from the left side of the weapon, (I failed to take a pic of the right side but can if the need arises...)

Removal of two screws allows the entire trigger assembly to be removed consisting of 7 parts. 2 springs, 2 screws, sear, trigger, and safety lever. the bottom screw removes the trigger, and free's the trigger spring. This picture shows the assembly together, and notes the two surfaces to be polished:

Sear.jpg


same here, but with the sear surfaces mated:

trigger%20group.jpg


I did not take the full trigger assy apart again tonight, I don't feel like chasing the stock sear spring. basically I took a spring from a pen, and cut off 1/2 inch, leaving about .35 inches remaining. The half inch piece replaced the stock trigger spring, and that spring is NORMALLY positioned vertically in the channel. I positioned mine longitudinally giving slightly less trigger pull resistance...the trigger spring has little to do with the actual trigger pull, and everything to do with sear engagement when operating the bolt.

the smaller piece of spring is then placed OVER the stock sear spring using the sear spring as a guide. the sear spring seats into two detents, one on the sear, the other in the action above...if you have one of these rifles and take it apart, you will see what i'm talking about.

once you have polished the sear surfaces with a very fine polishing stone, and you have placed the sear back in with both springs (stock plus the .35" piece of pen spring - these springs give the trigger pull break strength), you can then place the trigger back in with the 1/2" spring aligned as shown here:

trigger%20spring.jpg


other work done, I cleaned up the sides of both trigger and spring with a high speed stainless steel brush on the dremel and gave a quick polish to them. they don't look really smooth here, but they feel like glass. same with the sear engagement.
I also filed off a tiny amount of the sear engagement surface (not truly recommended, unless you have spare parts handy as you can render your rifle to a paperweight real quick).

I wish there was a way for you to experience the trigger over the net but there isn't. I also apologize for the crappy pix, I'm really a bit too lazy tonight to take the whole thing apart and chase that factory spring once I pop it out. It is a PITA to get it lined up and back in.

This whole thing really only took about an hour of trial and error to get the springs right and I mangled 3 pens doing so. the pen that worked the best was one of them old black military clicker pens with the silver ring in the middle and the 3 piece head.

If you need more pics than this, i'll re-take but I think you get the gist from here.

CIMG9653.JPG
 
#7
Re: Marlin bolt 22 and 17 trigger tip

Sir you just saved me a hundred bucks, soon as i seen your thread i grabbed my marlin925 and went to work. My trigger is a little different but same system, it took two tries because i was scared to file too much but after the second try and a dab of grease shes right around 2 lbs which is way better than before. Ill go lower when its not midnight and im not tired but it will work for now. Thanks
 
#8
Re: Marlin bolt 22 and 17 trigger tip

I need to note...when i first did this, the trigger spring was too light and when I closed my bolt it would not engage and the rifle would not remain cocked. this is cured with a stronger trigger spring which in truth does not need to be very strong, just enough to ensure proper sear engagement.

the sear springs are what affects the trigger pull when firing. that is where you will spend most of your time tinkering. make sure you polish the sides of your trigger and sear, get them smooth and take your time with the sear surfaces. if you fawk them up you will be buying a new trigger. they are a PITA to keep square without a vise and file guide. take your time, work with very light pressure, and keep the parts lubed up good. I won't lie...i actually polished mine with a very fine arkansas stone loaded with water. YMMV.

happy tinkering
smile.gif


Oh...and please make sure you drop test when you are done. it's pretty hard to screw up the safety on this rifle, but you really can bugger up the sear. an 8" drop to the floor should NOT set off the trigger. if it does, go back to the drawing board and redo the springs and unfawk any of the filing you did.
 
#9
Re: Marlin bolt 22 and 17 trigger tip

well i had no vice or file guide, just a tiny sharpening stone but i took my time and it seems to be fine so far, once together i took the safety off and tried everything i could to make it fire (without beating to death) and got nothing so it is safe. the bolt locks and the trigger engages fine. thanks for the post
 
#11
Re: Marlin bolt 22 and 17 trigger tip

hey jason, im thinking about picking up a marlin xs7 in .308 because of the amazing price and good reviews. is there any chance it has the same type of trigger? I know the factory one is adjustable but will only go so low. thanks
 
#12
Re: Marlin bolt 22 and 17 trigger tip

Thanks bohem

rack, the x_7 rifles do not, but the factory trigger is adjustable down to about 2 lbs and it's really pleasant to shoot. My 22 is a little lighter, but i have no issues with the XS7 at all (other than the 3 position safety...or lack thereof)

b_shell_marlin-xl7-4.jpg


Besides...any rifle that does this with any consistency, right out of the box, with cheap factory loads is a keeper in my book. Once i get the rest of the reloading gear and materials i'll start on my load and continue working on my form as well

3796798472_dfc51578b8.jpg


oh, and just so the 22 does not feel left out...look for one of my other 22 posts - i posted pics of the 882ssv throwing the new Hornady 30gr's...it likes them very much
smile.gif
 
#13
Re: Marlin bolt 22 and 17 trigger tip

is that a group from your x7? what cal. and load was that? also if you got 2lbs that is plenty good for a deer dun where you might have gloves on,thanks<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JasonB</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks bohem

rack, the x_7 rifles do not, but the factory trigger is adjustable down to about 2 lbs and it's really pleasant to shoot. My 22 is a little lighter, but i have no issues with the XS7 at all (other than the 3 position safety...or lack thereof)

b_shell_marlin-xl7-4.jpg


Besides...any rifle that does this with any consistency, right out of the box, with cheap factory loads is a keeper in my book. Once i get the rest of the reloading gear and materials i'll start on my load and continue working on my form as well

3796798472_dfc51578b8.jpg


oh, and just so the 22 does not feel left out...look for one of my other 22 posts - i posted pics of the 882ssv throwing the new Hornady 30gr's...it likes them very much
smile.gif
</div></div>
 
#14
Re: Marlin bolt 22 and 17 trigger tip

yup, that's the XS7 in 308, have done sub MOA with Federal and winchester 150gr soft points from wally world. it tends to favor the federal stuff, as it's more consistent, BUT both times I shot clover leaves were with winchester gray box power points.

my rifle does NOT like 180 grain stuff so far...but it just chews up the 150's
 
#15
Re: Marlin bolt 22 and 17 trigger tip

nice write up and there's nothing wrong with the pictures they are a hell of a lot better than mine!

i had the same deal with my trigger and the sear engagement, had to snip off a quarter coil at a time to get it right

so between your post and mine we have marlin and savage covered.

anyone do a 10/22 or 77/22 homemade trigger job?
 
#17
Re: Marlin bolt 22 and 17 trigger tip

Hum... I have a marlin 880SS that I've recently been shooting a lot (got it when I was around 12 years old... and it still is in great shape). I'm going to have to look into this trigger modification. I've been thinking about taking it apart to do some polishing lately... this might give me the push I need!
 
#19
Re: Marlin bolt 22 and 17 trigger tip

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JasonB</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'd LOVE a DIY 10/22 job...my trigger on the carbine is 8 lbs of sandy brick pulling thru a snowy driveway. it feels HORRIBLE </div></div>

You can do it, a friend of mine did mine and it's pretty good. He replaced 1 spring and put in some set screws, not sure what all he did.
 
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