Do You Know The Trigger Pull On Your Lever Rifle

[RANisbet]

I was curious about the trigger pull on my model 71 WINCHESTER in 348 cal.
Always knew it was a bit more than the 2-1/2 Lbs pull of my bolt rifle but didn't know how much.
I did a test with a calibrated trigger weight set and was surprised that it came in at under 3-1/2 Lbs. I tried another model 71 and it was almost the same. Both were crisp with no creep!
Anyone else out there find that the old Winchesters, right from the factory had a nice crisp trigger pull and reasonable pull?

Bob Nisbet

[Kansas Ed]

Yep, you hit the proverbial nail on the head. I've found that Winchesters from about 1955 and earlier were generally nicer than after the 1955ish mark. Matter of fact, I would say that of the rifles I've been around, the change came about slowly after WWII, as those from the early 50's I've seen are typically a little stiffer than from the 30's. Some of the rifles I have though from the late 1800's are stiffer though than the early 1900's. But a lot of that is dependant on the model I think. Those are just my own observations though from the rifles I've been around.

Ed

[Sixgun]

My thoughts are about the same as Kansas Eds. Rifles from the 1895 to 1930's usually run about 3 to 4 lbs. Post war guns are usually in the 4 lb+ range with the pre 1898 guns about the same due to their heavier mainsprings that were needed for the harder primers of the era.-----------Sixgun

[NonPCnraRN]

I have a 1917 era model 94 with a trigger that breaks like the proverbial glass rod. Most of the bluing is gone and it wears a Redfield receiver sight. The stock while not abused has good honest wear with minor dings and dents from use by my grandfather, father and now me. I think the factory triggers went to Hades when the rebounding hammer was instituted. Maybe if Winchester removed the rebounding hammer, the tang safety and used the same CNC machinery they use on their model 70s they could reclaim some of their lost glory. My new Model 70 Featherweight Deluxe rivals the pre 64 models in fit and smoothness. Mine is in 270 Win and I am seriously thinking of buying another one and have it rebarreled and rechambered in 338 A-Square (338-06). Davidsons only has the Featherweight Deluxe in 270 in case anyone was wondering why I didn't start with the 30-06 Featherweight. The extra $200 was worth it to see everyone drool when it arrived at the shop from Davidsons. The walnut is well figured and the checkering is perfect. There is no reason the 94 can't be resurrected to be the fine firearm it once was using the same modern manufacturing techniques. They were both made in the same plant that was closed a few years back IIRC.

[Mike D.]

Yep, most post -1900 Winchester rifles, especially the 1886, have excellent triggers. Very light and no adjustment needed. My 46 yr old Remington 700BDL bolt gun also has a great no creep trigger that breaks at an even 2 1/2 lbs. Plenty light enough to get the job done.

[Kansas Ed]

Before the New Haven Winchester plant closed, I bought several model 70 Supergrades. The first was about 2004 , and while it was a great rifle, the trigger was bad. So I took the stock off and adjusted the trigger, but...the trigger would go from about 3.5 lbs to non functional. So I called Winchester Service Center and asked them if it was an anomaly or if that was the way it was designed. The rep told me that I had just voided my warranty by taking the stock off...to which I replied that I was OK with that because the stuff they sent me for a trigger rendered the gun realistically useless anyway. He also told me that the trigger was designed to not go under about 3.5 lbs. So I left it as light as it would go, and used it as is...though I prefer about 2 lbs on good bolt guns. Sometime later I got into an argument with another person who claimed that the trigger was not changed throughout the whole run of the Model 70, so to prove my point I took the rifle apart again and took another rifle from 1947ish apart to do comparison.



While the basic mechanism is similar...the springs are different. The old spring was lighter wire, with more coils...while the newer spring was heavier wire with a couple of less coils. What happens is that the lack of coils allows the spring to float free when you reach a certain adjustment point, and being a heavier wire the bottom resistance is about 3.5 lbs or so. I haven't yet done it, but intend to change springs eventually and I believe that the trigger will once again work as it should and get me down to under 2 lbs if I so desire.

Winchester currently advertises their "new" trigger system on the Mod. 70, but I bet they've got it wankered up so that you cant get a good light pull at all...even with a parts change.

Ed

[RKrodle]

I checked my two 94's made in 1951, one in 30-30 and the other 32WS. They are 4lbs 4ozs and 4lbs 13ozs. My 94AE trapper is 5lbs 2ozs. And for the heck of it my BLR is 4lbs 8ozs.

[madman4570]

Ruger#1 45-70======= 2.5lbs
Model 70 7mm mag =========3.0lbs
Marlin 336A===========4.2lbs
Ithaca 37 deerslayer=====6.0lbs
H&R SB2-457 45-70======7.0lbs

Honestly,I dont mind it a little heavy if there is very little creep.