My Handi trigger adventure

[Bayou Stalker]

I did my first Handi trigger job last weekend.  The photos on Perklo's website looks like he took off almost all the lip on the hammer.  That is an optical illusion, and should not be relied upon.     It didn't take long to realize that if only a little of the lip is left, a gentle breeze will trip the hammer.  I used a file and dremel and recreated another lip on the hammer, I was able to get most of it back but it is still too light to where I do not get the transfer to stay up consistently.  So I need to work it a bit more or order a new hammer for one of my rifles.  After quickly learning just how simple the action really is on the Handi, and what not to do, I was feeling a lot more confident and did the second one in less than 15 minutes.  It is lighter than the factory trigger, but I am now unsure of just how low I can go before I start to get inconsistent transfer bar actuation.  I can easily see how a half-cock hammer with no transfer bar would be better for light triggers.

Where is the best place to purchase new hammers and triggers?

Kendall

[Badnews Bob]

My .357 max will trip at about 2 1/4 lbs and if you don't follow thru well it won't fire all the others I've done are right at 3 lbs and they all work flawlessly, I think 2 1/2 is about as low as reasonable and that may be a touch to light.

BTW I tihnk polishing the pins and hole helps just as much as working the sear.

[quickdtoo]

I've got triggers in the low 20oz range with no problems, but you have to follow thru with the trigger pull. Others have been reported to be as low as 6oz. But the big problem is if you go too low and it wears a little more, you may end up with no trigger or an unsafe trigger at some time. Brownell's and Numrich sell the parts.

Tim

[kitchawan kid]

Is it as hard to remove the roll pins holding the parts to the frame as many say?

[quickdtoo]

They're usually pretty tight the first time they're removed, I don't install the pins completely when testing which makes it easier to remove  them again for more honing, once the trigger weight is acceptable, then seat them fully. As Kendall said, once you get the first one under your belt, the next is much easier, I've done over 30 of em, they're very easy to do, read Fred's trigger work on his website, he has a tip  that makes reassembly much easier.

Tim

[zoner]

i took my handi hornet down to just under 3 lbs....misfires and poor primer dents.....bought a new hammer and did that one to 3.5 lbs and got 100% ignition. When i get the trigger pull lower for some reason i cannot do a proper follow thru,when i try to force it i tend to jerk the trigger and marksmanship leaves town. At 3.5 i squeeze,the trigger surprises me a little when it breaks,and it's impossible to not do a complete follow thru. Kind of weird but i am gonna shoot my handi's at 3.5,it's not perfect,but at least they go bang every time i pull the trigger. I envy you guys that can make it work with a lighter pull.

[quickdtoo]

Zoner,

If you don't cut the trigger spring, you may have problems, I've not had any issues yet with the lightest triggers.

Tim

[Bayou Stalker]

Zoner,

If you don't cut the trigger spring, you may have problems, I've not had any issues yet with the lightest triggers.

Tim

How many coils do you usually trim?  Or do you replace it?

Also, I was able to repair my messed up hammer/trigger and it is just as good as the second one I stoned.  No parts needed for now.

Kendall

[quickdtoo]

I remove the end plus the first coil from the factory spring.

Tim

[merkelerk]

Make an extra pin to hold the transfer bar mechanism together for removal (shorter than the original), this same pin can be used to hold the trigger together for re-assembly.

The trigger spring hole can be bored deeper rather than cutting the spring (but not much).

Use your dremmel for polishing only, not for removing metal or you will go too far too fast. Get a good set of stones, I have some that are about the same dimmensions as popscicle sticks that were intended for non-ferrous metals, they come in various grades and work great on triggers.

Do a little and re-assemble, check your pull and do it again and again and again...........

If your shop is a rats nest mess like mine is, disassemble the action in a plastic bag, the hardest spring to find after flying across the room is the one stuck to the bottom of your boot.

[petemi]

If your shop is a rats nest mess like mine is, disassemble the action in a plastic bag, the hardest spring to find after flying across the room is the one stuck to the bottom of your boot.

Man, How'd you know, I just picked up my foot and found it

Thanks,

Pete