What exactly is an "Action Job"?

[flabbydan]

Other than improving the trigger pull, what is typically done by a gunsmith performing an action job?  I'm thinking about having the trigger on my SBH worked on.  Thanks.

[Badnews Bob]

Not really much more, Lighter springs and polishing the moving parts is the bulk of it. Some will insure the timing is correct on the cylinder and check cylinder gap/endplay but thats about it.  Most peaple could do it themselves but the tolerances on trigger and sear are very close so it is also very easy to mess it up costing you a new trigger and/or sear, A spring kit is very easy to install but just lightens trigger pull some it dosen't give it that smooth as glass feel.

BTW a action job is really just acceleratered wear, several thoushand rounds worth of wear. A action would eventually get that feel on its own but that would be alot of shooting or dry fireing.

[SHOOTALL]

Bob is right , but if you shoot 2000 rounds not only will the action get better the shooter will also !

[44 Man]

Yes, an action job improves the trigger pull, but it can be much more.  You can improve the trigger pull with springs, but that does nothing for the 'take up' and roughness in it.  I prefer a professional to do that job for me.  If you ever have the chance to compare a first class trigger job with a 'spring lightening job', you would agree with me.  An action job can also include the cylinder bolt timing.  Ruger's are notorious for the bolt coming back up too quick and leaving a 'ring' around the cylinder.  A good action job will also time the bolt so that it does not snap back up until it is in the leade of the cylinder cut, leaving no marks on the cylinder.  The action job will also align the cylinders with the loading gate so everything aligns properly there too.  If you would like, some professionals will even enlarge the opening in the frame to make speed loading faster and more sure.  All in all, an action job will make the whole gun feel smoother when you cock the hammer, like it is all rolling on ball bearings.  AND it will improve your trigger pull.  I had a nickled Colt SAA that had such a job on it and it was truly a joy to just work the action.  It was 'gay-ran-teed' to bring a smile to your face.  44 Man

[flabbydan]

Thanks for the information, fellas.
Dan

[Autorim]

The revolvers I have sent to professionals have been returned with work including recutting the sear surfaces, changing springs, adding trigger stop, turning barrel to exactly align the front sight ...............work that I could not do properly and it becomes a totally different firearm. Cocking is so smooth and the trigger is light and crisp with just a touch of overtravel - sure does make for a much more pleasurable shooting experience. I shoot because I enjoy it and I like to shoot firearms that feel good in the hand and perform well.

A few thousand rounds of shooting does smooth out most handguns, but it won't give you a professional trigger or action job.

[bluecow]

and what should one expect to pay for a frist class job.  had this done on a s&w 22 mag. by a " gunsmith ".  the pull is better than it was ( couldn't get much worse ) but not what i thought that it would be.  so reluctant to spend my hard earned $ on my blackhawk.

[44 Man]

Well, I certainly would not use that smith again then.  You want to send your gun to someone who specializes in your type of gun.  Some smiths can do it all, but not many.  Some specialize in 1911's, others in double actions S&W's or Rugers, and others in single actions.  Ask around and find a good one.  Prices will vary.  And make sure of what you are getting for your money.  Is it just a trigger job for $40, or is it a complete action job for $150?  Those things you want to know.  But when you do send it out to a competent smith and receive back a gun that runs like 'a well oiled machine', you will be glad you spent the money.  Enjoy.  44 Man

[SHOOTALL]

Be sure you know what you are getting . IE trigger let off as an example . a target gun , a hunting gun and a defense gun might all be different for some . I had a S&W mod. 66 that had a 4 lb. sa pull but it seemed lower no creep ,no over travel nothing . A redhawk has a 2.5 or less let off to light really for all but target use for me , i hunt with it but gloves make it exciting .

[Autorim]

I highly recommend Alan Harton. He works primarily or exclusively on single action revolvers. I sent him another revolver yesterday. Following is the work he performed on one revolver previously: Recut trigger sear,recut full cock notch on hammer, polished transfer bar, installed lightweight trigger return spring, installed lightweight mainspring,reduced power of pawl spring,made and installed a patridge front sight blade and test fired. I don't want to quote prices for Alan, but this work plus shipping would probably be about $200.00.

If you are going to keep the firearm and shoot it, I highly recommend it. If you plan on selling or trading - you may or may not recover the cost of custom work. It would depend on the buyer. As in all things in commerce, it is worth what someone is willing to pay.

[Lloyd Smale]

be warry of any  100 dollar trigger job. A good trigger job takes hours to do and theres no way your going to get good work for a 100 bucks. If your not picky and just want a lighter pull and go with one of those 100 dollar jobs about all your getting is a tweaked spring and a couple generic swipes with a file. My buddy does mine and i think there about the best action jobs ive seen and it takes him 3 hours to a full day to do one and get it done so this fussy sob doesnt bitch him out.

[44 Man]

Lloyd, that's the trouble with having so many guns!  You keep comparing the triggers and they will never all be exactally alike.  I got a trigger on my engraved 1911 like breaking glass.  Then I swapped out the commander hammer for a Gov't style, and lost it.  It's an ok trigger now, but nothing like it was before.  And I don't have any other single action triggers that break like my Freedom Arms.  44 Man

[Autorim]

Each to his own opinion and experience, but I don't entirely agree with Lloyd on the possibility of a good $100.00 trigger job. There are lots of highly skilled gunsmiths and machinists and some of them have lots of good machinery and can perform a labor of love on a firearm for $100.00 and achieve excellent results.

[Hank08]

A good triggerman only takes an hour but a poor one takes all day and has to charge more.
H08

[Lloyd Smale]

I guess it all depends on what you consider good. Ive boughten custom sixguns that cost well over 2 grand from both linebaughs, clements, bowen, gallager, harton and have two fa guns that had there optional trigger jobs and wasnt happy with any of them. Each and every custom sixgun I own and have owned has had to have the trigger worked on after i aquired it. Its easy to knock a stock ruger down to 3lbs with a little creap and smothen the action some but to get a 2 lb trigger that breaks like glass and an action that feels like its got ball bearnings in it no gunsmith (at least none that i know of and id guess ive tried more then most here) will get it right with one of there 100 dollar jobs. If your used to stock rugers you may think you have a good trigger but until you try one that is really right you have nothing to compare it to. My buddy does mine and he is one of John linebaughs best freinds and even John will tell you that it is cost prohibited to really do them right. Not to many people are willing to buck up for the hours of labor that it takes. It is surely nothing that can be done by pulling the gun apart once and making some generic cuts on the sear and stoning the hammer. Rugers just have to much variation in parts. Same goes for a 1911. If you think your smith can do a great job in an hour all i have to say is come on over with that gun and shoot it along side one of mine. Even at the linebaugh seminars i have people about go slack jawed when theyve shot some of my guns and beg me for the name of the guy who did them. He will stand right next to me and smile as ive sworn to never tell as my buddy has alot of health problems and will for the most part only do my triggers anymore. Ill stand behind my statement that you will NEVER get a trigger right in an hour i dont care how skilled you are.
    Another thing to keep in mind is theres a big differnce in a trigger job and an action job. You can take a couple swipes with a file, cut spring or even just drop a leg on a spring in a ruger and get a respectable pull weight on your trigger. But when you reduce the spring tension you can make your gun less reliable and also the reduced hammer force can effect accuracy. A good job will not reduce hammer speed and a true action job involves stoning all the metal to metal surfaces and will actually increase the hammers hit force on a primer. Some guys loose track of the fact that the most improtant thing in a hunting handgun is it goes bang EVERY time with any ammo in any weather condition. Reducing spring tensions will about gurantee a gun will not past this test. How many times have you heard so and so did there action and now has to use fed primers because the cups are soft. Like i stated about it can adversly effect accuracy too. Not only is your lock time slowed but lighter hits on primers can cause inconsistant primer igniton and about gurantee your groups will open. Redhawks are especially notorious for inconsistant primer strikes with spring kits. It all comes down to what makes you happy or what your used to shooting. To me id rather sink a pile of money into getting a trigger right then spending it adding a bunch of bling to a gun. Fortunately i dont have to worry about it. Im lucky enough to have friends.

[Autorim]

Lloyd, point well taken. I had - now deceased - a friend that once worked for Bill Wilson in Berryville and he could do a 1911 trigger in his home shop that was great and it certainly took more than an hour.

I will venture to guess that most shooters will readily accept a trigger with a trigger stop by Harton or other smiths as being so much superior to the Ruger factory trigger that it will certainly suffice. I'm with you on cosmetic additions. I shoot all of my firearms and care for them, but bluing wear or dings are of no concern as long as it shoots well.

It is easy to have so much invested in a firearm with custom work that you will never recoup your investment in a sale or trade unless you can find a VERY willing or educated buyer. Of course, who wants to sell or trade.