trigger pull on 1866

[doketx]

hello,
     Can anyone tell me how to adjust the trigger pull on an 1866 Winchester Uberti replica?  I just got one, and want to make the trigger pull as much like the one on my 1876 as possible, which means reducing it.  Is it even possible?  Thanks!

                                                                                                                                     Dave

[Abilene]

Yes it can be reduced.  Several ways, one of which is changing sear angles, which is a gunsmith job.  But lightening your main spring (if it is still stock), by either grinding it more narrow or replacing with an aftermarket lighter spring, will also lighten the trigger pull somewhat.  Same as on a single action pistol.

[major]

There is a flat spring just ahead of the trigger held on by one screw.  You could try making it thinner but it is already very thin.  Sometime making it more narrow will lighten it up.  But before trying to modify it you should get a couple of spares just in case something goes wrong.
The one on my 66 is about 6.25 lb.  Which is way to heavy for a target gun but I only shoot blanks out of it so accuracy is not an issue.

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[Coffinmaker]

Well .... as mentioned above, yes the trigger pull can be lightened up.  Your first stop is the full cock ledge on the hammer.  Drag a finger nail over it from back to front.  Often there is a ridge at the very front of the ledge.  The other dead give away is if, when you pull the trigger, you can see the hammer move to the rear.  If you have the ledge, a fine, small file can remove it.  DO NOT change the angle of the ledge.  Next, you can thin the Trigger Return spring by narrowing it.

THE CAVEAT.  The Uberti or Winchester (Original) nor the Miroku Toggle Link rifles are NOT target guns.  If you reduce the trigger pull too much, the trigger will not clear the Half Cock Notch and you will be in real trouble.  The gun is not intended for a slow, gentile trigger pull.

As mentioned above, first step is to reduce or acquire an after-market Main Spring.

[Yeso Bill]

Well, whether we like it or not, the Civil War is over and vigilante justice highly frowned on.  The west is settled. Today, 99.99% Henry's & 66's blast targets. 

Anyway, I know mine do.  The 66 & 60 are both capable of pretty good accuracy considering that the bolt isn't that much bigger than a strand of barb wire.  I myself simply shimmed the trigger springs on four of them several years ago, obtaining a 2.5 lb. pull on all.  Thousands of rounds later, nary a single problem. 

I recall one single incident that the Henry went off just before the sights were dead centered on the bull.  I felt the snap, released the trigger and the safety caught the hammer.  The gun (of course) didn't fire and I was amazed that I could release the trigger that quick. 
 
I have left all of my gun springs stock.  I don't shoot CAS and have toyed with the idea of lightening the elevator springs, but haven't.  (I'm a "wait 'til it breaks and then fix 'er", kinda guy. 

After shooting a 4" group at 200 meters and shooting more than several 5" groups at 300 meters, (with the 66)  I decided it was time to see if the 60 would group out there where the Turkeys live. 

(Chasing the Pig  https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,60428.0.html)

So far, there has been too much wind to play at 385.  (Wind right now is 10 mph @ 8:00 AM MT so no shooting today) 

A week ago, the 60 put 6 consecutive shots in .734" @ 50 yards.  (22.4 gr. RL-7 / Accurate 245GC bullet, Fed. LMPM primer, 1.605 COL - Av. Vel. 1258 fps )   (It is the target on the left in picture) 

Attached is a picture of "my Target Rifle".  The front sights are Lee Shaver's 17A dovetailed in.  The rear are his "Super Grade mid range".

Billy

[mtmarfield]

      Greetings!

   YB, THAT is one hell of a Target Rifle! BRAVO!

                   M.T.Marfield
                      7-01-19

[Bryan Austin]

Very nice Yeso Bill   

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I love it, a target Henry!

[Slamfire]

Good shoot'n ,, seeing the stock build-up on your rifle ,, makes me think ,, back when these ( assault ) rifle were 1st. made and even now the copy's (were ) are made for 5ft. 8"  ( average ) soldier w/ very short neck's & short arms ,, yep ! i'm taller ,, have longer arms,, have to crane my neck over , have stock up higher on my cheek ,, sooo " I like your set up " looks comfortable ,, I might not shoot any better ,, but would be more comfortable " MISSING ".

 smoke'm if ya' got'm ,, Hootmix.

[Yeso Bill]

Thanks guys for the compliments.  Wind permitting, I try and shoot the rifle every day and I think I have enjoyed it more than any other I've owned.

I want to haul it down to a local cowboy silhouette match and have been working real hard developing a load with RL-7.  Due to fouling, I quit the BP when the thermometer went in the 90s and continued to climb into the triple digits.  I have found that safe loads of RL-7 in the Henry are extremely heat sensitive.

If I recall correctly, the drop of the tang is 18 degrees.  More than the 92 & 94.  Crank up the tang sight and it is a lot easier to shoot with the Bradley cheek piece.  The only thing the matter with it is, it's not leather, which will be remedied come Winter.   

Billy