Trigger question; S&W J frame Centennial, no external hammer?

[AFTII]

I have two 640 Pros. The first one had a horrible trigger. The second was not too bad. There is definitely some variance between guns.

I installed an Apex trigger kit in the first one. The pull became much more manageable. The action smoothed out considerably after I dry fired it several hundred times. I've had a few instances (less than a handful) of light strikes over a thousand or so rounds, which is on par with my bone stock TRR8.

I intend to put it on my CCW this year. I haven't vetted the second gun (long story, but I never really wanted two), but it has always had smoother action than the first.

[Barbarosa]

I've got a handful of J frames and in my experience the lightweight models have a stouter trigger pull than the all steel versions. Some of mine have been great shooters out of the box (640 Pro), while others take a few hundred rounds to smooth out. I suggest getting some snap caps and sit in front of the TV one night and dry fire away and see if it helps. It should smooth out but won't lighten the pull weight any; the only way to do that is to change the springs, and I don't recommend doing that.

[JTROKS]

For a range gun, sure. Not recommended for a revolver used for self defense. Might get some light strikes.

That's why you test the gun with a variety of ammo before calling it good.

[mrblah]

all the j frame triggers suck. However, a simple polish job will remove the gritty feeling from the trigger, and give you a smooth but heavy trigger.

If you want a light trigger, you will have to replace the springs. There is no way around that.

IF you want a smooth and light trigger out of the box (when compared to a J frame), then look at a ruger LCR.

I own a few j frames and a LCR. I still prefer my j frames to the LCR, but that is just personal preference.

[Friesland]

Thanks for all of the advice. Plan on toughing it out. Have been dry-firing the little, heavy weight. Between getting my grip strength back and wearing down the action, we'll come to an understanding. Haven't shot it yet, an looking forward to it.

[glockman19]

I have had and carried a S&W 442 & 642 for over 10 years. The hammerless j-frame revolvers have a heavier trigger...However, they do get better with time.

I have dry fired each over 5,000 times in addition to shooting them another thousand times.

The 637 has a hammer.

[I Swan]

I've got a handful of J frames and in my experience the lightweight models have a stouter trigger pull than the all steel versions. Some of mine have been great shooters out of the box (640 Pro), while others take a few hundred rounds to smooth out. I suggest getting some snap caps and sit in front of the TV one night and dry fire away and see if it helps. It should smooth out but won't lighten the pull weight any; the only way to do that is to change the springs, and I don't recommend doing that.

Any theory as to why the airweight ones have heavier triggers?

[Milsurp Collector]

My left hand trigger finger is sore, the right hand fared better but this has a heavy (for me anyway) trigger.

I got this Model 60 made in 1982 a few months ago.




Out of the box the double action trigger pull was very heavy, off the scale of my 12 lb. max trigger pull gauge. Combined with the grooved trigger it made my trigger finger hurt. Dry firing it was literally a pain.

I polished the rebound slide and mainspring stirrup (strut) and replaced the rebound spring with a 12 lb spring from this pack https://www.midwayusa.com/product/65...-j-k-l-n-frame I tried lighter rebound springs but the trigger reset wasn't as positive. The 12 lb rebound spring is the lightest that still has positive trigger reset.

I also replaced the grooved trigger with a NOS (new old stock) S&W smooth (not grooved) combat trigger.

With the stock mainspring the double action trigger pull is 10 lb 7 oz. With a Wolff 8 lb reduced power mainspring from this pack https://www.midwayusa.com/product/55...-and-w-j-frame the double action trigger pull is 9 lb 12 oz. I am still using the stock mainspring for now until I have a chance to test reliable primer strikes with the reduced power mainspring. Single action trigger pull is less than 3 lb.

Combined with the smooth combat trigger the lighter trigger pull doesn't hurt my trigger finger at all. I also installed Crimson Trace laser grips.

[Barbarosa]

Any theory as to why the airweight ones have heavier triggers?

The way it was explained to me is that the airweights are intended strictly as a short-range defensive weapon and made for pocket carry, so they have a trigger pull stout enough to prevent AD when in use. I suppose it makes some sense, but people pocket carry all-steel snubbies too.

[Friesland]

Milsurp Collector,

Nice buy and great post, waiting on an update.

[Ann Nonimus]

let me know if you plan to stick with that Centennial please. . . and Thank You!


AnneO

[Friesland]

AnneO, yes, and after much dry-fire practice, my hand is getting stronger and/or the trigger is giving up some of the fight. A bit heavy for pocket carry but the recoil should also be less than the light-weight's. My preferred revolver would be the 3" Smith & Wesson K-frame (in .357 mag and shooting Speer Gold short barrel).

[M1NM]

My new 642-2 internal hammer has a far better trigger than my old no dash 60. The only way the 60 is better is by single action.