Stretching the M44 Trigger Guard

[Scout106]

Did mine this afternoon. Here's how:

1. It's not necessary to remove the barreled action and magazine floorplate, but removing the bolt helps.
2. Put trigger guard in place and tighten both screws. Note: The floorplate adds applied pressure to the TG.
3. Place a folded washcloth over the comb and bolt handle cutout. This is to prevent any wood damage as you tighten the wire ties.
4. Wire (cable) ties. I used four, two through the trigger guard and over the the receiver area, and two around the finger grooves and over the comb.
5. Apply heat using a hair dryer on high setting. 20-30 seconds or until the plastic is warm to the touch.
6. Tighten the wire ties. Pressing up on the warm plastic will help tighten the ties.
7. Repeat 5 & 6 until the trigger guard and finger grooves are stretched and held back into the cutouts.

Now, go away and have a beer while the plastic cools in place. Come back later and carefully cut the wire ties away with sidecutters. And there you have it, a like new, genuine, original equipment Mossberg trigger guard on your M44 U.S. rifle.

[moulton]

[Scout106]

Here's the pics:



I found it more effective to leave the metal in place as the floorplate adds pressure to the front handguard screw. Can't really damage the metal with this process. I didn't take any "before" pics, but there was a gap between the plastic and the wood. In the "after" pics above you can see no gap.

[renardsubtil]

great write up. I just tried this...took about 30 minutes...using zip ties and a heat gun.

Word of caution, be patient. lol! "slowly" heat up that trigger guard and use the zip ties to squeeze the guard into position - also if the guard gets too hot, you're going to get the little railroad marks left over by the zip tie (see the last picture above if you don't know what I mean).