Traditional Muzzleloading on the Cheap

Member’s Work Bench => General Gunsmithing => Topic started by: bmtshooter on August 18, 2019, 12:47:44 PM

Title: Bend a trigger
Post by: bmtshooter on August 18, 2019, 12:47:44 PM
I have an Austin Halleck that has a length of pull WAY too long for me.  I am considering bending the trigger towards the butt some so I might get more than just the very tip of my finger on it.  I am considering bending it to be similar to the red line in the attached picture.  Is there a reason I should not do this, and if not how do you suggest that I attempt to bend it?
Title: Re: Bend a trigger
Post by: beowulf on August 18, 2019, 05:41:21 PM
all depends on the steel , is it cast , or was it cut or stamped from a piece of plate ! I`ve done this a couple of times ,  generally I use a small vice to bend the trigger ! and go slowly ! I`ve never had to heat one , but that`s also a possibility !
Title: Re: Bend a trigger
Post by: hotfxr on August 18, 2019, 06:17:27 PM
Like beowolf said, it depends on what metal the trigger is made from. I have reshaped a couple of triggers to allow my fingers to fit better. I vise the trigger to a pipe and have always heated it up, tapped it over and then heated and quenched it. I am probably doing it wrong, but have had 100% success in my endeavors. This is after snapping a cast trigger in half trying to just hammer it over a tiny bit.
Title: Re: Bend a trigger
Post by: bmtshooter on August 19, 2019, 02:41:52 AM
OK thanks.  I got it straighter.  It is a little easier to reach.
Title: Re: Bend a trigger
Post by: beowulf on August 19, 2019, 02:54:00 AM
looks a bit more like the old original triggers now  thmbsup
Title: Re: Bend a trigger
Post by: Hawken50 on August 19, 2019, 10:54:34 AM
 thmbsup  Very good job
Title: Re: Bend a trigger
Post by: Hanshi on August 19, 2019, 04:01:39 PM
It looks "right" now.  thmbsup
Title: Re: Bend a trigger
Post by: Watauga on August 20, 2019, 03:48:24 PM
Quote from: beowulf on August 19, 2019, 02:54:00 AM
looks a bit more like the old original triggers now  thmbsup
bmtshooter I think beowulf is correct thmbsup  It looks more authentic and original.... [hmm] Now I am wondering how common it might have been to bend triggers to fine tune them for the shooter skrt   back in the day ...  hdslp  [hmm]
Title: Re: Bend a trigger
Post by: bmtshooter on August 21, 2019, 03:33:57 AM
It is certainly easier than cutting down the length of the stock if just a small adjustment is desired.  I would bet that it was done quite a bit.
Title: Re: Bend a trigger
Post by: Winter Hawk on August 26, 2019, 12:23:22 AM
Looks great from this viewpoint also!   thmbsup

~WH~
Title: Re: Bend a trigger
Post by: beowulf on August 26, 2019, 12:14:15 PM
I`ve noticed that most if not all old original rifles with double st triggers , had a curved rear trigger , and the front trigger is almost always straight . like in this photo of an original S.Hawken !
Title: Re: Bend a trigger
Post by: woody on September 14, 2019, 11:09:59 AM
 thmbsup