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bg7m
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Stevens 44 trigger pull
Jun 19th, 2023 at 8:38am
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I have an old 44 with a very heavy trigger pull. Anyone have any hints on how to lighten the pull.
The trigger spring itself doesnt seem too heavy, perhaps pressure from the hammer is the problem??
any suggestions would be appreciated
  
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waterman
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Re: Stevens 44 trigger pull
Reply #1 - Jun 19th, 2023 at 1:01pm
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My limited experience from 20 years back says it might have something to do with the mainspring and how it's anchored at the rear.  Maybe even the strength of the mainspring.  I have 2 Stevens Model 47s with 44 actions.  Both have excellent trigger pulls, but their mainsprings will not set off a rifle primer. I have to use pistol primers.
  
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texasmac
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Re: Stevens 44 trigger pull
Reply #2 - Jun 19th, 2023 at 2:39pm
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bg7m wrote on Jun 19th, 2023 at 8:38am:
I have an old 44 with a very heavy trigger pull. Anyone have any hints on how to lighten the pull.
The trigger spring itself doesnt seem too heavy, perhaps pressure from the hammer is the problem??
any suggestions would be appreciated



bg7m,

You did not mention the chambering.  I have two 44s in .22LR.  Both had heavy trigger pulls in the 5 to 6lb range - way too much for competition.  Both were reduced to approximately 1lb 4oz by working on the sear engagement notch.  But you need to find a gunsmith that comfortable working on trigger sears.  If you only plan on hunting or plinking with the rifle than I would consider anything under 2.5 to 3lbs unsafe.

BTW, I would not recommend lightening the hammer spring (mainspring).  Lightening the trigger spring may help some, but the sear engagement notch should be the main focus.

Wayne
« Last Edit: Jun 19th, 2023 at 2:47pm by texasmac »  
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uscra112
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Re: Stevens 44 trigger pull
Reply #3 - Jun 19th, 2023 at 5:53pm
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As Texasmac said, the hammer notch will be the culprit.  Important to know that the hammers and triggers were only case hardened, so heavy wear may have gotten thru the case.  But usually a careful stoning of the notch will fix it.  This requires a jig, which I can supply a drawing for.

Question: Does this 44 have the original "arch" spring?  I just acquired a very late but near-mint 44 that has a coil-spring strut.  The force to cock the hammer is unusually high, and the trigger pull is awful.
  
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bg7m
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Re: Stevens 44 trigger pull
Reply #4 - Jun 20th, 2023 at 3:04am
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it is a 22LR
it has an arch spring
thanks for the info guys
I would like the drawing please
« Last Edit: Jul 7th, 2023 at 9:35am by bg7m »  
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cheatin_charlie
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Re: Stevens 44 trigger pull
Reply #5 - Jun 20th, 2023 at 8:45am
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uscra112 wrote on Jun 19th, 2023 at 5:53pm:
As Texasmac said, the hammer notch will be the culprit.  Important to know that the hammers and triggers were only case hardened, so heavy wear may have gotten thru the case.  But usually a careful stoning of the notch will fix it.  This requires a jig, which I can supply a drawing for.

Question: Does this 44 have the original "arch" spring?  I just acquired a very late but near-mint 44 that has a coil-spring strut.  The force to cock the hammer is unusually high, and the trigger pull is awful.    

 
I would be most interested in your drawing. Charlie
  
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bg7m
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Re: Stevens 44 trigger pull
Reply #6 - Jul 30th, 2023 at 3:23pm
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Any chance I could get a drawing of the fixture?
thanksuscra112 wrote on Jun 19th, 2023 at 5:53pm:
As Texasmac said, the hammer notch will be the culprit.  Important to know that the hammers and triggers were only case hardened, so heavy wear may have gotten thru the case.  But usually a careful stoning of the notch will fix it.  This requires a jig, which I can supply a drawing for.

Question: Does this 44 have the original "arch" spring?  I just acquired a very late but near-mint 44 that has a coil-spring strut.  The force to cock the hammer is unusually high, and the trigger pull is awful.    

  
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Brutis
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Re: Stevens 44 trigger pull
Reply #7 - Sep 2nd, 2025 at 12:47pm
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Resurrecting an old thread.

Does anyone have the drawing of this jig they can send me? uscra112 hasn't been on the board since 7/16/24

TIA
  
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texasmac
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Re: Stevens 44 trigger pull
Reply #8 - Sep 2nd, 2025 at 1:39pm
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Brutis wrote on Sep 2nd, 2025 at 12:47pm:
Resurrecting an old thread.
Does anyone have the drawing of this jig they can send me? uscra112 hasn't been on the board since 7/16/24
TIA


Brutis,

Here's the instructions from uscra112 & the following photos.  I don't have any further details & have not made the jig.

Wayne

================
Made mine from scraps of aluminum.  It was for 44 hammers but should work for 44-1/2 with some adjustment of the support screw in the back, since the hammer pivot and the trigger pivot bear the same relationship in both models.
Unlike some professional jigs, this one does NOT automatically set the notch surface angle parallel to a radius from the hammer pivot, which is the theoretical optimum.  the stone is level when cutting the optimum angle of about 11 degrees.  I use ink in the notch and a strong magnifier (10x) to see what I'm accomplishing.  Go very slowly.  You don't want to stone your way right through the case hardening.
« Last Edit: Sep 2nd, 2025 at 2:07pm by texasmac »  
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Brutis
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Re: Stevens 44 trigger pull
Reply #9 - Sep 2nd, 2025 at 2:00pm
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Thank you sir!

I should have a chunk of 1" AL some where.

My Stevens 414 has a horrendous trigger pull so this should take care of that.
  
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Sure shot
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Re: Stevens 44 trigger pull
Reply #10 - Sep 2nd, 2025 at 2:22pm
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Brutis wrote on Sep 2nd, 2025 at 12:47pm:
Resurrecting an old thread.

Does anyone have the drawing of this jig they can send me? uscra112 hasn't been on the board since 7/16/24

TIA


Sadly he passed away last year. 
  
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John Taylor
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Re: Stevens 44 trigger pull
Reply #11 - Sep 4th, 2025 at 8:15pm
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There are three different main springs for the 44. One gets stiffer as you pull the hammer back, the one held in with a screw. The arch spring gets lighter on the hammer as the hammer gets to full cock. On this one if the hammer full cock notch is welded up and moved to hold the hammer further back the trigger pull gets lighter. Welding it with spring steel (Piano wire) will give a hard surface and the trigger pull can be made very light.
  
John Taylor   Machinist/gunsmith
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Andover Arms
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Re: Stevens 44 trigger pull
Reply #12 - Sep 5th, 2025 at 2:07pm
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Just so everyone is on the same page, the springs in the wisner print are Favorite springs and hammers not 44.
  
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texasmac
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Re: Stevens 44 trigger pull
Reply #13 - Sep 5th, 2025 at 2:34pm
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Andover Arms wrote on Sep 5th, 2025 at 2:07pm:
Just so everyone is on the same page, the springs in the wisner print are Favorite springs and hammers not 44.


My mistake & thanks for catching my error.  I thought I had a photo of the 44 mainsprings & obviously did not pay close attention prior to posting.  I deleted the posting.

Wayne
  
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Andover Arms
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Re: Stevens 44 trigger pull
Reply #14 - Sep 5th, 2025 at 2:59pm
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You shouldn't have deleted it; it's a great reference for Favorite collectors. Regards, Chris
  
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