Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Trigger sear to cocking piece engagement?

Installed a Timmney trigger in a Interarms Mark X action. I'm estimating the engagement surface of the sear to the cocking piece is about .025" to .030". which is a lot less that that of the original trigger. Is .025" a safe amount of contact? What is a proper amount of engagement between the cocking piece and the sear? The trigger works well and the firing pin will not release without pulling the trigger. I did email Timmney and asked if I needed a taller sear and the response was it should be ok. I just wonder if the person answering the questions really reads and understands the question. Input from you experienced gunsmiths is very much appreciated. Thanks, Gary

Grab your rubber hammer and beat all over the action a bit simulating a drop or a hard fall and see what happens. Don't forget the bolt handle. Sounds a little thin to me but some take-up doesn't bother me so long as it's smooth and consistent.

25 thou is equal to or more than a lot of other modern triggers. Perform some drop and impact tests and you will gain confidence with the timney system

I calculated the PSI on itty-bitty engagement once an it was astounding. You need a good steel to withstand that, like the steel in a Timney

I would call Timney.

I had an HVA with an overly thick action web, wouldn’t allow enough sear contact. Timney sent another part but I didn't like it. I ended up cutting some material off the top of the trigger housing to allow more sear contact. Worked well.

DF

If I recall the trigger disengages from levers within, not pulling down from the cocking piece like original.

You're right, but you still need enough engagement the cocking piece to handle tolerances,no?

Filing some material from the top of the aluminum trigger housing will allow the unit to ride higher, exposing more of the sear for better engagement with the striker.

This worked well with my HVA, a type of Mauser. Mausers tend to vary a lot, so one has to adapt to the variations.

DF

The height is pretty much dictated by the cross pin through the action. Filing some off the top rear of the housing might raise it a touch but would also move it a touch foreward as well as it pvots on the cross pin. I also did all the drop and impact tests and it has held so I guess I will stop worring about it. Thank you all for your input.

I think it raises the sear more than moving it forward, although I see your point.

Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do to make it work.

DF