New Model Blackhawk questions

[Huffy49]

I recently traded my New Model Super Blackhawk (NMSB) in .44 magnum for a pristine New Model Blackhawk (NMB) in .357 magnum.

Since acquiring a Redhawk in .44 magnum a number of years ago, I really stopped shooting the NMSB. The difference in comfort between the two with magnum loads was substantial. The lower cost of .357 and .38 special vs .44 magnum and .44 special was also a factor. My NMSB was in good shape, but the seller believed that the .357 NMB was unfired, which appeared to be true.

The trigger on my NMB has zero takeup, zero creep, and zero overtravel. It's not a hair trigger, but I can't even feel the trigger move when shooting it. Is this normal? I suspect that some major trigger work was done by a professional. My old NMSB had a very nice trigger, but it was nothing like this.

Secondly, is anyone aware of issues resulting from disconnecting one of the trigger springs on the NMB? I used to do this on the NMSB when target shooting.

 

[gunman42782]

Welcome to the forum! As for your questions, it's hard to say if someone has worked on your trigger without actually having it in hand! As for the other question, you will get different answers. Jeff Quinn (RIP) did it to all his Ruger single actions. Others, I have heard, don't think it's a good idea.

 

[gnappi]

Have you taken the grip panels off? You may find someone did a "poor man's trigger job" by disconnecting one of the legs of the spring.

 

[contender]

Welcome to the Forum!

As noted,, internal action work would have to be physically inspected to see if it had been worked on.

The disconnecting of one leg of the trigger return spring has been done a lot by many people,, and they like it. But I've also seen several that had the "loose" leg hanging in the hammer mainspring. In fact,, I purchased a NICE .357 Maximum For $250 several years ago that the action would act up & lock up on. The guy knew nothing about guns,, and had taken it in on a work trade. I knew that no matter what the problem was,, I could very likely fix it. After the guy walked away,, I pulled the grips, and found the culprit. A bent & unhooked leg of the return spring. A new spring & the gun was just fine!
Personally,, if the action is already very nice,, why mess with it by unhooking one leg of the spring?

 

[woodperson]

I do not think disconnecting the spring would change the trigger creep or movement. Since the trigger is that good why not just not mess with it?

 

[wproct]

No, removing on spring leg will not affect trigger creep. On my Super Single-six I ordered a 30 oz. Wolff trigger return spring and it gave me a great trigger pull, the creep is still there but it is smooth.

 

[Huffy49]

Have you taken the grip panels off? You may find someone did a "poor man's trigger job" by disconnecting one of the legs of the spring.

Both legs of the trigger spring are connected.

 

[jimbo1096]

another thing that affects trigger smoothness in lots and lots of shooting. They just keep getting better.

 

[Rclark]

Sounds like that may have had a trigger job. Every one of my Rugers from the factory had north of 4 pound trigger pulls and several quite a bit more than that. Plus all had plenty of creep. My shooters all went to gunsmith to have most of the creep removed and down to 2-3# trigger pulls and internals smoothed up. BTW, I've used the poor mans trigger job in the past. I've never had the hammer be tied up by dropping a leg of the trigger spring and it did reduce the trigger pull by about half. Creep of course was still there.

 

[Hondo44]

Generally lowering spring tension will increase the feeling of creep. Creep is a factor of rough metal surfaces on the trigger sear and hammer notch that only stoning and polishing of those contact surfaces will eliminate.
Trigger pull can be reduced in smaller increments by bending the spring legs upwards; either one leg or both. The more the leg is bent up, the more the tension is reduced. And you won't have a dangling spring leg.