Safety conversion OM

[Sam Johnson]

You old guys know this already but here is a tip for the new members of the Forum. How to tell if the revolver has been converted . by just looking at it without handling. The rear of the trigger where the return plunger rides on the converted guns has a bump (wide) spot. Conversion trigger on right, arrow.

 

[Sam Johnson]

Edit today,,, added better pic.

 

[Hondo44]

YOU'RE CORRECT OF COURSE. IT'S A LITTLE MORE FOOLPROOF HOWEVER IF ONE JUST LOOKS FOR THE TRANSFER BAR, BUT AS YOU SAY, YOU HAVE TO HANDLE THE GUN. CONVERSION TRIGGERS MAKE GOOD UNCONVERTED OLD MODEL REPLACEMENTS THOUGH, JUST BY CUTTING OFF THE TRANSFER BAR LEVER. I TAKE THE BUMP OFF TOO BUT EVERYONE MIGHT NOT.

 

[DGW1949]

YOU'RE CORRECT OF COURSE. IT'S A LITTLE MORE FOOLPROOF HOWEVER IF ONE JUST LOOKS FOR THE TRANSFER BAR, BUT AS YOU SAY, YOU HAVE TO HANDLE THE GUN. CONVERSION TRIGGERS MAKE GOOD UNCONVERTED OLD MODEL REPLACEMENTS THOUGH, JUST BY CUTTING OFF THE TRANSFER BAR LEVER. I TAKE THE BUMP OFF TOO BUT EVERYONE MIGHT NOT.

I have two OM 357s that have been fitted with an altered "conversion" trigger. Doing so took more than just whacking off the bar-lever though. In both cases, I had to alter the hiegth (and angle) of the sear-edge in order to get the action to time proper. By "proper" I mean that as produced, the sear on both of the triggers I used were too tall, which required extra hammer-travel before the sear would engage it's cocking notch. If ya look close at the differences in the two sear-edges and the distance of each from their pivot-points you'll see what I'm talking about.
Then there's the aspect of the sear of the "conversion" trigger being narrower than the original (OM) sear. That of itself, don't effect the timing nor function of the gun...but it dern-sure effects the overall strength of the action.

I aint saying that a conversion trigger (minus it's lever) won't work. I've talked to lots of people that use them just that way. I'm just saying that it hasn't worked for me, in my particular OM guns.
I guess that I'm more anal about such things than most folks are.

Anyhow, there it is...take it FWIW.

DGW

 

[J Miller]

What DGW just said about the sear on the trigger explains why I had to put a new pawl in my OM 357 when I got it. It still had the conversion pawl in it to compensate for the hammer going back too far.

Stupid design. Barf, puke, wretch .......... :D

Joe

 

[Hondo44]

I have two OM 357s that have been fitted with an altered "conversion" trigger. Doing so took more than just whacking off the bar-lever though. In both cases, I had to alter the hiegth (and angle) of the sear-edge in order to get the action to time proper. By "proper" I mean that as produced, the sear on both of the triggers I used were too tall, which required extra hammer-travel before the sear would engage it's cocking notch. If ya look close at the differences in the two sear-edges and the distance of each from their pivot-points you'll see what I'm talking about.
Then there's the aspect of the sear of the "conversion" trigger being narrower than the original (OM) sear. That of itself, don't effect the timing nor function of the gun...but it dern-sure effects the overall strength of the action.

I aint saying that a conversion trigger (minus it's lever) won't work. I've talked to lots of people that use them just that way. I'm just saying that it hasn't worked for me, in my particular OM guns.
I guess that I'm more anal about such things than most folks are.

Anyhow, there it is...take it FWIW. DGW

All the conversion triggers I've used of course have to be fitted (like any trigger), and they all come too long and too thick with lot'sa meat to work with for proper timing to an OM hammer and a nice trigger pull. But they aren't much narrower than OM triggers or OM hammers give or take a few thousands and not enough different to be a strength issue! Perhaps someone had already messed with the trigger sears on yours.

 

[Hondo44]

What DGW just said about the sear on the trigger explains why I had to put a new pawl in my OM 357 when I got it. It still had the conversion pawl in it to compensate for the hammer going back too far.

Stupid design. Barf, puke, wretch .......... :D

Joe

Yep, the conversion trigger was left too long. They are as good or as bad as the fitter.

 

[DGW1949]

I have two OM 357s that have been fitted with an altered "conversion" trigger. Doing so took more than just whacking off the bar-lever though. In both cases, I had to alter the hiegth (and angle) of the sear-edge in order to get the action to time proper. By "proper" I mean that as produced, the sear on both of the triggers I used were too tall, which required extra hammer-travel before the sear would engage it's cocking notch. If ya look close at the differences in the two sear-edges and the distance of each from their pivot-points you'll see what I'm talking about.
Then there's the aspect of the sear of the "conversion" trigger being narrower than the original (OM) sear. That of itself, don't effect the timing nor function of the gun...but it dern-sure effects the overall strength of the action.

I aint saying that a conversion trigger (minus it's lever) won't work. I've talked to lots of people that use them just that way. I'm just saying that it hasn't worked for me, in my particular OM guns.
I guess that I'm more anal about such things than most folks are.

Anyhow, there it is...take it FWIW. DGW

All the conversion triggers I've used of course have to be fitted (like any trigger), and they all come too long and too thick with lot'sa meat to work with for proper timing to an OM hammer and a nice trigger pull. But they aren't much narrower than OM triggers or OM hammers give or take a few thousands and not enough different to be a strength issue! Perhaps someone had already messed with the trigger sears on yours.

I didn't say they was a bunch narrower, just said that they are narrower.
I could have also said that once they establish a wear-pattern to the hammer notch that it's quite possable that one may need a new hammer should he later change back to an origonal trigger....but didn't....But now I have. Of course, your average guy don't shoot enough to be concerned with such things. On the other hand, some of us do. I have one OM-357 that's been used so much that it is now on it's 3rd rebuild. The only origonal action-part that it retains is it's cylinder...which required a retro fitted collar the last time.
And no, nobody had previously "messed with the sears" on mine...well, except possably Ruger. But I even gots doubts about that. From what I've seen, about all they do when "converting" these OM guns is just sorta stand back and throw a parts-kit at it. Bad design with even worse craftsmanship. Ruger should be embarrassed.

DGW

 

[Hondo44]

So true. They had to put the bump on the back of the hammer to up the spring tension just to get them to run! That's what we get for free, nothing.

But the one plus for me at least, is a source of wide SBH triggers for OMs when I retrofit them with NM XR3, XRN3 RED or .32 Mag short steel grip frames with wide slot.

 

[flatgate]

But the one plus for me at least, is a source of wide SBH triggers for OMs when I retrofit them with NM XR3, XRN3 RED or .32 Mag short steel grip frames with wide slot.

Ya should'a stocked up on late issued Old Army triggers.... :D

flatgate

 

[Hondo44]

But the one plus for me at least, is a source of wide SBH triggers for OMs when I retrofit them with NM XR3, XRN3 RED or .32 Mag short steel grip frames with wide slot.

Ya should'a stocked up on late issued Old Army triggers.... :D

flatgate

I did, but used them all already. Should have gotten dozens!

I used them on almost every OM Ruger I had or got since except my collector quality safe queens. Sometimes I modified the grip frame, sometimes I used OA grip frames and sometimes I thinned them down at the top so they would fit the narrow slot of OM grip frames. Those have to be assembled in the trigger guard first, then assemble the grip frame to the gun. Then install the trigger screw. Same with new model Bisley triggers in OM XR3 alloy grip frames.