Trigger catching

[NormNip]

I can feel a small 'catch' about a third of the way into my trigger or hammer's movement. It takes about 3 to 5 more pounds of additional trigger finger pressure to overcome it. If I dryfire it like I'm shooting it, I hardly notice it. I don't know if this is new or if I've just become more sensitive or knowledgeable. Although I'm not sure it means anything, I've dryfired it with the hammer spring removed and the action is very smooth. I hope someone can tell me what's wrong and what can be done about it.

My GP100 is over 15 years old but I haven't shot it much. In the last couple of days I've visited 2 gun stores and dryfired 3 new GP100s. Man, the actions were outstandingly smooth and the triggers felt lighter too (chamfered cylinder chambers too, damn!). No 'catch' in these new ones, for sure.

Bummers, I sort of was hoping that this was a common thing in all GP100s. Any one else experienced this?

 

[contender]

Welcome to the Forum!
Quite often,, someone posts something like this. USUALLY it's a minor burr of metan in the action somewhare that didn't get quite cleaned off. A simple disassembly,, then inspection of internal parts can often reveal the culprit. A careful stoning of the area,, (unless it's a critical trigger/sear engagement,) will smooth it right up. If you aren't comfortable doing it yourself,, a good gunsmith can clean up an action.
But,, if you do feel like getting into it yourself,, another thing is to oil the action parts,, and spend a lot of time dryfiring the gun. It'll smooth up the action too!

 

[NormNip]

Thanks Contender. Yes, I have looked around inside using my magnifying glasses and all looks good. Well oiled. I tried the 10 lb Wolff hammer spring and the 'catch' is still there but lighter. I could be overlooking something and a gunsmith sounds like a good idea.

Although I'm sure it has nothing to do with the cylinder latch, this 'catch' happens at the moment the cylinder latch pops back up - that's about a third of the way in the trigger or hammer's journey.

 

[NormNip]

It might be worth something that the 4 faces of my hammer dog look pretty crappy - like it was hand finished by a rooky. I wonder if somehow it's dragging on the trigger cam. I don't see how and it would mean that I've just noticed something that my gun has had for over 15 years . . .so I can't really say - just that I'm a little surprised at the poor quality of my hammer dog's faces.

 

[NormNip]

I took the pawl, cylinder latch and transfer bar of and, after assembly with the hammer and spring in, dryfired the gun. Yep, the catch is still there. I think that about settles it that the contact point between the trigger cam and the hammer dog face drags a third of the way of the hammer's/trigger's movement on its way to being fired.

I'm going to be getting a new hammer installed because of my screw up on filing the hammer face (about $130 including everything and postage) and this will leave me with my old hammer dog to play/experiment with.

If the gun comes back with the kind of action that I've experienced with 3 new GP100s at a couple of gun stores, it'll be money well spent. If not, I've got the name (Bob James of Legendary Arms) of a gunsmith here in the Phoenix area, and I'll have to spend even more money. So it goes.

 

[NormNip]

Here's a copy of my Thank You letter to Ruger. It pretty much says it all about Ruger.


January 26th, 2011

Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.
Customer Service Department
411 Sunapee Street
Newport, NH 03773

Re: new hammer for GP100 ser.#

Thank you very much. What a pleasant surprise. You not only gave me a new hammer as I had requested but also a smoother trigger action than I had before.

I sent in my gun without a hammer and, as I indicated in the letter I enclosed, I was expecting to pay for this new hammer plus labor and return postage but you returned my gun repaired in less than a week without calling me for my credit card number!

I also just noticed that you replaced my front and rear sights and, I think, my trigger or parts thereof. Thanks also for polishing up the gun exterior and for anything else that I will probably only notice with time.

You did all this without asking for pay or recognition. So I am not exaggerating when I say that’s just simply amazing and humbling. I can’t express my appreciation enough. I wish for Ruger and all its employees a wonderful and prosperous new year.

Again, thank you,.

 

[Tommy Kelly]

I bought a new gp100 yesterday. I brought it home and painted the front sight to suit me and let it dry. Then last night we went out to eat so I loaded the pistol and took it along. When we got home from supper I took the pistol apart and cleaned it up inside. When I pulled the trigger group out of it there was a peice of stainless steel inside the gun that was just loose inside there. Just a small sliver like a milling waste that had somehow gotten inside. I could see no sign of it being off this gun anywhere everything looked fine so I lubed the parts that needed lube and reassembled the gun less the shaving. It may have never caused a problem. But I am glad I found and removed it from my gun. This gp100 was new in the box and had not been on display or anything after leaving ruger's hands I was the first to put fingerprints on it. A lot of people never see the insides of their guns. I don't have a one that I have not taken completely apart and looked at every part and wiped them down and lubed where needed. I enjoy guns and keep mine in top condition.