Sears on 20 gauge Sterly

[JNW]

Just bought a 30" 20 bore Sterlingworth extractor gun. The trigger pulls are very heavy - 11 and 10 pounds, but with no creep. Took it apart and the sear noses appear to have been poorly filed up. If I replace them are 16 and 20 gauge sears the same? Any direction on how to improve the pulls to something around 4 pounds?
Thanks,
Jeff

[vaturkey]

IMO send it to a good doublegun smith and he can lighten them up to between 4 and 5 lbs with little trouble. If you just replace the sears with other ones you might be right back to where you started.

[Silvers]

What vaturkey said. Anything done on the hammer sear(s) will cascade to changes in geometry through the firing and safety mechanisms. As regards just changing out the sears, they were all hand fitted and there are very wide variations in dimensions. You're better off having the 'smith work on the existing parts. Just my opinion here. Silvers

[JNW]

Thanks for the responses - didn't know how much if any fitting was required.
Regards,
Jeff

[gilrussell]

That is one thing definitely best left to someone with trigger experience. It could be the sears and it could be the notches in the hammers, maybe both. Also could be the sear spring (easy fix), poor fit of the wood in the area of the sears or triggers. All fixable.

[ViperR]

I'm a having a simular, but reversed problem on my Sterlingworth 12 ga. Mine are light but feel rough on one trigger. The sear & hammer engagement needs a little stoning and my smith wants to know if those parts are hardened all the way through or just surface (case) hardened. He also wants to know if just the sear should be dressed up and lapped or both. He does see some roughness on the sear only and the hammer is fine. He just needs to know the properties that Fox performed when they made the parts (late 20's era). Thanks!

[eightbore]

I don't think this is the gunsmith you want working on your gun.

[ViperR]

Actually he is a real good smith and does excellent work. he just wants to know the properties of the metal. Already showed me the jigs he uses on trigger jobs. Quite a set up. He has difficulty finding info on the gun that is so old.

[ViperR]

Well, the Fox is smooth now. Turns out the engaging tips of the sears are hardened all the way through about a 1/4" from the tip to the dog leg lever. You can actually see the darker coloring of the tempering process. The angle was kept exact and the engaging surface was lapped smooth. He did an excellent job like he does on all of his trigger jobs. His jig set up is quite impressive.
He just wanted to make sure the sears were not surfaced hardened and expose the softer metal below like Smith & Wesson revolver parts. He won't do those and warns customers that a trigger job won't last long if the hardening is breeched.

[JNW]

Sounds like you are all set! Mine is still at the gunsmith getting several things set right. I am eagerly awaiting it's return.
Jeff

[MilRob]

Let me know when you get it back. I have some rounds ready for the horse and hunt sporting clays. You help me with instruction I will pay for shooting and lunch.

[JNW]

No need to buy me anything. I'm just eagerly awaiting the call from my 'smith.
Jeff