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OK triggers are fun, although when wrong can be a headache. I would like to know more about why it was not cocking? Was it altered or just adjusted incorrectly? You can adjust the pull using the adjustment screws for spring tension and over travel, but if the gun has creep as you pull the trigger then you will have to hone the sear. Just de-creep the sear where it engages the trigger. REMEMBER THAT THIS AREA MUST BE POSITIVE. Let me know how the trigger was “messed with” as this may cause some other problems with the gun cocking…

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The nuts on the trigger bolt adjustment look like the have been attacked with pliers and I know that un-messed with triggers have a coat of hot glue on them. I don’t think the sear engagement has been messed with. I have done one of these and got three pounds out of it but this one when set manually with forward pressure on the trigger will indicate about 3.2 pounds. I suppose I will try to get it back near seven pounds with the adjustment nuts and the maybe give the sear a slight hone to see if I can bring it down from that point and if I reduce it by one pound, then work with the adjustment nuts. Does this sound like a good approach? And I need to know just where to hone the sear. I think I need to take some of the forward edge off but still keep it positive. Thanks for the help.

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Before you do anything I think I would get the AGI video on triggers. It covers a great deal. No, I am not trying to promote it for my own benefit as I did not make that tape, but you will learn a lot. You state that you can set the trigger at 3.2 lbs, I assume it fails to stay cocked all the time when jarred etc. So you need to find out why it fails to stay cocked. I wouldn’t set it back at 7 lbs. if you’re going to try and adjust it to 3 lbs. There has to be a reason it won’t stay cocked. Is the system negative? Does the cocking piece override the sear when the bolt is closed while the trigger is still in the cocked position? (I mention this cause we have seen several lately that this will occur). How are you measuring the pull weight if the gun won’t stay cocked? Before you hone any parts analyze the trigger system and find out why the gun fails to stay cocked. You should hone the sear only to reduce engagement (remove creep) or to re-cut the sear to make it positive. If the sear is VERY positive you can stone it to make it LESS positive. But it MUST REMAIN POSITIVE. I do not believe it is positive or the gun would remain cocked. Remember that the trigger notch itself must be positive also. YOU ARE AS NEGATIVE AS YOUR MOST NEGATIVE PART. If the trigger is positive and the sear slightly negative the system is slightly negative. (These capitol letters are to emphasize the importance of the topic). I do suggest you get the AGI course on triggers. Please keep us informed as to your progress and good luck, Ken

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The reason the gun would not cock is because someone had loosened he nuts so far that there was no pressure on the trigger spring. I understand about being POSITIVE. All that looks good and I will review that tape. I think they are an excellent source of really good information.

Right now I have it back to where it will cock every time and stay cocked, simply by putting pressure on the spring. The way I made it cock before was to use my fingers and push the trigger forward and I pushed the bolt forward. I think the gun is in good shape with the sear and trigger notch but someone had tried to make the trigger too light with just using the spring tension on the trigger.

I really appreciate all the help and I will get it up and running shortly.

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You got it, I did not mean to sound stuffy but we get a lot of questions concerning triggers and how to do them etc. As you know if the system is not understood then an unsafe trigger is the result. It sounds as though you have a good understanding of it and what was causing the problems to begin with. Please keep us informed as to how it all turns out.

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We have a DVD specifically addressing the Model 70 trigger job. – Jack