Target Hammers and Triggers

[philoe]

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Hello again friends. It has been a long time.

I used to post a bit under the same handle when the highroad was a .com outfit and I put a USA at the end of my handle. Shame on me for hanging in the shadows and not contributing. I have been a silent member for over a decade. I will try and do better. My bad, but anyways...

So here is my question regarding target hammers and triggers.

I have a Smithy, model 14-2 with target hammer and trigger. 6 inch barrel, the damned thing will go to the grave with me. Love it.

I also have a .41 mag. Attached are pics of the mountain gun, model 57 with checkered hammer, but smooth grips.

I love the round. Love the N frame weight. But there is something about the feel and touch of the hammer and trigger that is not the same od the ol' 14.

Does a mismatched hammer and trigger bother you? Should they both be serrated? Both smooth?

Serious topic from the midsouth.

 

[philoe]

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[philoe]

Additional pics

 

[philoe]

Pony

 

[BobWright]

Ribbed triggers were meant for target shooters, where the ribs gave a more positive feel to the trigger, and these were usually wider. Triggers for DA shooting were smooth, not quite as wide, to allow the trigger finger to slide across the surface as the trigger was cycled.

As to your use, suit yourself.

Bob Wright

 

[bannockburn]

philoe

Welcome back!

To answer your question I prefer a smooth trigger as I really don't care for the grooved surface of a target trigger. It just feels like it rubs too much on my trigger finger. I also rarely shoot my DA revolvers in SA mode.

 

[Dave T]

I never shoot DA revolvers in SA so the big, checkered hammer is simply somthing to get caught during the draw. As previously stated, smooth triggers are intended for DA shooting. No grooves necessary.

Dave

 

[Rock185]

The set upon your model 57 wouldn't bother me. I have more than one with a smooth trigger. In 'Olden days, gunsmiths doing "trigger jobs" on revolvers often removed the trigger's serrations. In fact I have a S&W revolver that I bought new in the '70s, and had a trigger job done on it back then. Don't recall telling him to, but the gunsmith ground the serrations off the wide target trigger and polished the trigger smooth.

 

[straightshooterjake]

I shoot my Smith & Wessons mostly double action, and I don't like a target trigger or hammer on a gun I mean to shoot.

A wide trigger is not helpful for double action, and I don't like a grooved trigger, so a wide grooved trigger is about the worst to me. I don't find the target hammers easier to cock in single action. And the target hammers are heavier, which means they actually require a slightly stronger mainspring. The physics of hammer weight is a bit opposite of what many people think, and the short summary is that a heavier hammer requires a stronger spring to get it going fast enough.

So now I've explained why I don't like the target hammers and triggers that many collectors prefer. But your guns should be set up the way you like them. And if you like those features, then you should have them. Life is too short to shoot guns that don't suit you. And there is nothing wrong with having a target trigger and a standard hammer if you prefer it that way. I have handled guns with different hammer and trigger setups, and it is not visually distracting. To me, it suggests that someone liked the gun and set it up to work best for himself.

 

[fireman 9731]

I'm partial to target hammers for single action shooting, just because they seem to be easier on the thumb. I also prefer smooth triggers for double or single action shooting. As far as mis-matched on a particular model, unless you are a serious collector, I would opt for whatever you like and not worry about what others prefer.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Does a mismatched hammer and trigger bother you? Should they both be serrated? Both smooth?

OP, the hammer on your Mountain Gun is the standard hammer, not a Target Hammer. The Target hammer and trigger are substantially wider ( .500" wide)...pictured below, Target Hammer on the left


While I've seen and owned several revolvers with with the hammer spurs removed, I've never seen or heard of one with an uncheckered hammer

 

[StrawHat]

I have a variety of S&W revolvers with a wide variety of triggers and hammers. I shot PPC for about a dozen years so the type of hammer is something I do not notice unless it is broken. Triggers, I am not fond of sharply grooved triggers but that is easily remedied. Otherwise, I have learned to use them all.

Kevin

 

[Steve Cover]

It is a matter of personal choice... My 4" S&W M-19 has the target trigger and hammer.... This is the gun I had when I carried a badge... That being said, both my 2" S&W M-15 and my 6" S&W M-629 have standard hammers and polished very smooth triggers... I love all three... My reasoning for these choices are that the M-19 would be used for more deliberate fire than in a panic self defense situation. Whereas, being carried off duty, the snub-nose would likely be used for rapid double action fire in a self-defense situation, and a charging big brown bear when I was in the bush of Alaska would be a rapid fire situation... Can these scenarios be handled with standard issue triggers? Of course they can. If you have a range where you can rent or borrow an example of each, (guns as close to the same size and same cartridge as possible) run a couple of boxes through each one in both rapid double action and deliberate double action... See what you like...

 

[Eddietruett]

I shoot mostly SA and I prefer a Target Width trigger and could really care less about the hammer. Ironically my long range hunting revolver is a M686 with 8 3/8" Barrel. I shoot it a lot at 75 yards and shoot it very well, but it has a narrow trigger. Go Figure. All of my other Target Revolvers have Target Triggers and Hammers.. For Carry or SD guns, I do prefer the smooth face trigger for the reasons stated above, it is easier to shoot DA with faster times. I do have a target trigger for my M686 that I have been "installing" for over a year now but never get around to it. Over the summer I'll probably take it to my gunsmith and let him install it and go ahead and slick up the way I like it.

 

[P5 Guy]

I'm the oddball I shoot target hammer/trigger revolvers DA like I do the combat (smooth faced trigger narrow hammer) hammer/trigger revolvers.
The ribbed trigger on the G26 had to go though, figure that one out?