Trigger improvements for my Condor
I looked all over for information on working on Airforce triggers. Other than the super sear I found very little. I’ve been tinkering with powder burner triggers since 2007 and decided to apply my knowledge to the Condor’s lack luster trigger.
1. Custom fitted a brass #6 washer to take out the side slop in the trigger. It will only fit on the right side of the trigger between the trigger and the frame otherwise the trigger rubs on the opening in the cover plate.
2. Polished the sear engagement faces without changing the engagement angles (sear and bolt latch). Then added breakaway angles to each at 45 degree angles.
3. Lubed the inner surfaces of the bolt latch, sear, and trigger with silicone grease and the sear faces with moly.
( At this point reassembling the rifle allowed it to fire when the safety was disengaged so don’t stop here.)
4. Added a helper spring inside the sear spring. It was cut from a recoil spring off of a Ruger MKIII pistol to the same length as the stock Airforce sear spring. This cured the problem stated above.
( At this point the trigger is not gritty, doesn’t wobble, has a distinct let off (though I wouldn’t call it crisp), has 1/8″ of take up, approximately 2.5 pound pull weight, and has 1/32nd inch of creep. But still has more than 3/16th inch over travel)
5. Installed a #6-32 x 1/2″ set screw with jam nut in the factory tapped hole in the trigger cover plate, the one farthest away from the trigger between the trigger and the safety. I screwed it all the way in and then adjusted it out until the trigger could drop the sear reliably. This left me with about 1/64″ of overtravel.
I’m not recommending that anyone without the proper skill and tools attempt this. I just wanted to let you know that it is possible and though not a Reckord or Timney like trigger, it is way better than stock. A pleasant side effect is that the safety feels more stable and positive than it did originally.
Moderators: Since I couldn’t find anything like this but also couldn’t find anything saying not to post things like this I thought it might help others.Iif it is inappropriate please delete.
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I have done a similar rework of my Edge trigger, but made lighter springs that reduced the pull to a few ounces. I removed the plastic cap for the trigger weight adjustment and installed a longer set screw that runs up inside the spring. Right now my Edge trigger has about 1/16″ 1st stage travel, a few ounces of let off with no creep and no overtravel. Using shim stock I have eliminated most of the wobble, but it could use a little more.
My Talon SS is next. Thanks for your info!
I’m not overly concerned that the parts are hardened. They certainly weren’t difficult to smooth and polish like I would have expected with any good surface hardening. Plus there isn’t much load on these parts nor do they travel far against each other.
Is the edge trigger very different than the Condor? I’m not familiar with the set screw you referred to as being inside the spring. I’ve thought about working with the spring weights to reduce the trigger pull further but since my Condor is also a hunting gun I don’t want it below about 2.5 pounds.
Thanks Nate, no I don’t have any pictures. If I go take it down again i’ll be sure to post pics.
My only concern is on the assumption that the pieces are hardened, polishing the surfaces may have removed the hardened layer thus allowing quicker wear.
I have done a similar rework of my Edge trigger, but made lighter springs that reduced the pull to a few ounces. I removed the plastic cap for the trigger weight adjustment and installed a longer set screw that runs up inside the spring. Right now my Edge trigger has about 1/16″ 1st stage travel, a few ounces of let off with no creep and no overtravel. Using shim stock I have eliminated most of the wobble, but it could use a little more.
My Talon SS is next. Thanks for your info!
Hey bro, nice write-up. Wouldn’t happen to have pics to go along with it, would you?
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The set screw to which I am refering is located just in front of the trigger on the Edge. It is used to adjust the pull weight. Normally, there is a little plastic cap on the end of the spring that the set screw pushes on to compress the spring, thus increasing the pull weight. If you remove that cap, the set screw will go up inside of the spring and if you replace the set screw with a long enough one, you can adjust the amount of overtravel on the trigger.
I do not know how much 1st stage travel you have, but part of this explains how to eliminate that if you desire.
http://www.talonairgun.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=132&highlight=trigger
I personally like a light trigger, but can live with a heavier trigger if it is crisp. I cannot stand trigger creep. A very small amount of 1st stage travel to let you know where the trigger is and then a positive stop. A slight increase in pressure and break followed by no noticable overtravel. 😀