Luger Target Trigger Modification

Hugh · 03-07-2002, 01:37 AM

Improve the trigger pull on your shooter Luger by installing trigger stop and slack adjusting screws.

The top adjustment, which is a #2-56 Allen set screw, is designed to take up the small but annoying amount of slack that is present in the linkup between the trigger and the trigger bar. Although it will do so, this screw is NOT designed to adjust sear engagement. If sear engagement is altered by turning this screw in too far, the trigger bar plunger will not reengage the trigger bar when the trigger is released, which will put the gun out of action. The lower #4-40 Allen screw functions as a standard trigger-stop.

By installing these adjustment screws, the total length of trigger travel can be cut from over 1/8" to a hair over 1/16", with practically zero backlash. Once you have the screws set properly, a small drop of Locktite on each will insure less frequent adjustment.

The first of the attached pictures show the adjustment screws mounted in a 1970's era Mauser Luger trigger. The next two pictures show the trigger stop screw mounted in a standard Luger trigger.

In future installments, I will describe how to smooth and lighten your Luger's trigger SAFELY to obtain a smooth 2# trigger pull.

BILL · 03-07-2002, 01:51 AM

Thanks Hugh, I have several .22 target pistols that have very similar stops. This might be an excellent mod for that 'spare' trigger, just in case you have a matched pistol that you want to keep matching. If you look around at gunshows there are usually some parts guys who aren't trying to retire by selling Luger parts. eBay is actually bad for spare parts (often closing out at the price of a whole pistol). Just my opinion..your mileage may vary.

Dwight Gruber · 03-07-2002, 02:15 AM

This is great.

I'll be the first to raise my hand and say that a crisp trigger pull makes all the difference in the world to the accuracy of a Luger. Some previous owner had done a hack job to the trigger lever of the last shooter I bought--I didn't recognize the import of what they had done until I shot it, and I'm not sure I'd recommend that anybody else do it--(notice that I'm not saying what "it" is, because I really think it is not a good idea)

BUT

there is almost no slack to take up in the trigger pull, and offhand at 50 feet it shoots groups two or three times tighter than my other Lugers. It is the trigger pull which makes all the difference, I can tell when I simply touch off the round. The gun is otherwise a completely ordinary, unremarkable, average shape 1923 Commercial.

--Dwight

Luke · 03-07-2002, 07:15 AM

I agree with Bill; this would make an interesting modification for a SPARE trigger. Since only the trigger is modified, it could be discarded if the operation didn't work out well. I have a 6" shooter which is really an excellent Luger, mechanically; but, as with all Lugers, the trigger pull is less than optimum. Might be worth a try.

Tom Heller probably has spare triggers.

Would hope that anyone trying this will post a record of their success/failure for the rest of the group.

John Sabato · 03-07-2002, 09:06 AM

HÃ?Â¥kan Spuhr · 03-07-2002, 12:17 PM

The triggerstop can also be archived by adjusting the triggerpull in a manner that the trigger stops against the frame when the gun fires.

The good thing about this is you never have a problem with selfadjusting screws and other funny things.

But I am using triggerstops on other guns, but on the luger I have always used the frame instead.

Regards HÃ?Â¥kan

03-07-2002, 03:58 PM

Thanks, I've got an Anshutz .22 (Mod 1451?) with an adjustment exactly like what you did. I had to loosen it back up because it was messing me up with my other guns. Had an AK once that you could nearly pass out from lack of oxygen trying to shoot. Had a trigger pull from here to Texas.

Roadkill

Hugh · 03-07-2002, 04:13 PM

The "slack adjustment" screw can be mounted this way in the standard Luger triggers.

03-07-2002, 05:21 PM

Very nice, but I see two problems.

1. You have my grips on it,

2. Someone stepped on the barrel and flattened it!

Very sweet Hugh, did you do the work?

Ed

Hugh · 03-07-2002, 05:44 PM

I wish I could, gonna try it if I every get caught up with Babies. I bought this gun at a local gun show. It was done by a now deceased gunsmith from the Dallas area. I did do the trigger work however.

Dan Clemons · 03-07-2002, 11:35 PM

Hi Hugh:

Thanks for bringing this subject up!! How come my shooters have a long trigger pull and my mint Lugers that I don't shoot have a short pull? There seems to be no consistancy.

Dan C.

03-09-2002, 06:22 PM

The method Hugh describes and trigger photos come from a May 1974 "Shooting Times" article pages 28,29 and 30 by Mike Gorman. The piece was directed at work on a 1970s Mauser. The methods work fine on other Lugers. I have refered to the article and reworked fireing pins for a number of years with good success. Polishing bearing surfaces as described in the article also helps a bit. The small screws in trig help. My experience has been--that adjusting the slack take up screw is a bit tricky. Remove too much slack and sear does not catch when fired even though it may work fine when action is worked by hand. Perhaps someone [maybe me] would scan the article and forward to seriously intersted guys.

Marvin · 03-10-2002, 06:41 AM

Art,

I wonder what it would take to be able to repring the article on the Forum? I sure wold like to read that one myself.

Marvin

John Sabato · 02-14-2008, 04:19 PM

Hugh, the photos that were associated with this old thread that I just revived have evidently 'expired' ... so would you mind reposting the photos for this thread. We have some new members who have inquired about Luger trigger adjustments.

Thanks!

Does any member have the article that Art Buchanan mentioned... he hasn't reregistered since we changed forum format...

SIGP2101 · 02-14-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by John Sabato
... so would you mind reposting the photos for this thread. We have some new members who have inquired about Luger trigger adjustments.

Thanks!

I would be looking forward to it...

Thanks a bunch!

Hugh · 02-14-2008, 07:56 PM

John,

I can't find those pictures in my files. However, I do have the article on my computer and will be happy to email it to any one requesting it. My email is hhclark@wildblue.net

Since then, I have determined that if you don't want to drill holes in your trigger, you can make minor improvements in the length of pull and sear engagement by SLIGHTLY bending the front tang of the trigger outward and/or VERY SLIGHTLY bending the trigger lip that engages the trigger lever downward. This will shorten the "free travel". Use caution however, as too much bending will cause the sear to fail to engage the firing pin. Do not attempt to bend the trigger lever, as you will just end up with a broken one. THEY DON'T BEND!

John Sabato · 02-14-2008, 09:40 PM

Thanks Hugh email me the article please. You should have my email address.

Ron Wood · 02-14-2008, 11:39 PM

I have the article and have emailed it to several members. I have been reluctant to post it here as I am not sure about copyright issues. Also, the images are full magazine page size and even though I have gotten the .jpg file size to 230Kb each and still quite legible, I am not sure how they would look on a forum page.

Blastattack · 07-27-2012, 11:46 PM

Any chance we can ressurect this page? I'm sure there is valuable information here, but all the illustrations of it are MIA (for me at least)

I should add that i am particularly interested in that 2 pound trigger pull.

03-07-2002, 01:37 AM	#1
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 166 Times in 65 Posts	Luger Target Trigger Modification Improve the trigger pull on your shooter Luger by installing trigger stop and slack adjusting screws. The top adjustment, which is a #2-56 Allen set screw, is designed to take up the small but annoying amount of slack that is present in the linkup between the trigger and the trigger bar. Although it will do so, this screw is NOT designed to adjust sear engagement. If sear engagement is altered by turning this screw in too far, the trigger bar plunger will not reengage the trigger bar when the trigger is released, which will put the gun out of action. The lower #4-40 Allen screw functions as a standard trigger-stop. By installing these adjustment screws, the total length of trigger travel can be cut from over 1/8" to a hair over 1/16", with practically zero backlash. Once you have the screws set properly, a small drop of Locktite on each will insure less frequent adjustment. The first of the attached pictures show the adjustment screws mounted in a 1970's era Mauser Luger trigger. The next two pictures show the trigger stop screw mounted in a standard Luger trigger. In future installments, I will describe how to smooth and lighten your Luger's trigger SAFELY to obtain a smooth 2# trigger pull.

03-07-2002, 02:15 AM	#3
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Re: Luger Target Trigger Modification This is great. I'll be the first to raise my hand and say that a crisp trigger pull makes all the difference in the world to the accuracy of a Luger. Some previous owner had done a hack job to the trigger lever of the last shooter I bought--I didn't recognize the import of what they had done until I shot it, and I'm not sure I'd recommend that anybody else do it--(notice that I'm not saying what "it" is, because I really think it is not a good idea) BUT there is almost no slack to take up in the trigger pull, and offhand at 50 feet it shoots groups two or three times tighter than my other Lugers. It is the trigger pull which makes all the difference, I can tell when I simply touch off the round. The gun is otherwise a completely ordinary, unremarkable, average shape 1923 Commercial. --Dwight

03-07-2002, 09:06 AM	#5
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Nice work Hugh! Thanks for the photos of your handiwork! (EOM)

03-07-2002, 12:17 PM	#6
HÃ?Â¥kan Spuhr User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 282 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	second variant The triggerstop can also be archived by adjusting the triggerpull in a manner that the trigger stops against the frame when the gun fires. The good thing about this is you never have a problem with selfadjusting screws and other funny things. But I am using triggerstops on other guns, but on the luger I have always used the frame instead. Regards HÃ?Â¥kan

03-07-2002, 03:58 PM	#7
R. Grady/Roadkill Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Nice work Hugh! Thanks for the photos of your handiwork! Thanks, I've got an Anshutz .22 (Mod 1451?) with an adjustment exactly like what you did. I had to loosen it back up because it was messing me up with my other guns. Had an AK once that you could nearly pass out from lack of oxygen trying to shoot. Had a trigger pull from here to Texas. Roadkill

03-07-2002, 01:51 AM	#2
BILL User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Western Washington Posts: 826 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Luger Target Trigger Modification Thanks Hugh, I have several .22 target pistols that have very similar stops. This might be an excellent mod for that 'spare' trigger, just in case you have a matched pistol that you want to keep matching. If you look around at gunshows there are usually some parts guys who aren't trying to retire by selling Luger parts. eBay is actually bad for spare parts (often closing out at the price of a whole pistol). Just my opinion..your mileage may vary.

03-07-2002, 07:15 AM	#4
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 7 Posts	Thanks, Hugh. I agree with Bill; this would make an interesting modification for a SPARE trigger. Since only the trigger is modified, it could be discarded if the operation didn't work out well. I have a 6" shooter which is really an excellent Luger, mechanically; but, as with all Lugers, the trigger pull is less than optimum. Might be worth a try. Tom Heller probably has spare triggers. Would hope that anyone trying this will post a record of their success/failure for the rest of the group.

03-07-2002, 04:13 PM	#8
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 166 Times in 65 Posts	Luger Trigger Modification Addendum The "slack adjustment" screw can be mounted this way in the standard Luger triggers.

03-07-2002, 05:00 PM	#9
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 166 Times in 65 Posts	Re: Luger Trigger
Find More Posts by Hugh

03-07-2002, 05:21 PM	#10
66mustang Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Luger Trigger Very nice, but I see two problems. 1. You have my grips on it, 2. Someone stepped on the barrel and flattened it! Very sweet Hugh, did you do the work? Ed

03-07-2002, 05:44 PM	#11
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 166 Times in 65 Posts	Re: Luger I wish I could, gonna try it if I every get caught up with Babies. I bought this gun at a local gun show. It was done by a now deceased gunsmith from the Dallas area. I did do the trigger work however.

03-07-2002, 11:35 PM	#12
Dan Clemons User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 184 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Long Trigger Pull Hi Hugh: Thanks for bringing this subject up!! How come my shooters have a long trigger pull and my mint Lugers that I don't shoot have a short pull? There seems to be no consistancy. Dan C.

03-09-2002, 06:22 PM	#13
Art Buchanan Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Long Trigger Pull The method Hugh describes and trigger photos come from a May 1974 "Shooting Times" article pages 28,29 and 30 by Mike Gorman. The piece was directed at work on a 1970s Mauser. The methods work fine on other Lugers. I have refered to the article and reworked fireing pins for a number of years with good success. Polishing bearing surfaces as described in the article also helps a bit. The small screws in trig help. My experience has been--that adjusting the slack take up screw is a bit tricky. Remove too much slack and sear does not catch when fired even though it may work fine when action is worked by hand. Perhaps someone [maybe me] would scan the article and forward to seriously intersted guys.

03-10-2002, 06:41 AM	#14
Marvin User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 1,132 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Long Trigger Article Art, I wonder what it would take to be able to repring the article on the Forum? I sure wold like to read that one myself. Marvin

02-14-2008, 04:19 PM	#15
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Hugh, the photos that were associated with this old thread that I just revived have evidently 'expired' ... so would you mind reposting the photos for this thread. We have some new members who have inquired about Luger trigger adjustments. Thanks! Does any member have the article that Art Buchanan mentioned... he hasn't reregistered since we changed forum format... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

02-14-2008, 07:56 PM	#17
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 166 Times in 65 Posts	John, I can't find those pictures in my files. However, I do have the article on my computer and will be happy to email it to any one requesting it. My email is hhclark@wildblue.net Since then, I have determined that if you don't want to drill holes in your trigger, you can make minor improvements in the length of pull and sear engagement by SLIGHTLY bending the front tang of the trigger outward and/or VERY SLIGHTLY bending the trigger lip that engages the trigger lever downward. This will shorten the "free travel". Use caution however, as too much bending will cause the sear to fail to engage the firing pin. Do not attempt to bend the trigger lever, as you will just end up with a broken one. THEY DON'T BEND! __________________ *TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!*

02-14-2008, 09:40 PM	#18
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Thanks Hugh email me the article please. You should have my email address. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

02-14-2008, 11:39 PM	#19
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,040 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,257 Times in 1,724 Posts	I have the article and have emailed it to several members. I have been reluctant to post it here as I am not sure about copyright issues. Also, the images are full magazine page size and even though I have gotten the .jpg file size to 230Kb each and still quite legible, I am not sure how they would look on a forum page. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

07-27-2012, 11:46 PM	#20
Blastattack User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Calgary AB Posts: 44 Thanks: 8 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts	Any chance we can ressurect this page? I'm sure there is valuable information here, but all the illustrations of it are MIA (for me at least) I should add that i am particularly interested in that 2 pound trigger pull.