Timney in a Winchester?

pyscodog

Active member
Any of you folks installed a Timney trigger in a Model 70? I'm reading several posts that its not just a "drop in" trigger. Looks like some work needs to be done to the bolt assembly and maybe on the trigger guard also. Looks like the Rifle Basix is a much easier swap for an improved trigger.
 
I have installed 3 in pre-FN M70 and 2 in FN M70. never had to modify. No experience with the Rifle Basix. Hope that helps.
 
I just read where some model had to have the bolt taken apart and some filling done for the safety to work. Also the trigger is to large to go through the trigger guard and it has to be opened up. Maybe it was an older style trigger and the newer models have been improved. IDK? Mine has a decent trigger but a trigger job may be all I do to improve it a little more.
 
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My target rifles have factory triggers that break @ 3.5#.
The pre-64 Mod. 70 original trigger is fully adjustable & very easy to get a crisp trigger with a bit of careful stoning. Have never worked on the post 64 but I believe they use same trigger???


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ETA: Just read the instructions (it's been a while since I worked over my triggers
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). I always back the overtravel adjustment all the way off. Much better it trigger doesn't hit the stop for offhand shooting.

Regards,
hm
 
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What vintage Model 70? The older(2006/New Haven) and prior guns had great triggers, easily adjusted. The newer Model 70’s have different triggers, less user friendly.

Anyhow, if you have an older gun, I’d just have the factory trigger adjusted, you or a smith could do it.
 
I'd give them a call and tell them exactly what you have and what your looking for. They're only 20 minutes from my house and I've swung by there a few times and always got great service.
 
hm-thats the trigger I have in my rifle. I think a bit of polishing and maybe a trigger spring will fix it up. Pretty simple trigger but they work good.
 
The trigger in the diagram supplied by hm1996 is the standard Winchester trigger from the pre-64 days (1936 IIRC) clear up until just several years ago when the enclosed MOA trigger was introduced in current Model 70 rifles. Roughly 2010-2011.

If adjusted and honed by someone who knows what he is doing, the old standby trigger doesn't require a lighter spring, etc. In fact, the older open trigger has always been an excellent trigger and it is arguably the best factory trigger ever produced, and it typically requires nothing more than a bit of lightening on the existing spring tension. A home "gunsmith" can screw them up pretty easily if they try to do more than simply adjusting the easy to adjust spring tension.

The new enclosed MOA is not an equal quality trigger as many people are discovering when they try to adjust them. Already there is a growing aftermarket cottage industry that includes lighter springs to make them better.

The MOA trigger is not an improvement.

 
Originally Posted By: Winny FanIf adjusted and honed by someone who knows what he is doing, the old standby trigger doesn't require a lighter spring, etc. In fact, the older open trigger has always been an excellent trigger and it is arguably the best factory trigger ever produced, and it typically requires nothing more than a bit of lightening on the existing spring tension. A home "gunsmith" can screw them up pretty easily if they try to do more than simply adjusting the easy to adjust spring tension.

^^^^^^^ What Winny said. Poor choice of words on my part....polishing carefully would be a much better choice.
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He is also correct that the original spring is fine; all of mine are original.

Quote:The pre-64 Mod. 70 original trigger is fully adjustable & very easy to get a crisp trigger with a bit of careful stoning.

Regards,
hm
 
Only reason I mentioned changing out the spring is "Ernie the Gunsmith" offers a replacement spring kit for the Winchesters. I thought it might be an improvement. If its not needed, even better.
 
I guess I lucked out when I bought my 222 HV. The previous owner had the trigger worked over by a competent gunsmith and it’s pretty nice. Hope you get yours lined out.
 
His stuff is reasonably priced which makes it easy to buy, but sometimes Ernie is known as "Ernie the Entrepreneur".

For $7 it's a cheap lesson if it doesn't get the trigger how you like it versus the original spring. Be careful with anything that you do/adjust so that the safety still works like it should along with the usual drop test, etc.

For my money, I'd rather take the $7 and put a few more $$ with it and have a competent smith tweak/hone the trigger if I'm not happy with how it breaks.
 
I have a smith that does excellent trigger work. We shoot together all the time. I'm sure he can fix me up with a good safe reliable trigger.Its not really bad as it is but think I would like it a little lower in pull weight. Not much lighter but a little bit.
 

Timney
Send them your rifle they will install it for you for a small fee.
And if you trade or sell it, They installed it.
So keep your paperwork, you will not be sued.
Give them a call they are very nice.
They did a Ruger 77 338win for me 1974.
 
I can't see sending a rifle off to have a trigger installed. I've swapped out many triggers. I was in a LGS I used to work at and remembered them having a Timney hanging on the rack. Its for a Model 70 and priced at $100. Good price but still not sure I want to go that route. My smith will do triggers for me for $35 and they are great safe triggers. My trigger is very usable as it is so I'm leaving it alone for now. Load work and accuracy testing first then see about a little trigger work later down the road.
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogI can't see sending a rifle off to have a trigger installed. I've swapped out many triggers. I was in a LGS I used to work at and remembered them having a Timney hanging on the rack. Its for a Model 70 and priced at $100. Good price but still not sure I want to go that route. My smith will do triggers for me for $35 and they are great safe triggers. My trigger is very usable as it is so I'm leaving it alone for now. Load work and accuracy testing first then see about a little trigger work later down the road.

I live in a town where there are no gunsmiths. Lucky for you to have one.
Timney is a nice Company and they do I nice job.
Maybe my answer was for people who do not have a gunsmith like you.
"LOL"
 
Sorry if I sounded a little sarcastic willy. Didn't mean to. And yes, I guess I am lucky to have a good friend that is also a gunsmith. He recently put a new recoil pad on my shotgun. One day service and $50. Can't complain about that. If I need a trigger job, usually I drop it off in the morning and pick it up that afternoon Ya, I guess I am lucky. Sure don't know what I'll do when he quits working on firearms.
 

The MOA triggers can be a problem. I have had them adjust perfectly by scraping off the goo that comes over the screws and back out the screw. If that does not work, go the Ernie the Gunsmith spring. It is much cheaper than trying the Timney which is a very good replacement.

There are a number of videos on You Tube on how to do the replacement of Winchester MOA triggers. At least there were. I have not looked since You Tube announced a number of gun related videos would be deleted.
 


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