Easing the spring
- Thread starter Wendell
- Start date
- Location
- AB foothills
Just for fun this morning I field stripped a M70 bolt to test striker spring pressures. Using a block of wood and a bathroom scale as super high tech measuring equipment, it showed that it took 18 pounds of force to move the cocking piece at all from the full down position and 21 pounds to raise it to the normal cocked position which was determined by the ability to put the safety back on. Did it a few times to make sure of the readings.
OK, I was bored.
OK, I was bored.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
^^^ Ha! We both must be bored! I was going to do same thing - to see what difference it makes! Your "experiment" saved me the commotion ...
Most rifles here - Win M70, Mauser 98, P14, M1917 - all have MUCH longer coil firing spring when removed - then some amount of compression required to re-assemble the unit. Then "cocking" compresses that coil spring a "bit" more - but I was never sure "how much" more.
The "thought experiment" - as if there is actual merit to "relaxing" that coil spring, then one would have to dismantle the unit and have the spring completely out - no tension on it at all - then re-assemble to use it - not real certain, any more, how much actual compression difference between "cocked" and "not cocked" on these bolt action rifles - from your "experiment" circa 3 pounds force, when it takes 21 pounds force to have it "cocked"?
Most rifles here - Win M70, Mauser 98, P14, M1917 - all have MUCH longer coil firing spring when removed - then some amount of compression required to re-assemble the unit. Then "cocking" compresses that coil spring a "bit" more - but I was never sure "how much" more.
The "thought experiment" - as if there is actual merit to "relaxing" that coil spring, then one would have to dismantle the unit and have the spring completely out - no tension on it at all - then re-assemble to use it - not real certain, any more, how much actual compression difference between "cocked" and "not cocked" on these bolt action rifles - from your "experiment" circa 3 pounds force, when it takes 21 pounds force to have it "cocked"?
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Yeah; 3 pounds, or to put it another way the same amount of force it takes to pull a halfway decent trigger.
Talking about trigger pulls. A local gunsmith, Henry Rempel dismantled three different triggers from rifles made in the 1950's and 80's. He removed old springs and replaced them with lighter springs, turned this screw and then that screw and VOILA. From 7 & 8 pound pulls to 2.5 and 3 lbs. It only took him 10 minutes per trigger. No creep or aftertravel, I was most impressed!
On the Walker style trigger I take the trigger return spring out and make a replacement from a tire valve stem spring. Its lighter, just have to cut it to length quite a bit longer than the stock one. The stock one is heavy and short, and when you take the weight down to the lowest levels you’re always a bit of a turn away from not having any spring pressure at all. I read about it in an old Roy Dunlop book; I hate to say it, at least 40 years ago. Where’s the time go?
Anyway, it was in the tuning section and I remember him saying that light springs the right diameter were hard to buy; but easy to get for nothing.
Henry is a good guy; I’ve only spoken to him on the phone, but his dedication to the sport is an inspiration.
Ouch, too funny
On the Walker style trigger I take the trigger return spring out and make a replacement from a tire valve stem spring. Its lighter, just have to cut it to length quite a bit longer than the stock one. The stock one is heavy and short, and when you take the weight down to the lowest levels you’re always a bit of a turn away from not having any spring pressure at all. I read about it in an old Roy Dunlop book; I hate to say it, at least 40 years ago. Where’s the time go?
Anyway, it was in the tuning section and I remember him saying that light springs the right diameter were hard to buy; but easy to get for nothing.
Henry is a good guy; I’ve only spoken to him on the phone, but his dedication to the sport is an inspiration.
Henry is quite talented in gunsmithing. I don't think he lacks any spring inventory, he has a drawer full of tiny/small springs in their individual packages. He removes triggers from rifles, disasembles them, does this, does that, assembles it back to the rifle resulting in a nice crisp light pull.....brilliant!
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
There was no “Easing the spring gives you vaids.” option in the poll so I didn’t answer.
"Easying the spring " is a common military term, and it means to de-#### after clearing the gun. Usually done by dry firing, although in a bolt gun you can close bolt with trigger pulled.
I assume the OP is military, or ex-military.
I assume the OP is military, or ex-military.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
69 come 74 good humoured and even some constructive posts and only one is bitter and disgruntled. I’d call that a raging success.
That is not true.
When you are about to hand a rifle to another, do you close the bolt while simultaneously decocking the rifle before handing over the rifle with the now-closed action and lowered striker? (I hope not, but many people do that, mindlessly, and that is the practice which provoked me to start this thread.) The individuals doing that are so accustomed to 'easing the spring' as a matter of routine they forget where they are or the possible reason(s) why they've done it. It isn't the decocking of the rifle that is unsafe, it is the habit that they're created; the habit causes them to completely ignore the safety rules, and they decock the rifle regardless of the muzzle direction and regardless of the fact that they're about to hand off the (now-closed and decocked) firearm to someone else, who is now obliged to open the action again.
Decocking can be done carefully, and safely (should one choose to do that), but I would also argue that - generally - we should wish to encourage a strict and mindful adherence to the four rules, and that - generally - we should wish to discourage the creation of any habit that disregards the four rules.
Reading minds is a neat skill to have. Congratulations.
I could not comprehend the physical action of handing a decocked firearm to "another" person?; let alone the thought of it. Your're mindset is obsurd and what are the four rules? I've handed my loaded rifle to another "person" when crossing a fence countless times, without incident.
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