My Mini 14 is double firing -what to do?

Tudenom

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Prince George BC
Hey guys, I have a problem with my Mini 14 and I'm looking for some advice.

The rifle is double firing with some regularity, say every 40 to 50 rounds or so. This has only started this winter, and I think it's due to a botched trigger job. Someone did a trigger job on this rifle in years past before I owned it, I can see polishing done to the hammer, and an over travel screw has been added.

During the summer I never had a problem, but for the most part I was shooting in the summer either in a T shirt or firing unsupported. I thought that maybe a combination of lube stickiness from the cold (-20 Cel), my down jacket, and an overtravel screw adjusted too fine were causing the issue. But it still happens with a dry trigger, 0-1 degree Celsius weather and the overtravel screw backed off.

I could order a new hammer from Numerich which I think might solve the problem (the sear and trigger are not available unfortunately), but they're tacking a $35 shipping fee on a $45 part. Plus it's not guaranteed to solve the issue since the trigger sear and secondary sear could be messed up too.

Is it possible to have a gunsmith add some material to the existing hammer (TIG?) and then reshape it? The hammer is stainless steel so I'm not sure if that's a problem.

Would I be better off finding a used trigger assembly somewhere for $200?

Honestly, a standard mini 14 trigger would be just fine, it's not a target rifle, but it has to be reliable and safe.

What you recommend?
 
I had something similar happen to me. What I did was have a local welder add material for free (took not even 5 seconds) and filed it back to the correct shape. It's probably the easiest way to go as well
 
I'll take a look at my ammo and see if any of the primers are high on them. It's cheap factory American Eagle 55 grain FMJ so you just never know. Cleaning up the trigger mechanism and backing off the screw was the first thing I did but it didn't help.
 
Given that it's only happening in the cold, it could be that the lube inside the bolt is preventing the firing pin from moving freely, flush the bolt and firing pin channel specifically in cleaner, take the bolt apart and dry it out and run it dry, there's no need for lube in the firing pin channel.
 
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