SSK 50 trigger.

**Normrep55** · 11-15-2023, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by J.Baker

This may be one of those perfect opportunities for all involved to learn that it's ok to just nod in agreement and let it go even though you don't agree.

In the 20+ years I've been running this site I've dealt most every kind of internet personality you could imagine, and then probably a few more from the deep dark depths of Hell that were well beyond the scope of your imagination. There will always be those who insist they are right. There are always going to be those who insist they know better. There are always going to be those who no matter how many times you show them the "right" way to do something they'll still insist their way is better. Sometimes they may be right, sometimes they may be totally wrong - in my experience it plays out to about 50/50 odds so might as well just flip a coin to decide who's right. And of course there are also times where both are right and just approach the subject from different perspectives, the same as there are times where both sides are completely wrong and don't have a clue what they're talking about (see any of the various firearm related facebook groups for unlimited examples of the latter)

As my dad used to frequently say, "There are many ways to skin a cat, but some are more hazardous than others." Now I don't know a darn thing about Encore's so I'm not going to attempt to discern if one side's right and the other side's wrong in this, but what I can say is that after reading through the back and forth in this post it's obvious Wildcatter was just concerned about people's safety and possibly some potentially bad information being shared. Having had to address similar situations regarding Savage trigger adjustment info on this forum countless times over the last 20-some years I know exactly where he was coming from and that his concern was well-intended even if it came off more brash and confrontational than he probably intended. I've been guilty of that a time or two as well with some of my responses to "questionable" info or ideas being shared. This is also why you don't see any trigger adjustment articles in our Gunsmithing Articles or FAQ's area of the main site - you just never know who's going to read it and/or if that person is competent and knowledgeable enough about firearms to work on their own trigger. As such it's always best to just err on the side of caution.

As for the "Clown" comment, Wildcatter has already acknowledged that the name calling was uncalled for and apologized for it so I think we can consider that aspect of the conversation settled.

Thanks for this. Well said.

**nksmfamjp** · 11-19-2023, 12:53 PM

I’m sorry this thread has gone to crap. I think wildcatter means well. IME, triggers are kind of tricky, although Contenders are some of the most simple.

First, it helps to have the sear surfaces polished square and smooth, but this really is not required. Really, you need static friction between sear surfaces much greater than sliding friction. I’ve polished the crap out of guns and it usually makes that better, but sometimes worse. This is the main way creep feeling is reduced. Creep is the feeling of the sliding friction.

Then….or just skip #1 and start here. Adjust the sear engagement for a creepy pull. Reduce sear engagement by adjusting the screw until the sear releases. This is too far. Back off 1/2 turn. This is minimum engagement. Then keep adding engagement until you think the trigger is getting bad. Basically, you want as much sear engagement as possible without the trigger feeling creepy.

Last, adjust the overtravel until it won’t release. The while pressing trigger adjust until the sear releases. Then keep going 1/2 turn. This puts you at some risk of poor reliability. So, keep adding over travel until you sense over travel.

Do all this with wet purple locktite on the screws. The goal here is to maximize overtravel and sear engagement while you still feel a great trigger. Make sense? Sear engagement and overtravel all make the gun safer, but feel worse. So, there is a balance.

Past this, ordering trigger springs from Belmn and clipping coils can get you from benchrest light to lawyer heavy on most guns.

What wildcat was trying to say is if you could see the sear under a microscope, you would see it is not perfectly mated or square. Adjusting the sear engagement can often get us to a point where weight goes down, but the sear engagement is hanging by a burr or partial mating. This feels ok, but is ready to jar off. I get that many people have adjusted this screw to reduce weight, but I think you would be wiser to better understand the mechanism. I did this with an MOA trigger once. I’m glad I looked through the sear peek window to see it wasn’t cocking right before finishing my adjustment. Unfortunately, there is no peek window in a Contender.

Good luck sir. Also try a jar off test where the gun is smacked on its but and sides to confirm the trigger is sprung and engaged well enough to be safe. Also confirm push off and wiggling the trigger side to side.