MKIII, 22/45 Trigger Creep

OpsMgr · Post by **OpsMgr** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:03 pm

I have installed the following parts in my MKIII, 22/45 and still have too much creep in the trigger for my taste:

VQ Sear
VQ trigger
MKII factory hammer - Lightly polished (Mag safety removed)
Clark over-sized MKII hammer bushing and sear pin

Have the VQ and Clark parts in my MKII Comp Target and the trigger has no creep. The parts above have made a huge improvement in the 22/45 trigger but the creep is still there - The pre-travel screw is set so that the sear just resets and over-travel is nil. Each adjustment screw has had blue loctite applied to prevent movement.

Am I expecting too much from the polymer famed 22/45 or maybe missed something? Thanks in advance for any input!

Post by **Bullseye** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:22 pm

That depends on how tightly the new parts interact with each other. How was the fit of the bushing into the hammer? Did you have to press-fit it? How do the pins fit in the frame- tightly or loose? How tight is the trigger's fit on the trigger pivot pin? What is the fit between the disconnector lever pin and the trigger? Lots of component interaction on a Ruger 22 Auto to look at. Depending on the answers to these questions, you may have hit the limit of trigger pull smoothness without a custom fitting job.

R,
Bullseye

OpsMgr · Post by **OpsMgr** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:43 pm

The bushing fit snug but did not require a press fit in the factory hammer - Maybe a VQ hammer would make a difference? Side to side movement of the hammer in the frame is slight but is nowhere near as tight as my MKII Comp Target. Hammer and sear pin fit is fine and not loose in the frame. The trigger pin fits the frame fine but the VQ trigger does have some side to side movement...

Post by **Bullseye** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 2:15 pm

How bad is the Creep? When do you feel it? Is the bushing tight like you had to tap it in? Or did it just drop in a little snugly?

Did you use an oversized hammer pivot pin? If you did - How is the fit between the hammer pivot pin and the bushing?

Every bit of movement between components adds up when you feel everything interacting in the trigger's pull.

R,
Bullseye

OpsMgr · Post by **OpsMgr** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:09 pm

Thanks for your help, Bullseye! A healthy 2/32" worth of creep from sear engagement to let off but the feel is not gritty. The bushing was snug and was inserted in the hammer with very light light finger pressure - Not drop in. The Clark kit for the 22/45 comes with an over-sized hammer bushing and and over-sized sear pin - You use the factory hammer pin with this particular kit. Different from the metal framed ones.

Maybe the addition of a VQ hammer will provide a tighter bushing fit and a reduction in the creep? Also wonder if some sear shims form a 10/22 kit would help with the side to side play in the trigger? Just brainstorming here...

Or maybe this is as good as it gets with the 22/45...

Post by **Bullseye** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:26 pm

The 22/45 kits used to come with both pins but now they don't because Ruger went to the "headed" hammer pivot pin to protect the new Mark III 22/45 frames from damage by pin walking. How's the fit with the factory hammer pin and the bushing? Was it tight - or is the pin loose in the bushing?

Truthfully, I do not think you're going to get a better fit on your bushing from the VQ target hammer.

Trigger side play isn't overall very significant, but if the trigger fits loose on that pivot pin then there's a potential source for a creepy feel in the trigger pull. Every pivot point with in the trigger system is a potential source for creep.

R,
Bullseye

OpsMgr · Post by **OpsMgr** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:02 pm

Did not know that about the older Clark kits - Maybe they will start to offer the new style hammer pin at some time . My 22/45 came with the old style hammer pin - Sans the head. Had Ruger send me a new style pin after reading about the pins walking in the frame. Think the stock hammer pin may be the culprit. The new Ruger hammer pin seems to fit OK as best I can remember - May take the trigger apart and look a little closer...

melchloboo · Post by **melchloboo** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 6:03 pm

I would just add that VQ told me not to oil the sear or hammer, that it works best dry (clean). Also, I found that putting back the factory trigger spring and plunger gave me a crisper feel. That said, I would agree there is some creep and would not characterize the vq hammer/sear combo as crisp.

it may also be my imagination, but here in florida i swear my break feels differently depending on humidity. cooler days the break is crisper than the humid days. which could also mean you would benefit from not lubing the sear.

OpsMgr · Post by **OpsMgr** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 6:15 pm

Hey melchloboo - I never lube the sear on any of my firearms as it changes the feel of the break. I have thought about swapping back to the factory plunger spring to see it it makes any difference. The creep is not all that bad with my 22/45 - Just got spoiled with my MKII Comp Target...

melchloboo · Post by **melchloboo** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 6:33 pm

well all i can say it is normal. the good thing is that it is consistent. i dryfire daily, and the creep is just part of my normal take up now.

today i was shooting turkey silhouettes at 75 yards with iron sights and wallyworld ammo. don't let anyone tell you a ruger with a trigger job isn't a great target pistol.

OpsMgr · Post by **OpsMgr** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:37 pm

You are right - The Ruger pistols are great target pistols for the money plus all the after market parts that are available. I don't listen to many (There are some exceptions) when it comes to firearms - Got to try it out for myself and form my own opinions based on my experience...