Advice - trigger on my BSA Lightning XL Tactical

[Highlander80]

I recently bought a very nice BSA Lightning XL Tactical .22 from these very forums.

I really like the rifle... it's nice and compact/lightweight, very smooth, good power and reasonably quiet. It was in near mint condition with a nice scope and GL-2 LED gunlight for £170 posted, bargain!

One thing that's bugging the hell out of me.... the trigger 2nd stage is pretty heavy, so much so that i'm pulling my shots to the right a bit most of the time
I've wound the adjustment screw right out but it's made no difference at all, it's far too heavy!

What are my options?

• Send it back to BSA (out of warranty) and pay for them to "service it"
• Send it to someone to have the trigger looked at (anyone on here any good?)
• Strip it down myself and make some adjustments? (where do I start?)

Interestingly my friends new (3 month old) XL tactical has a much nicer feel to the trigger (lighter & smoother) could it be BSA have replaced the 2nd stage trigger spring with a lighter one?

Any advice?

Thanks!

[kevmar]

You should have a very small allen key to adjust the trigger .


IIRC you screw it in to lighten it....

[Highlander80]

Yeah I have tried screwing it right out as I was told that was the way to lighten the trigger, not in?

[kevmar]

https://www.airgunsofarizona.com/Man...0Lightning.pdf

[Highlander80]

https://www.airgunsofarizona.com/Man...0Lightning.pdf

Thanks for that.

It confirms that screwing it out lightens the trigger pull, it's already all the way out... it's like the spring is too heavy really, might have to tear down the trigger tonight and see if I cant somehow adjust the spring... it's putting it all back together that's going to be a pain I think...

[Gwylan]

Its a crap trigger.

Gus

[tmstech]

Its a crap trigger.

Gus

Kind of agricultural in operation.

[Highlander80]

Its a crap trigger.

Gus

Well that's useful

Perhaps then you might be able to explain why my friends 3 month old rifle's trigger is as smooth as butter?

[b@rt]

I can work on those triggers, (but I'm in the Netherlands) some polishing and altering the springs, will make it in a much nicer trigger, but it will never be a Rekord, or CD trigger

Regards, Bart

[tmstech]

Well that's useful

Perhaps then you might be able to explain why my friends 3 month old rifle's trigger is as smooth as butter?

So you have the .22 and is it spring or have a gasram conversion? The .177 produces a heavier trigger pull and even worse with a ram installed. Gus is right the trigger has never been that good on the lightning.

[Highlander80]

Thanks for the replies.

Well I got home from work and decided to strip the trigger and see if I could improve it.

Cleaned it all up, tweaked the 2nd stage spring a bit, polished the sear faces with wet & dry 2000 grit (mirror finish now!), greased sear faces & pins with moly and despite much head scratching finally managed to get it all back together

It's 10 times better now! Glad I waded in and just did it, was pretty easy, took a hour or so tops

[david9d]

Well done. This is the kind of story I like to read about.
It's a great feeling when you tackle the unknown and it all turns out well.
Enjoy your improved gun.
David

[Gwylan]

Sorry Jack.... "crap" was a bit harsh, I should have said, "never be as good as a Rekord, or CD."

Gus