I am looking at getting a full-size .357 mag revolver in the future. I have an older S&W 640-1 that has a decent trigger pull, but nothing to write home about. I have heard Smith's factory trigger pull's have gone downhill, and usually need tuning. I have heard the ones from Ruger, Kimber, and Colt are far better.

What's been other's experience? I may invest in a Performance Center model, which do have much better pulls.

Kimber triggers are great. The edge goes to the kimber DASA in either 3” or 2”. I have a 3” dasa and a 2” DAO kimber with a 2” DASA on order too. They are the best I’ve tried so far.

My LCR has a great trigger. My SP-101 is so-so.

I don’t own a revolver but when I was thinking about getting one the Kimber had the best one out of everything I tried at all the stores. It was almost twice as much but felt great.

Kimber K6s. They make a 4 inch now.

My Korth Nighthawk Mongoose 4" . Best revolver trigger you will ever pull.

I have a 686 and a GP100 and had previous 357s as well. The 686 trigger was better out of the box, but the Ruger trigger is easily improved with a Wolfe trigger spring change. After a little work, they are pretty close. The 686 is slightly better in SA, but just barely.

I can’t really speak to the new guns as my GP100 is from the early 90s and the 686 is over 10 years old.

+

The LCR doesn't really do it for me...I guess I'm just too traditional...but I have to admit the ones I've handled have what is probably the best revolver trigger I've ever pulled.

revolver? Colt Python, hands down. my Python is absolutely amazing. its not a newer production model, haven't fired one of those yet.

quote:

Originally posted by longjohn:
My Korth Nighthawk Mongoose 4" . Best revolver trigger you will ever pull.

Few can afford, but agree 100%. No firearm, I mean zero of any type had a trigger that compared to the single action trigger on my original Korth Combat Magnum. It made the P210 trigger feel shitty, in addition to my custom 1911’s and Smith PC’s.

I think the Smith PC’s are pretty decent, better than a Python or Rugger GP100 I also owned in terms of its smooth pull and the feel of the break.

quote:

Originally posted by longjohn:
My Korth Nighthawk Mongoose 4" . Best revolver trigger you will ever pull.

Long john wins on the one. I notice no one has mentioned a colt. My mistake there was a colt fan. I have an n frame 627 pro series, great trigger better than the ones I have from the custom shop. Much better than either of my buddies classic colts. YMMV, mine always does

If you are going for a Smith & Wesson--a trigger job will definitely improve the trigger pull.

Buy a basic Smith and get a MAP factory trigger job ($165)
http://www.smith-wesson.com/cu...recision-gunsmithing
To improve the trigger pull-either you need new trigger springs (Wilson or Apex @ $10-12) or shorten the stock spring by 1-2 coils. The local gun shop had a promotion from Smith-buy a new Smith-get a free trigger job. The Smith gunsmith was on site--essentially he shortens the trigger spring, stones the hammer/trigger area. I asked him to make it "Colt" smooth. The trigger job definitely improves and smooths out the Smith trigger pull. You can't make it a Colt or a Korth.

My Smiths, after I get done doing some minor trigger work.

Bob

For a factory smooth pull, hard to beat an 80’s 586 or an older Model 65 & similar.

I like Rugers because they are easy to tune with Wolff springs. I did that with both my GP and my SP.

I have a Smith PC gun with a good trigger. You may want to see if anything coming out of the Performance Center is to your liking.

quote:

Originally posted by bcjwriter:
I am looking at getting a full-size .357 mag revolver in the future. I have an older S&W 640-1 that has a decent trigger pull, but nothing to write home about. I have heard Smith's factory trigger pull's have gone downhill, and usually need tuning. I have heard the ones from Ruger, Kimber, and Colt are far better.

What's been other's experience? I may invest in a Performance Center model, which do have much better pulls.

To compare a full-size Smith's trigger to your 640 is an apples to oranges comparison. The J-frames use a coil spring while the full size (I assume we're talking an L or N frame) use a leaf that, despite what some people say, is tunable with the strain screw.

New S&W's generally have more consistent (not necessarily better) triggers than their forebearers due to the use of MIM (again, contrary to what some may tell you, not a bad thing) becuase it produces more dimensionally consistent pieces, which means less handfitting, or less work for a gunsmith to get it to competition level.

Ordering a PC gun is no guarantee that you will get a super trigger - it's a crap shoot. I've seen many regular production guns that came with better triggers than the PC guns. Consider a PC gun as a starting point. Buy it for the features and design, not because you think you'll get a fully tuned trigger.

Yes, you can install a lighter main and rebound spring, but that often comes with a host of its own problems. If you are not happy with the trigger out of the box, take it to a competent gunsmith and remember, smooth is better than light (and smooth and light with reliability is best of all).

I've shot IDPA, USPSA and ICORE all with S&W revolvers. This past year I've started using a Ruger GP100 MC for IDPA. It's a nice gun, but I much prefer my Smiths.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

The S&W Performance Center, as a seperate entity staffed by talented gunsmiths with decades of experience, no longer exists. The last PC gunsmith having retired in 2014.

The "Performance Center" is simply another production line in the main factory, charging a premium for putting the famous logo on the gun. The trigger pulls on the so called PC guns, in a word, SUCK!

Out of the OPs listed choices, based solely on trigger pull, the Kimber K6 has the smoothest pull. Someone should ship a K6 to the current company calling itself s&w, so they can see what a revolver should be. And I am no fan of Kimber.

Second choice would be Ruger. Their triggers are way betterthan any current production s&w. The trigger pull on their plastic LCRs being particularly good and approaching the pull of the K6. Regards, 18DAI

Having handled and shot probably a few hundred of these from those makers over the past few years I'll make a broad generalization. S&W has a somewhat better trigger than the Ruger in full size guns. For compacts it's the opposite (most LCRs I've messed with have surprisingly good triggers). Kimber has a noticeably better trigger than S&W and Ruger.

As already mentioned, Smith's j-frame triggers like the 640 are different than a, "Normal" Smith. My latest revolver is a Ruger 3" GP100 in 10mm. It has one of the easiest to stage DA triggers out of the box than almost any revolver I have ever owned. It is a heavy pull but as others have stated that can be tuned with a spring change. As a long time Smith & Wesson shooter I've been impressed with it.

Trigger pull is just one aspect to the feel of a revolver. Balance and the way they feel under recoil are just as important. Handle and shoot as many as you can to find out what your preferences are.

I have had a few S&W 686 revolvers but I just prefer the Ruger GP100 more. The trigger pull is not that bad and the push button cylinder release is super easy to work.I like the grips on the Ruger as well.