UPDATE: Bought a new trigger pack. Any recommendations to have the old trigger pack repaired.

Bought a PTR91 some years ago used. Gun was great until one day at the range it went full auto with a 20 round magazine. It was an exhilarating experience, but one I would prefer not to replicate for safety reason and out of the legal situation our range has been in in the past with the neighbors.

I sent the trigger pack to a "famed & renowned HK trigger smith" for repair and enhancement. I took the rifle to the range when the trigger pack returned, went through a 20 round magazine without issue, and haven't shot it since for various "life" reasons.

Fast forward to today. Based on reading shortly after shooting the rifle and the detailed input of a couple of people whose knowledge and expertise are virtually sacrosanct, I've come to question the work that was done, or rather to become uncertain of it. The negative evaluation was so strong and unmitigated it's difficult to ignore in spite of the brief testing I did after the repair and enhancement.

My question is who might I engage to evaluate the safety of the trigger work? My choices are, as I see it, to have it evaluated and perhaps repaired, shoot it and just take my chances, or buy a new trigger pack and call it a day.

Question:
What would you recommend? Recommend a resource to evaluate?

Choices:
Have it evaluated without question!
Shoot it and forget it! Don't whimp out!
Buy a new pack and go on with life.
Here is a resource I recommend.
Other, please explain.

 

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SIGWolf,

Load a mag with 3 or 4 rounds at a time and go shoot it. If it doesn’t give any multiple round bursts, increase the capacity and enjoy it. Just don’t throw a full 20 in it for the first hammer drop.

A new trigger pack from HK Parts is between $115 and $215 depending.

Are the initials of the gunsmith who worked on the trigger pack BS?

you should send it to PTR, I'm sure they don't want a full auto capable pack out there with their name on it.......

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:
Load a mag with 3 or 4 rounds at a time and go shoot it. If it doesn’t give any multiple round bursts, increase the capacity and enjoy it. Just don’t throw a full 20 in it for the first hammer drop.

Instead, I would load an action proving dummy with a round piece of blue tape over the cartridge base and then a single live round on top of it. Fire the single round. Rifle should eject the spent round and chamber the dummy. If there is a firing pin impression on the dummy's tape you have a problem.

Avoids get the range personnel possibly getting upset over your misfunctioning weapon.

Mine was done by {assuming} same HK smith and had been fine for years.

quote:

Originally posted by mew:
you should send it to PTR, I'm sure they don't want a full auto capable pack out there with their name on it.......

PTR has no dog in this fight since the OP admits that it was sent to someone to a third party for having work done. I’m sure if you sent it back to PTR, they could tell that it’s been modified and simply tell you that you’re on your own.

For the original issue I say just shoot it and see if there is a problem. You’ve shot it once with no issues whatsoever and there is no indication that there is any problem at all. Right now this is just a theoretical concern prompted by problems others say they had. Alternately, just get a new unmodified trigger pack if you want the piece of mind. I don’t think anyone is going to be able to look at your trigger pack and say it will never fail, or it will fail after XXX rounds.

Would not PTR look it over and tell you if its safe? And perhaps replace any unsafe parts and get it back to factory like condition, for a modest price? Id tell them everything you told us in the first post and see what they have to say.

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:
Load a mag with 3 or 4 rounds at a time and go shoot it. If it doesn’t give any multiple round bursts, increase the capacity and enjoy it. Just don’t throw a full 20 in it for the first hammer drop.

Yup, a renown smith here gave me that technique whenever doing trigger work - load 3 until you know you don't have any hammer follow issues.

Quite some time ago I had BS work on the trigger on my PTR as well. Worked fine a few trips to the range, but ONE DAY, I had a string of 8 rounds go off in a row. Although it was entertaining, I really didn't want to risk going to jail over something unintended. I sent it back to him and have not had issues since (although I haven't fire it in years - may need to try it out again).

Who would you have evaluate it? A little more info on who that is would be helpful. I would start over with a new pack and send the old one off for "Re-evaluation". I own plenty of packs, so would like to know who gave it the O.K. before giving my recomendation.

I've had numerous triggers worked on by the gentleman in question and never had an issue.

I'd call PTR explain what happened, what was done and if they would safety check the rifle.

I've converted several HK packs to semi ... It's not that big of a deal. Unless there was something broken in your pack it's hard to see how that would happen, but I know I haven't seen everything.

I've got a registered sear that I put in my PTR91 and by the 3rd round, the muzzle was 2feet over the top of my target ... I was in complete control and expecting it ... I didn't consider it exhilarating at all, in fact I ont shoot 308 in FA after that, it just wasn't any fun.

9mm, 223 & 7.62x39 sure, that's fun.

If I have something go 'NFA' on me, I either send it to the MFG for action or replace it. Period. Once is enough. Twice is silly.

quote:

Originally posted by hrcjon:
If I have something go 'NFA' on me, I either send it to the MFG for action or replace it. Period. Once is enough. Twice is silly.

Ditto, the price is too high to "F" around with it.
I'm not talking about the "up to $250,000" ... I'm talking about loosing my legal right to own a firearm for the rest of my life.
(Although the $250K would sting)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kimberkid,

quote:

Originally posted by kimberkid:

I've got a registered sear that I put in my PTR91 and by the 3rd round, the muzzle was 2feet over the top of my target ... I was in complete control and expecting it ... I didn't consider it exhilarating at all, in fact I ont shoot 308 in FA after that, it just wasn't any fun.

9mm, 223 & 7.62x39 sure, that's fun.

I concur. A friend has a full auto G3. I shot it with the same result and he had warned me to be ready. He also has a pre-sample MP5. A lot more fun and I always bring a bunch of 9mm to "donate" when we go shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by Blackmore:

quote:

Originally posted by kimberkid:

I've got a registered sear that I put in my PTR91 and by the 3rd round, the muzzle was 2feet over the top of my target ... I was in complete control and expecting it ... I didn't consider it exhilarating at all, in fact I ont shoot 308 in FA after that, it just wasn't any fun.

9mm, 223 & 7.62x39 sure, that's fun.

I concur. A friend has a full auto G3. I shot it with the same result and he had warned me to be ready. He also has a pre-sample MP5. A lot more fun and I always bring a bunch of 9mm to "donate" when we go shooting.

Years ago, a ClassIII buddy of mine took us shooting. He had a full giggle HK51, and HK31's in the group. I actually was amazed at how controllable the short barreled 51 was on FA...almost no muzzle rise. BIG ball of fire though.

The 31 was scary controllable. In bursts or all out. The way it handled was very reminiscent of the MP5, with a bit more thump.

Why not take it to a local, reputable gunsmith and have it checked out? I imagine it doesn't take a HK specialist to check a rifle out and say "functioning properly" or "broken".

Bruce

How much is a new hammer, sear & trigger from PTR?
You may only need A hammer or a sear or a trigger but you may need all 3 ... I don't know what BS modifies in his trigger jobs.
Or if they are the same as a Genuine HK parts (which I believe they are) you could buy a surplus FA trigger pack and switch out one component at at time, then destroy the modified parts ... I've seen the surplus packs for $65

I guess to use the FA hammer you might have to grind down the FA sear engagement notch/catch, it's the bottom notch.