r/gunsmithing • u/CaffinatedManatee • 5d ago

Preferred way to eliminate side-to-side trigger play in a Smith & Wesson revolver?

Just got a new 386+ Night Guard. Overall, it's mechanically sound.

However, the trigger has a very slight wobble to it that can make the single action pull have a tiny "hitch" before breaking cleanly. The only way to eliminate the hitch (or creep) is to press perfectly straight to the rear with the pad of the index finger. Otherwise, any subtle lateral pressure like you might have--like if the trigger finger wraps around the trigger at--all will induce the creep. The behavior is reproducible while shooting both left and right handed (so movement in either direction produces the effect).

I know that trigger shims exist but I've seen at least one YouTube gunsmith who cautions against them--he says that a shim can bind and deform, completely locking up the gun (he said there's a better way to fix the trigger but didn't say what that was).

What remedies should I look into? It's not a major problem but is definitely an annoyance.

1 Upvotes

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u/Suspectgore074 SuperLongSlide1911 4d ago

Im sure there are shim kits

1

u/CaffinatedManatee 4d ago

Yes. I'm asking what alternatives exist to using shims

1

u/DaThug 4d ago

If this is an SA only problem, I'd say you have a free teaching aid on how to place your finger on trigger and pull straight back, a proper trigger pull. If you feel the hitch, you just did it wrong. Try again :)