Spring has sprung. Get out and shoot your Henry

Single Shot Hammer Spring Modification

Henry's new single shots
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JEBar
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Re: Single Shot Hammer Spring Modification

Post by JEBar » Sat May 11, 2019 11:19 am

looking forward to your report .... I sure wish they would get the rifle/pistol range over on the other side of Missouri at Jay Henges back into operation
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ESquared
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Re: Single Shot Hammer Spring Modification

Post by ESquared » Sat Aug 10, 2019 3:00 pm

Just closing the loop and now there's even more to the story.

I've had the 223 out to the range a couple of times since making this spring mod, and on both outings, I experienced light primer strikes/misfires. I circled back with Al, TractorTad and others who have made this mod on other SShots, and none reported this issue.

With Al's help, a new spring weight was found on Grainger's website, so I installed that one today.

It's Part # 54MY44 and has a spring rate of 38 lb/in (vs. about 51 lbs for the stock Henry).

I'll be trying this out at the KC gathering next week and will report back. If it works and anyone is interested, I'll have several extras, as Grainger sells them in packs of 10, so just send me a PM and I'll set one aside for you and ship it off to you if everything turns out okay.

More to come!
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BB Steel .357 | SGC 22LR | LR .308 | CCH 30-30 | BB Brass .45 Colt (Carbine) | Single Shot 20 gauge | Single Shot .223 | Single Shot 357

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BigAl52
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Re: Single Shot Hammer Spring Modification

Post by BigAl52 » Sat Aug 10, 2019 6:24 pm

Im gonna be curious to see if that 38lb spring solves your issue.
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Don't worry about getting older and still doing stupid stuff. You'll do the stupid stuff as always, only much slower. Hold my beer and watch this.......


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Yornoc3
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Re: Single Shot Hammer Spring Modification

Post by Yornoc3 » Sat Aug 10, 2019 8:19 pm

For sure! Inquiring minds want to know. I've posted previously that my two early model ss rifles came with good triggers; I'd love to know if they used a lighter trigger spring to start, and had to ratchet up its strength to meet the SAAMI drop specs. Obviously, no one at Henry would ever say anything about that. There was a world of difference in trigger pull weight between my low 3 digit serial no. 45-70 and my recent 30-30 that I can't explain any other way, but then, I'm simply speculating ;) .
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ESquared
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Re: Single Shot Hammer Spring Modification

Post by ESquared » Sun Aug 11, 2019 3:52 pm

Yornoc3 wrote:
Sat Aug 10, 2019 8:19 pm
For sure! Inquiring minds want to know. I've posted previously that my two early model ss rifles came with good triggers; I'd love to know if they used a lighter trigger spring to start, and had to ratchet up its strength to meet the SAAMI drop specs. Obviously, no one at Henry would ever say anything about that. There was a world of difference in trigger pull weight between my low 3 digit serial no. 45-70 and my recent 30-30 that I can't explain any other way, but then, I'm simply speculating ;) .
You've hit on probably one of the most widely discussed topics in the firearms customer world. These folks do running changes all the time, it seems, for any number of reasons, and it sometimes becomes luck of the draw where the gun you just bought fits in the spectrum of the model's evolution, depending on when it was made.

Just FYI, too, I swapped out the trigger in the 357 SS Brass(lite), and it's a different ballgame than the steel version. The straight stock set-up makes for a longer reach to access the 3/16' hex bolt that holds the buttstock and receiver together, and the "channel" that's cut in the stock is a bit slimmer, so it was off to Harbor Freight for a "long reach" hex key. Had to buy a whole set, but, in the Harbor Freight business model, it was still under $8, and I got 24 FREE "AA" batteries.

The outcome is a markedly different feel to hammer pull, and a much lighter trigger pull. Will see this coming week if I get light primer strikes or not. Will report back!
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BigAl52
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Re: Single Shot Hammer Spring Modification

Post by BigAl52 » Sun Aug 11, 2019 6:03 pm

Did you put the 38lb in the 357 then also or use the 31?
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Don't worry about getting older and still doing stupid stuff. You'll do the stupid stuff as always, only much slower. Hold my beer and watch this.......


H001T .22LR
H001T .22LR MONUMENT VALLEY
H003T PUMP .22LR
BBS .41 MAG
SS .357
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roddy
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Re: Single Shot Hammer Spring Modification

Post by roddy » Sun Aug 11, 2019 6:53 pm

Yornoc3 wrote:
Sat Aug 10, 2019 8:19 pm
For sure! Inquiring minds want to know. I've posted previously that my two early model ss rifles came with good triggers; I'd love to know if they used a lighter trigger spring to start, and had to ratchet up its strength to meet the SAAMI drop specs. Obviously, no one at Henry would ever say anything about that. There was a world of difference in trigger pull weight between my low 3 digit serial no. 45-70 and my recent 30-30 that I can't explain any other way, but then, I'm simply speculating ;) .
Interesting. The .45-70 I picked up is a fairly low production number (in the 100s) as well. Now I really need to find some cartridges (or a snapcap), and see if mine is similar. My inspection tag is dated Nov 30 2017, for reference.
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ESquared
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Re: Single Shot Hammer Spring Modification

Post by ESquared » Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:08 pm

BigAl52 wrote:
Sun Aug 11, 2019 6:03 pm
Did you put the 38lb in the 357 then also or use the 31?
Used the 38#er. Still very nice.
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BB Steel .357 | SGC 22LR | LR .308 | CCH 30-30 | BB Brass .45 Colt (Carbine) | Single Shot 20 gauge | Single Shot .223 | Single Shot 357

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JEBar
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Re: Single Shot Hammer Spring Modification

Post by JEBar » Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:56 pm

ESquared wrote:
Sun Aug 11, 2019 3:52 pm
The outcome is a markedly different feel to hammer pull, and a much lighter trigger pull. Will see this coming week if I get light primer strikes or not. Will report back!
looking forward to being able to see it in person .. :)
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Re: Single Shot Hammer Spring Modification

Post by Yornoc3 » Mon Aug 12, 2019 7:30 pm

roddy,

My 45-70 is right around 3.5 to 4 lbs trigger pull weight, and I don't find the hammer cocking resistance to be excessive, either. On the other hand, the new model .308 of my son-in law and my 30-30 both could be lifted by the trigger when cocked (with a snap cap in the chamber) without ""firing. That 'd be around 7lbs, I'd say more. Replacing the mainspring, leaving the smaller one in place, cured 'em both; they're now under 4lbs in trigger pull weight.
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