Trigger job on my Remington 581

PaulS · Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 5:18 pm Post subject: Trigger job on my Remington 581

It is my intention to:
1. convert the single spring that does double duty as trigger return and sear engagement spring into two separate springs.

2. smooth the trigger pull to reduce friction

3. eliminate the creep and over-travel

4. reduce the pull to as close to four pounds as I can.

If you have any advice it would be welcome.
There are no after-market triggers available. Parts are hard to find and expensive. I will have to make / modify springs for my use. I will have to find where to put limit screws for engagement and over-travel.

If it all goes well it should be a fun project. If I mess it up I could be in the market for a new 22 target rifle.

Ominivision1

Paul

Going by memory, wasn't the 581 an elite version of the Rem 541? I'm going off by memory on this one and if I remember right the trigger parts will exchange between the two models.

Pumpkinslinger

From another forum I visit:

www.carolinashooterscl...ington-581

PaulS

The 581 was the cheap step-child of the 541 but it came in four models. In my searches I found one I had never heard of. The "S" model (which I have) or "sporter", then the "M" or match model, T or youth model and the SB - "Smooth Bore?? model??????

Thats what the listing said - smooth bore.

A lot of the 541 parts fit; magazines, triggers and other parts but the sad part is there are very few parts available other than magazines. I found a trigger and a trigger spring but no trigger assemblies.

On the flip side I pulled the trigger assembly out of my rifle today and performed a diagnostic survey to see what I could find.

My trigger/sear spring has been cut - and it was a hack job. I used a fine grinder to turn the cut coil back onto the next so it would fit flush instead of trying to slip off the side. I found a burr on the trigger that was causing the scratchy creep and stoned it smooth. I also stoned the sides of the trigger and sear to clean the surfaces a bit. I stoned the sear just to see that the angles were good and made full contact and found a small burr that I had missed when looking it over. I decided to use a jewelers file on the inside of the trigger housing to clean the burrs from it and cleaned all the dirt and oil residue from years before I got it. Then I used some 600 grit emery paper, a granite slab and solvent to smooth the outside of the trigger housing. I cleaned it all up and lubed the parts and then reassembled it. The trigger went from a scatchy 7.5 pound pull to a clean crisp 4.5 pound trigger with no creep and about 0.060" of over-travel which I will correct with a screw through the trigger guard at a later date.
I am amazed that the little bit of work that I did made such a difference. I still want to replace the single spring with two separated with a pin through the housing and now I think I know where everything will fit. I have recorded the spring diameter and overall length so I can figure out what I need to get. I can't put the over-travel screw on the inside because the bolt stop is in the way - so that will be visible but I might be able to put an engagement screw on the inside and play with that but there is an amazingly small amount of engagement to play with so it might not get done.

The next time I pull it apart I am going to make detailed drawings of each piece (all six of them) so I can duplicate them or maybe make something even better to replace it all with. (you never know)

Pumpkinslinger

Sounds good Paul! I was wondering how much difference a good cleaning and some simple polishing might do. Amazing what a stone and some oil can do to improve a trigger.

Elvis

sounds like you have it sorted.....no excuses at the range now...cant blame the trigger..lol

MacD

I just sold a Marlin bolt action to a fellow in. 308 win. I put in a dummy round to let him dry fire it. It fired unexpectedly and he was concerned that something was wrong with the trigger. I explained that it had an adjustable trigger and that I had it set for about 4#'s. Up to then, the only rifle he had ever fired was a Mark 4 Lee -Enfield. Having cut my rifle shooting teeth on the same rifle I know he is going to wonder how he ever hit anything with the dismal military trigger on a Lee-Enfield.

Good to hear you found and fixed the problem.

PaulS

thanks guys. I am not done yet but I am going to try it with the trigger as is for now. I think it will be fine if my dry firing tests are any indication.

PaulS

Well I increased the number of targets knocked over --- by one after missing four "easy" targets, two each of the chickens and pigs. I got 6 turkeys and then only three rams. That gave me a total of 25 of 40 targets down. I'm still shooting in AA but I can see jumping into the AAA class soon. I just have to "kill" 29 targets twice to get into AAA. The trigger was very different - light crisp and it surprised me, firing earlier than I was used to so I will practice more. Our next shoot is Tuesday and after that it will be once a month on the second Saturday. That will give me more time to practice between meets.
My son brought me my own steel targets today as a birthday present.

moose2

I had a 581 for many years till I gave it to my son. It always served me well and was very dependable. The trigger did suck though, but I managed to shoot it Ok inspite of it. Enjoy yours. Very Happy

PaulS

The shoot today (Tuesday) was cancelled because they are all a bunch of wusses! What harm could a thunder shower be while standing on a plateau 1000 feet above sea level shooting a gun? I just don't understand.

Now I have to practice until the second Saturday in October before the next match. Maybe I'll take my new targets out to practice with...... I wonder if the lightning will still be there tomorrow......