Trigger mod review/comparison

[Splash]

I will start with the first one I tried, a plastic short stroke insert, can't remember what its called from Rich in Mich.
 Received insert, read the inclosed instructions a few times and got started. Took the trigger apart and polished where the instructions said polish and started putting back together. I also lubed per inst. as I went, the whole process took about 1 1/2hrs. Now for the results.
I was quite pleased in some aspects, disapointed in others. It was alot lighter pull with a nice bump at 2nd stage, 1st stage was still way to long, but I said thats ok because it felt soo much better. I tried adjusting to take up some of the slack, but it was not possible, so I set it to where it was as good as it was going to get, which was ok. Now for the bad parts of this insert, after about 1500 shots it got to where sometimes it would fire at wil, not good at all. Took it apart a few times to see if maybe something shifted and it didn't. I tried to readjust and it would only get worse, so again I set it as good as it would get and was just extra careful. Now after about 3000 shots, it will go off at will about 1 out of every 25-30 shots, which makes for very unenjoyable shooting sessions. This one got put to the side until I could get it fixed, because it was nolonger any fun to shoot. If you have this type of trigger mod I would recomend taking it out, because it is DANGEROUS, after it is used for awhile. We do not need any accidents because of a bandaid, yes bandaid and like ALL bandaids they get old, worn out and need to be replaced. At $8 a piece they are cheap, but don't last long, so in a years time it would be exspencive to keep this mod working safely, if thats possible.
 Now for the replacement, granted I only have about 50 shots through it so far, so I will do an update when I get 2500-3000 shots through it.
 I was talking to Bob, about 2 weeks ago about him some grips. I said something about the insert going off at will and he said he would send me a trigger, along with his pistol, that I will be putting grips on. Read the instruction a few times and got started, installation could not have been easier, took longer to take the stock off, than it did to swap triggers. 1st shot surprized me I was exspecting the longer 1st stage that I was used to, it's not there, real short. Ok 2nd shot I was ready for the short 1st stage, eased the trigger back a slight bump and fire, I'm in love. Had rain approaching so I didn't set up a rest, but just by proping my elbow on my knee while seated I was getting better groups than before off a rest, on my target that is now at 50yrds instead of 30. Now like I said I only have about 50 shots right now, so I can not comment on durability, but common sence tells me it will be fine, plastic vs. metal, its a no brainer. Now if only the rain would stop so I can go shoot my once again enjoyable S1K.
To some it up there were 3 trigger mods that I looked at to start off with. The screw and nut whatever was out, because to me it looked like it would be to easy to have the nut be off just alittle and not work properly. The short stroke insert looked promising, because it is held in place by a pin, so it should be easier to line up and work right. Bob's GRT-III looked even better, but I'm cheap and had to learn the hard way. I wish that I had gotten Bob's trigger 1st, then I could have enjoied shooting the last few months, instead of wondering when my S1K is going to decide to go off. I will post an update when I get more shots through it. If you have an insert PLEASE remove it before someone gets hurt, or worse.
Thank you Bob for making shooting fun again, I just wish I would have gottin it sooner. :emoticon:
Mike, a once again happy shooter.
This is just my opinion, but it is from personal experience.

[daved]

Nice review, Mike.  I don't think you have anything to worry about, the GRT III in my old CFX had at least 5000 pellets on it before I gave it to my brother, and I know he's probably run another couple thousand through it since then.  It's never once fired at will.  Which reminds me, I need to order another one for my new .22 CFX, should be here tomorrow :-)!  Later.

Dave

[Splash]

Thanks Dave, I didn't think I would have a problem, like I said metal vs. plastic. :emoticon:
Mike

[Gene_SC]

Well Mike, thanks for this review.. My poppa always told me you get what you pay for.. Sure glad you did not get hurt or one of your children.. And I hope more people who have bought the insert trigger get to read this post of yours. Time always shows results. Probably eventually someone else will discover the same problem after they put a couple thousand shots through there Gamo..

Gene

[shadow]

Hmmm, I thought I had replied to your review already hmmm. Anyway Mike thank's for giving us the skinny on the two triggers and this will help the newbies to airgunning or anyone wanting to do trigger mod's, thank's again. Ed

[shadow]

I did reply......under the Gamo Gate hehe, my bad hehe. Ed

[Splash]

Gene, my dad always told me the same thing, but like I said, I'm cheap and alittle hard headed. :0  Nobody got hurt,thank God, but after it started happening I was EXTRA careful.  Sometimes it would fire when the safety was clicked off, sometimes by barely touching trigger,or halfway through the long 1st stage, was never consistant. I have been informed that I had it adjusted wrong, because he has had them in his rifles for over a year, with no problems, so it's my fault. :0  It was adjusted, readjusted and adjusted somemore, it was as good as it was going to get. The only thing that was my fault was being cheap. Evidently he does not shoot very much, but when he gets a couple thousand shots through it, he'll see and I hope no one gets hurt. I have asked Rich to kindly remove my 1st review of the insert from his site, because I no longer wish to help him promote a dangerous product. That hasn't happened,yet, but it has been deleted from where he got it. I'll give it a few more days and see what happens. You would think people would like to know about the pitfalls of an item, so it could be improved, guess some just look for the all mighty $. As I was told in an email, I now have a "shiney gold single stage trigger". I've never heard it called that, but you could call it mud for all I care, cause I'll take a SAFE anything over what I had. :p
Mike

[Big_Bill]

Hi Mike,

After I purchased my Gamo 890S, I was beside myself, it had the POOREST trigger that I have ever seen in my long shooting life. So I started calling around to see if there was a replacement trigger for the Gamo. None of the dealers in my area knew of anything that could help. So I contacted Gamo, and they said that If I feel that there is something wrong with my rifle, to send it back to them, and they would check it out. But, that the trigger would improve after 1000 or so firings ?

So I began to search the NET for information on a replacement or a fix for the trigger. Needless to say, the only thing that I found, was that bolt Mod., that didn't look like an improvement to me. So I continued shooting my Gamo as it was, it had very good accuracy, when I could hold the rifle steady until the rifle fired.

After time, and 2000 pellets, I felt that the Gamo trigger would not improve beyond what I already had. So I went back to the WEB, hoping now years later, someone had a better idea ! Well I found a post about Charlie, Bob and his trigger /sear that looked promising, and I found a post about the insert. Now being like you, Mike, I didn't want to spend the bank on this rifle, but after about 3 years of putting up with a bad trigger, I hardly ever fired my Gamo rifle. I read about both modification, and after 50 years of buying this and that, that were supposed to take care of the problem, I am very dubious of "FAST, CHEEP repairs, they usually don't work ! And with the Insert being made of plastic, I could see myself buying the insert made of plastic, and being unhappy with it, only to end up doing what I knew that I should have done in the first place. So I purchased the GRT-III trigger sear, hoping that I made the correct decision!

Well, after about 5 minutes, the time it took me to replace the trigger, I was in Air Gun Heaven, I had one of the best triggers that I ever had. Crisp andclean, very little over travel. Now I have had better triggers in my life, but they were on my Anschuts target rife and my Hammerli target pistol, so the GRT-III was a steal !

For ounce in my life, I made the right decision, the first time !

[Splash]

I have about 600-700 pellets through my S1K with the GRT-III and all is well, so far.  The trigger works beautifully, couldn't be happier.
Now for the interesting part of this update.
I got my inlaws rifle lastnight and installed the insert in it. I squeezed the blade together slightly and epoxied in place, so that it could not move, as before. Well, so far, about 200 rounds this morning, it has done the trick to fix it. So it would seem that if it can and does move, any at all, it will have the problems that I experienced before. Also with it not being able to move, the 1st stage is shorter than before. I don't know for sure if it is fixed, will keep you posted on how it goes. So far though, it would seem a good idea to epoxy, or perhaps drill a hole for another pin to hold in place, so that it can't move. Couldn't hurt and may save an accident.
Mike