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Taking the cz 457 Trigger to 2 lb

Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2020 4:09 pm
by pdeal
In messing with my cz 457 I found that the trigger won't adjust down to 2lb as it comes from the factory. I started messing with it and I found that to get the spring out a staked in pin. I did so, replaced the spring with one from Mcmaster carr (9657K613) and now it adjusts nicely to 2lb. I also made a pin with some "E" clips to replace the staked in pin and put a slightly longer screw for weight adjustment in.

I am contemplating making and selling a little kit with the parts for this but I have only tried the concept on my one rifle. If any Steel Chickens member needs to do this to their rifle send me a PM and I will send you the parts and some instructions (free). I'd like to see how it works out for a few other guns and to get a little feedback. I only made 8 of the pins for now.

Re: Taking the cz 457 Trigger to 2 lb

Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2020 7:26 pm
by acorneau
Cool, Neal.

If you need more guinea pigs... uh, customers to help out I'm sure you would get a bunch of responses over on RFC. There's a bunch of CZ folks over there and they love to tinker!

I've been sending everyone that asks about scope rings your way. Hope you're doing well and staying safe!

Re: Taking the cz 457 Trigger to 2 lb

Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2020 7:29 pm
by Sporty
Maybe the CZ 457 American that I had was an anomaly because I was able to get it down to a 1 lb 4 oz pull.

Re: Taking the cz 457 Trigger to 2 lb

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 8:19 am
by pdeal
Alan: I just thought it might best to post here. I don't want to give away a bunch and I think helping to develop a low cost hunter silhouette rifle is good for the sport.

Sporty: Thanks! That is interesting. Mine was nowhere close.

Re: Taking the cz 457 Trigger to 2 lb

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 6:50 pm
by Merlin
Mine came from the box at ~2#. I went the other direction with the trigger pull and did not try to get a 2# out of it but I "think" that with the trigger mating surface polished a little it would be a very nice trigger ...

Tried to do the light trigger thing and had no luck getting it below 23 oz. Backed the screw all the way out and cleaned the assembly with little/no improvement. Will try a re-spring next I guess. I hope to get about 8-10 oz if possible.

Today I clipped a coil on the factory spring and it dropped to 16 oz pull. While I had it apart I ran the terribly gouged up tool mark infested trigger mating surface over some 600 grit paper (all I had) enough to get most of the gouges out of it. It was really nice but still heaver than I wanted. Replaced the spring with a ball point spring cut to factory length and it dropped - off my scale.... I'm guessing about 3-4 oz but I'm not that good of a judge as I have never had a trigger this light. I dropped the gun on the butt pad several times from about 18" and it did not go off. Worked the bolt at my top speed a number of times with no slam fire.

What I learned so far.

BP Pen spring is lighter than I want.
Tool marks - really?
When "they" tell you to round the corners on the pin before reinsertion they are speaking the truth - pay attention.

Re: Taking the cz 457 Trigger to 2 lb

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2020 6:13 am
by pdeal
FYI- With the McMaster Carr spring part number I listed above are actually 2 other lighter springs that ought to fit if anyone wants to even lighter without stealing springs out of every gadget in the house.

I found it helpful to install a slightly longer pull weight adjustment screw to get a little more range of pull weight. I will include this also in my "kit"

Re: Taking the cz 457 Trigger to 2 lb

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2020 7:12 am
by ppkny
pedal,
I went through the trying to make a CZ trigger better. There are probably 10 kits out there right now that claim to do it. Here's one: https://www.mcarbo.com/cz-75-trigger-spring-kit.aspx
I've spent 30 years in metal working (tool/die maker/design/Eng.) and the basic design of the CZ trigger is flawed from the get go. It's a shame they put such a basic trigger in a gun that usually shoots great out the box. Timney makes a excellent drop in trigger assembly although their current price is a lot more than I paid for mine.
If you really want precision your not going to get it with their design no matter what you do.
ppkny

Re: Taking the cz 457 Trigger to 2 lb

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2020 9:08 am
by pdeal
Well I don't know. I think if they had put a real nice trigger on it then it wouldn't be a $450 rifle and would probably not sell nearly as well. The trigger is a whole lot better than the ones on my 452's since it does have pull weight, sear engagement, and over travel adjustment screws. I suspect much of what motivates trigger design on production rifles these days is the worry of law suits. With just a little messing around I got it to a pretty nice single stage 2+ lb trigger.

The link you posted is for a 75 trigger kit not the 457. Maybe I missed them but I have not seen too many 457 kits.

Re: Taking the cz 457 Trigger to 2 lb

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 8:53 pm
by K Danz
How did you get the spring out? Mine will not come up by gravity alone.
I have 2 457's. One American and the other an MTR.
I have 1 adjusted down to 18 OZ. The other won't go below 24 oz.
Per the specs from CZ, it's supposed to go to 8 oz.

Re: Taking the cz 457 Trigger to 2 lb

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 7:25 am
by DavidABQ
Another option would be to R&R the CZ with an Anschtuz 1712 or 1710.

Re: Taking the cz 457 Trigger to 2 lb

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 9:09 am
by acorneau
DavidABQ wrote: Sun Apr 19, 2020 7:25 am Another option would be to R&R the CZ with an Anschtuz 1712 or 1710.
Image

Re: Taking the cz 457 Trigger to 2 lb

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 9:28 am
by Merlin
McMaster Carr The top spring - #1 should get you to an easy and smooth 2# trigger. Polish the base/flat part of the trigger and it will be even smoother.

come in packs of 12 for 5.50 per pack. 2 packs of 12 cost me <20.00 delivered in about 3 days.

Image

Re: Taking the cz 457 Trigger to 2 lb

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 11:17 am
by DavidABQ
acorneau wrote: Sun Apr 19, 2020 9:09 am
DavidABQ wrote: Sun Apr 19, 2020 7:25 am Another option would be to R&R the CZ with an Anschtuz 1712 or 1710.
Image
Yeah, that seems about right. I guess that is the norm for me. :))

Re: Taking the cz 457 Trigger to 2 lb

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 7:00 pm
by Black_Talon
K Danz wrote: Sat Apr 18, 2020 8:53 pm How did you get the spring out? Mine will not come up by gravity alone.
You have to remove the trigger itself. That means removing the staked-in trigger pivot pin.

Re: Taking the cz 457 Trigger to 2 lb

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 5:50 pm
by pdeal
This is the pin that comes out:
Fig 1.JPG
Then pull the trigger blade out and you will see the spring that needs to be replaced:
Fig 2.JPG
Put back together with my little pin or you can put the staked pin back in. The other think I did was to install a longer pull weight screw. This is an M4x0.7 pointed set screw. The existing one is 8 or 10mm long. A 12mm long screw works a little better for the lighter springs.
Fig 3.JPG