OzFclass

G'Day Folks,

I use a Musgrave RSA 1982 vintage, according to the serial. I'd suggest that it's not seen too much work in its life.

While I know no better, other club members with deeper experience tell me my trigger pull is way too high. After a bit of fiddling around, it's some down to around 2.5 pounds (1.13 kg). I have to say 'about' because there's a variation of +/- .2 lb (90g) in a series of five tests.

Some questions for those with pretty good Musgrave knowledge:

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Is there a known alternate commercially available trigger group, which can easily be swapped over with the existing factory trigger?
What is the usual trigger pull range that the RSA should achieve?
Are there replacement springs that are commonly available for other makes that suit the standard factory trigger?
Are there any particular known 'tricks' to getting a RSA trigger to work smoothly and lightly?
[/list]

Might be a bit of a tall order asking details about a now obsolete action, but it's worth a shot.

Thanks for any guidance you might be able to offer.

Davies once made a trigger but they might be difficult to find now.

johnk wrote:Davies once made a trigger but they might be difficult to find now.

Thanks John, yes, the Fake Book page closed post 2018, so nothing to see there anymore. Dead end.

I saw a Barnard trigger fitted to a Musgrave action last week, absolutely fantastic.

Your gunsmith would need to mill the existing mounting off, lower the mounting face on the action and drill and tap for the Barnard mounting screw.

Bigfoot wrote:I saw a Barnard trigger fitted to a Musgrave action last week, absolutely fantastic.

Your gunsmith would need to mill the existing mounting off, lower the mounting face on the action and drill and tap for the Barnard mounting screw.

Aaah... there lies the major problem.

1. Find competent gunsmith within 50km radius.
2. Have gunsmith capable and free to do work in reasonable time (i.e. under 6 months)
3. Get gunsmith to actually carry out work, check it for serviceability and return in reasonable time (i.e. under 6 months!)

We're short on skill and capability in this space now. As for plumbers happy to screw in barrels - we're flush with them.

i use a musgrave with the trigger set to 500gms.
theres no reason yours can not be adjusted.

Beniah wrote:

Bigfoot wrote:I saw a Barnard trigger fitted to a Musgrave action last week, absolutely fantastic.

Your gunsmith would need to mill the existing mounting off, lower the mounting face on the action and drill and tap for the Barnard mounting screw.

Aaah... there lies the major problem.

1. Find competent gunsmith within 50km radius.
2. Have gunsmith capable and free to do work in reasonable time (i.e. under 6 months)
3. Get gunsmith to actually carry out work, check it for serviceability and return in reasonable time (i.e. under 6 months!)

We're short on skill and capability in this space now. As for plumbers happy to screw in barrels - we're flush with them.

The Barnard trigger option will work, but cost to modify the receiver to suit the Barnard trigger along with the cost of the trigger will surpass the value of the Muagrave action. I suggest that the most cost effective course for you is to find one of those nonexistent gunsmiths in your area and have the original trigger rebuilt.
Keith H.

KHGS wrote:The Barnard trigger option will work, but cost to modify the receiver to suit the Barnard trigger along with the cost of the trigger will surpass the value of the Muagrave action. I suggest that the most cost effective course for you is to find one of those nonexistent gunsmiths in your area and have the original trigger rebuilt.
Keith H.

That's a good point. The Musgrave, while functional and fit for purpose, is now obsolete. Disposal value is limited. Much like Omarks. A valuable insight, thanks.

How do I get any work done by a non-existent entity?

Looks like I'll have to do some careful disassembly and reassembly. Glad we have movie taking cameras now.

lonerider43 wrote:i use a musgrave with the trigger set to 500gms.
theres no reason yours can not be adjusted.

Thanks for your comment, Lonerider.

I've always been of the understanding that a statistical sample needs to be sufficient to represent a population. A magical number of 33 often is used in beginner statistics.

While your rig works fine, there's no reason to assume that mine has not been damaged, interfered with in the past or just happens to be poorly built. I recall reading the South African view of Musgraves is quite polarised. Some swear by them, the rest swear at them.

If you can get to 500g consistently then there's a fair way to go in refitting mine to get there. That's not just cleaning that's going to work, there's more mechanical matters that need work. At least it gives me a target outcome, and thanks for that.

I realize that light triggers are the magic bullet these days,however excellent shooting was done for years with 1.5 kg trigger pulls.

Ask keith Hills (khgs) nicely he may do it .....he is very good at his trade...

If you can stand to be without it for a while, I’d talk nicely to the master above , I’m sure you would be happy after that

lonerider43 wrote:i use a musgrave with the trigger set to 500gms.
theres no reason yours can not be adjusted.

There is actually, you are one of the lucky ones to get a std Musgrave trigger down to 500 grams "safely". The thing about Musgrave triggers is that some are "good", but many are not!! The trigger on these actions are quite variable in their quality and are often not retrievable. The Barnard trigger option is the best way to go now that the Davies option is gone, except for the cost factor and unless the rifle has sentimental value the Barnard option is not viable cost wise.
Keith H.

KHGS wrote:

lonerider43 wrote:i use a musgrave with the trigger set to 500gms.
theres no reason yours can not be adjusted.

There is actually, you are one of the lucky ones to get a std Musgrave trigger down to 500 grams "safely". The thing about Musgrave triggers is that some are "good", but many are not!! The trigger on these actions are quite variable in their quality and are often not retrievable. The Barnard trigger option is the best way to go now that the Davies option is gone, except for the cost factor and unless the rifle has sentimental value the Barnard option is not viable cost wise.
Keith H.

Thanks Keith, I can see where you are coming from. I'm no expert, but with my basic mechanical aptitude and a few hours fiddling around, I did conclude that 'near enough' was the best I was going to get without the result being dangerous. They are quite agricultural in comparison to some devices.

Thank you. An no disrespect to other opinions, just by observation, they don't conform to what was in front of me...

Beniah have you tried Trentech? He is also about the same distance from Belmont range as you, he does excellent work and I am sure you wont be waiting 6 months for a job like that.