I did some calling around today trying to find a gunsmith to adjust my Ruger M77VT' s trigger. I' d like to get the second stage down to about 1.5-2lbs with as little creep and overtravel as possible. I KNOW that the Ruger 2-stage target trigger is adjustable, only to have one ' smith tell me that there was nothing he could do with the trigger. This is after I made it clear to him that my rifle was a V/T model with the 2-stage trigger, so I think maybe that gunsmith is just an idiot.

The next smith I talked to, who works for a popular chain of retail sporting goods store whos name refers in part to a male goose, acted like he didn' t even WANT to work on my trigger. First he tells me that it' ll void my warranty, except that Ruger has NO written or stated warranty to void. Then he tells me that he' ll only adjust it down to a MINIMUM of 3lbs because it' s a " hunting rifle" . I try to explain to him that it' s going to be used for mostly benchrest shooting with some varminting and coyote hunting, which is done from a stationary setup and not while tromping around in the woods with a loaded rifle, so the lighter trigger isn' t a problem and is preferred for what I want it for. So then he asks me what cartridge it' s chambered for, so I tell him it' s a 22-250. He then tells me that the 22-250 is ONLY a hunting cartridge, and if I had a 6mm BR or 22PPC he' d be willing to take it as low as I wanted because they are " target" rounds. As if no one in their right mind would dare shoot a coyote or prarie dog with a 6mm BR, or punch paper with a 22-250!

On top of it all, he tells me that he charges a MINIMUM of $50 to adjust a trigger, which involves removing the receiver from the stock, tweeking three little screws, and reassembling the receiver and stock. There is no major disassembly, grinding, or polishing involved, just three little screws, yet he' s quoting me a minimum of $15 above what seems to be the going rate for basic trigger work.

So what I' m getting at is, is this guy stupid and paranoid, or is this crap the norm for gunsmiths? This will be the first time I' ve ever needed the services of a gunsmith, but if this guys attitude is the norm I' ll just live with the trigger the way it is, as there is NO way I' m letting him work on my rifle.

Hopefully I' m able to reach another gunsmith tomorrow who' ll be better than this guy. There just aren' t that many smiths in my area to choose from.

Mike