Improving The Marlin 17VS Trigger

Around 2002, Marlin added the Model 17VS, a stainless steel, clip-fed, bolt-action rimfire rifle chambered for the .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire cartridge. The 17VS is well built, bedded in a laminated stock and features a 22inch heavy barrel with a 1:16 inch rifling twist pinned into a cylindrical receiver and measuring 0.800 at the muzzle. The bolt is of two-piece construction with a non-rotating front end. The squared, inner portion of the bolt handle serves as a locking lug.

The 17VS is an inherently accurate rifle but the trigger pull from From left, trigger with trigger spring and shoulder bolt with washer added; sear with spring and shoulder bolt and washers (added by author); and safety attached with same bolt used to retain sear. Any spring adjustment would require shortening or lengthening or replacement of existing springs with weaker or stronger ones. the factory is too hard at over four pounds.

The single-stage trigger and sear are attached to around, slotted post solidly anchored under the receiver. Both the trigger and sear are attached to the post with two 0.090 inch diameter threaded shoulder bolts. A very positive safety mechanism is bolted to the right side of the receiver preventing any trigger movement as the safety lever is moved rearward. The camming action of the safety prevents accidental trigger pull even at less than full safety lock.

Some safeties function only with full sear/trigger contact requiring complete sear-totrigger engagement. Therefore, I felt a pull weight around four pounds, lacking crispness and with a fair amount of creep, was far too heavy for a rifle with this accuracy potential. I looking into how to make an adjustment. My approach was to micro polish the trigger and sear surfaces to reduce the amount of trigger/sear engagement, thereby reducing trigger pull weight.

This was accomplished by placing a 0.010 inch shim on the trigger, which reduced the trigger/ sear engagement from 0.036 to 0.026 inch. Trigger pull weight tests using a temporary shim between trigger and sear reduced pull from nearly four pounds to one pound eight ounces. In the process of working with the trigger and sear, considerable lateral side play was noted in both. As a means of taking up this side play I placed a 0.008 inch washer on each side of the offending parts.

Made of hardened steel, it lends well to precise stoning and polishing. Above center: Close up picture showing trigger and sear engagement with spacer added before final fitting and polishing. The safety cams the lug on the trigger, giving the sear and trigger a firm engagement. Function felt much smoother as a result with much less lateral trigger movement. It is important that such added washers do not restrict trigger movement, thus preventing total sear/trigger engagement.

A permanent shim was then made from 0.010 inch thick shim stock and installed on the trigger. The shim was shaped to a right angle with one side interfaced between the trigger and sear and the other surface at the side of the trigger. The piece was then bonded to the trigger with J-B Cold Weld material. The essentially removable shim on the trigger makes it possible to return to factory settings should this ever be desired, however, it is highly unlikely this would ever be the case.

The trigger spring tension was left unchanged as was the sear spring. Limited adjustment of trigger pull force could also be made by changing the coil spring tension located at the back of the trigger. A small tube retains the coil spring that applies tension directly to the trigger. As measured, spring tension was just a few ounces, which would have negligible effect on trigger pull in this way. Final pull weight with the adjusted trigger is very uniform at one pound, eight ounces and safety function is positive.

Resultant accuracy of this The tab seen at the top of the trigger is part of the thin spacer used to reduce sear/trigger engagement. Such work is to be performed only by a skilled technician. Below center: Trigger pull weight was reduced from around four pounds to a very safe and crisp 1 1/2 pounds while still passing all tests for safety. While Remington, Hornady and Winchester are loaded with Hornady’s V-Max bullets, the CCI loading use full metal jacket bullets, an ideal projectile for edible game.

The rifle is equipped with an older 2.5-7x Redfield scope. The magazine has been shortened by a couple rounds for ease of carrying. The balance point was right at the magazine which dug into the hand. rifle at 25 and 50 yards is most excellent with the four brands of ammunition tested, as shown on the target pictures provided. 100-yard targets are also included, which are excellent. The Marlin 17VS rifle now proves to be an ideal hunting and target rifle with a much improved trigger.

Conclusions Through careful analysis of trigger function, trigger pull weight can often be improved on the commonly non-adjustable style trigger. Each rifle will require a careful study of its function to be sure it can be accomplished safely. This includes rifles like the Marlin 17VS bolt action with largely stamped-out parts. AG