BSA 3-lever triggers (Royal, Hunter, etc.)

One of the triggers I cut my teeth on when I started professional gunsmithing more than 50 years ago was the 3-lever BSA trigger as found on the Royal, Viscount, Hunter, and early Majestic rifles, all of which feature the safety on the bolt shroud. Now a lot of these older (and high quality) BSA's are becoming popular for custom rifles and I am getting more and more enquiries on these old triggers so I though I would do a sketch to better explain how they work and how to adjust them. By modern standards they are fairly complex for a roll-away sear system, having 4 major components as compared to 2 in most modern triggers. As can be seen on the attached sketch pressure on the trigger (lever 1) moves the trigger lever (lever 2) to release the sear lever (lever 3) which allows the sear to drop, releasing the striker. The critical engagement area is the outer ends of the trigger lever and sear lever where they meet. The two engaging surfaces should have a smooth polish but be dead flat (no curves or rounded edges) with sharp edges. Stoning the surfaces to alter the angles is fraught with danger without specialised knowledge. The rigger can be adjusted for weight of pull, one or two pressures, and sear engagement. The trigger weight adjustment should not be adjusted until the lock screw at the rear of the trigger is slackened off, then small adjustments made to the weight screw, checking frequently by dry firing with a good accurate spring gauge. The ideal weight is between 2.5 - 3 pounds (1.2 -1.5 Kg). Once the desired weight is set then tighten the lock screw. The take-up screw can be slackened off to give a small amount of pre-travel (double pressure) for those that prefer it. The ideal setting is when the tail of the trigger just makes contact with sear lever which will also give a safe sear engagement. Over-tightening of the take-up screw will reduce the sear engagement which could cause the rifle to fire prematurely if the safety catch is disengaged. I do recommend that all trigger work is undertaken by skilled and knowledgeable gunsmiths, and hopefully this small contribution will help the younger ones of them become familiar with system. Note that if the mechanism is dissassembled then small slave pins are needed to install the trigger and sear levers with their springs attached. Go carefully and ask for help if needed!
Attachment 189974

I didnt know my BSA Majestic trigger was adjustable until recently. Dont need to change it though, as its got a nice let off. I have even more respect for these old rifles as I get older and have been through some of the modern offerings. I will take a Majestic fwt over a Tikka T3 any day.

Great information to share @gundoc , a fairly complicated trigger alright , but at the same time has been reliable in even NZ’s harsh conditions for a lot of people over many many years of use , thanks for posting this

Thanks for posting. Interesting that it carried over into the Majestics . . .

Thanks for your input, have had an odd trigger apart, surprising what you find in trigger weight spring "modifications"

and there is a BSA Viscount 7x57 on Retardme on the west coast for not bad money if anyone is inspired by this.

Well no wonder mine is giving grief. Someone has had a serious play in it's past and not assembled it correctly, with the trigger lever / pawl not positioned to pivot on the trigger lever pin. So instead of being penetrated by the pin it is behind the pin and the spring is gone ??? !. Just have to find a suitable spring and I might have one in a kids miniature clothes peg that is about 25 mm long with a little spring

Good article thanks.
I have an old BSA that I brought back in the 70's it was a 270 and came with a 308 barrel as well. I could never hit anything with the 270 and found out it was past its best by date so I had the 308 barrel put on by a smith in New Plymouth. Unfortunately he shared the end of the extractor off but he did weld it back together and I have shot many deer pigs and goats with. It has to be the most accurate rifle that I ever owned, When short on supplies I could shoot those quacking birds in the head at a 100m no problem at all and you could still eat them.
I no longer take the old girl out because the extractor has a crack in it where it was welded and don't want to risk it failing while on a trip. Would you happen to have a extractor for sale.
I'll try and post a photo of the bolt.
cheers.
Attachment 190013Attachment 190013

Attachment 190014
try this

Thats a new trick! He must have tried to unscrew the barrel while the bolt was in place. Unforgiveable!

I have a few bits and pieces for older BSA rifles here, including a couple of triggers. Just PM me and let me know what you need. Also have a Majestic extractor.

I know where a replacement extractor lives if you want one.

THAT is why this forum is such a good place,no matter the crap,folks willing to help others out makes life worth living.
good on you blokes...shout yourselves a beer.

Thanks for the help guys.
Friwi I have sent you a PM.

Wish I had seen this some 50 odd years ago.
The ignorance of youth.
Not much better now I'm afraid.
At least i didn't pull it to pieces . Just removed the trigger tension screw completely.
I think it's well under 2 1/2 lb
:o :o Magic. :)

A BIG THANKS to @gundoc and @garyp. This afternoon I reassembled the Hunter / Royal trigger and put the rifle back together in it's stock and it works just fine now.
Thanks to gundoc for the diagram posted here, without which I could not of got the trigger working as the 'Pawl' or 'trigger lever' was Not pivoting on the pin like it is supposed to, but was sitting behind the pin, and the spring was missing. Having it would seem been 'improved upon' at some point in the past
Thanks to garyp who kindly posted me a parts trigger which I cannibalized.

@gundoc any chance I could ship my trigger unit off to you for a clean out/polish up at all please?

cheers
Ants