Howa Trigger

Hi all i have a very nice Howa mini .223 that i brought off Dreamer a while back, its a great little rifle except for the 2 stage trigger.
So i took it apart to have a look and try and come up with an idea to remove the first stage.
I noticed a roll pin just behind the trigger so my plan was to put a spacer between the pin and the back of the trigger, i first thought was to remove the roll pin and drill it out and replace it with a bigger dia one then i thought just put the bigger one over top like a sleeve.
I didn't have a roll pin but i did have a very small air tube at work, so i tapped out the pin and slipped a small piece of tube in and tapped the pin back in.
The yucky first stage creep was gone.
So I adjusted the trigger as lite as i could and reassembled the rifle.
Trigger is now nice and lite and no first stage.
I will remove the tube and fit the roll pin sleeve at so stage, just cause it will look a bit better.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...92e4bdceb9.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...70a3259497.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...f6554bde69.jpg

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In theory could you cut a slit in the air tube ? And just slip it over the pin instead of removing the pin.
Also what is the tube called ? What size it and where would one go about aquiring some ?

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Originally Posted by dannyb

In theory could you cut a slit in the air tube ? And just slip it over the pin instead of removing the pin.
Also what is the tube called ? What size it and where would one go about aquiring some ?

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I did try the split in the tube but after trying to get it around that bloody pin and loosing it about 4 times i found it easier to remove the pin which took all of 5 min job done.
The tube is a small air line off a machine at work i just cut a bit off. ( Don't tell the boss) i can measure it tomorrow but i would say 3-4 mm.

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Would’ve been a lot easier just to lighten the springs surely? Not come across a HACT trigger with creep before, but they can be a bit heavy. I’ve just reduced the second stage spring pressure with either an aftermarket spring or the bogan version, trimming it. Did one just the other day - caution shooter’s cliche alert - breaks like glass now.

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Originally Posted by Flyblown

Would’ve been a lot easier just to lighten the springs surely? Not come across a HACT trigger with creep before, but they can be a bit heavy. I’ve just reduced the second stage spring pressure with either an aftermarket spring or the bogan version, trimming it. Did one just the other day - caution shooter’s cliche alert - breaks like glass now.

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yup I've done the second stage mod and get a nice repeatable crisp 2lbs but i don't like the first stage at all it's not overly heavy or anything I just prefer a single stage trigger

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Originally Posted by 25/08IMP

( Don't tell the boss) i can measure it tomorrow but i would say 3-4 mm.

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O.D ? if I'm gonna do it I might as well do it with a roll pin sleeve and do it once :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Flyblown

Would’ve been a lot easier just to lighten the springs surely? Not come across a HACT trigger with creep before, but they can be a bit heavy. I’ve just reduced the second stage spring pressure with either an aftermarket spring or the bogan version, trimming it. Did one just the other day - caution shooter’s cliche alert - breaks like glass now.

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It's not to make it lighter it's just to get rid of the shitty 1st stage of slack

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Cool. The first stage slack and creep are obviously two different things so we might be misunderstanding each other.

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Originally Posted by Flyblown

Cool. The first stage slack and creep are obviously two different things so we might be misunderstanding each other.

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Yip they are my second stage is fine for creep and weight of pull just the first stage slack.

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funny thing,I can notice the two stage if REALLY concentrate...but in all honesty I find the trigger awesome... trigger isnt creepy at all...and anyone who thinks a howa trigger is crap..needs to use a SMLE for a bit..then go back and appreciate how good the howa one actually is. if bolt is uncocked or safety is on...trigger feels gritty..but come business time,the trigger is fine.

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Originally Posted by 25/08IMP

It's not to make it lighter it's just to get rid of the shitty 1st stage of slack

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Awesome i bloody hate that initial movement


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so just checking now that the rifle is back together, is it drop safe and all that

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Originally Posted by Bill999

so just checking now that the rifle is back together, is it drop safe and all that

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I only quickly put it together last night just to check trigger weight but hopefully tonight ill have time to check all those things.
I'll let you know but it should as it hasn't moved the sear ingaugement.

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I just gave the Howa a good old bump test well more of a thump on the ground and a heap of slam the bolt shut worked the safety and no issues i didn't weigh the trigger but now it has no 1st stage and a nice crisp light let off, happy as.

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I much prefer 2 stage triggers, like mickey says they concentrate you. I have a mini in 7,62 x39, the triggers fully ajustable and it breaks at 3 lb. Guess it's what your used to though.

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Originally Posted by Marty Henry

I much prefer 2 stage triggers, like mickey says they concentrate you. I have a mini in 7,62 x39, the triggers fully ajustable and it breaks at 3 lb. Guess it's what your used to though.

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Yeah it was very hard going from a superlight Sako trigger to a 2 stage one but like you say its just what im used too.

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Originally Posted by 25/08IMP

I just gave the Howa a good old bump test well more of a thump on the ground and a heap of slam the bolt shut worked the safety and no issues i didn't weigh the trigger but now it has no 1st stage and a nice crisp light let off, happy as.

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happy days, was the 3-4mm the O.D required for the roll pin sleeve ?

These triggers are easy to make very good. All I do is remove the springs for the first and second stage, throw the 2nd stage spring in my box of random springs, move the 1st stage spring to the second stage spot and snip a spring from a ballpoint pen down to about 5 or 6mm long and put that in for the 1st stage. You end up with an extremely light 1st stage that is barely noticeable and are able to dial the overall trigger weight to somewhere a little less than 1lb and have it still bump safe. Takes 5 min to do (or 10min if you have sausage fingers and eyesight like a pig)

Using the OPs air tube method, you could just use the 1st stage spring in the 2nd stage spot and not put anything at all in the 1st stage and you should have a light single stage trigger.

Personally I dont mind having a light 1st stage, I reckon it encourages good trigger technique.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

funny thing,I can notice the two stage if REALLY concentrate...but in all honesty I find the trigger awesome... trigger isnt creepy at all...and anyone who thinks a howa trigger is crap..needs to use a SMLE for a bit..then go back and appreciate how good the howa one actually is. if bolt is uncocked or safety is on...trigger feels gritty..but come business time,the trigger is fine.

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Depends on the age of the Howa though - the originals ( or before the HACT type triggers - now they were a pig!! ) I replaced that with a Timney only as I didnt have the skill nor tooling to make it the improvements it needed.

Having a HACT type trigger also on a later purchase, I did go the route of replacing the two springs in the trigger assembly, as unable to take it down under 3lbs (approx) pull. I used these guys - https://highvelocityhuntingaustralia...er-spring-kit/ - took 15 minutes to change over... What a difference!


I DID ask them to NOT state its intended use, but to put a generic description to bypass the fine mesh filter of customs.. ( cough )

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Originally Posted by Nasty Factory Trigger

Depends on the age of the Howa though - the originals ( or before the HACT type triggers - now they were a pig!! ) I replaced that with a Timney only as I didnt have the skill nor tooling to make it the improvements it needed.

Having a HACT type trigger also on a later purchase, I did go the route of replacing the two springs in the trigger assembly, as unable to take it down under 3lbs (approx) pull. I used these guys - https://highvelocityhuntingaustralia...er-spring-kit/ - took 15 minutes to change over... What a difference!


I DID ask them to NOT state its intended use, but to put a generic description to bypass the fine mesh filter of customs.. ( cough )

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I have uses the pre-hact trigger that gundoc on here had improved for a mutual firend and it was an a beautiful trigger
Id prefer it to be honest, no shitty long creep to find the second stage like this new lawyer trigger is

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Originally Posted by Bill999

I have uses the pre-hact trigger that gundoc on here had improved for a mutual firend and it was an a beautiful trigger
Id prefer it to be honest, no shitty long creep to find the second stage like this new lawyer trigger is

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The first stage of movement isn’t creep. Its take-up, or travel, and is fundamental to the concept of a 2-stage trigger.

Creep is a completely different and definitely undesirable! Creep can affect both single-stage and two-stage triggers.

The original Howa trigger was an old single stage design that could suffer horrible creep. That was replaced years ago by the HACT. The two-stage HACT trigger has very light first stage take-up, then you hit the “wall” of the increased second stage pull, then it breaks with zero creep. The aforementioned spring upgrades achieve really good hunting triggers at minimal cost/effort, a lot of experienced hunters prefer a lighter pull, usually because our hunting ranges are often a lot further than other territories.

I really like the 2 stage too. In particular the Savage trigger when its adjusted down. Its good for my mental process - take up the blade pressure, exhale and think "boy, now you're for it", and fire.

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Originally Posted by Tahr

I really like the 2 stage too. In particular the Savage trigger when its adjusted down. Its good for my mental process - take up the blade pressure, exhale and think "boy, now you're for it", and fire.

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Absolutely, if I can I'll replace with a 2 stage trigger. I feel that I'm in much better control.

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Nice mod if you like single stage I can shoot ether I really have no preference
As long as the break is clean with no creep im happy

Might have to single stage one of my howa’s and have a play

again you fellas need to go and use a SMLE that hasnt been mucked around with if you think a HOWA has creepy two stage trigger,the first stage seemed to be about 2" and then the 2nd was fine..... its all about trigger control no matter what system your rifle has. one thing I believe we can all agree on...triggers have come a long way forwards from 50 years ago...heck rifles in general have done so.

Interesting thread .
I have two Howa .223 rifles.
An old one that I replaced the factory single stage trigger with a Timney and a newer one with the two stage HACT ( has a replacement 1 1/2 pound spring )
I haven’t shot the HACT rifle for a month or two because I’ve been using the old gun , but last weekend I shot it because I’ve changed scope rings and needed to sight it in .
After the first couple of shots I literally said out loud “ shit that triggers nice “ .
I can’t explain why exactly, but at the moment I’m leaning towards the HACT as being better ( it is lighter than the Timney , so that might have something to do with it )
The two stage aspect doesn’t worry me at all , but I have shot and still own a few Two stage triggered rifles so it’s not new to me .