Trigger settings?

[Oldbear]

I have a recently purchased AV/IZZY 46M. My own pistol was a discounted "reconditioned" or returned gun, but apparently the reconditioning missed loose and missing screws and I don't know what might have been done to the trigger.

I like the trigger, it is crisp and light, but there is no first or second stage, creep or other qualities that can be adjusted in and I am a beginner and am reluctant to make any changes.

There are no other 10M shooters or coaches in my area (southern California) that I can find to compare triggers with.

Can someone point me to a good descrition of what a quality competition trigger should feel like?

[toddinjax]

The owners manual has text and pictures of trigger adjusting screws. Perhaps someone here will be hind enough to scan their copy to send you. I currently have a non functioning printer.
Maybe post a wanted request in the buy, sell, trade sub forum.

[Gwhite]

Our host has info on a wide range of pistols. Here's the entry for the IZH-46:

http://www.pilkguns.com/tenp/spizh46.htm

Unfortunately, the link for the diagram is busted. Here's a file I have that should help:

How to adjust IZH46 Trigger Instructions.pdf

(426.56 KiB) Downloaded 122 times

[-TT-]

My AV-46M trigger was similarly odd when received, brand new. I don't think they do a lot of fine-tuning in the factory or elsewhere. The sear engagement was minimal and it therefore had a hair-trigger.

You say screws were missing - that's ominous. Which screws, exactly? What did you replace them with, they're each pretty "special".

[Oldbear]

The handle was missing its attachment screw, which coincidentally was the same as a Shimano SPD pedal screw. The front sight block was falling off! Even the front sight attachment screw was loose. Actually I was grateful, as I got a $50 discount just for snugging down a few screws.
The front sight is exactly the width as the 10 M target and there is a pleasant amount of white beside it, so the factory probably sent out its best guess which I like. I just wish I knew what they recommended for the trigger settings.

Mind you, I am not compalining about the trigger. I just started shooting in the 80s!

[Oldbear]

Our host has info on a wide range of pistols. Here's the entry for the IZH-46:

http://www.pilkguns.com/tenp/spizh46.htm

Unfortunately, the link for the diagram is busted. Here's a file I have that should help:

How to adjust IZH46 Trigger Instructions.pdf

This is what I was looking for!

What would an experienced shooter recommend for 1st stage (creep?)? I cannot detect any creep now, just a crisp trigger.

How light should I go? Minimum of 530 g? Heavier?

[Gwhite]

The length of the various stages is entirely a personal preference. 530 grams is a safe number if you ever go to a competition where they weight test the triggers.

I haven't had time to investigate, but there is a small difference between using a gauge (like a Lyman digital gauge, which I highly recommend), and lifting a fixed weight (which is the official test). The gauge is great for determining the weights of the different stages. However, there's something going on such that the gauge reads lower than the weight test would indicate for the actual "let off" weight.

I have three Lyman gauges that I have checked against precision calibration weights, and all three were within 0.1 oz. (~ 3 grams). A .22 pistol that will easily lift a 1 kg weight measured at or just below 1 kg with the gauge. I got readings as low as 985 grams. At least if you get a safe trigger with the gauge, the weight test will apparently always have even more margin.

[-TT-]

The handle was missing its attachment screw, which coincidentally was the same as a Shimano SPD pedal screw.

Interesting. Mine has two screws, together on the left side. They pass through a metal reinforcement plate. I was worried yours might have been missing one or more of the trigger adjusting screws. As background, have you seen this thread: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=63084

You mention "first stage" as a synonym for "creep", those aren't always the same thing. The second stage adds creep, too. In the instructions GWhite posted, these are called "preliminary creep" (first stage length) and "final creep" (second stage length). In my gun as delivered, the second stage was incredibly short. The only adjustment I made (I think!) was to adjust screw B. The trigger remained at about 500g overall, but the total length became longer with the second stage becoming perceptible instead of being an instantaneous wall. Weight-wise, the first stage is about half, the second is the other half.