Need help with Winchester 425 (Diana 25) three ball trigger.

[T-Higgs]

The rifle in question belongs to a friend of a friend. About 6 months ago, I took the gun apart to re-spring it and treat the leather seal. I reassembled the rifle and it was shooting great. Over Christmas, the owner was shooting with his grandchildren and the trigger broke. He texted me to see if I could replace it. I have found two triggers for the three ball trigger. One has one screw adjuster and the other has two adjustable screws in the trigger. Neither trigger look exactly like the pictures he sent to me. The Winchester has a plastic trigger with grooves in the blade. The one from chambers is metal and smooth.
  Does anyone know if the triggers are interchangeable? I’d love to repair the rifle for him. I do not have the rifle in my possession to dismantle and look at all pieces of the broken trigger.

  Thanks in advance,
    Higgs

[T-Higgs]

Here are the two I could find.

[MDriskill]

I had to scratch my head over these pics a bit, but the “one screw” trigger should do the trick.

A bit of explanation is in order:

- the late ball-sear trigger blade has a long adjuster screw, and a shorter screw that simply locks the adjuster in place.
- the “two screw” trigger you see in the photo is actually two parts, the trigger blade and sear, with both screws in place.
- the “one screw” trigger is actually the SAME trigger blade, but with the locking screw MISSING...I guess OEM ones are scarce these days? (If you zoom in close in Chambers’ photo, you can just see the hole for it.)
- I’m guessing the model 25D rifle in question, still has the sear in place. So you don’t need the “two screw” trigger/sear assembly unless you’re just dying to have the tiny locking screw (can probably source one of those elsewhere).

The plastic blade - not one of Diana’s better ideas! - replaced a very nice previous model made of solid alloy. The alloy blade had a locking screw which worked a bit differently from the later stamped blade. The plastic blade omitted the locking screw, because the friction of the adjuster screw against the plastic did the same job.

But I believe I’m correct in saying the sear and other parts of the trigger remained unchanged, so the later style blade should work.

[cobalt327]

Great info- thanks!

*SNIP* If you zoom in close in Chambers’ photo, you can just see the hole for it.*SNIP*

I took the liberty of enlarging it...

[MDriskill]

Just for grins, here is a photo to illustrate things. These guns are all model 27’s, which used the same trigger as the model 25D. Left to right, top to bottom:

- An example from the early 50’s. The trigger is solid alloy with a smooth face, note the adjuster and locking screws are nicely recessed into the blade.
- A somewhat later gun, same trigger but the blade face is now ribbed.
- The dreaded plastic trigger, gun from the early 60’s, note only one screw as the locking one is omitted.
- A 1980-vintage gun with the stamped trigger.

[T-Higgs]

Excellent! Great information MDriskill. I had a feeling you would be one to know this stuff and I appreciate your replying. The 425 owner will be relieved to know his rifle is repairable. He uses it to teach his grandkids to shoot and I can’t think of A better way to pass along our sport.
 
Kind regards,
Higgs

[T-Higgs]

Thank for the “blowup” cobalt327. Same exact trigger just without the second screw and yet it’s tapped for the screw.      Weird.