S&W 79G Trigger Work and Seals - How difficult?

[SpringerGuy]

Hey Guys,

I am considering re-sealing my 79G. Not sure if I am the right man for the job. I watched a few Youtube videos - everything looks easy on the videos. I tried to re-seal my Crosman 150 and I succeeded after the 12th attempt. So, could someone who has re-sealed a 79G explain the level of difficulty and possible problems to me, also, my trigger is non-adjustable, and the pull is long, slow, and heavy. Can I install an adjustable trigger? If I can't install an adjustable trigger, is there any way, I can lighten the trigger pull somehow? Pics below show it's a pretty clean pistol with a few small nicks.
I have only been seriously collecting and/or repairing vintage air pistols for 18 months. I do not have much experience, but I am trying to learn. Thank you for any suggestions or guidance you wish to provide about your S&W 79G experiences. Thanks!
Kindest Regards
Randy

[buellm2]

Just bought a 79G so I'll be following.

[bantam5s]

They're extremely easy in my opinion,  I had absolutely zero issues that I can recall.

[Swissairgun]

Had no issue to replace the seals on my 79G. The little one in the piercing cap is a fiddle as the split pin can be tricky to remove. I replaced the poppet valve on mine too. Works a treat!
Cannot comment on whether the trigger can be made adjustable.

[eeler1]

Reaching deep into the memory banks, seems the adjustable triggers had problems with firing unexpectedly,  hence the switch to non-adjustable?  You might try different springs if the weight is what you don't like, and/or an over-travel stop.  Mike Baker here on the GTA (posts as 'Mike Baker') could probably help with getting you the correct seals and poppet.

[buellm2]

I picked up my S&W 79G this morning.   It's in like new unfired condition in original box with factory paperwork.  As soon as I got it home I loaded up a CO2 cartridge and it all seems to be working OK.  We'll see if it holds pressure overnight.   The one glitch is the trigger is heavy and rough.   The trigger on my 78G is much better but still not wonderful.  My first thought was, I can clean up and lighten the trigger.  But maybe it would be a mistake to take it apart because it's in such perfect condition.

[buellm2]

My 79G did not hold pressure overnight so I will be installing new seals.  Probably take a look at the trigger and see if I can make it a bit lighter pull and less gritty.

[bantam5s]

My 79G did not hold pressure overnight so I will be installing new seals.  Probably take a look at the trigger and see if I can make it a bit lighter pull and less gritty.

I lightened the pull weight on mine.
I believe I just clipped a coil or two off the spring.

[bantam5s]

I was just shooting my 79g today.


If I remember correctly, I removed a coil or two from the trigger spring and I lubed it.
It's not terribly light , but the pull isn't too long, and it's relatively smooth.

[buellm2]

This will be a good winter project for me although I suspect it will be an easy fix.

[78gCollector]

The Smith pistols are pretty easy to reseal, and there are some great videos on Youtube that demonstrate the process.  The most difficult part of the rebuild is getting the sleeve retaining screw (located under the barrel at the front of the pistol) out of the slide, and then removing the sleeve it holds in place.  This is required to separate the halves of the pistol.  Sometimes that screw comes right out, and other times it's pretty firmly in place.  Once the screw is removed, it can be difficult to get the sleeve out.  I use the plastic part of a green concrete anchor as shown in the attached picture to help with this process and it usually does the trick.  On pistols that have rust and corrosion this can be an impossible task.  Luckily, yours looks lie it's in nice shape.

The only special tool required can be made by applying a Dremel to a standard tipped bit.  This tool is used to disassemble the piercing cap to replace the small o-ring inside.

Adjustable triggers were only installed on pistols with SNs below about 44,000 and don't usually show up for sale unless you buy an early pistol for parts.  Replacing/modifying the trigger spring and cleaning up contact points may get you what you're looking for.

[buellm2]

I pulled out the piercing assembly from the 79G and there was a visible crack in the O-ring which crumbled when I fiddled with it.  I took out the piercing assembly from the 78G and swapped them around.   If I'm lucky it will still be holding pressure in a few days.  Probably have a close enough seal in one of my O ring kits.

[78gCollector]

I pulled out the piercing assembly from the 79G and there was a visible crack in the O-ring which crumbled when I fiddled with it.  I took out the piercing assembly from the 78G and swapped them around.   If I'm lucky it will still be holding pressure in a few days.  Probably have a close enough seal in one of my O ring kits.

If that big o-ring on the piercing assembly crumbled, the ones in the pistol are most likely original, and will probably fail very soon if you're keeping it pressurized and shooting it.  Best to just throw in the towel and order a seal kit now so it's ready to go when the old ones give out!

[buellm2]

I pulled out the piercing assembly from the 79G and there was a visible crack in the O-ring which crumbled when I fiddled with it.  I took out the piercing assembly from the 78G and swapped them around.   If I'm lucky it will still be holding pressure in a few days.  Probably have a close enough seal in one of my O ring kits.

If that big o-ring on the piercing assembly crumbled, the ones in the pistol are most likely original, and will probably fail very soon if you're keeping it pressurized and shooting it.  Best to just throw in the towel and order a seal kit now so it's ready to go when the old ones give out!

Yes, I'll soon be ordering new seals.   I'll have to take the 79G all apart to look at the terrible trigger anyways.

[78gCollector]

Yes, I'll soon be ordering new seals.   I'll have to take the 79G all apart to look at the terrible trigger anyways.

It could be worse.  A small percentage of Smith pistols were sent in to Daisy under a 1983 trigger recall.  The new and improved trigger was modified to make it "drop safe" because the Smith pistols and their Daisy copies (780, 790) could fire a pellet if cocked and dropped in several very specific ways.  Under the recall, Daisy added a two-piece hammer with a disconnector and increased the trigger pull to about 2.5x the normal 3ish pounds on 78/79g.  These pop up for sale every once in a while, and the buyer/owner generally has no idea what they've got!  Don't worry, though.  Yours does not have this modification.

[SpringerGuy]

Paul

I have one of the Daisys the trigger is terrible so the gun is really terrible.  Inexperience with this Daisy model lead to the purchase.  My air pistol has the "D" stamped on it.  D for dumb enough to buy it.    I collect Hy-score, Accles & Shellvoke, and Healthways but no Daisys. 

An old friend gave me a 78G.  After finding out how enjoyable the 78G was to shoot I started buying them (78 & 79Gs) when price and condition met my standards.  Wonderful air pistols similiar to my Crosman MK1 & MK2.

Thank you for sharing your experience. 

[eeler1]

I've got a Daisy 790 that has a piercing assembly off of a Crosman Mk1.  Same threads, but it doesn't quite work as the Cros is a bit shorter overall.  If anyone has a Daisy 780/790 or SW 78/79g, PM me.  Ideally somebody who needs a Cros Mk1 piercing assembly.  Otherwise I'll have to figure out how to space what I've got to make it work.

[78gCollector]

Paul

I have one of the Daisys the trigger is terrible so the gun is really terrible.  Inexperience with this Daisy model lead to the purchase.  My air pistol has the "D" stamped on it.  D for dumb enough to buy it.    I collect Hy-score, Accles & Shellvoke, and Healthways but no Daisys. 

An old friend gave me a 78G.  After finding out how enjoyable the 78G was to shoot I started buying them (78 & 79Gs) when price and condition met my standards.  Wonderful air pistols similiar to my Crosman MK1 & MK2.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

The Daisy pistols went through a series of changes from 1981 through 1984.  The earliest of them were made using Smith parts, and are identical other than the markings.  Throughout 1981 a series of small changes were made, but they were pretty close to 78/79gs.  In '82 Daisy started to incorporate more plastic parts, changing over the sight assembly, bolt, and power adjustment to all plastic designs.  The plastic bolt is no where near as smooth as the earlier metal ones!  Then, in the summer of 1982, Daisy began installing drop safe triggers in all of its 780s and 790s - and eventually the model 41.  Comparing an early 790 to a late 790 is like looking at two similar but very different pistols!

The addiction for me started with finding and resealing the 78g my dad bought back in '76.  That led to another and another, and so on.  I now have a pile of Smith and Daisy pistols!

Here are pics of a 78g and 79g in my collection that are only about 2k off in serial numbers.  The 78g has been modified with the drop safe trigger while the 79g is factory.  Daisy marked the bottom of the grip on pistols when the recall was performed, and after June 1982 all 780s and 790s came from the factory with the D on the handle and trigger installed.

[KWK]

Paul

I have one of the Daisys the trigger is terrible so the gun is really terrible.  Inexperience with this Daisy model lead to the purchase.  My air pistol has the "D" stamped on it.  D for dumb enough to buy it.    I collect Hy-score, Accles & Shellvoke, and Healthways but no Daisys. 

An old friend gave me a 78G.  After finding out how enjoyable the 78G was to shoot I started buying them (78 & 79Gs) when price and condition met my standards.  Wonderful air pistols similiar to my Crosman MK1 & MK2.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Hey, you have to be careful with the Crosmans too. Some of the Mk1's and Mk2's don't have an adjustable trigger either

[buellm2]

The piercing assembly O-ring seems to have done the trick.   The 79G is still holding pressure after 48 hours.  Still ordering a complete reseal kit.   Should I replace the valve stem while the gun is apart?