Home Blog  
Education / Training Crosman’s fabulous trigger!

Crosman’s fabulous trigger!

by B.B. Pelletier

When you think of great airgun triggers, Crosman is probably not the first company that comes to mind. But, are you aware that they designed a trigger that for many years was one of the top target triggers around? Probably not, because this trigger was found on their model 160/167 target rifle that came out during the period CO2 powerlets were suffering. All the CO2 guns made from 1955 through the late 1960s suffered from leaks, so CO2 got a bad rap and CO2 guns were largely ignored. Which is why in the 1990s airgunners everywhere began discovering what wonderful guns they had ignored, and none more than the 160.

The 160 trigger is adjustable
I addressed the Crosman 160 when I reported on the QB 78, so read that report to catch up on the rifle. Today, I want to look at just the trigger. It’s adjustable for pull weight, sear engagement and has a trigger stop.

Do NOT disassemble any part of your gun unless you are 100% positive that you can put it back together again!

It came from a crossbow!
When I read Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey’s excellent book, The Crossbow, first published in 1903, I was stunned to see the ancestor of the Crosman 160 trigger in a military crossbow of the 1400s. The trigger is based on a rotating sear called a nut. Back then the nut was made from animal horn, and hundreds, if not thousands, have survived to this day. Crosman used steel or sintered iron – I can’t tell which.

10_11_07_crossbow_trigger
From Payne-Gallwey’s famous crossbow book, this illustration of the trigger nut illustrates how a vintage crossbow trigger works.

Getting to the trigger requires disassembly
To get to the trigger, you must first remove the action from the stock. The safety switch has to be taken out and the single-action nut removed and then the action and stock separate easily.

Once the rifle’s action is out of the stock, two trigger sideplate screws can be removed. This exposes the internals of the trigger. If you have an original Crosman trigger, there will probably be iron filings inside the trigger box. Brush them out before proceeding. The QB triggers don’t seem to have this problem.

10_11_07_Crosman_160_trigge
Crosman’s 160 trigger (a QB 79 target trigger clone is shown) has the same rotating sear as the crossbow trigger. The dark half-round part at the upper right holds the hammer until the trigger releases it to rotate out of the way.

All adjustments appear in the picture
Pay attention to that trigger picture. See the two small screws coming in from the upper left side? The top one adjusts the amount of sear contact area. The bottom one is the trigger overtravel stop. The spring at the bottom is the trigger-return-spring adjustment that also regulates the weight of the trigger pull. The trigger shown is a modern copy of a 160 trigger from a QB 79 target rifle, and the first stage is built into the trigger blade, which is spring-loaded to move back and then stop as your trigger finger tightens.

The large pin with a spring around it at the right is the safety mechanism. The safety lever had to be removed to get the action out of the stock. Even with the sideplate off and the internals exposed like this, the trigger can still be cocked and adjusted, which makes your job much easier. However, it is not necessary to remove the sideplate to adjust the trigger.

Adjusting the 160’s trigger
I adjust the sear contact first, leaving plenty of contact area. The sear responds well to lubrication, so you can have a good amount of sear contact for safety’s sake. After adjusting the sear, I set the overtravel stop. It’s possible to adjust this trigger so it will not cock and also so it cannot be fired after being cocked, so keep testing it as you go. The trigger-return spring is adjusted last, then the trigger is lubricated.

I lube the sear contact area with Beeman M-2-M moly grease. People used to warn that moly is too slippery for trigger lubrication, but that warning has faded today. After that, a drop of FP-10 goes on the sear pins on both sides of the sear so it can turn freely. The job is now done, and you can put the gun back together.

With lubrication and proper adjustment, you can get a safe trigger-pull in the 1-lb. range. It will go even lighter, but I think that’s flirting with disaster.

If you own a 160/167 or a 180/187 with this trigger and you’ve never adjusted it, give it a try! You might be pleasantly surprised.

author avatar
Tom Gaylord (B.B. Pelletier)
Tom Gaylord, also known as B.B. Pelletier, provides expert insights to airgunners all over the world on behalf of Pyramyd AIR. He has earned the title The Godfather of Airguns™ for his contributions to the industry, spending many years with AirForce Airguns and starting magazines dedicated to the sport such as Airgun Illustrated.

29 thoughts on “Crosman’s fabulous trigger!”

  1. B.B. In the past have you done a article on the Rekord (sp?) trigger? I own a Weirauch (sp?) (Beeman import) RX-1 with a rekord trigger. I’m looking to learn more about this trigger.

  2. BB

    with your many years of airgun and firearm experience you must have had or seen countless funny and interesting things. Have you ever shot yourself? Seen someone do so? While that may sound gory, these kind of stories told in the right fashion can help others avoid such situations. It would be great to hear a few of your funny/sad/careless moments that only experience gives. Maybe a blog…..?

    Paul

  3. BB,
    Do you know of any quality airguns with electronic triggers? I know that’s probably a taboo word since batteries don’t tend to mix well with anything but childrens’ toys. I’m aware of plinking CO2 guns like the Drozd, but that’s not meant for accuracy.

    I’ve been thinking about some “what ifs,” like a quality PCP air rifle used an electronic trigger. Theoretically it could be far more adjustable than a mechanical one, no? Imagine a 1 ounce trigger pull.

    -Alan D.

  4. alan,

    i have an airwolf that i love!

    I dont think bb needs his imagination to feel a 1 ounce trigger, he would need his finger to feel a 1 ounce trigger. Maybe his feet to walk and get one of his match guns! There is much more that goes into a trigger that makes it good. I would say that some 2lb triggers are better than some 1 pound triggers!

    -sumo

  5. Alan D.

    There are several target airguns with electronic triggers and, no, they are not better. While air pistols have to have a 500 gram trigger, and they are the ones with the electronic triggers, one ounce is HEAVY for a target trigger on an air rifle. They can get down to 20 grams or less.

    B.B.

  6. I can’t debate the question of whether or not other triggers may be better, but the trigger on my FWB90 is pretty darned good. Certainly the best trigger in my collection, air or powder.

  7. Enjoying reading past posts, saw a mention of using old blue Beeman laser seal in an R1 with a lighter weight mainspring to get 200 fps more .177. Could you elaborate on that a bit, and comment on accuracy etc? And where is this done?
    Also, saw a mention of a Venom Mag80 Laza tune, same question?
    THANKS

  8. R1 Laser tune,

    Beeman used to offer a Laser tune as an option for the R1. It involved a different mainspring that was less powerful (had less spring rate) than the factory spring but more coils (of thinner wire, I believe). As a result, it pushed the piston faster than the factory spring. A special blue piston seal that had to be fitted to the rifle by hand gave superior sealing, and special Laser Lube was used on it.

    The Venomacx Mag80 Laza kit tune was different. It had a stroked piston (shorter, so it could go back farther) a larger, more powerful mainspring, covered with a black substance Tom Gaylord called “black tar” (hence the name many use today, six synthetic buttons around the piston to relieve friction and a special piston seal. That kit was really remarkable, in that the rifle went from 17.5 foot-pounds up to about 23 foot-pounds, yet it felt like a smooth R7 when it fired. It was the smoothest R1 tune ever. Also now long gone, I believe.

    B.B.

  9. Did Beeman ever make a 2-7×32 AO air rifle scope? I think I might have on e on an air rifle I purchased, a BSA Supersport. No marks on exterior of scope of any kind, but saw an ad for the Beeman SS1000 that appears to have a scope very much like this.

    [IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/jrguerra/Air%20Firearms/WebleySupersportright.jpg[/IMG]

    Thanks in advance for the help.

  10. Savagesam,

    That’s easy. A Rekord has a large aluminum screw that hangs down behind the trigger blade. If your trigger has that screw, it’s a Rekord. If not, it’s something else.

    Look at the drawing you sent to me and you’ll see the screw I mean. Then look at every Weihreuch rifle and you will see it – except on the HW 90 (gas spring) and certail smaller rifles like some of the 30s.

    B.B.

Leave a Comment

Buy With Confidence

  • Free Shipping

    Get FREE shipping on qualifying orders! Any order $150+ with a shipping address in the contiguous US will receive the option for free ground shipping on items sold & shipped by Pyramyd AIR during checkout. Certain restrictions apply.

    Free shipping may not be combined with a coupon unless stated otherwise.

    View Shipping Info

  • Shipping Time Frame

    We work hard to get all orders placed by 12 pm EST out the door within 24 hours on weekdays because we know how excited you are to receive your order. Weekends and holiday shipping times will vary.

    During busy holidays, we step our efforts to ship all orders as fast as possible, but you may experience an additional 1-2 day delay before your order ships. This may also happen if you change your order during processing.

    View Shipping Times

  • Shipping Restrictions

    It's important to know that due to state and local laws, there are certain restrictions for various products. It's up to you to research and comply with the laws in your state, county, and city. If you live in a state or city where air guns are treated as firearms you may be able to take advantage of our FFL special program.

    U.S. federal law requires that all airsoft guns are sold with a 1/4-inch blaze orange muzzle or an orange flash hider to avoid the guns being mistaken for firearms.

    View Shipping Restrictions

  • Expert Service and Repair

    Get the most out of your equipment when you work with the expert technicians at Pyramyd AIR. With over 25 years of combined experience, we offer a range of comprehensive in-house services tailored to kickstart your next adventure.

    If you're picking up a new air gun, our team can test and tune the equipment before it leaves the warehouse. We can even set up an optic or other equipment so you can get out shooting without the hassle. For bowhunters, our certified master bow technicians provide services such as assembly, optics zeroing, and full equipment setup, which can maximize the potential of your purchase.

    By leveraging our expertise and precision, we ensure that your equipment is finely tuned to meet your specific needs and get you ready for your outdoor pursuits. So look out for our services when shopping for something new, and let our experts help you get the most from your outdoor adventures.

    View Service Info

  • Warranty Info

    Shop and purchase with confidence knowing that all of our air guns (except airsoft) are protected by a minimum 1-year manufacturer's warranty from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted on the product page.

    A warranty is provided by each manufacturer to ensure that your product is free of defect in both materials and workmanship.

    View Warranty Details

  • Exchanges / Refunds

    Didn't get what you wanted or have a problem? We understand that sometimes things aren't right and our team is serious about resolving these issues quickly. We can often help you fix small to medium issues over the phone or email.

    If you need to return an item please read our return policy.

    Learn About Returns

Get FREE shipping on qualifying orders! Any order $150+ with a shipping address in the contiguous US will receive the option for free ground shipping on items sold & shipped by Pyramyd AIR during checkout. Certain restrictions apply.

Free shipping may not be combined with a coupon unless stated otherwise.

View Shipping Info

Text JOIN to 91256 and get $10 OFF Your Next $50+ Order!

* By providing your number above, you agree to receive recurring autodialed marketing text msgs (e.g. cart reminders) to the mobile number used at opt-in from Pyramyd AIR on 91256. Reply with birthday MM/DD/YYYY to verify legal age of 18+ in order to receive texts. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg frequency may vary. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help and STOP to cancel. See Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy.