Gunsmithing Jewell trigger update-4988rds

[sobrbiker883]

I've been running Jewell triggers for a bit now, both on my main and backup comp rifles.

I thought I'd post an update.
Back story-everyone seems to think Jewell triggers are prone to failure under field conditions. I like them, so I decided a while back to run both of mine with no maintenance or cleaning to see what happened.
When I got home from the NorCal TBRC a few weeks ago I popped my barreled action on my main rifle out of its Rock Solid to wipe it down.
After two OTS matches (gas lands and wind farm), two Score-Hi matches in the Albuquerque monsoon moon dust, two trips to Rifles Only for matches, two NorCal TBRC's, a couple Vegas PRS matches, and 3 years of monthly AZLRPRS matches, a few trips to Ashfork for the AZPRC matches at the flagstone quarry, a handful trips to Vegas for the Sin City Precision monthly matches, and shooting in between it has 4988 documented rounds on it.
Still running strong, holding adjustment and working like it should, breaking at the 18oz it was set at when I got it.
I did notice when I had it out of the chassis a couple weeks ago that it had lost a side plate screw. A quick call to Jewell had me talking to Arnold directly, and a few new screws on the way.
Today I replaced the screw, and both he other ones on the right side plate were loose-left three were fine.
Even though I said I'd not clean them, since it was out of the chassis and I was wiping a few year's dust and grit buildup from 6 desert states off I figured what the hell, flushed it with Zippo fluid, blew it out, and tightened the screws up. I did not take it apart.

My backup 700 has over 2000 rounds on its Jewell with no maintenance either and is running great.

I'm pretty impressed. Over the same span of time, I've seen Timneys, Hubers, Shilens, one old 700 and yes a couple Jewells take dives. I'm pretty sure that the conditions we subject these rifles to will kill anything every now and again, but that the Jewell deserves no more crap for being delicate than any of the other s out there.

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

Here here Sober Biker. Thank you for posting this. I am glad I went with Jewell also.

Take this Jewell trigger haters!!!

 

[steve123]

Hey there Steve,

I'd be willing to bet that most Jewel trigger malfunctions are due cleaning solvent being redeposited/dripped into the trigger mechanism over and over as the barrel is cleaned.

Years ago that's what I discovered I was doing wrong which had gummed up my Jewel. Since then and many thousands of rounds later I haven't had any more problems.

I use one of those extended delrin boreguides from Sinclair too avoid getting solvent into the trigger.

 

[jonaddis84]

Hey there Steve,

I'd be willing to bet that most Jewel trigger malfunctions are due cleaning solvent being redeposited/dripped into the trigger mechanism over and over as the barrel is cleaned.

Years ago that's what I discovered I was doing wrong which had gummed up my Jewel. Since then and many thousands of rounds later I haven't had any more problems.

I use one of those extended delrin boreguides from Sinclair too avoid getting solvent into the trigger.

My solution to that is just not clean the barrel haha!

Good to hear some solid field testing on the Jewell. Ive been running mine in my comp rifle for two years now also, not near as many matches or rounds, but no issues either.

 

[steve123]

LOL, I see there are others that think outside the box!

 

[jasonk]

WTF....who tracks their rounds on a trigger....or any gun for that matter.

Your Jewel's day will come....(evil laugh)

 

[sobrbiker883]

I've found that everything man made has a tendency to break sooner or later...as much as I love my Jewell's I carry an old GAP-worked over R700 in an old bullet box in the bottom of my ruck.

 

[bhoges]

The one in my 260 must be about 12 yrs old. I have never cleaned it or had a problem. Its been hunting and lots of matches. No idea of round count maybe close to 5k.

 

[SnkBit]

I'm a Jewell fan, have several of them and have defended them each time a topic like this comes up. Awesome triggers.

With that said, I decided to do some dry fire drills the night before Steel Safari this year and when I squeezed the trigger...WTF! Trigger had become very gritty feeling and had developed an inconsistent amount of creep. I immediately pulled the rifle down and flushed the trigger with lighter fluid then blew it out with air. It came back around and I was relieved. That was until the second day of the comp when the damn thing went South again.

I still love these triggers and with as many rounds as are on this rifle in the blowing winds of the Texas panhandle I have a lot of confidence in them still. It just seems that maybe the lighter fluid trick isn't going to work for me. That or I need to disassemble in order to remove all of the grit. I guess we'll see if that works.

 

[Sonic Crack]

The only time that I have seen a really nasty dirty trigger is, guys that use way to much cleaning product on there rifle, guys that use way too much grease.

 

[SnkBit]

I run mine pretty dry, probably too dry.

 

[bax]

Carefully remove the side plate without dislodging anything. Take a photo of the insides. Dump everything out, clean it, and using the picture put it back together. It is actually pretty simple and elegant design.

I think that Arnold Jewell is still alive so I suggest that you do not apply a stone to anything in there. Consider that a health and safety hint.

FYI, I have 6 Jewell triggers.

 

[LRI]

I've installed prolly close to 1K Jewel triggers over a 20 year span.

I've had less than 10 come back.

Compressed air is a wonderful thing and I don't use it much with them.

BTW: I have over 30 of the buggers in stock if anyone needs one.

C.

 

[miamigunsinc]

Thank for sharing gun details.Gun shooting is amazing experience.

 

[Victor N TN]

I have 2 on match rifles that I've had since the early 1990s. When I got my first one I called directly to Arnold Jewell. But I think I actually bought the first one from one of the competition gunsmiths.

I have logs for each of my rifles / barrels bought since 1990.

 

[softcock]

I've installed prolly close to 1K Jewel triggers over a 20 year span.

I've had less than 10 come back.

Compressed air is a wonderful thing and I don't use it much with them.

BTW: I have over 30 of the buggers in stock if anyone needs one.

C.

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Compressed Air & lighter fluid douche .

The ONLY time I have ever had Jewel fail on me ( & my opinion ) . With main Reason others have fail .
Is by buyers trying to adjust the Trigger-Pull down to a lighter pull, without changing-out the the factory recommenced Springs for the Lower Lb. of pull . I found-out, Jewel gives you those springs 'for a reason' With the HVR trigger group .
.
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