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Winchester 43
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2026 3:32 pm
by Gene L
Mine, in .22 Hornet (of course) has a hard trigger on it. Clean, but about 6 pounds. I've been told it can't be lowered as the trigger is basic...you get what you get. I wonder from you gun guys if the trigger could be replaced entirely. Not with original parts, but with something crafted to fit. Something adjustable.
Re: Winchester 43
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2026 3:45 pm
by CPJ 2.0
I put a Mauser trigger on a savage .22 bolt on a shop built action.
So yeah. I’d say it’s possible. Anything is, with enough money.
Re: Winchester 43
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2026 6:15 pm
by Wambli Ska
The trigger system looks like a simplified pre-64 model 70. It is adjustable via a small screw that sets the return spring tension. Lightening the pressure on the spring and some judicious stoning of the sear should improve the trigger tremendously and looks simple enough to do.
Here are two articles with everything you'd ever want to know about the Model 43:
Internals -
https://kurtthegunsmith.com/the-winches ... iled-look/
History -
https://kurtthegunsmith.com/the-winches ... -model-70/
Re: Winchester 43
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2026 6:56 pm
by Bigslug
My 43 experience was that adjusting down led to failure of the sear to hold when running the bolt closed with any kind of enthusiasm. I opted for functional over attempting sexy. While there's still something of an infrastructure supporting the more "flagship" model Winchesters like the 70, 52, and 63, there isn't much of one for the more pedestrian 69/75/43 family. I doubt attempting to bribe Timney or Rifle Basix to undertake the engineering for a 60+ years-discontinued mid-grade rifle would get you very far, but stranger things have happened.
20 something years ago, I was miraculously able to find an aftermarket one-piece replacement bolt handle upgrade for the stock failing-joint two-piece my 69A, and that entity appears to have since gone "poof!" I fear we're left to our own ingenuity on these.
Re: Winchester 43
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2026 11:00 pm
by Freezer
OH the 69a was a great rifle! I referbished two. We have some talented peolple here....
Re: Winchester 43
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2026 11:31 pm
by Bigslug
- Win 43 14.jpeg (29.64 KiB) Viewed 260 times
Yep Winchester 43. . .
- Win 69A 3.jpeg (35.37 KiB) Viewed 260 times
Winchester 69A
Methinks they might be related.
I may need to dig out my 43 and go play again. Got as far as figuring out the load, and got distracted by other things. Kind of a pain in the ass, truthfully. I thought I'd bought a Hornet, but someone had done a K-Hornet conversion and never thought to indicate. I fixed that:
- Win 43 22.jpeg (87.18 KiB) Viewed 260 times
Re: Winchester 43
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2026 1:18 am
by Wambli Ska
Bigslug wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2026 6:56 pm
My 43 experience was that adjusting down led to failure of the sear to hold when running the bolt closed with any kind of enthusiasm. I opted for functional over attempting sexy. While there's still something of an infrastructure supporting the more "flagship" model Winchesters like the 70, 52, and 63, there isn't much of one for the more pedestrian 69/75/43 family. I doubt attempting to bribe Timney or Rifle Basix to undertake the engineering for a 60+ years-discontinued mid-grade rifle would get you very far, but stranger things have happened.
20 something years ago, I was miraculously able to find an aftermarket one-piece replacement bolt handle upgrade for the stock failing-joint two-piece my 69A, and that entity appears to have since gone "poof!" I fear we're left to our own ingenuity on these.
I think removing any creep by cleaning the sear would be my only attempt at a better trigger. You are right, triggers of this kind are prone to letting go with any energetic cycling so I’d be leery of lightening the return spring pressure much. The alternative would be a lighter spring of the same length. The good news it’s easy to test and fine tune every move..