Royale trigger after a couple thousand shots

Hi all,

As a new FX owner, this forum has been a great source of info!

Like the subject line says, I have a couple thousand shots through my Royale 400 now. What I'm noticing is either the 1st stage is getting a bit heavier OR the 2nd stage is getting lighter. Either way, the end result is that the trigger is getting a bit trickier to use. Even when being careful I'm ... well ... getting an occasional premature firing. :-0 

Has anyone else noticed any similar behavior? So far I have loved the trigger and not made ANY adjustments to it. Oh, I wish I had a trigger pull gauge but I don't.

Thanks!
 
I have read numerous posts about the trigger assemblies in FX air rifles, having a myriad of malfunctioning. I can't recall any other airgun with so many trigger issues. While I've never owned any FX airgun, of the 6 brands I have owned (or own now), none have had any trigger issues. So the question remains.... What is so different about the FX trigger assembly that it leads to trigger issues?
 
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@AirGunShooter - I'd love to hear more detailed info on how you remove, clean and lube the trigger. I did see the video from @sniperlabyo on Royale adjustment, but it did not touch on the cleaning or lubricating of the trigger:


@Menttaliist - Yes, mine has the "no return" 1st stage too. That does not bother me, but when the difference pull weight becomes less between the two stages it does get a bit touchy.

@Tweeter - Since I have not touched the trigger yet, I can't really say how likely it is to work its way OUT of adjustment...
 
The first frame of the trigger adjustment video in mcoulter's post, shows the 3 pins that must be pushed out to remove the entire trigger assembly. First push out the pin holding the trigger blade/rocker itself, then slowly lift that part out of the block. Next push out the middle pin. This middle pin is just used as a stop, so it doesn't really hold anything in place. The next pin, far right in the video pic, will release the hammer/sear piece. Pay attention to how the hammer/sear piece comes out so it can be put back in the same way. Those three pins and two trigger pieces are all there is to this trigger assembly. 

Clean the hammer/sear piece and apply a combination lube of approximately 50% moly and 50% light synthetic grease to the areas where it looks like there is metal to metal contact. It is fairly obvious if you look closely. I experimented with different lubes and mixes and personally prefer a mixture of about 1/3 moly and 2/3 light synthetic grease. This mixture offers a smoother trigger action, but requires the trigger assembly be removed, cleaned and lubed more often. Also place the same lube mixture on the semi-circle cut-out section of the trigger blade/rocker. Place a small amount of grease in the holes where the trigger blade/rocker and hammer/sear pivots. Apply a thin amount of grease to the area on the trigger blade/rocker where the safety catch makes contact. Also a very sparse amount of grease where the spring makes contact. Reassemble in reverse order of disassembly. It can be a little tricky to get the hammer/sear back in place. One time I will fiddle with it for several minutes before it lines for the pin to go through, the next time it almost falls in place, so patience is a must. After assembly, do not be alarmed if the first time or two of trying to cock the rifle, the sear does not catch. After a couple of attempts it will catch and the trigger action will be much improved. If you are even moderately mechanically inclined, this trigger assembly should be no problem to work on. You will know when it is time to clean and lube the trigger again as it will tend to become catchy and cruder feeling, maybe even start to blow through the first stage entirely and firing prematurely. This is a sign things are getting dirty in there. 

I do not believe this trigger design is meant to automatically return back to the set point if released from the first stage. Between my brother and myself we own three FX rifles with this type trigger and all 3 worked the same regarding the first stage return - meaning none of the triggers ever did return after being pulled through the first stage and then released. But this is OK once you know that is how it works. If I pull the trigger through the first stage and decide not to take the shot, I manually just push the trigger back to the original set point. After you shoot the rifle enough, it becomes second nature. 

I also have read concerns about the FX triggers and from my own experience I cannot relate to any of it. I have owned and do own many PCP air rifles, from Marauders to FX, to Daystate Airwolfe MCT, and I can say with absolute certainty, when lubed and adjusted properly the trigger in my FX Royale is equal to or better than any trigger I have ever operated in ANY air rifle. And I have shot many rifles of different brands while attending FT competitions.
 
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OMG this trigger is now what it used to be! I got now a light 1st stage with a clear hard stop, just a little bit more force and it goes off and he 1st stage is returning to its original position, that's a deal breaker for me.
I removed the trigger assembly and i'm surprised with how simple it is, and the best part is that you can remove it without loosing the adjustments you had. Cleaned everything and applied a tinie bit of liquid silicione in the metal to metal contact parts and the difference is massive, dead easy.
Thanks AirGunShooter for your time and explanation, +1 for you :)

pd: i didn't saw your reply until i had already done it, it worked for me tho. Maybe it doesn't last as long as the moly paste, i'll see with time and use


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"mcoulter"
@Tweeter - Since I have not touched the trigger yet, I can't really say how likely it is to work its way OUT of adjustment...
I can say that the forward most trigger adjustment screw on my wildcat was very loose and moved on its own. Also the screw holding the cocking lever to the gun backed itself out, and the two pins that connect the cocking lever to the cocking rod started to work their way out with use. Just something to check. Blue locktite worked great.
 
The description by Airgunshooter is very accurate. It is easy to remove the trigger group.
And personally I feel that the trigger group gets dirty or gritty much quicker than any other air rifle I have owned.
Once cleaned it does return to normal but needs a regular cleaning to help it reset on first stage. One thing that I have found that helps with the first stage reset is to set a little and I mean little more second stage to the trigger.
The second stage on this gun is not a mechanical second stage (as in higher leverage ratio) it is simply a set screw with a spring loaded ball bearing that engages just prior to the sear releasing. I guessed on mine that it was so close to the sear drop that it may have been hanging up on the edge of the sear on the transition to second stage. I have also polished the mating surfaces of the sear but not much is gained with the rotating design of the sear. The surface to polish is the outer round surface of the portion attached to the trigger if you want to try this.

yada yada yada..... I am rambling now.

The point is I set the second stage to spring preload just a tiny bit earlier and the result is the trigger returns on first stage again.

Just my thoughts.
 
Very similar question, what are you using to lube the action/lever and what's the process i should follow in order to take it appart? I've never done that before and i'm seeing it's getting quite dirty in there and not as smooth as before. Sorry because of the off topic but i don't think it's necessary to make a new thread just for this. Thanks in advance
 
"Menttaliist"Very similar question, what are you using to lube the action/lever and what's the process i should follow in order to take it appart? I've never done that before and i'm seeing it's getting quite dirty in there and not as smooth as before. Sorry because of the off topic but i don't think it's necessary to make a new thread just for this. Thanks in advance

Hopefully someone else can comment on this as I have not torn part the upper yet.
Although I plan to soon as my sidelever is very stiff compared to my Air Arms.
 
"terrymc"
"Menttaliist"Very similar question, what are you using to lube the action/lever and what's the process i should follow in order to take it appart? I've never done that before and i'm seeing it's getting quite dirty in there and not as smooth as before. Sorry because of the off topic but i don't think it's necessary to make a new thread just for this. Thanks in advance

Hopefully someone else can comment on this as I have not torn part the upper yet.
Although I plan to soon as my sidelever is very stiff compared to my Air Arms.
If no one anwer i'll do a new thread about that