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Impact Trigger for Shocker
By Bill Mills - Dec 2005

Aftermarket triggers are becoming increasingly popular as paintgun upgrades.  Among their offerings, Critical Paintball produces the Impact Trigger for the Smart Parts Shocker SFT.

The Impact Trigger for the Shocker is a smooth S-Shape, with its key features being adjustability, the critical pro pin, and a roller bearing pivot point.

Installing the Impact trigger for review was a fairly straightforward process, but a couple of points would be easier for those with little Shocker tech experience if Critical included a short instruction sheet or provided installation instructions online.

Installation began with removing the stock trigger.  This involved taking out the two frame screws and lifting the receiver from the grip frame, followed by carefully removing the wire harness from the Shocker’s solenoid board.

The next step was to tap the stock trigger pin with a pin punch and hammer until it was sticking out of the side of the frame where it could be removed with a pair of pliers.  The stock trigger could then move forward into the trigger guard area and be removed.

The first step in installing the Impact trigger was putting its trigger activation screw in the right hole.  Near the middle of the Impact trigger are two holes.  The top hole, where the screw is installed as the trigger ships, aligns the screw to press the very end of the Shocker’s trigger switch lever – if the switch is in the “flipped” position, with the lever pointing upward.  Desoldering the trigger switch and reinstalling it flipped is a common modification for Shocker owners who prefer the feel it gives to the trigger pull.  

The Shocker used for testing and review had the trigger switch in the stock position – lever facing downward, so the trigger activation screw was removed and reinstalled in the lower of the two holes on the trigger.  In order for the trigger to be fit into place in the frame, the trigger activation screw had to be screwed well forward into the trigger.

Below the trigger activation screw lies a tiny, strong magnet, designed to repel the magnet in the trigger frame to return the trigger to its forward position.  This magnet is removable, and had come out of place during shipment.  In order to place it back in the trigger it first was set on the magnet in the trigger frame, then flipped 180 degrees and slid into the trigger.  Placing it on the grip frame’s magnet first and then flipping it made certain that it was pointed in the proper direction to repel the trigger forward rather than try to pull it back.  No adhesives were needed to hold the magnet in the trigger, because magnetic force pushed it solidly in place.

With the trigger in position, the Critical Pro Pin was installed in place of the stock trigger pin.  The Pro Pin comes in two pieces.  The main pin has a flange on one end with a tiny C for critical laser engraved on its surface.  The other end of the pin is hollow and threaded for a small round headed screw.  The screw is black and has a tiny o-ring which provides friction to ensure that it stays tight once it is in place.  While the screw has a hex head for a tiny hex wrench to tighten it, simple thumb pressure was enough to tighten it in place.  It has two advantages over the stock pin, first in that it is easier to install and remove, and second in that it is securely locked in place, and won’t slip out after having been removed and installed several times.

Once the trigger’s bearing was riding on the Pro Pin, it was time to adjust the setting screws.  First the lengthy trigger activation screw was screwed in until it was able to depress the trigger switch, and then the screw at the bottom of the trigger – the rear travel limit screw – was set to make certain that the trigger stopped just after the switch was activated.  This adjustment protects the trigger switch and circuit board from mechanical damage.  

The final adjustment, the forward travel limit screw at the top of the trigger can be approximated with the grip frame off, but can’t be properly set until the Shocker is back together.   This screw was adjusted so that the trigger swung just far enough for the trigger switch to reset after each shot.  With a few minutes of test pulling and adjusting the Impact trigger was dialed in to provide a trigger pull of about 1mm measured at the end of the trigger.

The Impact Trigger’s S-shape, its width and gently rounded edges made it comfortable to fire quickly with a downward facing middle and ring finger, or just as well with the first and middle fingers.  That is after all what most trigger upgrades are about, providing a feel that best suits the user’s taste.  The roller bearing kept movement of the trigger smooth and free from binding, though this arguably wasn’t a problem with the stock trigger setup.  With ease of adjustment and configuration for changes in the trigger switch, the Impact trigger also is an improvement over stock with its Critical Pro Pin. 
 

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