New Springfield 1911 question

[hossb7]

It's a Loaded model (no gunsmithing on the internals) and it happened once.

You're fine.

[J556]

It's a Loaded model (no gunsmithing on the internals) and it happened once.

You're fine.

I definitely wouldn't smith anything, I simply want to see if the sear was damaged in any way , it looked and sounded like it hit with some authority. But hopefully you're right and it's fine if not it's back to springfield.

[agarcia211]

Slamming the slide on an empty chamber won't hurt the gun as long as it does not happen often. Dropping it while it's cocked or half cocked won't hurt it as long as it does not hit the hammer directly, or even if it does it won't hurt the gun. It happend to me on cement, picked it up, loaded it, and fired it again, it had an empty chamber when my buddy dropped it, trust me I was pissed. Taking them down is not as difficult as it may seem. Look up channels NickTaylor00 or MosinVirus. I've taken down and put together several firearms with their guidance

[bountyhunter]

Just bought a brand new springfield loaded 1911,and during the purchasing process the sales associate racked the slide then proceeded to thumb the hammer down at which point it slipped and fell to the half cocked position .I immediately pointed it out to him and he apologized ,he was not familiar with the 1911 .I would have asked for another pistol but it was the only nm serial they had or could get for a while .my question was could that one time cause sear damage ?

For a production gun, not likely. The trigger components are not that fragile.

[bountyhunter]

I have never heard this. How would dropping the slide without a round vs. dropping it with a round effect the sear? Or anything else for that matter? I am not saying it isn't, I just don't know.

It's complicated but the highlights: when the slide strips a round, that eats up slide velocity so that when it hits the frame it doesn't bang as hard. Dropping empty can cause the frame to pop forward and the hammer's inertia means it stays in place then comes forward.... which means the hammer hook/sear nose open up then come back together under mainspring force. That "chatter" can chip the sear tip if done enough.

[bountyhunter]

Slamming the slot on an empty chamber won't hurt the gun as long as it does not happen often. Dropping it while it's cocked or half cocked won't hurt it as long as it does not hit the hammer directly

Be careful on this: if a hammer falls to half cock, be careful not to pull the trigger. On many hammers, the half cock notch is cut like a cup and has a lip on the front edge to trap the sear nose more securely. Pulling the trigger drags the sear nose across that lip. What you want to do is carefully recock the hammer, then pull the trigger and lower the hammer.

[AreWeFree]

It was my understanding that manual decocking of a 1911 is poor form for that very reason, and it's better to check/ensure an empty chamber and just dry fire.

[splithoof]

Be careful on this: if a hammer falls to half cock, be careful not to pull the trigger. On many hammers, the half cock notch is cut like a cup and has a lip on the front edge to trap the sear nose more securely. Pulling the trigger drags the sear nose across that lip. What you want to do is carefully recock the hammer, then pull the trigger and lower the hammer.

This is what I do in that situation:
1) Point weapon in safe direction, finger OFF trigger.
2) Remove magazine.
3) Retract slide, visually ensure chamber is empty, locking slide open.
4) Replace a full magazine into pistol.
5) Run the slide, chambering a fresh round.
6) Place weapon back into holster.
7) Top off magazine to full capacity.

[agarcia211]

[QUOTE=bountyhunter;17493379]Be careful on this: if a hammer falls to half cock, be careful not to pull the trigger.

I've never pulled the trigger on a half cocked hammer. Usually I wanna know why it's in that position if it should not be before I fire it again.

I've never had any issues with any of my 1911's if I manually bring down the hammer. That's how I was taught when I learned how to shoot. Of course check to see that no round in the chamber, but nothing happens if you dry fire, or manually decock. In fact when I clean the guns, you don't want the hammer to drop on just the frame, so I manually bring down the hammer so that an accident does not happen.