Trigger job for a 1911A1

[toro1]

I have a Sistema model 1917 (same as a 1911A1) that I would like to improve the trigger on. I have watched a couple of youtube videos and while it looks pretty staright forward, I have read many threads that say leave a 1911 trigger job to the professionals.
I have never done a trigger job and so I am asking is this something I should leave to a pro, or is it something a novice can do?
If it is better that a pro do it, is there anyone in the Ventura/Thousand Oaks area that is adept at a 1911 trigger job?

TIA

[HUTCH 7.62]

Tagged

[Steponmytoes]

Most likely a pro will do a better job than you as a gunsmith will have done lots of them whereas you watched youtube... but I would go for it. Not overly complicated and its not like you have a ww1 colt on your hands... little chance of messing up if you take your time and it will be a great learning experience. Adjusting trigger pull is the easiest, to start with. Go for it!

[bwhited]

How light of a trigger do you want?
If only better, then cleaning things up can make a big difference.
If you want a light trigger then use high end parts and a professional.

[Gringo Bandito]

I have a Sistema moddel 1917 (same as a 1911A1) that I would like to improve the trigger on. I have watched a couple of youtube videos and while it looks pretty staright forward, I have read many threads that say leave a 1911 trigger job to the professionals.
I have never done a trigger job and so I am asking is this something I should leave to a pro, or is it something a novice can do?
If it is better that a pro do it, is there anyone in the Ventura/Thousand Oaks area that is adept at a 1911 trigger job?

TIA

it took me quite a while to figure out the right sear angles and went through a few sears in the process.. Now that i figured it out, I can put together a nice trigger in a short period of time. Below are options that i would recommend.

1. Dont use the stock parts..Usually they are junk.
2. EGW hammer and sears about the best you can find out there.
3. The brownells hammer jig is a great tool to use for stoning the angles on a sear..Spending more money on a fancy jig is not worth it if you are going to do a small quantity.
4. Take look at the Brazos custom kit. IMO it is one of the best kits you can buy.

[shafferds]

Where do you want your trigger to do and what tools do you have? You can clean up a trigger quite a bit with a few touches. Hammer, sear (egw), trigger, good disconnector. Good drop in kits are around 150.00 plus shipping

[javaduke]

A good trigger pull in 1911 depends on many factors. The most important being the hammer hooks and the sear interaction, however, there are several other factors that affect trigger pull, such as disconnector, trigger bow and trigger tracks in the frame, sear spring tension, mainspring, the mainspring tunnel in the mainspring housing, etc.

Since your Sistema is an old gun, and assuming you want to preserve that antique look, and also assuming that the gun has no collectors value, I would start with replacing the original sear with a bar stock sear from Rock River Arms, Wilson Combat, EGW, etc. and stoning it on a True Radius sear jig. See here https://shop.harrisoncustom.com/hd-8...ar-stoning-jig
Start with medium coarse stone and finish with the fine ceramic stone, be sure to use some light oil. Using the feeler gauge, cut the secondary angle on the sear for the desired roll (i.e. long roll, vs medium, vs short, vs very short aka crisp).
Check your sear spring, and if needed, replace with a new spring from Wolff. Optionally, replace the original mainspring with the 19 or 20 lbs mainspring, also available from Wolff. Check the trigger bow for any burrs. Lightly dress the sides of the trigger bow with the fine stone and finish with any metal polishing paste.
Adjust the middle and left fingers of the sear spring as desired, but never go below 3.5 lbs trigger pull weight.
Save all the original parts, so that you can replace them back if needed.

Also I forgot to mention, while it's possible to polish hammer hooks a bit, I'd suggest you leave the hammer alone.

[Snoopy47]

There is no "cleaning up" a 1911 trigger like a Glock or similar. Don't touch the sear or hammer engagements unless you know what you are doing.

It is however easy to improve the trigger significantly by tweaking with the left two prongs on the leaf spring.

For comfort level I simply bought a few extra springs from Brownells.com. I left the original alone. Then I started removing tension off the left two leaf springs.

Since you are not touching the sear and hammer engagements you can only go so far with spring tweaks, but you should be able to get it below 4lbs.

Another option as mentioned is to buy and entire prefitted kit. Again for Brownells for that.

The best option is to have a professional do it, but that's only needed if you want to go below 3.5lbs.

[hermosabeach]

If you can completely strip the 1911 to all parts, and reassemble with no issues, they I would say you are one the path to being able to do a trigger job


Based upon the tools you need, one trigger job will be cheaper by a pro



Watch some of the brownells and midway USA videos on YouTube to understand the process...


If you goof it up, you can always try again

As with any new trigger

Dry function check

Fire with 1 round only

Function check

Load 2 rounds - fire one, check that things are correct and fire round two

Then step up to loading 3 rounds...


If the spring is off and it fires full auto, loading 2-3 makes a lot of safety sense as you will need to hold on and ride it out until empty

[Snoopy47]

Word of caution: If you go too light on the leaf spring you run the risk of the hammer following the slide. The second hammer safety catch should prevent going automatic, but still its something you want to avoid of course.

To go supper light you'll need a pro to improve the hammer/sear engagements.


But there's no reason to accept a 7lb 1911 trigger when all you need to do is tweak the leaf spring to the 4lb range.

[Snoopy47]

As with any new trigger

Dry function check

In regard to that, get a few dummy rounds, and function check by releasing the slide catch and letting it chamber a dummy round by SLAMMING CLOSED!!!!!!!!!!

The hammer SHOULD NOT FOLLOW THE SLIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hermosabeach]

Disassembly

[hermosabeach]

Drop in trigger job



1911 gunsmith parts

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/index.htm?k=1911+trigger

[zippo]

tag

[cindynles]

I have a Sistema moddel 1917 (same as a 1911A1) that I would like to improve the trigger on. I have watched a couple of youtube videos and while it looks pretty staright forward, I have read many threads that say leave a 1911 trigger job to the professionals.
I have never done a trigger job and so I am asking is this something I should leave to a pro, or is it something a novice can do?
If it is better that a pro do it, is there anyone in the Ventura/Thousand Oaks area that is adept at a 1911 trigger job?

TIA

To do it correctly you need the right tools (sear jig, trigger track stone, square stones, sear / hammer adjustment pins). The tools will cost you $150 - $200. If you only have 1 to do, its probably better to pay a gunsmith to do it.