COLT 1911 PROBLEMS HELP PLS!

[tazloccsta39]

I did a full field strip to repaint it with aluma hyde 2, everything turn out great but when i assembled it and checked for function:

1). I'm able to pull the trigger w/o pressing down the grip safety.

2).when i have the slide locked back and release it by pressing the slide release the slide goes forward hard enough that the hammer fall half way forward.

Any had this problem before? is the sear spring weaken? or any other part may need to be replaced? i disassembled & reassembled to check if i place the sear spring in wrong but there's only one way & the spring/parts seem fine to me.

[redcliff]

The sear spring certainly is a likely suspect as it interacts with both the grip safety and the sear. Did it possibly get bent/flattened while it was out of the pistol?

Make sure the lower end of the spring is in its slot first, otherwise you can get the center spring finger stuck underneath the disconnector. I lay the spring in place then partially install the mainspring housing to hold it while I reassemble the grip safety and thumb safety, then finish with sliding the mainspring the rest of the way on trapping the bottom of the grip safety and aligning the lower end of the hammer strut (hammer forward!) into the mainspring spring cup and then install the mainspring housing pin.

[buffybuster]

Take off the grip safety and check the sear spring to make sure the three fingers on where they're suppose to be.

Also, it's not recommended you drop the slide on an empty chamber in a 1911.

[tazloccsta39]

there is a sight curve on the whole sear spring but it looks normal. i was looking at photos the sear assembly i was thinking maybe i placed the sear incorrectly and the sear isn't holding the hammer back solidly and it slips to any movement. b/c when the safety on im unable to pull the trigger. (i will double check tomorrow and take pictures if i dont get it right)

[redcliff]

Take off the grip safety and check the sear spring to make sure the three fingers on where they're suppose to be.

Also, it's not recommended you drop the slide on an empty chamber in a 1911.

While I agree with the sentiment its really an essential function check after a detail strip. http://www.coolgunsite.com/funcheck/function.htm

[Loubot10]

The sear spring certainly is a likely suspect as it interacts with both the grip safety and the sear. Did it possibly get bent/flattened while it was out of the pistol?

Make sure the lower end of the spring is in its slot first, otherwise you can get the center spring finger stuck underneath the disconnector. I lay the spring in place then partially install the mainspring housing to hold it while I reassemble the grip safety and thumb safety, then finish with sliding the mainspring the rest of the way on trapping the bottom of the grip safety and aligning the lower end of the hammer strut (hammer forward!) into the mainspring spring cup and then install the mainspring housing pin.

[limitdown]

Dropping on empty chamber is an absolute must for safety check and during/after use at the range. The standard operating procedure for clearing a gun for most law enforcement agencies and for every competitive shooting organization is : remove magazine, rack two times, visually check chamber is empty, point gun downrange/in safe direction, pull trigger.
California's magazine disconnecter rule goes against any and every safety check book....

[redcliff]

Thanks for the picture Loubot10 I'll add that to my collection.

Dropping on empty chamber is an absolute must for safety check and during/after use at the range. The standard operating procedure for clearing a gun for most law enforcement agencies and for every competitive shooting organization is : remove magazine, rack two times, visually check chamber is empty, point gun downrange/in safe direction, pull trigger.
California's magazine disconnecter rule goes against any and every safety check book....

Dropping the hammer on an emtpy chamber is fine assuming all the safety rules are being followed; dropping the slide on an empty chamber on a 1911 is something we'd prefer to avoid unless function checking

[tazloccsta39]

I took off the grip safety, sear spring, sear, hammer, safety and reassembled it. Still the same problems heres a picture of my sear spring assembly and a picture the grip safety concept "It could be that my sear spring weaken and its not forcing the grip safety out to stop the trigger from firing"....

[Loubot10]

Sounds like you might need to "tune" the spring.

Happened to me and it took ALOT of trial and error (assemble / disassemble).

I now photograph the spring on graphing paper when I'm working that deep on my 1911's.

Thank god for snap caps!

Sure thing Redcliff. As many times as I've read and utilized your suggestions, I just assumed I got the pic from you. lol

[cindynles]

While I agree with the sentiment its really an essential function check after a detail strip. http://www.coolgunsite.com/funcheck/function.htm

Is it acceptable to use a snap cap for this check? Or is the purpose of this check to serve a worse case scenario?

[redcliff]

Is it acceptable to use a snap cap for this check? Or is the purpose of this check to serve a worse case scenario?

Exactly right cindynles, its a worse case situation used to show a margin of safety.

The act of feeding a round from the magazine slows the slide and reduces the impact making the test invalid. By not feeding a round the slide has more velocity the normal and a more jarring impact. By demonstrating that the sear engagement still holds in that condition it proves you have a margin of safety during normal operation.

[redcliff]

I took off the grip safety, sear spring, sear, hammer, safety and reassembled it. Still the same problems heres a picture of my sear spring assembly and a picture the grip safety concept "It could be that my sear spring weaken and its not forcing the grip safety out to stop the trigger from firing"....

I'm stumped if the spring is installed properly, wasn't rebent and you made no other changes to the pistol. Did you test the pistol for proper grip safety function and sear engagement prior to disassembly? Are you sure you're not just seeing a pre-existing condition?

[tazloccsta39]

problem solved: the new paint made it tight so i sanded the inside where the grip safety fits in. I guess the paint didn't allow the grip safety to go back to its original position as shown in the photo i posted "where is stops the trigger when not depressed. some sanding and it functioning thanks.