1911 hammer question.

[richie3888]

I fired my 1911 today before I started dros. Everything was find for the first 20rds but then after Every other round I shot the hammer with go back up and won't stay down. There was rounds still in the magazine.

Problem:
the hammer doesn't stay down everytime after i shoot. One time the hammer cause another round to shoot

1911 history
I dros it today and the original owner said that he only put less then 50rds thru it.

What do you guys think is the problem?

Colt 1911 gold cup national match

[ojisan]

Assuming nobody has been inside and messed it up...

My guess is gummed up sear (etc).
Probaly just needs a complete strip and detail cleaning.
Somebody could also have the three legged leaf spring in wrong or insufficient tension.
It shouldn't be hard to fix.
It is unsafe and should not be fired again until it is fixed.

[richie3888]

Assuming nobody has been inside and messed it up...

My guess is gummed up sear (etc).
Probaly just needs a complete strip and detail cleaning.
Somebody could also have the three legged leaf spring in wrong or insufficient tension.
It shouldn't be hard to fix.
It is unsafe and should not be fired again until it is fixed.

Thanks. I'll take pictures of the hammer and sear when I get it out of dros. I was planning to upgrade the hammer and sear with Wilson combat parts.

What else should I buy when I change out the hammer? I was told I need to get the sear that goes with it? Is there anything else?

[ocspeedracer]

If it's not the problems mentioned above could be an ill fitted or warn hammer/sear

[homerm14]

If it's not the problems mentioned above could be an ill fitted or warn hammer/sear

Sounds like it to me, especially if its doubling.

[richie3888]

If it's not the problems mentioned above could be an ill fitted or warn hammer/sear

Sounds like it to me, especially if its doubling.

Ok thanks. So I'll be changing the hammer and sear to the Wilson combat ones. Should I buy anything else? Like the disconnector spring?

[wu_dot_com]

Ok thanks. So I'll be changing the hammer and sear to the Wilson combat ones. Should I buy anything else? Like the disconnector spring?

you got to remember, wilson is good, but there are many other brands out there like ed brown, Cylinder and slide (personal favorite), caspian (cool looking), STI, Swenson, etc. every hammer and sear regardless of manufacture will have to be fitted to your frame to get the correct engagement angle. you may elect to do it your self by buying the sear jig from brownell.

[wu_dot_com]

Sounds like it to me, especially if its doubling.

same here. most likely warn sear. check if the tip of the sear is rounded off.

check spring tension by closing slide using slide release and see if the hammer falls when the slide slams close.

if the hammer does not fall when the slide is close, then its a worn sear problem.

[Kruzr]

Since it is a Gold Cup, it probably isn't a worn sear but rather you are getting trigger bounce. The Gold Cup has the extra wide trigger made of steel. Colt added a "sear depressor" spring on the Gold Cup sear to try to prevent this.

To check if it is trigger bounce, hold back the trigger and rack and lock back the slide. Then while still holding the trigger back, release the slide stop and let the slide go forward on the empty chamber. If the hammer stays cocked when you try this a few times, it is trigger bounce.

If the hammer still follows, then look elsewhere. It could be the sear or it could be something as simple too much trigger overtravel. While more common in Kimbers and Springfield's, too much overtravel can take tension off the sear spring and can cause the hammer to follow.

This also may be overcome by making sure the sear depressor spring is in the gun. It was very common to lose that spring since it is the size of a watch spring and goes into a tiny hole in the rear of the sear leg. It is held in place with another small bracket that goes around the sear.

I got rid of it on my Gold Cup by replacing the trigger with an aluminum one. The trigger bounce goes away.

[kendog4570]

Have someone that really knows what they are doing check it and pay them for their expertise. The Gold Cup has several more parts in the sear that could be missing, or broken. Also, the hammer and springs are physically different (not to the untrained eye) and may have been changed out or "helped" somewhere along the way. This will affect proper trigger function as well.
No telling what has been done to this one before it came to you.

[smoothy8500]

+1 on Kendog's advice. The Gold Cup is a slightly different animal inside.

[motorhead]

+1 gazillion! you REALLY don't want a runaway .45.

[richie3888]

Thanks for all the great advice.

Does anybody knows where a good gunsmith that's near San Pablo?

[JRJCP]

I am in Los Angeles County. Let me check it out for you.

[richie3888]

I am in Los Angeles County. Let me check it out for you.

You're pretty far away from me. I want someone local. Thanks anyways