1911 trigger job question

[Eric F]

Ok I did my own trigger job 18 months ago it held constant at 2 pounds 4 ounces with a slight creep. I parked the gun at the end of summer and put it up in my safe. I took it out 2 weeks ago to shoot a classifier in IDPA and the trigger was crap 5-6 pounds. Now the gun has never been cleaned its been shot dry so I take some light machine oil and put 2 drops on the hammer and let it slide down into the trigger group dry fire a few times trigger is back to 2 pounds 4 ounces.

Why did this happen? Nothing is particularly dirty gun has about 1000 through it and gets dryfired all the time. Could it have been just some light rust build up? I was under the impression a trigger job should be the same oiled or not.

 

[dfariswheel]

First, you CANNOT keep lubricant off a 1911 hammer assembly.

In the old days, a customer would complain that after a trigger job, the 1911 hammer would follow the slide down.
These crappy gunsmiths would tell the customer that "His trigger jobs needed to be run dry".
This was simply a brush-off, since there's no way to keep lubricant off the hammer assembly. Lubricants will creep and will be moved by recoil and will soon cover the assembly.

In your case, I suspect the lubricant in the frame simply dried out and turned to a varnish-like sticky substance or the parkerizing "stop" lube hardened and dried.
This made the trigger pull heavier.
Fresh lube dissolved the crud and re-lubed the frame parts.

The answer is to use a good lube that won't dry out, evaporate, or turn to "varnish".

The 1911 NEEDS lubricant on the hammer and sear assembly to prevent excess wear, AND as above, you can't keep it off even if you tried.
Just pick a better lube OR check it more often.

 

[Eric F]

Ok sounds good. Problem might be related to 2 year old gun and no lube since I did the trigger job. Or cleaning for that matter I think I will tare the whole thing down and clean it up and relube.

 

[Firehand]

Personally, I like to use a touch of Tetra grease on the hammer hooks/sear nose instead of oil; stays in place better.

 

[GLOCK45GUY]

I'm with you on the grease instead of oil on the hammer, sear, and disconnect. Doesn't run out, and makes assy better since it kinda hold the sear and disconnect together. put some on the outside of the trigger bow as well.

 

[Old Fuff]

Ok I did my own trigger job 18 months ago it held constant at 2 pounds 4 ounces with a slight creep.

I took it out 2 weeks ago to shoot a classifier in IDPA

If the trigger pull you specified is correct, and you're shooting it in IDPA, there may be some serious problems in your future - especially if you start playing with exotic lubricants.

The specified trigger pull on USGI service pistols was 5 to 6 pounds. Hardball target pistols could go as low as 4 pounds. Softball target pistols, not intended to be carried in holsters had a limit of 3 1/2 pounds. Of course combat gamers often ignore all this.

Trigger pulls tend to get lighter, not heavier as springs - especially the trigger & disconector one take a set. You're asking to find out what the word "automatic" means in relation to the word "pistol."

 

[rcmodel]

++++1

A 2lb -4oz trigger on a 1911 is not only almost impossible to get safely, but also very hard to keep working that way shooting anything even remotely resembling .45 ACP recoil levels.

I'd be very concerned if it were mine!


rcmodel

 

[mballai]

I'm glad it's NOT mine!

 

[Tarvis]

I like break free CLP. Buddy of mine in the Marines said they had a 55gal drum of it everyone would stuff thier rifles into and soak em overnight. I haven't noticed any problems with it turning to "varnish" yet, seems to be great stuff.


Question: you mentioned you dry fired your pistol like it was a good thing. Is it? I hear some people say it is terrible, some say it doesn't do serious immediate damage but will hurt the pistol/rifle over time. Any input would be great.

 

[Eric F]

Ok just an update for you guys..........As it turns out it was just really dirty and after cleaning and lubed up properly it works fine trigger pull is the same no problems.
Now for a few comments

Trigger pulls tend to get lighter, not heavier as springs - especially the trigger & disconector one take a set. You're asking to find out what the word "automatic" means in relation to the word "pistol."

The specified trigger pull on USGI service pistols was 5 to 6 pounds. Hardball target pistols could go as low as 4 pounds. Softball target pistols, not intended to be carried in holsters had a limit of 3 1/2 pounds. Of course combat gamers often ignore all this.

A 2lb -4oz trigger on a 1911 is not only almost impossible to get safely, but also very hard to keep working that way shooting anything even remotely resembling .45 ACP recoil levels.

Not too sure about this one......I have read that all over the place before however I had a para p-14 with a sub 1 pound trigger more like 14 ounces IIRC I shot that gun for ever thousands of rounds it was my carry gun for the longest time never had a problem other than extractors and mags.
Not just my guns but many many others I know of have never gone full auto or malfunctioned. Trigger pulls can be done and safely carried down to the 1 pound range with careful attention to detail. It is not for every one but it is do-able

 

[Old Fuff]

Trigger pulls can be done and safely carried down to the 1 pound range with careful attention to detail. It is not for every one but it is do-able

Sure....

Name any manufacturer that offers a trigger pull in the 1 to 2 pound range, either as stock, or as a custom option, on any 1911 platform pistol intended to be holster-carried.

I hope that you are either underestimating your trigger pulls (they're heavier then you say) and if not, no one gets hurt or worse as a result.

It is regrettable that the combat shooting games don’t have some serious restrictions on minimum trigger pulls, and enforce them. :banghead:

 

[Eric F]

STI and Chip Mcormik not so much built by them but built from the frame up by D R Middlebrooks(all custom builds) He wont build a 1 pounder for just any one though but he does build them from time to time. He did not do the trigger on my para I got the gun out of the box like that. My RIA was 2 pounds 15 ounces before I went to work on it.

It is regrettable that the combat shooting games don’t have some serious restrictions on minimum trigger pulls

Why? when was the last time you saw any documentation or even heard from a reliable source of a ful auto game gun?

 

[Old Fuff]

My RIA was 2 pounds 15 ounces before I went to work on it.

I think you need to get a new trigger pull guage. It is highly unlikely that a stock RIA came with a 2 pound, 15 ounces trigger pull. If so you must have a unique pistol, and that's not likely.

 

[Wayne G.]

I had a para p-14 with a sub 1 pound trigger more like 14 ounces...
I got the gun out of the box like that.

I'd be taking advantage of the warranty and sending that liability back to Para!

 

[Eric F]

I sold it to a uspsa shooter about 7 years ago. And why? it was a great trigger and as I stated I shot thousands of rounds through it with out fail. I even took it to a "real" 1911 mechanic and was told it was great. If it is not broken why fis it?

 

[Tarvis]

I think this is the "practicals" vs. the "personal prefrences"