Little rant about built-in gun locks...

[WarMachine]

For a while now, I have noticed that sometimes it is rather difficult to cock the hammer on my Springer GI .45; almost as if it was getting caught on something. I detailed stripped it down and looked at all the parts trying to see if anything was bent or otherwise faulty. All seemed well, so I put it back together and put it back into the safe.

Today, I was doing some more dry-fire drills and such, and I decided to take it out again to see if a bit of lube would do the trick. To my horror I found that I could not cock the hammer at all. Remembering that the mainspring housing has a lock built into it I looked at the place where the key is supposed to go and I found that the lock itself was turned slightly (not fully on, but just enough to block the cocking of the hammer which doesn't take much).

So then I go around my house searching half an hour to-and-fro trying to remember where I stuck those two little darned keys. After finding them I inserted the key and turned the lock slightly to the full OFF position; a movement of about a millimeter or two. Thinking that solved the problem I dry-fired it a few more times and then the binding returned. Apparently, something is out of spec with the housing/lock that is causing it to work it's way slightly to the on position after the hammer has moves through it's fully range of motion about 10 or so times.

I know this is a VERY rare occurrence, but I can't help but think what would have happened if I actually had to fire the pistol (especially in a defensive situation). Binding of the hammer on the cocking stroke would have basically rendered my gun a single shot. Enough mechanics are involved in the operation of a firearm, and I hate it when gun manufacturers implement even more to the party. I have an Ed Brown housing on order at this moment. My Loaded 9mm (which I bought used) already came with one installed and it has given me zero issues.

Anyone else have any similar stories of gun "safety" gone awry?

 

[Outlaws]

No stories, but at Springfields website the manual for the GI is available and shows how to remove the internal lock if you so choose...without replacing the whole mainspring housing.

 

[1911Tuner]

ILS

The great thing about the Springfield ILS is that it can be removed without anything to give it away except the serial number range. It requires a standard mainspring housing, mainspring, cap, and cap retaining pin. I recommend replacing the firing pin and spring as well.

Standard disclaimer:

The above text is for informational purposes only. Removal of a factory installed safety mechanism can possibly cause legal and/or civil issues should the gun ever be involved in a defensive or accidental shooting...even though the missing safety mechanism would neither have caused nor prevented the accident, nor would it have had any bearing on the decision to fire in a defensive shooting. You are duly notified, and the responsibility for modifying your gun rests solely upon you.

 

[WarMachine]

Well, this gun is for range duty; having to defend myself after a defensive shooting scenario isn't really an issue with this particular piece. And 'Tuner, if I replace the standard mainspring housing, mainspring, cap, and cap retaining pin...wouldn't it just be simpler to buy another one anyway?

 

[1911Tuner]

re:

WarMachine wrote/asked:

>And 'Tuner, if I replace the standard mainspring housing, mainspring, cap, and cap retaining pin...wouldn't it just be simpler to buy another one anyway<
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Another what? Mainspring housing? They don't come assembled/ready to drop in.

 

[KenRocks]

I just looked through the GI .45 manual, since I have one myself...found alot about taking apart and reassembling the ILS, but nothing about actually removing it permanently from the gun. I dont have any gunsmithing experience, so I just wanted to confirm...is it actually possible to just yank it out somehow without installing new parts...or do I need the mainspring housing, etc mentioned above?

 

[Fu-man Shoe]

It sounds like a little bit of loc-tite would be a
lot simpler, and greatly preclude the possibility
of your ILS components moving around on you.

 

[WarMachine]

Another what? Mainspring housing? They don't come assembled/ready to drop in.

My mistake, I kind of left this out of my last post. That's what I get for posting late at night. The one I ordered is coming pre-assembled as it's a different make. The original Brown model I had on order was apparently out of stock but not listed as such.

 

[1911Tuner]

re:

Ken, you can replace the guts with standard fare, but you'd still have that pesky lock that could move and tie up the works.

Never heard of a complete, pre-assembled mainspring housing...but I'd tend to be a little leery of that sort of thing. Kinda like shootin' a reloaded round that ya pick up at the range. Ya just never know what's in it.