I am incapable of leaving well enough alone

[yocan]

So I'm reading through the frequent answers section of the 1911 forum, great 20 something links to show you how to do almost everything.

Well in the trigger job section, figured good light reading I'd enjoy it. I learned about "boosting" a way to alleviate creep, put thumb on hammer push towards slide pull trigger.

Well I did it and my creep is gone, and I think as a bonus the trigger weight went down .3 or .4 of a lb. So I'd say its useable now.

I'm a little OCD what can I say.

Edit: for those of you just showing up this is going to stay my 1911 tinkering saga. and will be semi-regularly updated until I get you a target where I'm happy.

[charlie.45]

wow now that little trick I've never heard of, awesome

[apexhunter]

If you are referring to having your thumb pushing on the hammer while you pull the trigger to fire a live round your next step would be the ER to have your broken thumb set.

If this is not the case than you can disregard the previous sentence.

[norinco982lover]

I hope he is referring to dry firing it in that manner...not sure why it would lessen his trigger pull on subsequent shots however...

[Brickboy240]

Well...if you are incapable of leaving well enough alone and are a perpetual tinkerer....you'll be right at home in the 1911 world!

I am an oddball in the case that I get my 1911s where they'll group at or under 3" at 15yds and feed everything I run through them and call them good and move on to other problem guns.

- brickboy240

[yocan]

Originally Posted by Brickboy240

Well...if you are incapable of leaving well enough alone and are a perpetual tinkerer....you'll be right at home in the 1911 world!

I am an oddball in the case that I get my 1911s where they'll group at or under 3" at 15yds and feed everything I run through them and call them good and move on to other problem guns.

- brickboy240

I like my 3.3 lb trigger. Only thing I can't figure out is how to make a trigger longer so I can alleviate a bit of the take up.

[XDoug45]

Originally Posted by yocan

I like my 3.3 lb trigger. Only thing I can't figure out is how to make a trigger longer so I can alleviate a bit of the take up.

You could track down an aftermarket match trigger that had the adjustable "take up tabs" on it. Or you can always silver solder a couple bumps onto your trigger shoe on both sides of the trigger pad and file down to your desired take-up.

Personally, I opted for a Chip McCormick Match trigger I found at a gun show because the stock take-up bugged me too much.

[yocan]

Originally Posted by XDoug45

You could track down an aftermarket match trigger that had the adjustable "take up tabs" on it. Or you can always silver solder a couple bumps onto your trigger shoe on both sides of the trigger pad and file down to your desired take-up.

Personally, I opted for a Chip McCormick Match trigger I found at a gun show because the stock take-up bugged me too much.

just took a grind wheel and took off the last groove off each side of the trigger, then polished the trigger part thats inside the pistol. Trigger pull dropped 1.2 ounces give or take .2 ounce. Dramatically smoother. edge of the trigger is softer.
I'm tempted to put a bit of silver solder on the inside of the frame right at the front of the trigger to not add weight to it.

Oh polished the guide rod, it looked like $HI% because the burs on the ends of the spring were trimmed INWARDS and were gouging it.Still has the gouges but its mooth pistol cycles dramatically better. I'm talking over 40% less force to cycle the slide.... feels like I got a lighter spring.

[XDoug45]

This looks like a good thread to keep an eye on. BTW, that trick is awesome, just a little tricky with a beavertail. I pinched myself...

One issue I ran into on the take up adjustment is over-adjusting. If there is too much there, you'll have the zero creep trigger, but the grip-safety will be rendered inoperative by hanging up on the trigger surface that engages the sear.

I guess the grip safety hang-up could be ground down to allow it to operate freely, but I didn't have the warm and fuzzy to do that myself... yet

[fltbed]

There has to be a small amount of take up present in the trigger for it to operate correctly. The STI trigger STI : Lightweight Aluminum Trigger (791-000-065) - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools is a popular choice for competition use as it has small tabs you can bend to adjust the amount of take up.

Just remember the trigger, grip safety, sear, disconnector and hammer must be fitted together so they all work in harmony. Change one and you affect the rest. (Series 80 guns include the levers and firing pin block as well).

Like Brickboy said, if you’re a perpetual tinkerer the 1911 is for you. Consider it the Harley Davidson of the gun world.

I would recommend that if you decide to keep tinkering, to purchase Jerry Kuhnhausen’s book HERITAGE GUN BOOKS : JERRY KUHNHAUSEN THE COLT .45 AUTOMATIC - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools on the 1911. Answers a lot of questions you haven’t even thought of yet and will keep you from making common mistakes.

Good luck.

Jeff