Detail strip and spring replacement?

[Moose63845]

OK so I just bought a Colt series 80 MKIV Gov Model used. I have never done a detail strip on my Kimber since it hasn't needed it yet. So can someone post some pics to help me out? I've seen the discription, but I'm a visual person and pics would help. Also what springs should I replace and with what? I was gonna use a 16lb Wolf recoil spring, but don't know about anything else. Also I would like to keep the trigger pull light, like in the 3 1/2# range, what would I need to do to acomplish this?

[motec]

The best instructions I've seen for a detail strip are a part of this excellent site! You can find them, and a ton of other usefull information at http://www.m1911.org

Here is a direct link to the detail strip instructions.

http://www.m1911.org/stripin1.htm

And my favorite quote, one that still makes me chuckle: This completes the every-day field stripping procedure. It is normally not recommended to proceed any further, unless you are sure of what you are doing, in which case you wouldn't be reading this anyway, but let's go on.

Good luck!

[Hawkmoon]

The standard springs are 16-pound for the recoil and 23-pound for the mainspring. The third spring you might as well replace is the sear spring. You can get all three from Brownells, either Wolff brand or Colt brand.

There's an article on the technical side of the m1911.org site called "Poor man's trigger job" that explains how to clean up the trigger. IMHO 3-1/2 pounds is too light. I like 4 to 4-1/2, and if I do a quicky trigger job that ends up at 5 pounds and feels clean and crisp ... I leave it alone rather than muck it up trying for the extra half pound reduction. But I'm not a competition shooter. Range time is practice time, but a pistol is for self-defense and I have no use for one that's set up in a way that I wouldn't want to carry it. If I can keep them all around 4-1/2 to 5 pounds they'll all shoot the same, so practice with any one is applicable to all.

What's the trigger pull now? You said you want to "keep" the trigger light, in the 3-1/2 pound range, which implies that's where it is now. To get the trigger that light, the mainspring probably needs to be lighter than 23 pounds. Some of the "names" in 1911 tuning sell mainsprings as low as 19 or even 18 pounds, but IMHO you shouldn't go any lighter than 21-pound, or maybe 20 pound. You can buy a tuning kit from Wolff that includes one each in 19, 20 and 21 pound ... Wolff part number 26520. I don't recall if the calibration pack is available from Brownells.

[Moose63845]

I'm not sure what it is, but it was smooth as glass, like on my Kimber Gold Match. I can't pick it up until Wed, more likely be thurs that I get it though. I'll probably buy a few of different weights to see what I like and feels best. And thanks for all the other info, I didn't see the one with pics when I was looking.

[Moose63845]

Ok so just get the recoil, sear, and mainspring? Or should I get a hammer spring as well?

[Hawkmoon]

Ok so just get the recoil, sear, and mainspring? Or should I get a hammer spring as well?
The mainspring is also called the hammer spring. Same animal.

[Moose63845]

Ahh ok, now I'm not confused anymore. Thanks again for all the help.

[John]

Spend some time, in our Home Page to familiarize yourself with the nomenclature and the technical aspects of your new toy. It's time well spend.

[Moose63845]

Spend some time, in our Home Page to familiarize yourself with the nomenclature and the technical aspects of your new toy. It's time well spend.
I don't know how many hours I've spent on the main page, there's too much info on there. I start to blank out and stop absorbing anything.