firing pin stop

[had]

just how snug should it be? mine is pretty loose. which one should i buy? brown or wilson. is it easy to fit them? i heard you take material off the extractor side till it is snug.

had

[stumbler]

Without firing pin or extractor, it should go in and out without the need of tools. With extractor then installed, it should do the same. It is held in place by firing pin when slide is retracted. Good luck :)

[1911Tuner]

Howdy had,

Most factory firing pin stops will fall out under their own weight without the
other slide parts in place. A press-fit stop is a custom thing. It eliminates the tendency of the stop to drop out of position during the cycle and tying up the gun. It usually drops and catches on the hammer as the slide returns to battery. This usually happens when the firing pin spring is tired, and the
cure is usually a fresh spring every 4 or 5 thousand rounds. At less than 2 bucks a copy, it's cheap insurance.

If you want a little extra, you can use a prick punch on the front and back
edges of your stop to kick up a burr...three per side, front and back. Use a stone to dress the burrs down until the stop will press into place with medium thumb pressure. Make sure that the firing pin will snap back through the hole freely when it's done...and that the pin will move forward freely when the hammer hits it. Put a new pencil in the barrel eraser first. Point the pistol straight up and pull the trigger. It should be shot out of the barrel by a foot or so.

Luck!

Tuner

[1911WB]

I have had good luck with the Brown FP stops. They are better than factory, but generally don't require fitting (except on Kimber with adjustable sights). :)

[had]

thanks guys.

had

[1911WB]

Tuner, i hadn't thought about the old pencil in 1911 trick in years. Some of our "jokers" in the Navy used to shoot pencils out of GI 1911's, and the pencils would travel for quite a number of feet and even stick in a wall. The velocity was enough to get one's attention! :D