Half cock hammer help

[BIGWHISE]

Greetings all,
I am in the final stages of an Essex govt build. One problem I am running into is that when the hammer is cocked, an attempt to fire, the hammer drops to half cock about 80% of the time. I am using the C&S hammer/sear/spring kit and Ed Brown thumb and grip safety. All of my safety checks are good, just the hammer drops to half cock when trigger is pressed. Is it a sear spring adjustment?

Can anyone shed some light on the subject? Thanks for any suggestions.

Semper Fi
Robert in SC

[Sniper350]

Do you have an over travel screw inside your trigger ........if so back it out all the way and see if your problem goes away.

JF.

[Hawkmoon]

Another vote for an over-travel screw being messewd up. It sounds like the trigger isn't moving the sear far enough. An over-travel screw could do that. If it still does it with the screw backed off or removed -- do you have another trigger or a different sear you could try?

[pa_guns]

Hi

If it's not the over travel screw, it's something that's acting like an over travel screw. Either there is something blocking the trigger it's self, or the sear. Both should mover freely when pushed on.

Bob

[robot1911]

I just returned 2 Essex GM frames because the sear/hammer pin holes were out of location, and the disconnector hole was .015 out as well. This combo caused hammer follow and doubling. The mainspring housing pin holes were also out of location. And, the frames were a bit wider/thicker than spec and that caused a little problem when pushing in the mag release while turning the lever to remove it. Had to use a punch to completely depress the button.
This is not the first time I've encountered this problem with Essex frames...but it'll be the last!

Bob

[pa_guns]

Hi

I had not caught the fact that these were Essex frames ....

Bob

[Greyswindir]

I'd spend the extra money and buy an above average frame. Hopefully a better machined frame will lack any of the frequent problems people tend to have when they buy from Essex. I'm sure they get it right from time to time, but I hear more bad then I do good concerning Essex frames. It seems pretty difficult to try and save money when building a custom pistol. Even if spending less was part of the original plan it is pretty rare to get through a build without paying a bit more than you expected. Quality parts, whether it be frame and slide or smaller is actually cheaper in the long run.

[pa_guns]

Hi

Before we totally write off this frame, let's see if just maybe it was the over travel screw or a rough spot by the sear.

Bob

[kcshooter]

My Essex frame had a couple minor issues but everything was spec'ed properly.
As Tuner would say, "horses, not zebras."

[BIGWHISE]

The overtravel screw was out a tad, un-screwed it all way out and still same problem. I have read some things about "tweaking" the sear spring?

When the slide is off the frame, the hammer drops correct every time. :butthead:

Any takers on this one?

Thanks for response and suggestions

Robert in SC

[pa_guns]

Hi

I would be *very* interested in hearing from the OP and finding out where he's at on the problem.

Bob

[pa_guns]

Hi

Hopefully you're not dropping the hammer full force against the frame :scared: :scared:

Slide off = disconnector is out of the picture. Slide on = disconnector is back in action.

Leave off the grips and take out the mag. Run the slide (no recoil spring) slowly over the frame and watch what the disconnector is doing. It *should* be full up when the slide is in battery. I'd bet it's hanging up.

Bob

[BIGWHISE]

Hi

Hopefully you're not dropping the hammer full force against the frame :scared: :scared:
Bob

No...I have a small sliver of rubber from a bike tire I test hammer on when slide is off. I have snap caps for testing with slide on.

The disconnector is moving as normal with slide on in and out of battery. The last piece I fitted was the thumb safety. Could this possibly be causing the problem? :butthead: Maybe not taking off enough ? It works smoothly up and down and passed safety checks.

Robert

[hutch1510]

my mistake i thought you said you tightened the triggerstop screw.....

[pa_guns]

Hi

Take all of the safeties off, grip safety and thumb safety. Pin the sear and hammer in and see if you still have a problem. If the problem goes away, then yes the safety is blocking the trigger.

Bob

[robot1911]

I'm working on an Essex right now. One more thing I find is that after trying 12 disconnectors, none were long enough to fully disconnect from the sear. And yes, I did try 3 slides as well. The cure is to take a little off the top of the disconnector's paddle so it'll clear the sear feet when depressed by the slide. I much prefer this than taking metal of the bottom of the sear feet. Either way is a touchy situation.

Bob

[BIGWHISE]

I think I just found the problem. Upon inspecting the underside of slide where the disconnector rides, it's hitting on the end of the concave groove. Not in the middle. The slide is all the way in battery when this is happening. Sorry about the bad pic, my daughter has my good camera today.

What do you guys think?

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k46/BIGWHISE/DIS2.jpg

[pa_guns]

Hi

Either the slide or the frame is milled wrong. At least part of it can be fixed by a bit of work on the slide. You mill the area where the disconnector *does* hit out deeper. Another way to look at it is you "move" the cutout forward on the slide. Having the cutout to long is not a problem in this case.

Bob

[robot1911]

That's exactly where it's supposed to hit. That's why occasionally we have relieve/polish the front section of that channel.
Sorry 'bout that, but I don't think that's your problem...but it would be great if it is!

Bob

[pa_guns]

Hi

Hard to tell from the picture. If it's hitting where I'm thinking it's hitting, and the disconnector isn't coming up far enough, it needs a touch of work. I've been wrong looking at pictures before though.

Quick check:

Pin the pistol up, allow the slide to move forward just a bit further than it would be in battery. Use your rubber chunk (or your thumb) and see if he hammer runs correctly.

If it magically starts working, then you are pretty close to a solution. Take a good look at the disconnector as you slowly move the slide to be sure of what's going on.

Bob

[BIGWHISE]

Well that was it. I had to mill the half moon slot just a bit longer toward the front of slide. It works like a champ. All safety checks work like they are suppose to. I am relieved to know that its doing what its suppose to.

Thanks to everyone who replied

Semper Fi

Robert in SC

[pa_guns]

Hi

Very cool. Glad you are moving on with the build !!!

Bob