Ed Brown Hardcore Commander style hammer

[Artmiester]

All,
I just replaced the stock hammer on my Taurus PT911-SS with an Ed Brown Commander style (Hardcore). Fell right into place, functioned beautifully, looks great, couldn't wait to take it to the range.
First round, nothing. Cocked and tried a second strike. Nothing. Ejected and tried the second round, again nothing. Has to be the weight difference between hammers. I understand that the remedy is to bend the hammer leaf on the mainspring to increase striking force but I'm reluctant to try as this can only be a hit or miss fix at best. Is there another remedy? The stock mainspring doesn't look to be match grade. Should I replace it and go from there or just take it to my gunsmith? Thanks in advance for the input. :confused:
Artmiester

[Hawkmoon]

The thingie with the three leaves is NOT the mainspring, and bending that will not increase the force of the hammer striking the firing pin. The part you are describing is the sear spring. The mainspring is a coil spring, and it resides inside the mainspring housing.

Your new hammer should have enough mass to fire a round. Empty the gun, then empty it again, cock it, drop a pencil down the barrel and pull the trigger. The firing pin should expel the pencil with some force. (Don't aim at the living room ceiling. Do this in the basement or the garage.) If not, there's a mechanical problem other than just spring rating.

[lanceriley]

I use the hardcore hammer in my 1911 with a reduced mainspring just 17lbs and it has always fired every round.

[Artmiester]

Thanks HM,
Appreciate your straightening me out on this. I'll run that test tonight and get back to you here. I'm new to 1911's and getting advise from unreliable resources.
Thanks again,
Art ;)

[John]

PT1911? Isn't that pistol using a Series 80 mechanism? Are you sure you have installed everything properly in the gun? Or an I awake for too many hours and I imagine things?

[HAIL CAESAR]

PT1911? Isn't that pistol using a Series 80 mechanism? Are you sure you have installed everything properly in the gun? Or an I awake for too many hours and I imagine things?

Yep, it's an 80. I'm tired too, but that is the first thing I thought of. Need to do the pencil test.

[JRS]

The exact same thing happened to me with my PT1911. Luckily, when I ordered the Ed Brown hammr, I also ordered an Ed Brown pin and spring kit. I replaced the Taurus main spring with the Ed Brown spring. Problem solved. And just to be more on the safe side, I replaced all frame internals with Ed Brown parts (sear, disconnector, etc. )

[Artmiester]

All,
Ran the pencil test last night and no pencil ejection.When disassembling to replace the hammer I stopped short of removing the sear and extractor. The series 80 safety may not have been seated correctly. After reassembly everything seemed to work properly so I headed for the range.
Does anyone have a link to a good assembly procedure or animation in this area? Mine is very vague. Appreciate all the help I'm getting here.
Thanx,
Art

[John]

Go to our Home Page and read the Disassembly section, then reverse everything. Can't find a better article than that.

[Hawkmoon]

Go to our Home Page and read the Disassembly section, then reverse everything. Can't find a better article than that.
Does the disassembly article include the Series 80 levers? The original poster changed out a hammer on a pistol with a Series 80 firing pin safety. Once you remove the hammer pin and hammer, those levers can get knocked out of position. If not reinstalled correctly, the firing pin safety won't un-safe.

[John]

Right, yes, it doesn't include it, but this picture should cover that.

http://www.m1911.org/images/safety.jpg

[Artmiester]

Thanks John, that's exactly it. I believe the lower sear lever is rotated clockwise and not engaging the upper lever so the pin remains locked. I'll take care of this tonight and get back to you tomorrow. Thanks again, all. :D :D
Art