hammer drops on half cock after field strip

[glenjoy]

I field strip my 1911 and after it, I made the obligatory function test.

disconnector test is ok and thumb safety test is ok, the firearm failed in releasing the slide using the slide stop, the hammer dropped in half cock, what could be the problem?

Thank you.

[Joshua M. Smith]

Sear bounce, most likely. Was it doing this before? Or do you know?

Does it do it with a magazine in place? How about with a mag loading a dummy round?

We'll need to know the make and model of the weapon, as well as what work's been done to it.

Josh <><

[glenjoy]

PT1911, it happened after I cleaned up the gun. Before it does not happen.

[bricktop]

My mil spec springer has always dropped on half cock . My gunsmith installed a bull barrel and one piece guide rod also tigger work. It still will drop on half cock. He never said anything about it. I am wondering also.

[Joshua M. Smith]

Best I can tell you is to first measure the hammer hooks and make sure they're .025" or greater. A carry gun, IMO, should not be below that, though I know some folks who are OK with .020".

How light is the trigger pull? The lighter the trigger, the more likely you'll have sear bounce.

Does it do this with the magazine inserted? With dummy rounds being loaded?

I really think it likely did this before and you just didn't notice it.

Wait - you've not been dropping the slide on an empty chamber, have you? I mean, as a matter of course? That will damage the sear.

If you've not been, you can always bend the sear spring a bit to put a little more pressure on the sear, see if that corrects the problem.

Josh <><

[log man]

The slide being hard dropped will by inertia cause the trigger bow to bump the disconnector and trip the hammer if the center leaf is too light. Increasing the tension on the center leaf is indicated when it drops when not holding the trigger back.

LOG

[glenjoy]

How to increase the tension? Do you have any illustration or pics?

[John]

Remove your sear spring and bend the middle leaf towards the front. Make sure you bend it near the area where the three leaves unite, not on the top.

If that doesn't fix your problem, then do this test:

Lock the slide back and press the trigger all the way back. Without releasing the trigger, release the slide using the slide stop. If the hammer follows, then your sear/hammer interface needs attention.

[willie]

Wait - you've not been dropping the slide on an empty chamber, have you? I mean, as a matter of course? That will damage the sear.


Josh <><

Releasing the slide without a round in the the chamber is bad? OPPS! Does that only pertain to 1911's or anything? Can anyone explain what happens that this is a bad practice? thanks

[Joshua M. Smith]

Well, mostly 1911s, but several other pistols (I don't have a list) will be damaged by this as well.

Basically what happens is this: You've got a couple fairly delicate angles on that sear. Releasing the slide without a round in a mag to slow it down will bounce things around a bit, messing with those nice, sharp angles. Not too good for the locking lugs either...

Just a bad idea to do this unless it's as a test after working on the pistol, and then it's best to do this with the trigger held back. This will tell you if you're going to end up with hammer follow.

Josh <><

[Joshua M. Smith]

John, did you just delete a question by a new member, Willie? I replied to his question, now the question is gone.

If so, please delete my response. Thanks.

Josh <><

[niemi24s]

When a 1911 feeds a round out of the magazine, 5 events occurs which prevent the slide from accelerating forward unimpeded:

• Breechface contacts case head and starts stripping it from the magazine
• Bullet contacts the feed ramp and glances upward on its way to the chamber
• Cartridge is briefly caught between the breechface, the top corner of the barrel ramp and the top of the chamber.
• The case head slides up the breechface as the cartridge tips over to horizontal for final chambering.
• The case rim also slides up under the extractor

All these things reduce the slide's acceleration and they're all due to the presence of the cartridge.

With no cartridge being fed, the feet of the barrel's lower lugs hit the slide stop cross pin much harder than normal when the gun reaches the battery position.

Regards

[niemi24s]

And after posting all that previous bazanga, I can't even remember what Willie's question was! :p Maybe Willie found the answer and deleted the post himself?

[Joshua M. Smith]

And after posting all that previous bazanga, I can't even remember what Willie's question was! :p Maybe Willie found the answer and deleted the post himself?

He said something like "Oops, been doing that. Why is it bad?"

Then I replied.

Then his post disappeared.

Then I got more confused than I already am. :lm:

Josh <><

[niemi24s]

Maybe that's one disadvantage of our new lightning-fast dedicated server, huh? :D

[log man]

And after posting all that previous bazanga, I can't even remember what Willie's question was! :p Maybe Willie found the answer and deleted the post himself?
Many aren't aware of the delete button when you edit and is a good reason to quote, as it's evidence that you're not nuts.

LOG

[doctruptwn]

It was the aliens.

[willie]

I did reply with a question and THEN read some stickys like I should have before I replied. I deleted it hoping not to sound to green. You guys just read too fast. :eb:

[Tom]

And I've restored the post to keep the flow of this thread intact.

Willie, never worry about asking a question here - no matter how many times it may have been asked before or how "green" you feel you are. M1911.ORG, unlike most forums, never penalizes someone for asking questions. We are a very patient and tolerant crowd, you'll find.

[A.B.]

I did reply with a question and THEN read some stickys like I should have before I replied. I deleted it hoping not to sound to green. You guys just read too fast. :eb:No kidding, nothing gets past this server, now! +1 to Tom's post, it was well worth the question to everyone, to read Niemi's very cogent answer.

[willie]

Tom, I have come to find out there are very many helpful people here. And this is a very "Adult" forum with a few "characters" to make it interesting. So glad to have a resource as this one and thanks to the moderators for keeping it useable. :appld: :appld: :appld: :appld:

[doctruptwn]

Willie-- We were all new to this once so there isn't really a silly question. Glad you were able to find what you needed without assistance but we're always here if you do.