I've always read that a modified pistol will get you barbequed in court. But I'll tell you what I do.

I have had a long association with custom gunsmith Terry Tussey. Like many others, he has a service called a "reliability package."

If I sent him a 1911 for this service, he would polish the feed-ramp and breech face, clean up the trigger and inspect the sear, check out the ejector and extractor and go through my magazines.

On my pistols I ask him to make sure the trigger is +5 pounds, and that the safety is modified to make it harder than normal to disengage. Not only is his stuff crisp, but if confronted, my adrenaline will be pumping and even a 12 pound trigger will feel 'normal.'

Of course, he documents these changes.

In other words, I bend over backwards to check out these pistols, and have an expert document the conditions. Just to make sure, periodically my stuff goes back to him for tune-ups. That is documented, as well.