removing the IL flag vs. the Plug?

[1911luver]

I plan to order a plug for my 360PD. In the mean time will removing only the lock flag itself present any function problems?

What I mean is will the key hole itself stay in its place? There's a piece that looks like it holds it in place from the videos I've watched on removing the flag. How does the plug stay in place vs the key hole? Does it come with something special to hold it in place? Or is it the same as leaving the the key lock hole itself in the gun? Has anyone here just removed the lock flag itself if so have you had any issues? Thanks in advance.

[Mr. HillBilly]

I pulled the flag out of my 625JM about 6 months ago and have not had any issues other than the look of the small grove by the hammer. I just pulled the flag and the spring. I did not see any issues that could happen with leaving the rest of it the way it is. I was thinking about just grinding the pin off the flag but I figured I would just pull it.

[wrangler5]

I waited until I had the plug in hand before I took the sideplate off my 638, to do the job all at once. If you feel you must remove the locking feature in order to completely eliminate the possiblilty of an unintended lockup in case you have to shoot the gun before the plug arrives, it probably would be prudent to remove all of the parts so there's nothing left that might come loose under recoil and jam things up.

It also avoids leaving something on the gun that looks like a lock but doesn't actually do anything when you turn the key. Obviously YOU know the lock is nonfunctional, but if you drop dead before you get the plug installed, your estate might end up selling the gun to an unsuspecting buyer who thinks he's getting a lockable gun but is later surpised when one of his kids makes it go bang. If that happened, you just know he's going to go looking for somebody to sue, and defending a case can be ruinously expensive, even if you ultimately win.

Better to have a hole in the side for a while (if you can't wait for the plug to arrive and feel you have to do something now.) People have been known to put a piece of tape over the hole to keep small critters and cookie crumbs out, if that's a concern.

[1911luver]

Thanks guys. What keeps the plug in place? I mean is it any more likey to come loose than the remaining lock parts if they are left in?

[CH4]

A spring clip holds the plug in place. I don't see it coming loose.

[wrangler5]

You can go here for pictures The "Plug" for a S&W J-Frame.

[Mehutch]

If I can do it anyone can.




And this is the results...

[springer99]

Originally Posted by 1911luver

Thanks guys. What keeps the plug in place? I mean is it any more likey to come loose than the remaining lock parts if they are left in?

Make sure you install that plug correctly or it might fail
The internet is rife with examples.

[Macinaw]

[1911luver]

Mr.Hillbilly so you pulled just the flag itself and have had no issues with the other parts staying in place then?

[Mr. HillBilly]

Correct. I fired 1000+ live rounds, and 2500+ dry-fires since I pulled the flag and no problems at all. To me it did not look the rest rest would cause a issue.

To be honest I did not know anyone came up with a plug so I guess I might look into it and get rid of the rest of the stuff.

This is all I did to mine.

S&W Internal Lock Removal - YouTube

If you go to the 5 min. mark you will see the flag and sping.