Replaced trigger in 1911, not too bad a job

[Goathead75]

My 108284 always had a floppy trigger and I wanted to put a short one in so after running into issues with one gunsmith and the other not answering his phone I decided to tackle the job myself. Ordered up the trigger, picked up a set of punches, read about fitting, detailed strip of the pistol and went for it.

It took less than an hour start to finish which surprised me. I REALLY lucked out, the trigger dropped right in with no fitting needed and all the slop is gone. Reassembled, tested and it's much more comfortable for me. Very excited about the change!

 

[Goathead75]

Finally got the pic to upload

 

[wlp624]

Were you able to compare the two side-by-side? What was the difference? Where did you get the replacement? Inquisitive, aren't I?

 

[Krogen]

I did the same thing with my SR1911 shortly after I got it. There was no issue with sloppiness. The issue is my stubby fingers! The short trigger really makes a difference. Mine took some fitting. It was simple to file down the top and bottom surfaces to the point where is slid easily in the frame.

I got mine from Midway. It's a Cylinder & Slide short, solid trigger.

 

[Cyrano]

I just changed the trigger on my Colt Combat Commander, much the same mechanism. Not hard, although mine was a little oversize and I had to file it where the wear marks showed. Now if I could only discover which of the 4 prongs on the replacement sear spring to bend to reduce the trigger pull a little but not too much.

 

[jstanfield103]

I have replaced all my 1911 triggers with a Wilson short trigger. Love the Wilson because it has the pretravel take up tabs. I love the short triggers do to my small hands also.

 

[JWS3]

I just changed the trigger on my Colt Combat Commander, much the same mechanism. Not hard, although mine was a little oversize and I had to file it where the wear marks showed. Now if I could only discover which of the 4 prongs on the replacement sear spring to bend to reduce the trigger pull a little but not too much.

Here ya go. Hope this helps!

Clark 1911 4 Finger Sear Spring

 

[Goathead75]

The trigger is a Greider I got from Brownell's. Height wise, the new trigger was about 1/16" taller than the factory one and that took up the slop that was there. I'll look and see if I have a pic of the two side by side.

 

[wlp624]

What reference material did you read before you started?

 

[Goathead75]

What reference material did you read before you started?

A lot...since I knew I wanted to do this about 2 months ago I looked into it then and had originally decided that for $70, I would have it done by a gunsmith. After the problems, I decided to do it myself and googled whatever reference material I could find on the detailed strip/assembly of the frame and also trigger install. Then based on forum posts for S&W 1911 I saw that people had less fitting with the Greider trigger vs. the Wilson trigger so I went with that one. Also, you tube. A ton of videos out there showing the detailed strip, trigger install, and setting overtravel for the trigger.

Just like doing anything for the first time, learn everything you can, take your time, and double check.

 

[wlp624]

Will do, thanks.

 

[Goathead75]

Will do, thanks.

No problem. There's a ton of reference material out there on it. With the S&W being a series 80 and having the swartz safety it seems a bit easier to break down than some. I believe it saves two parts to assemble. Not a bad job though.

 

[Cyrano]

Thanks, JWS3; looks like I have to bend #1, which contacts the sear, and #3 which contacts the trigger stirrup. I'll do it and see whether John Browning or Sir Hiram Maxim designed this sear spring.