1911 safety Plunger Spring / Slide Stop

Gregory Gauvin · February 27, 2015, 02:34 AM

I know I'm not probably suppose to do this, but was wondering if any of you have had done this and/or the ill effect of doing so.

My thumb safety positively would lock on and off with a distinctive click, however, compared to my other 1911s, they seemed to be a bit more solid. Much more firm. I prefer a nice "click" on and off, rather than a meager click click. So, naturally, I'm probably going to get scorned for not replacing the plunger spring with a wolf / heavy duty or brand name spring.

What I did was measure the length of my plunger spring, and ever so gently gave it a bit of a tug and lengthened it just a bit. I reinstalled my thumb safety, slide stop and plungers, and have a very solid, positive on off click of my safety to my utmost liking.

Stretching springs is a no, no. But my results seem satisfactory. Is what I did OK? I didn't monkey stretch the spring. Anyone else perform this operation? Thanks.

jcj54 · February 27, 2015, 07:23 AM

Do it all the time....

g.willikers · February 27, 2015, 08:29 AM

Stretching a spring won't change the rated poundage, but it can put more pressure on the part it affects.
It will keep a mag with a weak spring working for awhile longer, too.

**4V50 Gary** · February 27, 2015, 10:16 AM

It works now. Don't worry. Be Happy.

One 1911 type firearm had an ambidextrous safety that flopped around loosely - there was too much play. I peened it a bit and and then filed it ever so slightly so that the two parts were snugly fitted.

James K · February 27, 2015, 11:12 AM

The only problem with stretching a spring is that they try to return to the original length if much pressure is put on them. Since that spring is not compressed significantly, the fix should be fine.

Jim

RickB · February 27, 2015, 12:59 PM

I'd get out the electric drill, and deepen the detent in the face of the safety. I've done it a half-dozen times on guns with indistinct on-off, and it makes a definite improvement.
Stretching a coil spring destroys its temper, and something like a mag spring will fail in short order, perhaps proportional to the amount of stretching, but a plunger spring isn't cycling much, so it still might last forever.

g.willikers · February 28, 2015, 11:29 AM

Yeah, stretching springs is no substitute for a proper fix.
Sooner or later the spring will return to the original shape and length.
Usually when it's least expected.
It can help finish out the day at the range, though.

February 27, 2015, 02:34 AM	#1
Gregory Gauvin Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2009 Posts: 368	1911 safety Plunger Spring / Slide Stop I know I'm not probably suppose to do this, but was wondering if any of you have had done this and/or the ill effect of doing so. My thumb safety positively would lock on and off with a distinctive click, however, compared to my other 1911s, they seemed to be a bit more solid. Much more firm. I prefer a nice "click" on and off, rather than a meager click click. So, naturally, I'm probably going to get scorned for not replacing the plunger spring with a wolf / heavy duty or brand name spring. What I did was measure the length of my plunger spring, and ever so gently gave it a bit of a tug and lengthened it just a bit. I reinstalled my thumb safety, slide stop and plungers, and have a very solid, positive on off click of my safety to my utmost liking. Stretching springs is a no, no. But my results seem satisfactory. Is what I did OK? I didn't monkey stretch the spring. Anyone else perform this operation? Thanks.

February 27, 2015, 07:23 AM	#2
jcj54 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2011 Posts: 219	Gunsmiths Do it all the time....

February 27, 2015, 08:29 AM	#3
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Stretching a spring won't change the rated poundage, but it can put more pressure on the part it affects. It will keep a mag with a weak spring working for awhile longer, too. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.” Last edited by g.willikers; February 27, 2015 at 08:49 AM.

February 27, 2015, 10:16 AM	#4
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	It works now. Don't worry. Be Happy. One 1911 type firearm had an ambidextrous safety that flopped around loosely - there was too much play. I peened it a bit and and then filed it ever so slightly so that the two parts were snugly fitted. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 27, 2015, 12:59 PM	#6
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	I'd get out the electric drill, and deepen the detent in the face of the safety. I've done it a half-dozen times on guns with indistinct on-off, and it makes a definite improvement. Stretching a coil spring destroys its temper, and something like a mag spring will fail in short order, perhaps proportional to the amount of stretching, but a plunger spring isn't cycling much, so it still might last forever. __________________ Runs off at the mouth about anything 1911 related on this site and half the time is flat out wrong.

February 27, 2015, 11:12 AM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The only problem with stretching a spring is that they try to return to the original length if much pressure is put on them. Since that spring is not compressed significantly, the fix should be fine. Jim

February 28, 2015, 11:29 AM	#7
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Yeah, stretching springs is no substitute for a proper fix. Sooner or later the spring will return to the original shape and length. Usually when it's least expected. It can help finish out the day at the range, though. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”