love my Pro series 1911, hate the loose trigger

mapwd · February 10, 2014, 09:04 PM

I bought a used but like new Pro series 5" 1911 and the thing is a tack driver. This is my third S&W1911, the others were an E series and a Gunsite 1911PD. All the triggers are loose and sloppy with both vertical and horizontal play. has anyone else here replaced their triggers? I am thinking of a 10-8 flat faced long trigger.

tangolima · February 11, 2014, 12:10 AM

Is the play sprung?

Old Stony · February 11, 2014, 06:43 AM

Not a big deal to replace the trigger. Getting one to fit closely enough to take out all the play vertically might be a challenge. With careful fitting of the bows of the trigger, you can pretty much control lateral movement.

mapwd · February 11, 2014, 11:08 AM

Tangolima, I don't know what that means.

tangolima · February 11, 2014, 11:31 AM

Is the trigger always under spring tension, or just flopping around?

-TL

g.willikers · February 11, 2014, 12:08 PM

You might need a trigger that is slightly over sized so it can be custom trimmed to fit the frame better.
Especially for the vertical play.
As tangolima says, the fore and aft play might due to the tension of the trigger spring.
It can also be caused by too thin sear legs.
And/or a small disconnector head or too large of hole in the top of the frame that allows it to rock forward.
If this is all Sumerian to you, best to have a 1911 gunsmith take a look.

tangolima · February 11, 2014, 03:06 PM

In a 1911, the trigger must be sprung, under spring tension, all the time, or it may be unsafe. So any horizontal unsprung free play must be corrected.

However sprung horizontal play, take up, is normal and necessary in 1911. Don't try to fix it.

Vertical and sideways play is more of a nuisance. Fix it if it bothers you. But looking for an oversized trigger bow itself is quite a nuisance.

-TL

mapwd · February 11, 2014, 06:39 PM

I guess I never realized that a 1911 trigger was under constant spring tension. I know that the sear spring is under tension with the sear, hammer, disconnector, and grip safety, but the trigger is pretty much loose until you pull it into the sear spring.

Smith and Wesson 1911s are notorious for having triggers that rattle. The frames are made out of spec. and allows for to much movement horizontally and vertically. The trigger rails are also to wide in the frame. The gun is nice and accurate, just hate the rattling trigger.

tangolima · February 11, 2014, 07:43 PM

The flat spring has 3 prongs, one for grip safety, one for sear, and one for trigger.

The spring tension and trigger take up are there for a reason, almost particular to the 1911 design; the hammer follow down caused by slide surge.

-TL

mapwd · February 11, 2014, 08:25 PM

Yes, the trigger is under spring tension, but the trigger shoe still is able to move up and down and side to side because the frame is out of spec. Smith and Wesson says this is normal and is not an issue. The gun shoots awesome, just want to get rid of the annoying trigger movement.

tangolima · February 11, 2014, 09:52 PM

OK it is not too bad then. You just need an over sized trigger bow. I am sure they exist, but just haven't had the for one. Let us know when you find one.

-TL

February 10, 2014, 09:04 PM	#1
mapwd Member Join Date: December 13, 2005 Location: Janesville, WI Posts: 86	love my Pro series 1911, hate the loose trigger I bought a used but like new Pro series 5" 1911 and the thing is a tack driver. This is my third S&W1911, the others were an E series and a Gunsite 1911PD. All the triggers are loose and sloppy with both vertical and horizontal play. has anyone else here replaced their triggers? I am thinking of a 10-8 flat faced long trigger. __________________ When the government fears the people there is liberty; when the people fear the government there is tyranny. - Thomas Jefferson 1743-1826

February 11, 2014, 11:08 AM	#4
mapwd Member Join Date: December 13, 2005 Location: Janesville, WI Posts: 86	Tangolima, I don't know what that means. __________________ When the government fears the people there is liberty; when the people fear the government there is tyranny. - Thomas Jefferson 1743-1826

February 11, 2014, 12:08 PM	#6
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	You might need a trigger that is slightly over sized so it can be custom trimmed to fit the frame better. Especially for the vertical play. As tangolima says, the fore and aft play might due to the tension of the trigger spring. It can also be caused by too thin sear legs. And/or a small disconnector head or too large of hole in the top of the frame that allows it to rock forward. If this is all Sumerian to you, best to have a 1911 gunsmith take a look. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.” Last edited by g.willikers; February 11, 2014 at 12:13 PM.

February 11, 2014, 06:39 PM	#8
mapwd Member Join Date: December 13, 2005 Location: Janesville, WI Posts: 86	I guess I never realized that a 1911 trigger was under constant spring tension. I know that the sear spring is under tension with the sear, hammer, disconnector, and grip safety, but the trigger is pretty much loose until you pull it into the sear spring. Smith and Wesson 1911s are notorious for having triggers that rattle. The frames are made out of spec. and allows for to much movement horizontally and vertically. The trigger rails are also to wide in the frame. The gun is nice and accurate, just hate the rattling trigger. __________________ When the government fears the people there is liberty; when the people fear the government there is tyranny. - Thomas Jefferson 1743-1826

February 11, 2014, 08:25 PM	#10
mapwd Member Join Date: December 13, 2005 Location: Janesville, WI Posts: 86	Yes, the trigger is under spring tension, but the trigger shoe still is able to move up and down and side to side because the frame is out of spec. Smith and Wesson says this is normal and is not an issue. The gun shoots awesome, just want to get rid of the annoying trigger movement. __________________ When the government fears the people there is liberty; when the people fear the government there is tyranny. - Thomas Jefferson 1743-1826 Last edited by mapwd; February 11, 2014 at 09:05 PM. Reason: grammer

February 11, 2014, 12:10 AM	#2
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,815	Is the play sprung?

February 11, 2014, 06:43 AM	#3
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	Not a big deal to replace the trigger. Getting one to fit closely enough to take out all the play vertically might be a challenge. With careful fitting of the bows of the trigger, you can pretty much control lateral movement.

February 11, 2014, 11:31 AM	#5
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,815	Is the trigger always under spring tension, or just flopping around? -TL

February 11, 2014, 03:06 PM	#7
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,815	In a 1911, the trigger must be sprung, under spring tension, all the time, or it may be unsafe. So any horizontal unsprung free play must be corrected. However sprung horizontal play, take up, is normal and necessary in 1911. Don't try to fix it. Vertical and sideways play is more of a nuisance. Fix it if it bothers you. But looking for an oversized trigger bow itself is quite a nuisance. -TL

February 11, 2014, 07:43 PM	#9
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,815	The flat spring has 3 prongs, one for grip safety, one for sear, and one for trigger. The spring tension and trigger take up are there for a reason, almost particular to the 1911 design; the hammer follow down caused by slide surge. -TL

February 11, 2014, 09:52 PM	#11
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,815	OK it is not too bad then. You just need an over sized trigger bow. I am sure they exist, but just haven't had the for one. Let us know when you find one. -TL