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AR15.COM
8/9/2017 9:16:34 PM EDT
My 1911 is dropping to half cock when I rack the slide.  I've had the gun for over 25 yrs and the sear spring is original.  Never had any Bubba trigger job done, so I am thinking that the sear spring is just old and tired.  Is any fitting or tuning required?  What source do you recommend for a quality part?

Thanks!
8/9/2017 10:07:57 PM EDT
[#1]
I'm willing to bet that the consensus will be to opt for a Colt sear spring
Sear Spring 1911 Colt - It's a Colt sear spring sold by EGW                    
               

               
                   
                   
               
           
8/10/2017 7:39:23 AM EDT
[#2]
You can just re bend the sear spring. You will have to adjust a new sear spring in the same fashion anyway.

I'd check for gunk in the trigger hammer sear area as well, may just be build up keeping parts from moving freely.
8/10/2017 1:47:40 PM EDT
[#3]
Presumably, you've done a 'thumb test' on the hammer with the sear fully engaged.  Pushing on the hammer when the pistol is cocked will tell you if the sear, itself, is the problem.  On an older gun, if the owner/shooter has regularly dropped the slide on an empty gun, the sear will get peened and eventually fail in the way you're describing.  Just be sure it is not the sear that's the problem before getting a new spring.  The spring that bears on the sear is a very low tension affair on a 1911 and not prone to failure over time.
8/13/2017 2:07:33 AM EDT
[#4]
I'm having the same problem with a Springfield loaded. Older gun, I detailed stripped and cleaned everything. Polished everything and put it back together.  Noticed the hammer follow the slide.  Took it apart and bent the spring a little, still does it. I'm at wits end and think I'll never get another series 70 gun again. I like safeties better than NDs.
8/13/2017 10:48:41 AM EDT
[#5]
Quote History
Quoted:
I'm having the same problem with a Springfield loaded. Older gun, I detailed stripped and cleaned everything. Polished everything and put it back together.  Noticed the hammer follow the slide.  Took it apart and bent the spring a little, still does it. I'm at wits end and think I'll never get another series 70 gun again. I like safeties better than NDs.
View Quote
I had the same problem with a SIG P226 SAO. I know it is not a 1911, but it is an SAO hammer-fired gun with the same basic design as the 1911.

I finally sent it back to SIG, and they said it was a "damaged sear spring", whatever that means. It is fine now, so whatever happened to it a new sear spring fixed the problem.
8/13/2017 2:21:52 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote History
Quoted:
I had the same problem with a SIG P226 SAO. I know it is not a 1911, but it is an SAO hammer-fired gun with the same basic design as the 1911.

I finally sent it back to SIG, and they said it was a "damaged sear spring", whatever that means. It is fine now, so whatever happened to it a new sear spring fixed the problem.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
I'm having the same problem with a Springfield loaded. Older gun, I detailed stripped and cleaned everything. Polished everything and put it back together.  Noticed the hammer follow the slide.  Took it apart and bent the spring a little, still does it. I'm at wits end and think I'll never get another series 70 gun again. I like safeties better than NDs.
I had the same problem with a SIG P226 SAO. I know it is not a 1911, but it is an SAO hammer-fired gun with the same basic design as the 1911.

I finally sent it back to SIG, and they said it was a "damaged sear spring", whatever that means. It is fine now, so whatever happened to it a new sear spring fixed the problem.
The sear spring in a 1911 action (or "similar") almost always requires some adjustment when installed.

Some even come completely flat.