CSEMARTIN

Hope all goes well for you Chris. Sorry to hear the news.

It's true.

I've had some bad experiences with S&W (three to be exact- two revolvers and one Koenig 1911), but clearly I'm in the minority. It might be time for me to just shut my pie hole and stay out of this.

I don't know why, but I laughed when I read this Well....there is a story or two behind this statement.

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." -Lincoln

If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse.

Huh?

This is turning into a favorite of mine as well.

I'll never buy anything made by Smith & Wesson.

Congrats Ben!

congrats.

That is pretty awesome!

I forgot to mention, there is an article floating around written by J. Weigand on how to use the Powers jig to do a 1911 trigger. Here is a link: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=12535/GunTechdetail/2___lb__Trigger_Pull This is where I started, but I found that the article was misleading with regard to setting up the jig to stone the primary sear angle. The article says to set the jig at "4" clicks, but I found 20 clicks did the trick after looking at everything under a microscope when all was said and done.

This is the jig I've been using. http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=21082/Product/ULTIMATE_1911_SEAR_JIG This is helpful: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=677/Product/TRIGGER_ADJUSTMENT_PINS with one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Aven-26700-206-10x-Magnification-Microscope/dp/B00475C43K/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1316907772&sr=8-15 You'll need one of these too: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=848/Product/1911_AUTO_HAMMER_SQUARING_FILE This was a waste of money: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=19480/Product/HAMMER_SEAR_PIN_BLOCK_KIT This is helpful: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=680/Product/1911_AUTO_HAMMER_SLOT_STONE & http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=798/Product/1911_AUTO_TRIGGER_TRACK_STONE Not perfect, but I do use it once in a blue moon: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1009/Product/1911_AUTO_HAMMER_STOP_BLOCK Gene Shuey does a nice job explaining the inner workings of a 1911 trigger: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=25564/Product/_308_BUILDING_THE_1911_STYLE_LIMITED_CLASS_OR_CARRY_GUN_VOL__1 (There were three volumes when I bought mine.) Also, The Wilson Combat Series is helpful too: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=24926/Product/COMBAT_CUSTOMIZING_THE_1911_AUTO___VOLUME_1 (there are 4 volumes I believe) I love my ceramic stones: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=799/Product/6__X_1_2__X_1_2__CERAMIC_STONES I also have these: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=9622/Product/NORTON_6__X_1_2__X_1_2__INDIA_STONE (get the medium and fine) You'll need one of these: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=9960/Product/RCBS_TRIGGER_PULL_GAUGE (don't buy the digital one). You need to be able to adjust the individual sear spring legs one at a time and you can't do that with a digital gauge. You'll need some of this: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=5178/Product/SIMICHROME_POLISH Not necessary to have right away but very nice to have around: http://www.egwguns.com/gunsmithing-tools/trigger-fitting-gauge/ The Powers jig works just fine, but be mindful of bending. Good Luck.

+1 Knowledge is your most important tool. I started off with Powers jig, but I didn't like it. The piece I've drawn an arrow to tends to bend. When you are stoning your sear, it'll cause you to stone an uneven surface.

When I tried to run a 17# spring, I had light strikes. Now, I run only 19# mainsprings and have never had a problem. My trigger is 2.5#'s and is 100% reliable. I had a gun with titanium parts, but I didn't notice a difference.

http://www.cartercutlery.com/

One place to start would be social services at the hospital. They are going to be the most knowledgeable about what is available for the uninsured. And once the bills are all tallied up, it's time to sit down with the bill collectors and try and negotiate a payment plan. A long time ago, I had a $1000 dollar ER visit that I was able to get down to $500 bucks. When I was a surgical resident, I was on Medicaid when my son was hospitalized. My wife and I still got hit with some pretty hefty bills and we were able to work out a payment plan with the hospital. It took us over a year to pay it all off, but we got it down without any problems. Back in the mid-90's, a friend of mine lost his eye in a freak accident while working on his car. He ended up losing his eye and was left with over 28K in bills. After all was said and done, he had to file bankruptcy. First and foremost, get yourself taken care of. Worry about the bills later.

Until we get the medical malpractice lawyers under control, we'll never be able to control the cost of defensive medicine. Until the cost of defensive medicine is under control, those people without insurance will never be able to afford it. edit: spelling

+1

I hope you can get it all figured out Alan.

A friend of mine just e-mailed me these quotes: "Show me a good and gracious loser, and I'll show you a failure." -Knute Rockne "I make my practices real hard because if a player is a quitter, I want him to quit in practice, not in a game." -Bear Bryant "It isn't necessary to see a good tackle. You can hear it." -Knute Rockne "After you retire, there's only one big event left....and I ain't ready for that." -Bobby Bowden "When you win, nothing hurts." -Joe Namath "Motivation is simple. You eliminate those who are not motivated." -Lou Holtz "There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you." -Woody Hayes "I don't expect to win enough games to be put on NCAA probation. I just want to win enough to warrant an investigation." -Bob Devaney "You can learn more character on the two-yard line than anywhere else in life." -Paul Dietzel "Lads, you're not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died." -Frank Leahy "My advice to defensive players: Take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in a bad humor." -Bowden Wyatt "Always remember ..... Goliath was a 40 point favorite over David." -Shug Jordan "Son, you've got a good engine, but your hands aren't on the steering wheel." -Bobby Bowden "We live one day at a time and scratch where it itches." -Darrell Royal "Three things can happen when you throw the ball, and two of them are bad.” -Woody Hayes

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

We were escorted by the Patriot Guard, Missouri State Police and Illinois State Police. The interstate was blocked the last 30 miles of the trip. It was a sight to see.

I returned home early this morning. This was an experience of a lifetime.