Hammer releases when slide released

[currahee1911]

Hi,

Situation: Colt 1911 single stack-

1. slide locked, hammer cocked, then...

2. slide released, hammer falls with slide instead of remaining cocked.

Any ideas what is wrong?

All help appreciated.

Thanks,

C.

[broadus123]

Check sear spring tension middle and left leaf.

[Son Of The Griz]

That's "hammer follow" and could potentially become a serious safety issue.

I strongly recommend you have a gunsmith look at it and have it fixed ASAP.

Is the sear catching the half-cock notch?

[TonyK]

How many rounds have been through the gun? Hammer and sear interface could be worn beyond safe use.

[Forgetful]

Trigger weight?

[Parallax3D]

Possible problems:

1, Insufficient sear spring tension, (right leg) Obviously if it's too light, it can cause problems.

2. Insufficent sear spring tension, (center leg) If this is too light, you can get trigger bouce. Confirm by holding the trigger fuily back while releasing the slide stop. If the hammer does NOT drop, then it's trigger bounce.

3. Insufficent trigger pre-travel.

4. Poor sear/hammer geometry. Obviously a poorly mated hammer and sear can result in this problem.

1 and 2 are fairly easy to test, just bend the legs on the sear spring forward to increase the pressure on the sear or disonccector/trigger shoe. The left leg controls sear pressure, then center trigger pressure. If there is too little pressure on the trigger shoe, you can get trigger bounce, which causes the hammer to fall.

3. will also contribute to trigger bouce. Too little pre-travel will give the trigger less distance to travel and if the center leg of the sear spring is too light, it will 'bounce' more easily. Adjust the pre-travel by bending the two tabs on the front of the trigger bow in or out. Proper pre-travel is at least .025" or your half-cock notch won't work.

4. Unless you are experienced and have the proper tools, you shouldn't even attempt to mess with this. Take it to a gunsmith.

Edited October 28, 2013 by Parallax3D

[currahee1911]

Thanks all, this is beyond me; taking it to a gunsmith.

-C.

[GuildSF4]

Possible problems:

1, Insufficient sear spring tension, (right leg) Obviously if it's too light, it can cause problems.

2. Insufficent sear spring tension, (center leg) If this is too light, you can get trigger bouce. Confirm by holding the trigger fuily back while releasing the slide stop. If the hammer does NOT drop, then it's trigger bounce.

3. Insufficent trigger pre-travel.

4. Poor sear/hammer geometry. Obviously a poorly mated hammer and sear can result in this problem.

1 and 2 are fairly easy to test, just bend the legs on the sear spring forward to increase the pressure on the sear or disonccector/trigger shoe. The left leg controls sear pressure, then center trigger pressure. If there is too little pressure on the trigger shoe, you can get trigger bounce, which causes the hammer to fall.

3. will also contribute to trigger bouce. Too little pre-travel will give the trigger less distance to travel and if the center leg of the sear spring is too light, it will 'bounce' more easily. Adjust the pre-travel by bending the two tabs on the front of the trigger bow in or out. Proper pre-travel is at least .025" or your half-cock notch won't work.

4. Unless you are experienced and have the proper tools, you shouldn't even attempt to mess with this. Take it to a gunsmith.

This^^^ is a really good description.

To test for the #4 cause try walking the hammer off (grab the sides of the hammer with it cocked and the gun empty and move it sideways several times and forward, if it comes off the sear the geometry is wrong which normally requires a new sear and or hammer). Taking it to a good gunsmith is recommended.

[Ichthus]

Parallax3D

Thank you very much for your detailed info. regarding hammer dropping on slide release. Bent middle sear to increase pressure on the trigger which solved the problem completely.