5 minute poor man's trigger job

[Got_Lead?]

Hello all:

One of the things I check-out on my pistols is whether the trigger pull leaves the sights motionless, or there is a lurch after the trigger releases. Most guns seem to have just enough over-travel to jar the sights as the trigger releases. One of my more recent purchases, an XD-45 had a decent trigger pull from the factory, but the overtravel caused some wiggle. So, here's what I did, it took about 5 minutes and was 100% effective.

I cut a small piece of tire patch material, and just glued it to the frame behind the trigger. I used Duco contact cement, which bonded tight enough to be perminant, but could also be removed without a trace of it ever having been there. It holds up to gun solvents as well. Here's a couple of pics. I got in a hurry with scissors and cut it kind of irregular, next time I think I'll use a paper punch to make a nice round circle piece.

 

[GojuBrian]

That's a neat idea! How did it turn out? Did you get better accuracy?


Sent from my iRazzy

 

[Chris Rhines]

Be very careful with this. I have seen similar modifications cause uncontrolled bump-fire.

-C

 

[PO2Hammer]

Over travel stops on combat pistol are a liability, home made ones are doubly so.

 

[Got_Lead?]

I don't think I fired it before I put the overtravel stop on it. Here's one of the groups I got out of it at 25 yards, I haven't really worked up a load in it yet, there does seem to be potential. As far as bump firing goes, I have never had this happen, i still have to release the trigger fully to re-engage the disconnector.

Here's one of the groups with lead boolits, the velcoities are on the target, which were measured 7 yards in front of the firing line. The 4" barrel of the XD does loose a few fps compared to a 5" pipe, which the same load was running about 820 fps.

 

[Got_Lead?]

You are correct about overtravel affecting reliability, if I had to go to Iraq with this fellow, I'd probably peel it off. There is one grace to it, since it's rubber, there is give, and if it got muddy, a little dirt won't prevent you from firing the pistol, where a solid overtravel stop may be less forgiving.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Really, a liability
How so???
Seems like a good idea, and one that is well discussed...
Unless you have a trigger job that has the release and reset in the same spot I don't imagine it being possible to have 'uncontrolled bump fire' short of poor shooting techniques.

 

[PO2Hammer]

How so???

Well, some possibilities might be a piece of crud might get behind the rubber preventing the trigger from coming back far enough to fire the gun.
The cement could be degraded over time from the solvents (I think think that's likely), and it could fold over and prevent the trigger from firing.

I do agree with the OP that being rubber it has some give and could probably be pulled back hard enough to fire if there was trouble.

I used to try and make my Glocks into target guns too, but I gave up on that and bought a revolver to scratch the target itch.
I fact I thought of doing the exact same thing except using a piece of pencil eraser glued in place.

If it's just a range gun, have fun.

Glad to hear the OP's not being deployed to Iraq.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Look up the 'White trigger job' for Kel Tecs same basic thing, with a pencil eraser BECAUSE it has the give, and if it block the trigger, it can be quickly removed, a set screw that gets loose is MUCH more complicated to adjust in the field.

 

[1SOW]

Just don't take out "all" the slack. Leave a little room for parts wear-in, dirt or whatever.

The trouble with over-travel screws is the same. Many have problems because they try to take out too much overtravel. A service pistol needs some slack to stay safe and reliable. These are not 22 short olympic quality guns.

 

[1911Tuner]

Back in the day that the open-bolt Ingram M-10/M-11 pistols were buyable on a pistol permit...we discovered that we could glue a new pencil eraser onto the frame behind the trigger and make them rock and roll...and it was reliable. Then, our friendly ATF agent who was assigned to the store informed us that we could land ourselves in a world of hurt if we were caught with an eraser glued to the frame, as it would be considered an illegal conversion.

Be careful. If you get a single burst-fire event from it...I advise you to remove it post-haste.

Good idea for a modification on a single-action revolver, though.

 

[kokapelli]

A few years ago the people over at the KelTec group where installing pencil erasers that could easily be sanded down to fit.

 

[Got_Lead?]

Wow, I had no idea over-travel stops were so controversial. I don't think I could bump fire this gun anyway, too long a take-up.

 

[Got_Lead?]

I'll bet I could get my Smith M-52 38 master to bump fire, very light trigger, and short take-up. But then again, why beat on a target gun.

 

[kokapelli]

Bump firing is a lot of fun but useless for serious shooting and a huge waste of money!

 

[Jonah71]

Also a bit hard to control.