Ed Brown or Les Baer 1911 Hammer and Sear Set?

[carnaby]

I've got a Springfield Armory "Black Stainless" 1911 with just about the worst feeling trigger I've ever tried on a 1911. It's on the heavy side, which is ok, but the break is the opposite of "crisp" or "clean" or any other good words you could use to describe it. On the other hand, my TRP has the single best 1911 trigger I've ever felt. It's light, the break is like butter or glass or whatever, just good.

I disassembled both of them, and the TRP has much smoother components. The "black stainless" has the same black coating on the sear and hammer as the rest of the outside of the gun. It's rough stuff, and I figure that has something to do with the lousy feel.

Would dropping in a hammer/sear setup from Les Baer or Ed Brown help? The Baer matched set costs $105, and the brown matched set runs $85. I suppose I could drop these components from the TRP into the black stainless to see if that makes any difference first.

Can these parts be dropped right in? The Ed Brown webpage seems to think so, says no jigs nor fudging around needed, since the two parts are already matched up for a good trigger pull.

What else is likely to be necessary to get the black stainless trigger pull to good shape?

 

[carnaby]

Sorry mods, this probably should have gone into the "gunsmithing" section.

 

[TX1911fan]

I replaced my GI's internals with Cylinder & Slide stuff, and it is fantastic. Even better than my TRP.

 

[carnaby]

Hmmm, the cylinder and slide sets look pretty good. Nice to have everything you need ready to drop in. Thanks for the heads up

In case anyone is curious: http://www.cylinder-slide.com

 

[saltydog452]

No disrespect, just curious, but if you're going to that expense why don't you have a trigger job done on the existing hammer/sear?

I understand that all pin hole locations aren't per-zactly the same in all frames. If you had a 'smith do the work on the existing hammer/sear, he'd have your frame to fit the now altered hammer/sear.

Just curious.

salty.

 

[carnaby]

In the case of the "black stainless," I'm not very impressed with the existing components. The hammer and sear are coated in the rough black stuff, which I doubt helps things. And I don't know if the sear is hardened through, or if it's only case hardened. If the hardening depth is not deep enough, filing through it will lead to a part that won't wear very well (according to the hammer and slide website, and I'm keen to believe that).

If the parts were nicer, yeah, the smith would be a viable option.

Furthermore, the existing hammer has three notches. What's up with that?

 

[10-Ring]

I prefer C&S stuff myself but I have also tried the Ed Brown stuff too and it was okay (actually better than okay, I just prefer the C&S). I also prefer fitted parts to get smoother actions & contact points...drop ins just don't get you that custom feel we all yearn for

 

[HSMITH]

Extreme Engineering, they make the C&S sets and save you about $20. You won't buy a better 'set'.

Chuck at www.shootersconnection.com carries them and is a heck of a nice guy.

 

[daysleeprx]

I have the Ed Brown trigger group in one of my Norincos and I really like it a lot. I'd recommend it, but C&S is definitely quality stuff too.

I also hate to be "one of those guys" that suggests something that you aren't even considering, but I'm going to try the EGW trigger group in my other Nork. All the word of mouth I've heard and read has been good, and the price can't be beat! ($85 for hammer, sear, disconnector and sear spring).

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[carnaby]

Not at all, thanks for the suggestion. I don't know much about aftermarket parts for 1911's, so every bit helps. Lots of choices and opinions are good

 

[carnaby]

I was just looking at the Chip McCormick hammer and sear. They're a heck of a lot less expensive than any of the previously mentioned component maker's parts. Anyone know if they're comparable in performance and/or can be dropped right in?

I have a bunch of Chip McCormick 8 round mags, and theyre superb.

 

[daysleeprx]

Here's a review from one of the moderators at m1911.org on the McCormick parts:

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=13025

The cliff notes version: he doesn't recommend them.

 

[HSMITH]

The CMC trigger groups are OEM in some guns, and give good service. They are MIM, but well done. The MIM is how they are sold for the price they are, MIM parts when done right have very little additional work done after casting to be ready to use where a machined part will be much more costly to make. I have used a couple sets and haven't had any problems, in fact they are prepped pretty darn well and if the gun is close to spec they will probably drop in and provide a safe 4-5 pound pull. I also think they will last more than a lifetime for the vast majority of the guns out there, very few guns actually get shot enough to wear anything out.

The EGW hard sear is an extremely good part, the number of very well respected pistolsmiths that prefer it is evidence enough. It probably won't drop in though, it is made for a pistolsmith and not a kitchen table parts swapper. ALL of the EGW parts I have ever had experience with have been extremely good. I have several EGW parts in my primary competition 1911 type, and more parts in other guns. I don't think you can buy anything even close to bad from them.

 

[carnaby]

Nice. Unfortunatly, I don't have the cash for a nice part AND a smith to put it in. The drop in kits from C&S look like the best deal to me.

 

[45auto]

Nowlin has drop in kits also. Both MIM and "tool-steel" kits.

If you have a gunsmith that's local, it might be cheaper to have him do a simple trigger job. Perhaps, just the sear needs some adjustment, etc. Not something you want to spend a lot of money on, but worth a look anyway.

 

[atblis]

If

If the EGW 1911 stuff is anything like their EAA/CZ sear, than I'd consider that.

That has to be the toughest piece of steel I've ever worked on. Wire EDM cut tool steel, through and through.

 

[carnaby]

I went for the Ed Brown parts. Pretty darn nice. Only problem is that they don't include a hammer strut pin, argh

The funny thing is that the parts wouldn't quite fit together right in my Springfield Black Stainless, which was the whole point. On the other hand, they fit perfectly in my TRP, and the TRP parts fit great in the Black Stainless. Both triggers are darn nice. The black stainless trigger is still heavier than the TRP, but it's nice and crisp now. The TRP is better than ever.

 

[robctwo]

I put the Ed Brown Hammer, sear disconnector in my Black Stainless. Also changed out the main spring housing. Tweaked the leaf spring. Much nicer.

 

[jsonnier]

Ed Brown parts are just bullet proof .

 

[Baphomet]

I replaced my GI's internals with Cylinder & Slide stuff, and it is fantastic.

+1 to that. Can say enough about them.