1911 hammer safety notch catching sear

flightsimmer · Nov 5, 2011

I've installed a Chip McCormic hammer/sear set in my Colt series 80 1911 .45and with the gun fully assembled, when I pull the trigger the hammer drops and catches on the edge of the safety cock notch and fails to fire. I have double checked that it is the safety notch that it is catching on.
It would seem to me that I should just file the front edge of that hook so that it clears the sear but I wanted to ask if others have had this problem and fixed it before I started filing away and maybe mess something up.

triggerman770 · Nov 6, 2011

hammer safety notch

probably the sear spring is not pushing hard enough to move the sear out of the way. check to see if it is in proper position or is weak. do not file the hammer

flightsimmer · Nov 6, 2011

After careful examination I readjusted the trigger over travel stop screw and it now (appears) to be working OK however, only time and use will tell for sure.

rcmodel · Nov 6, 2011

I was going to ask if it had an adjustable trigger stop screw.

You need to back it off enough you cannot feel the intercept notch "ticking" against the sear while manually lowering the hammer.
Then back it off another 1/4 turn just for good measure, and dirt clearance.

Was it me I'd take it out and put a drop of Blue Lock-Tight on it before final adjustment.
That way, no chance of it changing itself again.

rc

log man · Nov 6, 2011

triggerman770 said:
probably the sear spring is not pushing hard enough to move the sear out of the way. check to see if it is in proper position or is weak. do not file the hammer

The sear spring does push the sear nose into both the half cock and full cock notch, that's how it is held there. The back of the bow contacts the disconnector and pushes it against the sear legs and releases the sear from the full cock, if the over travel screw is in too far the sear nose will drag against the taller half cock. As said, back it out, and Loctite if needed.

LOG

Drail · Nov 6, 2011

On a carry gun I remove the overtravel screw and put it in the parts box. I have seen way too many that won't stay adjusted.

log man · Nov 6, 2011

Drail said:
On a carry gun I remove the overtravel screw and put it in the parts box. I have seen way too many that won't stay adjusted.

This is fine of course as long as it is checked for possible failure of the grip safety arm notch from stopping the bow in time before it lifts the sear spring just enough to, tatatata. Fun!

LOG

1911 hammer safety notch catching sear

flightsimmer

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rcmodel

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