1911 grips and grip safeties.

[wally]

After 30+ years shooting 1911s I've never had any problem with the grip safety, it just seemed to unobtrusively work, until now

I guess something has changed with my hand and I'm hoping different grips will fix the issues. Its not the gun as I've been having trouble with the gun not firing because the grip safety is not disengaged on both my RIA 9mm & .45ACP 1911s (the two pistols I shoot the most).

The common theme is they both wear Pachmyer "hybrid" rubber and rosewood grips. They have been my favorite 1911 grips since about forever, they look good and the rubber finger grooves always seemed to help with long shooting sessions

I'm changing both to traditional flat checkered rubber grips and will see if that fixes the issue next time out. I haven't had any grip safety issues when shooting my 1911s without the Pachmyer grips (SIG TacOps, RIA Match Longslide) or the widebodies recently.



Anybody else ever need to change grips to get a better grip on the grip safety?

 

[PJSprog]

If the grips used to work on them, and your hand hasn't suddenly changed shape, then you might want to have a 'smith check them out for mechanical issues with the safety.


edit: I have those same Pachmyer grips on my RIA Tactical, and have not had a problem with them.

 

[Lantern]

If you really like the old grips I'd suggest having grip safeties installed that have a more pronounced bump.

Feel is the most important thing to me so I'd try my best to keep the grips if they're your favorites and work out the safety instead.

 

[Steve C]

Do the grip safeties still work and release the trigger if you depress them with your thumb? If not it is a mechanical issue and no replacement of the grip panels will make them work. Fix or have the problem fixed by a gunsmith if you don't want to tackle it.

If the issue is that your hand will not depress the grip safety enough to release the trigger using your normal hand grip because the grip panels block your hand somewhat from depressing the grip safety sufficiently. Then you have 3 choices. 1. replace with grip panels that do not do this or 2. replace the safety with one that has a hump on the back that makes sure the grip safety gets fully depressed. or 3. tape or pin the grip safety down as it really has little function in making the gun "safe" if not carrying or shooting the gun from horseback.

 

[Drail]

Have a smith "adjust" the GS so it doesn't have to rotate in so far to release. The grips are not the problem - you have a GS on the outside of the tolerances and was poorly fitted at the time of manufacture. It doesn't need to move very far to block the trigger and release when you grip the gun. Two minutes with a file will fix it. Or as suggested previously just have the stupid thing pinned in. The GS only blocks the trigger. It will not stop the hammer or sear from releasing if the gun is dropped. It only stops the trigger from moving if your hand is not fully gripping the gun. Which as you have seen is not a very practical feature.

 

[wally]

Both pistols are the "tactical" model and have the "memory bumps" on bottom of the grip safety.

The grip safeties work if I shift my grip a bit. Problem is it was never a problem in the past, I've used these Pachmyer grips for many years, and now what still "feels" like my normal grip from a holster doesn't reliably deactivate the grip safety, not allowing a shot after I've deactivated the thumb safety. Shifting my grip lets it fire. In 30+ years of 1911 shooting I've never experienced this before. Something has changed with my hand

Doubt its a gun problem since its two different guns of the same design and Pachmyer grips. I've swapped to traditional grips, will see if the problem is solved or not next time out.

I never really understood complaints about the 1911 grip safety until now

It only stops the trigger from moving if your hand is not fully gripping the gun. Which as you have seen is not a very practical feature.

I don't fully buy into this, yes it only blocks the trigger, but it could be critical if the pistol is dropped and lands muzzle up with the thumb safety off on a hard surface (preventing inertia of the trigger on impact acting like a trigger pull).

 

[Vern Humphrey]

A simple fix is to buy Mole Foam <tm> in the footcare section of your local pharmacy or Wal-Mart. Cut a square of Mole Foam and stick it to the lower leg of the grip safety and see if that fixes the problem. If it does, you've diagnosed the problem -- you're not getting enough meat on the grip safety. You can use the Mole Foam more or less permanently, or have new grip safties installed with a bigger "speed bump."