1911 hammer has play with slide off and decocked.

[JB111]

As the title states, the hammer on this 1911 has front to back play while the slide is off and the hammer is decocked. If I cock the hammer back, all play goes away. When the gun is assembled, there is no play and it functions fine. I don't know how long it has been like this, maybe always, I just noticed it today. I have a few other 1911s and none of them do this. I went online looking for an answer and I found comments on other forums of some people who say it is normal, others who say it isn't. I am curious if my gun is damaged or potentially unsafe to shoot as I do not know a whole lot about 1911 internals and their nuances between makes/models. Any help/comments apreciated.

I uploaded a short video on youtube showing the issue I am talking about.

 

[tark]

My avatar does the same thing. Most, but not all 1911s are like this. With the slide off, the hammer can go further forward than normal. With the slide on the gun, in battery, wiggle like this would be problematic. You might want to check your mainspring. Compare it to a new one, if it is compressed or old, ( too short ) it can cause this. I would swap in a new mainspring and see if the condition persists.

It probably means nothing.

 

[Russ57]

I wouldn't consider it normal. Maybe the hammer strut isn't contacting the mainspring correctly? how long since you changed your mainspring? They are a pain to change so I understand if the answer is "never".

 

[JB111]

I wouldn't consider it normal. Maybe the hammer strut isn't contacting the mainspring correctly? how long since you changed your mainspring? They are a pain to change so I understand if the answer is "never".

Honestly,I think I have had this gun maybe 4 years and it has less than a thousand rounds on it, probably closer to 500, thus I have never had to do any work to it and as I said I don't know a lot about 1911s.

 

[Russ57]

To be clear, I don't think it is dangerous in any way/shape/form. If the gun shoots the mainspring has what it takes to ignite a primer. Probably just the way your frame is made/machined. I haven't run across one like that myself. What brand?

 

[JB111]

To be clear, I don't think it is dangerous in any way/shape/form. If the gun shoots the mainspring has what it takes to ignite a primer. Probably just the way your frame is made/machined. I haven't run across one like that myself. What brand?

It's a Springfield RO. I have 3 other 1911s but this is my only Springfield and the only one I have that does this.

 

[tark]

It's a Springfield RO. I have 3 other 1911s but this is my only Springfield and the only one I have that does this.

Sounds like it is just the way the frame was machined.

 

[tark]

They are a pain to change so I understand if the answer is "never".

They are very easy to change! Hold the housing in a vise, push down on the spring with a punch, pull the small retaining pin and ease up on the spring. A small punch is usually required to push out the retaining pun.

 

[Russ57]

Hmmm. Damn fine gun for the money. My Springfield doesn't do what yours does. Just don't squeeze the trigger and let the hammer fall as normal with no slide on the gun. That will cause damage. Could it be possible that had been done (a good bit?) in the past? Did you buy a used gun?

As I say, if the gun shoots reliably I see no issue whatsoever.

 

[Russ57]

Yes, not bad if you have a vise. Still, a rather strong pin to compress while trying to push out a small cross pin.

 

[Mizar]

True 1911 style pistols have a captive mainspring, so it has limited travel. As Tark pointed put, without the slide the hammer travels further forward and you just run out of mainspring travel. It's perfectly normal and it depends on tolerances - some pistols have it and some don't. Shoot your gun, it's nothing to worry about - this is not a defect.

 

[JB111]

Hmmm. Damn fine gun for the money. My Springfield doesn't do what yours does. Just don't squeeze the trigger and let the hammer fall as normal with no slide on the gun. That will cause damage. Could it be possible that had been done (a good bit?) in the past? Did you buy a used gun?

As I say, if the gun shoots reliably I see no issue whatsoever.

I purchased it new and I have never done that to any of my handguns. I view that as badly as letting the slide slam on a empty chamber. It shoots fine. The only issues I ever had with it is it does not like some hollow points and the slide stop plunger is oversized, i.e I have to press it in with a tiny precision screwdriver whenever I reassemble the gun.

 

[JB111]

True 1911 style pistols have a captive mainspring, so it has limited travel. As Tark pointed put, without the slide the hammer travels further forward and you just run out of mainspring travel. It's perfectly normal and it depends on tolerances - some pistols have it and some don't. Shoot your gun, it's nothing to worry about - this is not a defect.

Thank you for the reply. Glad to hear that it is in all likelihood just the way it was made.

 

[tark]

Yes, not bad if you have a vise. Still, a rather strong pin to compress while trying to push out a small cross pin.

Well, it helps if you're drunk.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I have to press it in with a tiny precision screwdriver whenever I reassemble the gun.

If it really bothers you, you can have that part of the slide stop beveled to push the pin in when you push in on it...a lot of manufacturers leave off the bevel

 

[Ritchie]

The mainspring should have an upper and lower cap. The lower one provides the detent to retain the crosspin that holds the housing in the frame.
The upper forms a guide for the spring and a seat for the hammer strut. If this is missing, things are not right. If the hammer strut is a little bit
short this would have the same result. Possibly the subtle geometry of the hammer pivot pin and hammer strut pin is off a little. Do you have
another hammer to try?

 

[hutch51]

They are very easy to change! Hold the housing in a vise, push down on the spring with a punch, pull the small retaining pin and ease up on the spring. A small punch is usually required to push out the retaining pun.

I didn't have a vise, did have punches. Took a little practice but managed to not "launch" anything. The springs are very "sturdy", have some safety glasses or goggles on.

Did have a Gentleman Jack alongside

 

[Kp321]

The condition you describe is fairly common but of no consequence, as long as the hammer sits tight against the slide when assembled and in the fired position. If it is loose there, the mainspring follower can pound and damage the small retaining pin. There are tolerances in all of the components involved. The hammer strut might be a tad short. If it was too long, the main spring could “stack” when at full cock which could cause damage to the strut and/or hammer. Better to have a little looseness where it does not matter.

 

[koz4guns]

Does this model have the ILS mainspring housing and could that cause this ?

 

[Walkalong]

As posted, some play there is not unusual, not really an issue. More than I would like, but again, not an issue.

Shoot it.

 

[mavracer]

Yes, not bad if you have a vise. Still, a rather strong pin to compress while trying to push out a small cross pin.

I employ a grandkid to R&R the retaining pin no vice.

 

[Walkalong]

I've done it with no vice/no help, it isn't terribly hard unless the pin is real tight, which there is no need for.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've done it with no vice/no help,

I have too. When you take the pressures off it, the retaining pin should pretty much fall out with a little nudge

 

[Carl N. Brown]

With the slide off, my 1911A1 clone has a bit of free hammer play too.
Flop forward hammer stopped by frame.
Flop backwards hammer stopped by strut engaging mainspring.


When the slide is in place, the hammer is pushed back a bit more and it's strut compresses the mainspring.

 

[Rock185]

With slide off, not unusual at all. Unless some other issue has been detected, were it mine, I would not be concerned...YMMV