Swapping trigger parts between 1911s?

[Five of Clubs]

I recently acquired a 1911 Commander clone in .40S&W as I'm trying to get down to reloading only one caliber. Anyways, I'd like to swap some parts off of other 1911s that I have. In particular, I have another 1911 (Government .45ACP) that has a light, crisp trigger pull that I want in my Commander. If I were to swap the whole trigger control group (trigger, disconnector, sear, hammer, strut, sear spring and mainspring) can I expect to swap the trigger pull as well? The trigger on the Commander is good, but the one in the Government is even better (and cost several bucks). It seems most trigger jobs tweek these parts in relation to each other, not in relation to the frame.

If it matters, neither gun will be used for HD or carry. I don't think any of these parts are caliber specific. I'd also like a thumb safety off a third 1911 as well, but I'm pretty sure it will need to be tweeked.

I would probably love the trigger pull in the Commander if I didn't have this other pistol. So 1911 guys, is this swap reasonable?

 

[Riss]

It is the parts in relation to each other AND their spacing within the frame. In one gun they may be horrible and in another be absolutely perfect. Having good parts is a plus. IIRC they will all interchange. Quick way to see if they interchange is to see if different parts are listed for both guns or if the same part is sold to fit in both. A quick check of www.brownells.com will tell you.

 

[rcmodel]

Probably a bad idea unless you are willing and able to go the whole nine yards with safety checks and possibly a need to re-fit the thumb & grip safety's.

At one point, all 1911 frames were mil-spec, and all mil-spec parts would interchange and give you the same 6 pound mil-spec trigger pull and operating safety's.

Today, there are so many companies making 1911's and 1911 parts, you are almost sure to run into frame pin hole & parts variations between the two guns from different manufactures that will render parts swapping an exercise in frustration.

You can try it, but the chance of the really good trigger, with still safe safety's, traveling to another frame intact, are slim.

rc

 

[Five of Clubs]

What type of safety checks? How would I perform them?

These would definitely be quality parts that I wanted to swap. All Wilson fire control group out of the Government to replace the internals on a custom Caspian build. Not sure who built the Caspian or what was used, but I suspect anyone going that route would use quality stuff inside it.

 

[rcmodel]

The first check is to make absolutely sure the hammer will not follow the slide when you drop the slide on an empty chamber.

Followed by:
http://www.cylinder-slide.com/1911safetyck.shtml

If you don't know about the basic safety checks involved with trigger work, I would also suggest you buy this book:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=199119

rc

 

[Five of Clubs]

Thanks for the tips, I bookmarked that website. I'm comfortable working on Glocks, but that platform is like playing with Legos compared to working on a 1911.

I'll probably attempt the trigger swap with special attention not to modify any parts along the way and see how it goes. I'll definitely do the safety checks mentioned and be prepared for a double/multiple fire when I test it. If it doesn't work, I'll reverse the swap and pay for another trigger job. I still have some hope that it will work though.

 

[Drail]

"but that platform is like playing with Legos compared to working on a 1911".......that is probably the finest verbal description of the difference between a Glock and a 1911 I have ever heard. We should all henceforth refer to Glocks as "Lego guns". I salute your command of the English language sir.

 

[Five of Clubs]

Hey Drail, thanks for the salute. I swap parts between my Glocks all the time, including trigger parts. That is actually where this knuckle-headed idea came from. Glocks remind me of Legos because a piece from one of my Glocks will fit perfectly into another without any modification. Glocks are just very simple devices, totally unlike a 1911. When I think of a 1911, I just imagine some master gunsmith with an ocean of special tools surrounding him, slaving away to achieve a precise fit of every single part. They both work, and I like them both, but they are very different.

 

[rcmodel]

They are different today because everybody & his dog is making them, to god knows what specifications, in several different countrys.

Originally, a mil-spec 1911 had totally drop-in parts just like a Glock.
An armorers tool kit consisted of a metal tool box full of mil-spec parts, and a screwdriver to take the grips off!
Parts were totally interchangable just like a glock.

But those days are gone forever due to a lack of mil-spec parts & frames over the last 30 years or so.

Now, in a day of hand fitted match guns and out-of-spec parts, the tool box got way bigger!

rc