Trigger Installation in a Colt Series 80 Pistol

[loadedround]

Last week I bought a SS Colt Delta Elite in 10 mm after waiting over 2 years to find one. I thought it had a plastic trigger, but was soon advised it was aluminum. My tigger pull is decent out of the box, but that trigger is the sloppiest I've seen in a 1911. I would like to install a tighter after market trigger with a trigger stop as sold by Brownells. All after market triggers state "must be gunsmith installed". How difficult is the job and exactly what needs to be done to fit it? I am capable of completely taking down a Series 80 Colt and reassembling it. Thanks

 

[BBBBill]

Fitting the trigger itself is fairly simple. It can be done with nothing more than a fine cut file to remove a bit from the top and bottom of the finger pad as needed to allow it to slip into the frame cut.
The rub is how much the trigger bow length varies from your previous trigger. That may or may not be an issue in your particular gun with your existing parts.
The other issue is the amount of lift on the firing pin safety levers. The overtravel stop can limit the lift to the point that the firing pin can not clear the plunger. It may force its way past for a while, but will eventually peen the plunger and firing pin resulting in afailure to fire. This can all be tuned to work properly, but you must be aware of the potential problem in order to see it coming.

 

[rcmodel]

Why not fix the one you have?
Sideways slop can be adjusted by spreading the trigger bow to fit the frame channels.

Vertical slop can be fixed by drilling either the top or bottom of the trigger pad and pressing in a short length of aluminum or nylon rod, then filing it to fit the frame vertically.

rc

 

[rmfnla]

Why not fix the one you have?
Sideways slop can be adjusted by spreading the trigger bow to fit the frame channels.

Vertical slop can be fixed by drilling either the top or bottom of the trigger pad and pressing in a short length of aluminum or nylon rod, then filing it to fit the frame vertically.

rc

+1

Nylon rod will not only take out the vertical slop it will smooth the travel as well.

 

[schmeky]

rc model,

You need to take all that good stuff out of your head and write a book. I'd buy it.