DIY Trigger Job: Springfield Armory DS 1911 Prodigy
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- I've never held a 1911 in my hands that didn't feel good. However, I can't say that every 1911 that felt good in my hands had a trigger pull weight that I've enjoyed. Many stock 1911's have a 5-7 lb (or higher) pull. Nothing wrong with that, just not my preferred pull weight. Higher end 1911 usually have nicer triggers (pre-travel, break, reset and pull weight all finely tuned) as part of that premium cost.
About 4 lbs seems to be a norm for medium priced 1911/2011's. My full size SA DS 1911 Prodigy came from the factory with a 4-4.25 lb trigger. Not bad, but I'd like something a bit lighter for the range. Those who carry or have a duty pew pew, I think 4 lbs is about perfect. Regardless to each their own.
The rather long video is me DIYing my trigger job on my DS 1911. First half of the video is installing a standard Colt sear spring I got from Atlas (amazingly fast shipping!). Didn't want to mess with the standard/original sear spring in case I want to revert (or maybe sell, so the desire to bring it back to OEM specs), so I poked around and decided on the Colt springs based on Atlas' write up. BTW, SA has never gotten back to me on my inquiry for springs from SA. Disappointing.
First half of the video is my trial/error in tuning the spring splines to my ~2 lb goal. Once I attained that, took it to the range and it performed beautifuly (and zero issues). Came back from the range and in the mail waiting for me were my "light weight" sear springs I had also ordered but wasn't expecting for a few more days. Back to testing. VERY disappointed in the "light weight" sear springs for what they actually came it at. Almost stock weights. Glad they were on sale @ 50% (maybe a good reason for that sale!). Ended up not using the light weight spring and put my tuned Colt sear spring back in and I'm a happy 2-2.25 lb camper.
This seems a simple solution to a heavy trigger. Are you getting any hammer follow?
After attempting (and succeeding IMO) this "fix", I have to admit, I think there is a myth around how challenging (meaning you need an expert/gunsmith that will translate into $$ [shipping to/from and time/parts for work] doing a custom trigger job (at least regarding pull weight, pre travel/reset, etc.). Trial and error and even the "experts" have to do the same thing I did which is bend a specific leaf on the sear spring. After nearly 500 rounds since the work, I've not had a single issue (FTF, FTE, hammer follow, etc.) and after my most recent check (as I did a video recently on replacing the OEM mainspring), I'm at 2.50-2.75 (analog "reading" on my trigger pull gauge) consistently. I'm beyond satisfied with my work and the performance of the DS 1911. Since this is a range "toy", I'm fine with the trigger lb weight.
I've never had this apart. HAHAHAHAH!!
I love your video. I started tinkering with my Spring Field prodigy 1911 double stack and now I just can’t stop tinkering and buying more and more. I’m considering going to gunsmith school as a hobby. I really enjoy this so the spring itself is not 5 pounds manipulating each arm, gives it a different effect really needs stuff though. Enjoy the video.
Thanks, appreciated. Good luck in your gunsmith career pursuit.
Could you have adjusted the OEM spring and achieved the same results? Or in the same adjusted the spring in the yellow bag? Sorry could not remember who made that one. The colt spring is the one you used. Did you just want to have the OEM springfield spring the same in case the experiment didn’t work? Great video. Thanks!!!
Thanks. I could have adjusted the OEM trigger to achieve the same results, but wanted to keep the OEM sear spring stock (i.e., if I sell it, want to go back to original pull weight, if my efforts failed, etc.). At the price these springs cost me, it just wasn't worth tinkering with the OEM one. Very happy with the results and trigger feels much better to me now.
The middle leg helps with trigger reset. It sounds like you know that, the reset looks non-existent to me in it's current state. It should be pushing your finger out, springing back into place. It looks like your trigger was barely resetting with your finger completely off of it. Did you ever get that part fixed? If you haven't seen it, Atlas has a couple of good videos on it. Thanks for sharing this.
I actually did adjust it to allow for more reset. Thanks.