Custom 1911 Pistol Work Requires Skill and Attention to Detail

The 1911 is a gun that demands tight tolerances and high standards. It is not a plug and play table top project, it takes skill to build one.

A common cause of malfunction is incorrect sear, trigger and safety engagement/geometry. Correcting this requires knowledge, experience and time to set up properly. Instead of taking the time to fix it, companies often send it back to a trigger specialist for a quick warranty fix.

1. Improved Accuracy

Many people who use a 1911 get to the point where they want to do some gun work themselves. For example, they may replace a grip safety or sear lever. While this is a great way to personalize your handgun it can be quite dangerous and should only be done by an experienced gunsmith.

Moreover, doing gun work on the 1911 requires a lot of time and precision to do it properly. Many of the components are oversized and require a lot of stoning and blending to make them fit together and function correctly. In order to do this, a gunsmith has to have a good understanding of the geometry of the 1911.

Unfortunately, there are some companies that do not understand the true intricacies of the 1911 and therefore do not spend the extra time to ensure they produce a reliable firearmsuch as safety checks and procedures. They would rather spend their resources assembling the pistol to meet production goals and let their warranty departments deal with reliability issues when the gun is sent back for repair.

They will often replace the disconnector or sear with a shorter or longer one in order to get the pistol to run again. This is a quick fix, but it puts undue stress on the trigger and will eventually break the link. A custom trigger job will ensure the slide, barrel and link are timed perfectly during the firing process.

2. Increased Control

A custom 1911 trigger job gives a crisp, clean break that is both safe and consistent. It is a meticulous process that requires a high level of skill and attention to detail. Only a Certified 1911 Pistolsmith can do it properly.

When a pistol is assembled, it is done by hand, and there are many things that can go wrong. For example, a loose fit between sear and hammer can cause the hammer to drop prematurely or not stay cocked. The feed ramp angles can also be wrong, which will cause the gun to fail to feed or even to jam. A Certified 1911 Pistolsmith will have the skills and tools to adjust these critical factors, so they will perform when needed and be safe at the same time.

The method of a precision trigger job on a 1911 is a dauntingtask for those not professionally trained.It’s not just about replacing or upgrading parts like a sear spring, disconnector and hammer to improve the feel of a 1911 trigger. It is much morethat that. Pro 1911 trigger jobs are available at Lone Star Gunsmithing and Cerakaote in Pricenton, Texas. The primary benefit is a reduced trigger pull of 3 1/2 to 4 lbs and a clean, crisp break that will take your shooting experience to a new level whilebeing safe and reliable with every shot.

3. Longer Life

Getting a 1911 to work properly requires attention to detail. It takes a gunsmith with the proper tools and experience to make sure that everything works as it should, like an oiled machine. This level of service can be expensive, and finding one that you trust with your sidearm can be challenging.

It’s not unusual to find 1911s that won’t feed or fire correctly because of a poor ramp to frame fit, bad magazines or wrong feed ramp angles. Manufacturers don’t want to spend the time and money to fine tune these issues for every gun they build, so they assemble them according to set tolerances and let their warranty departments deal with reliability problems when they occur.

Cliff Diseker of Lone Star Gunsmithing and Cerakaote in Pricenton, Texas uses premium parts when needed in a trigger job and and can routinely reduce the trigger pull to about 3 1/2 to 4 pounds. He uses quality parts, including Koenig and EGW hammers, an EGW hard sear and a Nowlin or Wilson Combat skeletonized trigger.

He quotes a hand fit Smooth and Tune for about $200 and full custom 1911 trigger job at $300 plus parts and about a 3 week lead time. He can also upgrade Glocks, AK-47s and AR-15s.