1911 Frame Assembly/Grip Safety Guidance Requested

[brian]

I finally got to work on my 1911/9mm build using a Steal Arms jig & a frame/upper from US Patriot Armory (using the Rock Island/1911 Tac 9mm Builders Kit). Anyhow, got the grooves cut fine after some back and forth (literally removing from the jig to test) -- slide maybe even super tight in a good way. Cleaned up the debris and started work on the frame assembly. To state what may not be the obvious, this is my first time working with a 1911 other than field stripping and fitting an extended slide release.

Anyhow, I am sort of stuck on the grip safety. I am thinking the sear spring may be goofed up. When I install the grip safety - i.e. push the main spring housing on and into place, have the hammer strut aligned, etc -- the grip safety is "loose". I am expecting it to have tension pushing it "back" but it doesn't. I went so far as to install the safeties and same issue. I am thinking the right portion of the sear spring is not back sufficiently enough base on the video I am watching. I thought I'd toss out the question here in case there are any quick tips. Thinking I'll either want to play with bending the sear spring or maybe even pick up a couple of others to try.

I've managed to nick the frame in a couple of spots while working with it, so clearly I am going to need to do this all over again

 

[serger]

Sometimes you have to tweak the sear spring. Last one I built needed the center leg adjusted for the trigger pull weight.

Read this article. Your problem is addressed. Like the article says bend a little at a time. :

Gunsmithing: 1911 Pistol Sear Spring Savvy - American Handgunner

The 1911 pistol sear spring: explained.

americanhandgunner.com

 

[brian]

Sometimes you have to tweak the sear spring. Last one I built needed the center leg adjusted for the trigger pull weight.

Read this article. Your problem is addressed. Like the article says bend a little at a time. :

Gunsmithing: 1911 Pistol Sear Spring Savvy - American Handgunner

The 1911 pistol sear spring: explained.

americanhandgunner.com

Good article, thank you. I had already tried bending that right one a bit. Was concerned I may be missing something. Will keep at it!

 

[serger]

It's a learning curve. The nice thing is the 1911 is fairly forgiving. It's been around and parts are cheap if you keep Joe Dremel away from the slide, barrel and frame. The part about adjusting the sear spring I hate is putting the main spring housing back and getting the hammer strut back in on top of the main spring cap.. I usually grease the main spring housing's keyway so it is easier to screw with. For a while I considered making a "Loose" mainspring housing to help the cut and try phase of assembling and fitting the frame components.