Gunsmithing the 1911: Trigger Job by “Terry G”, Pt 2
PART 2 OF 2 ////////////// Take a high value 1911 like the Taurus PT1911 and make it better for less than you think too. Here TacticalDoodle and I take the long drive down to Impact Guns in Ogden, UT to upgrade some aspects of the TNP PT1911 Project Gun. We enlist the services of experienced Impact Guns Gunsmith Terry Gardner to install the “Wilson Combat Value” parts into the gun (safety, sear, hammer, and modding the stock grip safety for interface). Previously installed by me, we didn’t accomplish the proper fitting needed to achieve professional results. In this Nutnfancy two-parter, you will see Terry in detailed action as he modifies, fits, and explains his techniques for achieving an improved trigger pull on this PT1911. You can probably achieve the same results yourself after some trial and error, some botched parts, lots of time, and specially purchased jigs and Arkansas stones. We show all aspects in great detail should you choose to do. But having a professional like Terry G, with many such jobs under his belt, is the way to go to save time and money and keep things safe. The results were impressive: crisp safety actuation and a clean 4.25 lb trigger pull with improved take up. Terry G states the cost for a trigger job is $65 and accepts your shipments at the Impact Guns Ogden store (ensure UNLOADED), even your botched project guns that your “cousin” screwed up. Services shown were paid for in full by me and I receive zero money from Impact for these videos and …
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Comment by shady75boy on 25 January 2011:
ive watched this video many times, being a gunsmith is a true art form. Being a Engineer as well as a machinist if the part is off by a few thousandths of an inch it will not work or be safe. For reference a human hair on the top of your head is roughly .003. Terry knows what he is doing always checking and rechecking his work and only taking small amounts off at a time (its easier to take small amounts of metal off at a time because you cannot put it back on)
Comment by Mr2wings on 25 January 2011:
I didn’t trust myself doing the work so I had a pro do it and it was worth the money. 3.25 pound pull on mine and my accuracy went way up. Colt series 80. 1911 great design and the longest running design.
Comment by bomber6581 on 25 January 2011:
I like gunsmithing i can learn about it . and the 1911 is a cool gun
Comment by pgmammo on 25 January 2011:
@du9207 I am a gunsmith in southern Arizona, and have been for several years. I was also an armorer for the USAF. Terry seems to be a competent smith, but one thing bothered me. By taking that stone to the hammer in part one he created a neutral fit. As I was taught, all sear/hammer relationships have to be positive, if only slightly. Everything else is done very well and I would trust him to work on my weapon as well.
Comment by MrNigol69 on 25 January 2011:
GREAT VIDEO!!! Master Craftsmen are always impressive. Keep up the good work, NutN. If anyone was bored with this series they don’t appreciate the talent displayed…both gunsmith and videographer =0)
Comment by MrNigol69 on 25 January 2011:
GREAT VIDEO!!! Master Craftsmen are always impressive. Keep up the good work, NutN
Comment by machinegunmayhem on 25 January 2011:
Im starting to become a big fan of nutnfancy i can tell becuase now when im thinking about buying a gun or just interested in it im signing on to youtube to see if hes put it threw some sort of test already an seeing how it perform’s compared to going out an buying it myself and being disapointed..and as far as the gunsmith goes from the video an listening to his aboundance of knowledge from this he hes good,,reminds me of watchin my dad work on 1911′s (he was the weapons specialist for delta)
Comment by samm6262 on 25 January 2011:
For the most part he’s spot on, save a couple minor points;
1) The Wilson Value Line parts are MIM, check out their web site.
2) In stoning the 2nd angle on the sear, one should not lay the whole sear on the stone. As you will not only take metal off the sear nose, where you should, but you will also take metal off the lug where the safety contacts.
Comment by toOgoodLooking4yOu on 25 January 2011:
Does tarry do M&P9mm trigger jobs as well?? I would
love to have a 4 lb pound trigger in my M&P 9mm.
Comment by CypherAod on 25 January 2011:
@silvermediastudio it looked to me like he was riding the slide forward with his hand to slow it down ever so slightly, but even if he wasn’t, modifications to the trigger and hammer mechanisms are extremely non-trivial with regard to safety and it’s very important to “pressure test” their function to ensure that a malfunction will not occur to these critical parts.
Comment by CypherAod on 25 January 2011:
@nutnfancy Watching carefully, from a mechanical engineers perspective it looks like Terry is going about these modifications in exactly the right way.
Comment by StandingOnGuard on 25 January 2011:
I’m turning 18 withiin a couple days and I get my first handgun its a PT1911, and its my baby also haha, I’d be breathing down terrys neck if I were doodle haha
I gotta side with doodle 1911′s are awesome! Him and I actually have some stuff in common, including our looks hahaha. Anyone notice that number 3 cup sitting back there? Dale Earnhardts the man. Cool vid nutn very interesting to us 1911 fans
Comment by syr74 on 25 January 2011:
@aikidokamks
Actually, I very much recommend hard chroming a gun, including the internals, as a way to increase longevity. Quality Hard Chrome is extremely hard (Rockwell C exceeding 70 in some cases), very durable, and will reduce the chances of galling, etc.
Comment by 45calvet on 25 January 2011:
@nutnfancy Great video, thanks for the great camera work looking at the parts inside. Terry is good at what he does. I might have missed it but what was Impact Guns address. Thanks.
Comment by silvermediastudio on 26 January 2011:
@aznazguy Starting at 26:14, he racks the slide on an empty chamber six times.
Comment by silvermediastudio on 26 January 2011:
@corpselikeangel While he is good at what he does, let’s not get carried away. There are machines out there far more complex and finnickey than a 1911 pistol. There are machinists and metal-smiths far more exacting and skilled than most (if not all) production shop gunsmiths. There are plenty of free resources and with a little engineering and mechanical ability, it isn’t tough to figure this stuff out.
Comment by silvermediastudio on 26 January 2011:
@du9207 In my opinion (15+ years of firearms experience), this guy is pretty good. He uses the right tools, is careful and continuously checks the results of slow, iterative modifications. I would trust him with my 1911s.
Comment by bsa17942 on 26 January 2011:
Great Video! I love these gunsmithing videos and I find them extremely educational, please keep them coming.
Comment by aznazguy on 26 January 2011:
@silvermediastudio Unless I missed it, I didn’t see any “slingshotting,” which to me is when you let the recoil spring throw the slide forward such as by releasing the slide stop.
I saw him “slamming” (moving, riding, whatever) the slide forward while holding it. While it might be similar since there’s no cartridge to buffer the shock, I don’t think it’s the same as what he said to avoid. Not the same enough to say he’s doing exactly that, in my opinion anyway.
Very cool video!
Comment by corpselikeangel on 26 January 2011:
The only sad thing of showing all of what Terry’s doing, is that now it gives us, the consumer, the power to do this stuff ourselves, which is great for us, but takes away from what these guys spend learning how to do this.
Comment by 1339LARS on 26 January 2011:
Great, this guy knows what he´s doing!!
Comment by 1339LARS on 26 January 2011:
Great, this guy knows he´s work!!
Comment by 1339LARS on 26 January 2011:
Great!!
Comment by 1339LARS on 26 January 2011:
@du9207 I think he´s doing everything correctly, deburr everthing and get the working parts as smooth as possible, I have done this on my Colt 1911A1 1943, and it´s as smooth a silk, (with the Wilson combat recoil system) beautiful gun shoots accuratly up to 140 yards (belive it or not).
Comment by Grimganker on 26 January 2011:
I was wondering if you ended up capping the orifices… orifie? for the safety you removed or if you left them open?
I was thinking it might be wise to do so to prevent dirt, dust etc from getting into the new sexy workin’s of your gun.
Grim