Make sure you function check new 1911's

[doublebarrel]

Bought a new Ruger 1911 CMD last Saturday,new firearm so figured should be good to go.Finally had time to take it down to clean and check it before going to the range.Found the grip safety not working,too much material had been taken off when fitting it.I plan on calling Ruger Monday to see if they will send me a new one to fit myself instead of sending gun in.So make sure to function check even a new firearm.Be safe!

 

[MOUNTAIN WILLIAM]

Bought a new Ruger 1911 CMD last Saturday,new firearm so figured should be good to go.Finally had time to take it down to clean and check it before going to the range.Found the grip safety not working,too much material had been taken off when fitting it.I plan on calling Ruger Monday to see if they will send me a new one to fit myself instead of sending gun in.So make sure to function check even a new firearm.Be safe!

Words to live by. Thanks for posting the reminder to be ever vigilant, especially with a new and unproven gun.

 

[The Wall]

I'd almost be willing to bet they won't let you do it yourself. Would be surprised if they do. Please let us know how it turns out. Thanks for your post.

 

[doublebarrel]

Talked to Ruger yesturday,they wouldn't send a grip safety,wanted gun.I asked them why you can buy one from them to fit yourself but they can't send me one to replace one not fitted correctly,no answer for that.I told them if they wanted to see firearm they could come to Texas to look at it.Ordered one to fit myself since I'm going to bobtail it anyway.I know when I'm done it will be right.If you call Ruger make sure your cell phone battery is charged,was on hold 30 minutes.

 

[dakota1911]

Beyond function test, field strip and inspection of any gun, with autos I put one round in the mag and shoot it and be sure that works. New two rounds, and then three rounds. If all looks O.K. then I will load a full mag.

 

[doublebarrel]

Good point Dakota,I do the same.Saw a guy load up a full mag on a new 1911,pull the trigger and fired off 3 or 4 rounds before he got his finger off the trigger.Look on his face was priceless.He did manage to control the gun.

 

[98Redline]

I have seen a couple of 1911s go full "rock-n-roll" a couple of times.
Mostly it is a result of a poorly executed kitchen table trigger job.

 

[Colberjs]

The gunsmith at the store I purchased mine at had to repair the grip safety on mine. It would fire without the grip safety depressed.

 

[Rabon]

Talked to Ruger yesturday,they wouldn't send a grip safety,wanted gun.I asked them why you can buy one from them to fit yourself but they can't send me one to replace one not fitted correctly,no answer for that.I told them if they wanted to see firearm they could come to Texas to look at it.Ordered one to fit myself since I'm going to bobtail it anyway.I know when I'm done it will be right.If you call Ruger make sure your cell phone battery is charged,was on hold 30 minutes.

Thats the beauty of a 1911 or a Glock you are not held hostage for parts, everything is available from numerous sources. :)

 

[mat523]

The gunsmith at the store I purchased mine at had to repair the grip safety on mine. It would fire without the grip safety depressed.

Does this also apply to a Ruger Commander? I have nearly 600 rds through mine, and it has been flawless. Both fit and function.

 

[justbill2013]

mat523,

It could happen to your pistol but after 600 rounds I don't see it as very likely. If the part was going to fail, I'm pretty confident it would have by now.

 

[mdewitt71]

Good info.......
My SR1911 is the first 1911 I have ever owned, got about 75 rounds thru it so far.
Never heard of one going "auto" before.

 

[98Redline]

Getting a 1911 to go full auto can and does happen.
There are several things that can cause this however in nearly every case it is an example of someone not knowing exactly how the inner workings of the gun function and making not so exact changes to critical dimensions.

The most common causes are:
Incorrect sear angles
Hammer hooks being too short
Too short of a disconnector
Incorrect adjustment of the overtravel screw on the trigger

BTW: the cycle rate on a 1911 is somewhere around 1000 rounds/min. It will dump a full mag in about 2 seconds.

 

[AgentV3]

The grip safety functions by blocking the movement of the trigger while it's at rest. When you grip the pistol to fire, the finger on the inside of the safety lever lifts up out of the way of the back of the trigger, allowing it to move. Because of this, it's usually not subject to a lot of stress during it's lifetime, so I don't think it would wear out. The leaf spring might, however, but the safety lever itself should be fine over the life of the pistol unless it was bad out of the box.