I had a Wilson combat trigger installed in Springfield 1911. But the over travel screw is giving me some problems. I have used locktite but it still came loose after about 200 rounds. I had the trigger installed by a gunsmith and this raises another question, was this a shoddy trigger job? I have also read if the hammer bumps about two-thirds of the way down to the firing pin this can damage the sear when it contacts the safety notch. But the hammer will partially cock at the point where it is “bumping.” The gunsmith that put the trigger in recently vanished under shady circumstances so i cant ask him. I need some help, is this fairly common problem or am i the victim of a bad gunsmith?
I dont know how much you can do yourself but you can locktite and stake the trigger that should do the trick or if you want to do it right just go get a 10-8 trigger.
Grinch has pointed you in the right direction, but given your question I’d look for a competent gunsmith to do the work (not meant as a dig, just an observation).
Staking the trigger is done by setting the overtravel in the correct position and then using a center punch and peening the sides of the trigger pad on top of the over travel screw. This will “crush” the trigger bow onto the screw to prevent movement of the screw. This combined with lock tight will normally prevent the screw from moving out of adjustment.
If you want a no fail system, have a 10-8 trigger installed.
If you are holding your hammer to the rear, depressing the trigger, releasing the trigger and then lowering the hammer manually, it is normal for the hammer to catch on the half-cock notch.
If during the normal course of firing the hammer is striking the halfcock notch, this is NOT NORMAL and may cause damage to the sear. It needs to be fixed.
If the overtravel screw is moving in the trigger that is also bad. If it migrates in, it can cause the trigger not to depress, turning your 1911 into a paperweight until you unscrew it. Lock-tite it, stake it, or replace it.
If the OP intends to keep his 1911, which I’m sure he does, then he needs to find a competent 1911 smith.
I’m also thinking that he should have left well enough alone and kept his stock Springfield trigger but that’s his call to change it. However, it always seems that people have trouble with their firearms when they start jacking around with the important stuff. I’m sure his gun ran fine before his “smith” hacked it.
If you look at the over travel screw, you will notice that in the back side of it, it has 2 sides that can be gently squeezed together with a proper fitting pair of pliers so that the screw has more “Grip” on it when it is inserted. Be gentle and go slow.
