Springfield 45 ACP

[jro45]

My Springfield 45 ACP had a 6 LB pull. I took my sear out and filed it down just a little. Put it back together and tried it. It now has a 3.5 lb pull. Anybody else ever done this?

[jro45]

This is not my go to gun. It is a fun gun I use for knocking down bowling pins.

[Questor]

I have done it on a target 1911, as recommended by a gunsmith who is in my bullseye league. But it wasn't to lighten the pull; it was to remove a creep. He qualified his recommendation that it should only be done if it's a target gun. The measurement he gave me was to hone the sear to .020" I forget the details of that advice. That didn't solve the problem tough. The root cause of the creepiness in my trigger pull was the gritty casting marks in the frame channel that the trigger bow rides in. For adjusting trigger pull weight, I adjust the leav spring instead.

[Mikey]

I have found that honing parts reduces drag, creep and roughness and in that process reduces the trigger pull somewhat.  I have also found that 're-tortioning' the middle finger of the main spring also helps a bunch.  Mikey.

[rbwillnj]

Jro45,

When you say file, did you really mean file, or hone with a stone.   It's common practice to polish the sear with a fine stone to help eliminate creap, and it will also lighten the trigger pull a little too.   Polishing the sear is generally done with a jig so as to maintain the proper angles.   Changing the lenght of the sear by filling it could result in an unsafe gun.   

Do me a favor and do one little test.   With the gun unloaded,  rack the slide to cock the hammer, put the thumb safety on, pull the trigger hard (did you feel it move at all, it shouldn't)  then take the thumb safety off.  Did the hammer fall?  If it did, the gun is unsafe.   Any time you do work on the hammer or sear, you should do this test. 

[Mikey]

rbwillnj:  hone with a stone.  Mikey.

[jro45]

rbwillnj,

I took this gun to the range [ this isn't the first time I've done this to a sear] and shot bowling pins. It seemed like every time I fired I had to reset those bowling pins. The gun operated fawlessly. I use my saftey when I lay the gun down loaded and take it off before I fire.

And yes I used a small very fine file.

[Heavy C]

I've also re-tortioned the middle leaf of the main spring.  It reduced the trigger pull dramatically.  Problem is that it's not exact and you have to be real careful with it.

[jro45]

I've also re-tortioned the middle leaf of the main spring.  It reduced the trigger pull dramatically.  Problem is that it's not exact and you have to be real careful with it.

I went to my sear not the spring. I smothed it off some and reduced my trigger pull 2 to 2 1/2 lb