The hammer on my pistol is not quite centered. While cocked, it sets to the right of the beavertail. While un-cocked, it sits next to the right of the slide. Both areas show wear - not severe - just shiny spots. While the firing pin stop has a slightly uneven wear pattern, the gun operates fine. IS THIS NORMAL? I didn’t even notice until after I cleaned it for the first time. Now, of course, is bothers the heck out of me.
And, assuming a correction was warranted, would this be an easy fix for a gunsmith?
It's not normal. Sounds like either the hole in the hammer or the holes in the frame weren't drilled straight. Really hard to say without seeing the gun. By slide stop, I'm assuming that you're describing the firing pin stop... the plate with the hole in the middle at the back of the slide.
If the hammer is drilled wrong, it's an easy fix. If it's the frame... not so easy. If the gun is under warranty, you'll probably want to return it to the manufacturer. Even if it isn't under warranty, they still may repair/replace the frame on their dime. Cross your fingers that it's the hammer and not the frame... but my money is on the frame. In any case, there's an uneven stress on the hammer pin, which will probably lead to premature failure.
Just for the record... Who made the gun?
Most likely it is the hammer. Many 1911 manufacturers, maybe all by now, do not make their own small parts, they purchase them in bulk from other vendors and the quality can and does vary dramatically. It ain't lowest cost bid for nothing!
Geeez... don't know why I said "slide stop." Must of had that on the brain at the time
Yes, I meant the "firing pin" stop. I know better, too... Just a cranial - rectal inversion, I guess
Thanks for the replies, guys. The gun is a Sig GSR. I intentionally left that part out to (perhaps) aid in the objectivity of the responses, as I have heard others complaining about this same problem. (and many others concerning this model) I actually DID get a return authorization for the gun when I was at the height of my anxiety about it one afternoon. I just have not been sure if I was ME being nitt-picky, or, if I should actually be concerned about this. As a result, I have not yet sent it into Sig and, instead, are posting on this board to see if it is I who has the problem
Again, I do appreciate the replies. I guess I'll get the thing sent off!
You mentioned that you had heard of the same problem in other Sig 1911 clones... If that's the case, it could very well be the hammer, since they don't make the hammers, but rather buy them from a vendor. Could be that whoever made a particular run of hammers got the holes all cattywampus.
When it happens to the holes in the frame, it's usually an occasional thing... probably caused by a burr or metal chip between the frame and work table when the machine operator put the frame in the fixture before drilling the holes. It doesn't take a lot of misalignment to cause a problem with a hammer or sear pin.
Let Sig hear from ya. This needs to be fixed.
Cockeyed hammers and crooked beavertails are standard equipment on GSRs. The one at FLD is already burred from the hammer hitting the edge of the recess in the beavertail just in prospective customers' handling. It looks to me like the beavertail is off by more than the hammer.
Sigarms will replace them on demand and supposedly have a new source of beavertails. I would let them fix it. A competent gunsmith could replace the hammer and beavertail but it would be at your considerable expense. I don't think they are repairable within the value of the parts.
For a long account of GSR troubles and corrections by the expert hired by Sigarms to ensure they turned out a good 1911 mutant, ref:
http://sigforum.com/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&...935&m=91310994
Well... So much for all the giddy anticipation and smug predictions that Sig's superior QC and engineering would "straighten out the flaws" in the decrepit old 1911...
Yeah... I know that Sig doesn't build the guns and they don't actually make anything in-house... Seems like somebody woulda noticed that the hammers and grip safeties were on crooked though.
Ah well... back to the drawin' board. Norinco anyone?
All the engineering in the world can't make up for shoddy workmanship and poor quality parts.
At least the gun worked. That is not true of all cases of "shoddy workmanship and poor quality parts."
Thanks for the info and link to Matt McLearn's thread. It seems he is pretty committed to the success of the GSR project. That's good to know that they are trying to do things right.
I waited some time before actually picking up a 1911 - this is my first. You must admit, it looks pretty good on paper. If all these "high-end" pieces get put together right, I would think it should be a keeper. It actually has shot great for me. Hopefully, when I get it back, things will be right and I won't have to scratch the itch to get something like one of the Colt 70 series reintro's. I know, totally on the other end of the spectrum as far as 1911 models go... I just love that classic look and I have read good things about the new Colts. I will probably only have the option of having one 1911, so, after much ado, I went with the model I thought would give me everything I would probably ever want, and not break the bank. (Reeeeeeally wanted a Baer TRS but only had 1000 dollars to spend) But, if this GSR doesn't work out, I'll probably head in the direction of the Pony.
I took a real close look at the SIG 1911's at the Shot Show. No comment.
Only one pal of mine hereabouts has bought the GSR. His hasn't been shot much yet, so no issues with it. However, one of the IPSC folks at my club reports that one of their shooters had to send his back pretty quickly due to some parts problems. Firing pin stop and thumb safety weren't behaving if memory serves.
What/who/where is FLD?
If my translation into Watson-speak is correct, "FLD" means 'friendly local dealer'.