Sticking Safety

original: forum.m1911.org
Retrieved: November 09, 2011
Last Post: October 15, 2011

ColoKeb
10th September 2011

I have a circa 1994 Premier II. Each time it is fired, the safety re-engages enough to stop the next shot. This is a relatively unused gun. Les spoke to me briefly and said something about a "tube".

What might be the problem? I really would prefer to not spend the money to ship it back for service... there are some good gunsmiths in my area.


Carrots
10th September 2011

Possibly the plunger tube or your thumb.


ColoKeb
10th September 2011

Not thumbs. Two shooters, each tested off hand and benched. So what is the tube?


boblenaere
10th September 2011

Plunger tube. When thumb safety won't hold it's position and comes off too easily you need to check the plunger tube & spring & may need to:

1. replace plunger and /or spring
2. restake plunger tube
3. sometimes a simple stretch of plunger spring and then replace will increase resistance to stop safety movving too easily
3. replace safety if plunger tube & indent on safety are OK
4. or try removing plunger spring & putting a dimpling drill through the plunger tube & carefull drilling safety until it becomes harder to push off the plunger; drilling a dimple in face of safety that engages plunger. Best left to a competent gunsmith.

Pic of plunger tube where 1 end engaes slide stop & other end engages thumb safety.


84B20
11th September 2011

I had a similar problem with my PII and I discovered that I was hitting the ambi safety when I fired it. My grip was part of the problem but for me the easiest solution was to send it back to LB to replace it with a single thumb safety. If you didn't want to wait that long you could probably buy the safety from LB and have a local gunsmith install it if it doesn't just drop in.


John
12th September 2011

Before you go ordering parts, remove the safety, remove the safety plunger and re-install the safety without the plunger. See if the safety works OK like that.


ColoKeb
15th October 2011

Thanks all, especially Bob (#4), and Carrots (#2). It was an improperly staked plunger tube.


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