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How to Take the Trigger Out of a 1911

The 1911 semiautomatic pistol is a powerful, easy-to-shoot and reliable firearm. Many 1911s are customized by their owners. One modification is the installation of an aftermarket trigger. While the stock triggers on most 1911s are excellent, some have excessive pull weight or grittiness. Trigger pull length may be another reason to replace the trigger. There are short, medium and long triggers that fit this gun, and can be tailored to suit the shooter's hand size. The 1911 is considered a pistol for experienced shooters, and basic gunsmithing skills, as well as a thorough understanding of how a 1911 works, are recommended for anyone attempting to do this project.

Things You'll Need

1/8-inch punch
Plastic mallet
Flat-blade screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the magazine and rack the slide to ensure that there is no live round in the chamber.
- 2
  Retract the slide enough to line up the takedown notch with the slide stop lever. Push the slide stop pin from the right side toward the left. Grasp the slide stop lever and remove it from the frame.
- 3
  Pull the slide assembly forward off the front of the frame and set it aside. Be sure to catch the recoil spring and guide rod so they do not fly out.
- 4
  Cock the hammer to the rear. Wiggle the thumb safety back and forth while pulling it outward from the frame. Remove the safety from the frame, but be sure to catch the spring-loaded thumb safety plunger.
- 5
  Use the 1/8-inch punch to push out the hammer pivot pin, then remove the hammer.
- 6
  Use the 1/8-inch punch to push out the mainspring housing pin. This pin is located at the bottom rear of the mainspring housing at the back of the frame. You may need to tap the punch with a plastic mallet to push the pin. Always push from the dished (concave) part of the pin. Remove the mainspring housing by pulling it down, out of the grip frame.
- 7
  Remove the grip safety and sear spring. The sear spring is the three-pronged flat spring lying at the back of the grip frame.
- 8
  Use the punch to push out the sear pin and remove the sear and disconnector. They are small pieces, so be sure to catch them.
- 9
  Push in the magazine catch. While pushing on the catch from the left side, use a small flat-blade screwdriver to turn the magazine catch counterclockwise from the right side. Remove the magazine catch from the frame.
- 10
  Tip the front of the frame up and the trigger will drop out of the back of the frame.

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