Thumper

Great reminder, we all get lax from time to time. Thanks!

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ALWAYS carry! - NEVER tell!

taggart

Would you recommend this function check before every firing session? Or perhaps, after so many rounds? Would it hurt the gun to perform these tests TOO much? Just curious!

gunthorp

Won't hurt. This is just great preflight stuff for all us 1911 pilots out there.

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Don't dither. The nick of time comes just before the moment lost.

limatunes

I do this check after every time cleaning. Other than that, I don't bother. As long as I checked it after disassembling it seemed to work fine, and if I took it to the range and it fired well, then we know it works!

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Holy Moses, this child is active!

Limatunes' Range Diaries

On a shooting hiatus until our son is born...

dhberry

Hey, QKShooter, just a note to let you know that you are right on with your 1911 safety checks. I am a former Firearms Instructor myself and just yesterday was in the process of pondering the purchase of one of the new Taurus 1911s, and applied all my usual safety checks, just exactly as you decribed. As an aside, my wife and I are just this month retiring and I thought to obtain one really good pistol to keep for carry, and I really liked the looks and features of the Taurus. Until I performed my standard safety drill, that is. All went well until I performed the thumb safety check. Thumb safety on and pull trigger: OK. Release trigger, then release thumb safety: Hammer fell to half-cock! This was on a brand-new in the box store model. Well, long story short, just like you, a brand-new SIG P220 Carry model now resides in my CCW holster. A lot more money, but a lot more confidence. Thanks for listening and God bless you and yours.

QKShooter

Yes, I've seen that before but, not with a factory new firearm.
When folks "home smith" and start adding "drop in" aftermarket parts...sometimes the drop in parts don't drop in exactly as they should...and then the thumb safety, the sear, and the hammer go to war with each other.

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The lion does not turn around when a small dog barks.

Murexway

I once bought a series 80 Colt 1911 that had the plunger lever installed improperly by the prior owner. First time at the range, the gun went click instead of bang.

Now, after cleaning (especially after a detail strip) on any Series 80 Colt, I do a final function check.

With the gun empty, cocked, and pointed towards the ceiling, I drop a pencil down the barrel - eraser end first. Pull the trigger and the pencil should be launched towards the ceiling. If it doesn't the gun won't fire

AZ Husker

Excellent post. I consider that common knowledge, but forget how many folks buy, knowing nothing. Should be required before purchase, kinda like knowing how to change a flat tire before getting a driver's license!

JEC

Good advice for the 1911 owner. I have followed this method of checking functionality for years. The one step I perform last though is :

"SEAR ENGAGEMENT TEST: Lock the slide back, grip gun normally, then release the slide stop, allowing slide to slam home with force. The hammer should NOT fall for any reason. If it does then the hammer/sear engagement is too weak. Repeat test once again to be sure."

I will load 2 or 3 'snap caps' in a magazine. This not only protects the breech face, hammer and sear but ensures the round will chamber properly.

Jack