View Full Version : Colt Mustang trigger work, try it myself?
I just got a nice Colt Mustang but the trigger has a 12.5lb. pull determined by hanging milk jugs of water from a string wrapped over the trigger and then weighing them on a digital bathroom scale, it took almost 1 1/2 jugs of water to trip the hammer. I'd like to get it down to 5 or 6lb. I know a lot of people have screwed up there guns by attempting to do there own work, I have zero gunsmith experience but I have been a machinist for over 20 years and pretty much know my way around metal. I think I could do it if I could find some instructions somewhere but have not found any online, anyone know of any online instructions or can give me any in person? Does a trigger job just consist of polishing the sear and hammer or is metal actually removed? If I just highly polished them would that improve the trigger? Or should I just look for a local smith and take it to him? Thanks
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I would suggest that you read up on action jobs for the 1911 as the Mustang is basically a miniature Commander.
As with machining, please read several differing sources for general information to confirm be before attempting.
You shouldn't have to remove metal, just polish the action.
I have a .380Govt that I've never worked but is plenty smooth due to age and use.
After you work with it a bit, you will really like it.
Be sure and read thru the manual for field stripping as the extractor on these can mess with your mind.
Enjoy.
You might could polish the hammer hooks if you use a new (sharp 90 degree edges with no nicks) very hard Arkansas stone or a ceramic stone - Brownells has a nice selection but they're almost $30. Polishing the sear nose without the proper jig would likely ruin the sear or at best give a mushy trigger and maybe an unsafe trigger. The angles and contact of the sear/hammer engagement surfaces are important.
Sear jigs run from $37 (Ed Brown) to $150.
Finding a pistolsmith that has a reputation for good trigger jobs on 1911's should be considered.
Skilled machinists make good gunsmiths - but the specialized tools for gunsmithing can be costly.
The trigger should smooth up after 500 rounds but 12 lbs is a lot to smooth up. Maybe check the sear spring - slight bending of the leg that contacts the sear (the left leg) could reduce the weight - it just takes a very small about of bend - go slow.
Larry's guns www.larrysguns.com sells a moly slide grease for hammers and sears that I found noticeably smoothed and lightened the trigger pull on several handguns.
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