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New to me PT1911, stiff grip safety

2112 Views 10 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  muddcatt54
I just picked up a newer PT1911 and may have a problem with the grip safety.
How stiff are they supposed to be?
I really have to squeeze it to disengage and it feels gritty, well compared to my new RIA Ultra that I also recently bought.

The trigger feels pretty good but does not break anywhere near as nice as the RIA.

Thanks in advance!
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Grip safeties are supposed to be ‘invisible’. Try cleaning then polish.
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#1 With a new or new to you firearm. Clean it and Lube it. You never know what kind of care it had previously. And the new ones are lubed for storage, as they don't know how long it will sit on a shelf.

#2 Now run 2-3 hundred rounds through it, using several different manufacturers and types, just to find out what it likes. If you find something it doesn't like save that, it will probably work fine later.

#3 Now that it's broken in, does that problem still exist? If so now is the time to contact the manufacturer.

With Taurus, all of the above needs to happen with in the first six months of ownership, or you will pay the freight to and from.
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Awesome, thank you, I just wasn't sure if the condition is normal for a PT1911:)
Awesome, thank you, I just wasn't sure if the condition is normal for a PT1911:)
I have a well broken in PT1911, and the grip safety is easy to disengage. I agree with the lube it, clean it, shoot it, repeat approach.
Awesome, thank you, I just wasn't sure if the condition is normal for a PT1911:)
While "I" don't consider your problem normal, I would still go through the check list, in lieu of shipping it back immediately. I have had firearms, multiple manufacturers, that displayed an unusual "tic" that disappeared within 100 rounds or so, only one of which, not Taurus, ever went back.
I would have to concentrate to notice the grip safety disengaging on the 1911s I own or have owned.

I'd field strip it, spray gun oil down into the area of the grip safety, and then see how it feels. Take a good light and check the edges of the part. You may see a burr. While disassembled, with the thumb safety on (lever in the up position to keep the hammer from dropping - you don't want that to happen on a field stripped 1911), work the grip safety a few dozen times. If you're comfortable with disassembly, take the grip safety off (there are tons of how-tos across the internet) and do a better check for burrs. If you don't see anything that explains it, take a few good, clear photos and let us see them.
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My grip safety is also tough to disengage if I am trying to do it. However when I grip it to fire I never notice it at all. If you are having a hard time with it at a range I would either take it to a gunsmith to adjust the sear spring and polish the internals or watch enough videos on YouTube till you feel comfortable doing it yourself. The spring will probably “break” in over time.
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I just picked up a newer PT1911 and may have a problem with the grip safety.
How stiff are they supposed to be?
I really have to squeeze it to disengage and it feels gritty, well compared to my new RIA Ultra that I also recently bought.

The trigger feels pretty good but does not break anywhere near as nice as the RIA.

Thanks in advance!
Hard to say, a lot of variation in assembly of the PT1911, so it can be about anywhere.
While I agree with Ghost horse reply.
depending on how comfy you are on disassembly the sear spring (a 3 pronged spring) under the back strap (Main Spring housing) can be adjusted to change the pressure of the grip safety.
a burr on the grip safety could easily cause the problem that you describe, check it as well.
Bbad post i dont know what I did
My new 1911 has stiff grip safety but it seem everything on that pistol is tight but I'll not worry about it till I've put 500 to 1000 rounds through it but it is the tightest new pistol I ever bought much more so than my other two Tauris but I don't see that as a bad thing with a new pistol
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