Grip safety is loose. Issue or not?

[JGus]

Originally Posted by srv1

I'm going to disagree with you on this one. I too was told the same thing when I got mine and it did not have any issues. After putting some rounds through it, that is when it slowly started. Now it will fire without engaging the grip safety. I sent it out today with the label they gave me. I recommend others to do as well and not wait until you have a problem. If you carry, why would you want to take a chance? Luckily this is not my carry gun.

James

I'm not sure what point you are disagreeing with me? If it's about most all 1911's having some play or slight "rattle" with the grip safety, I can tell you that all 31 of my 1911's I have have some play or rattle with the grip safety. Including my Les Baer, Ed Brown, etc.

But maybe you have more insight and knowledge into the workings of the multitude of 1911's than I do based on your experience with your Ruger SR1911 (which is also part of my 1911 collection).

The problem you are having is far beyond a rattling grip safety and your problem wasn't caused by a grip safety with some play or slight rattle. You have a function issue, a dangerous one at that, and you need to send it back to Ruger. What I was saying was that if the gun is functioning normal, and obviously yours is not, and it has some lateral movement/play with the grip safety that alone is not a reason to send the gun back to the manufacturer. Because it will be sent back to you in the same condition you received it. Your issue is far beyond just some slight play in the grip safety.

If you refuse to own a 1911 with no play in the grip safety, then you will be paying a tremendous amount of money for a 1911 with exacting tolerance and keep yourself from owning a lot of great 1911's. The grip safety will rarely ever be fitted to such an exacting tolerance that it has no lateral movement/play.

[srv1]

Originally Posted by JGus

I'm not sure what point you are disagreeing with me? If it's about most all 1911's having some play or slight "rattle" with the grip safety, I can tell you that all 31 of my 1911's I have have some play or rattle with the grip safety. Including my Les Baer, Ed Brown, etc.

But maybe you have more insight and knowledge into the workings of the multitude of 1911's than I do based on your experience with your Ruger SR1911 (which is also part of my 1911 collection).

The problem you are having is far beyond a rattling grip safety and your problem wasn't caused by a grip safety with some play or slight rattle. You have a function issue, a dangerous one at that, and you need to send it back to Ruger. What I was saying was that if the gun is functioning normal, and obviously yours is not, and it has some lateral movement/play with the grip safety that alone is not a reason to send the gun back to the manufacturer. Because it will be sent back to you in the same condition you received it. Your issue is far beyond just some slight play in the grip safety.

If you refuse to own a 1911 with no play in the grip safety, then you will be paying a tremendous amount of money for a 1911 with exacting tolerance and keep yourself from owning a lot of great 1911's. The grip safety will rarely ever be fitted to such an exacting tolerance that it has no lateral movement/play.

I doubt that I know more than you but this rattle I ignored because I was told it was normal but what I should have said was excessive rattle. The funny thing is, my RIA barely rattles at all. I know any gun is not supposed to be rattle free but the problem I have is the grip safety moves when lightly shaking it and the RIA does not move at all. The BEST way I can describe it is that it has very little tension. Also if you read above, I did send it back to Ruger. I know they will fix it and make it right. Other than this issue, the gun so far has been flawless.

James

[JGus]

Originally Posted by srv1

I doubt that I know more than you but this rattle I ignored because I was told it was normal but what I should have said was excessive rattle. The funny thing is, my RIA barely rattles at all. I know any gun is not supposed to be rattle free but the problem I have is the grip safety moves when lightly shaking it and the RIA does not move at all. The BEST way I can describe it is that it has very little tension. Also if you read above, I did send it back to Ruger. I know they will fix it and make it right. Other than this issue, the gun so far has been flawless.

James

When you say the grip safety had little tension that makes much more sense to me as a serious problem. If the grip safety had little tension to it, you are correct in that you don't want to ignore that scenario even if the gun functioned fine from the beginning.

[srv1]

Originally Posted by JGus

When you say the grip safety had little tension that makes much more sense to me as a serious problem. If the grip safety had little tension to it, you are correct in that you don't want to ignore that scenario even if the gun functioned fine from the beginning.

Yeah it has barely any spring pressure to it. If you lay your pinky on it, you will activate it. Also the trigger has excessive play in it. I can move the trigger when the grip safety was activated about an 1/8". Way too sloppy compared to the other 1911 I own and the few others that I have fired.

James

[srv1]

I sent the gun out on the 1st and they received it on Monday the 4th. Today I got a courtesy call stating they received it. Do they normally do this? Just curious. I thought it was nice to let me know where my gun is. This is the first time I have dealt with Ruger and hopefully it will be the last.

James

[Mick0610]

Anyone try putting more spring pressure on the far right spring of the sear spring????

[Nipperdog]

Originally Posted by Mick0610

Anyone try putting more spring pressure on the far right spring of the sear spring????

Yes: I re tensioned my SR1911s GS the first day that I recieved it. There was hardly any spring tension on the GS out of the box. After I conducted a basic 1911 function/safety check and determined that the gun was in safe shooting order, I removed the sear spring and re tensioned the GS finger. The gun now has enough spring tension to push the GS all the way out, but still easy to dis engage while gripping the pistol. Range testing with approx. 800 rounds of LSWC target ammo determined the gun to be 100% reliable.

[srv1]

Originally Posted by Nipperdog

Yes: I re tensioned my SR1911s GS the first day that I recieved it. There was hardly any spring tension on the GS out of the box. After I conducted a basic 1911 function/safety check and determined that the gun was in safe shooting order, I removed the sear spring and re tensioned the GS finger. The gun now has enough spring tension to push the GS all the way out, but still easy to dis engage while gripping the pistol. Range testing with approx. 800 rounds of LSWC target ammo determined the gun to be 100% reliable.

Yeah I could have done that but I never took apart a 1911 before and I did not want to screw it up. Also, the trigger had a bunch of play, front to back, side to side and up and down. Rather let them do it for safety reasons and they have the knowledge and the tools.

James

[steveb4c]

after watching your video and reading this thread, i too have had this happen to my RIA tac 9mm, 4 out of 5 trys, and my grip safety has always be loose and rattled. i know this is not the RIA forum, but i'm still concerned. i've never taken a 1911 apart, should i too send it back? thanks for bringing this to my attention.

[srv1]

Originally Posted by steveb4c

after watching your video and reading this thread, i too have had this happen to my RIA tac 9mm, 4 out of 5 trys, and my grip safety has always be loose and rattled. i know this is not the RIA forum, but i'm still concerned. i've never taken a 1911 apart, should i too send it back? thanks for bringing this to my attention.

Only send it back if you are not confident enough to fix it yourself. I have no experience with 1911's and most likely I could fix it but I bought the gun new and it should have not left the factory this way. They paid for the shipping both ways and they have all the knowledge and tools to fix it the right way so for me, the best option was to let Ruger fix it. Also, I received a tracking number on Friday 6/8 from Ruger so my gun is already on the way back to me! That is some quick turnaround time!! We will see if they made it right.

[srv1]

Well I received my Ruger today and they replaced the grip safety and repaired the sear spring. Everything feels great and will shoot it this weekend. No more rattle except for the trigger.

James

[srv1]

So I put 50 rounds in today without a problem. The trigger feels tighter and the grip safety was perfect. Very happy with Ruger's customer service.

[Bobodice7]

Hey there, I'm new to the forum and have come to it via google with the problem I am having with my Brand new SR1911. I realize this is an old thread, but it is very similar to the issue with the SR1911 I got today. My grip safety when I opened it up was also noticeably very loose also, almost seems as if there were no tension whatsoever. So anyway, I decided to check and see if it were engaging the trigger at all, and it was not. I held the pistol without touching the grip safety at all and pulled the trigger and it fired right away. It was as if there were no grip safety at all. I didn't need to aim the gun down or shake as you did. I simply aimed it straight ahead and fired it without touching the grip safety.
Now that you had yours fixed, would you suggest that I call Ruger and have this sent back or do you think I may be able to bring it to the retailer as I haven't even had this for even 24hrs or should I attempt to repair it myself?

Thanks

[vh20]

I'd start with the retailer - right away (as in go get your keys now). That's a DANGEROUS gun and he should be more than willing to get it back from you and out of use where it could be a huge liability. If he's an idiot and won't help, then yes, back to Ruger. At least you can always count on them to make it right. I'd still be going for an exchange (or refund if no more in stock) with the retailer first.

[dakota1911]

I agree, if the grip safety is not working then try and take it back to the retailer first, and if that does not work then send it to Ruger. I now have a couple SR1911s plus I have shot a few others friends have and they are 100%, but every company has a bad one make it through every now and then.

[Bobodice7]

Thanks guys, I have just found out that the gun is a Davidson's lifetime guaranteed gun, which certainly helps. Just waiting to here back from the retailer. I know I'm not gonna get stuck with it but it still sucks.

[Chuckdog]

It's a 3 minute fix? I used to bend and disable all my grip safeties because I preferred a low grip position in my younger days of shooting a 1911.

I worry about 1911's that don't rattle a bit!

[srv1]

Originally Posted by Bobodice7

Thanks guys, I have just found out that the gun is a Davidson's lifetime guaranteed gun, which certainly helps. Just waiting to here back from the retailer. I know I'm not gonna get stuck with it but it still sucks.

It actually may be faster to call Ruger and have them send you a shipping label and have them fix it.

James