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Series 70 goes auto

4K views 12 replies 8 participants last post by  Rob Longenecker 
#1 ·
I was at a 2 day defensive handgun class. As part of the class the instructor put his finger on top of mine inside the trigger guard and let me feel a "correct" trigger pull. We both got a bit of a surprise as the gun went auto and emptied the magazine. I have not been able to make it do it again. I did not repeat the two fingers inside the TG though. The gun had passed a pre-course safety inspection by the onsite gunsmith. At this point I don't trust the gun. It did have some trigger work done to it before I bought it. But I have shot it for four years with no problem. Other than an extended safety, it is a stock series 70 Colt. The local .45 guru (who shall remain nameless) won't work on any gun that has had previous work by another smith. Two questions, 1. what do you think caused the run on (I have my theory but I am not a gunsmith) and 2. who in Northern California could do a solid check/repair on the gun?
 
#3 ·
I never have measured the trigger pull on this gun. It breaks cleanly at a lighter than factory pull weight. Your idea is a distinct possibility.

A few years back there were some gadgets that were supposed to make your semiauto fire full auto. Hellfire, Hellstorm, Hellsbells. Some dramatic sounding combo of hell and violent weather conditions. If I remember correctly, they functioned by putting a block insside the triger guard and then, while gripping the gun looslely, you would let the recoil push the gun and trigger forward against your finger. Great idea..get your gun to start firing repeatedly and grip it loosely while its doing it.;-) I thought that I might have created a condition like that.

I would like to hear if there are any other ideas of what might have caused my gun to go auto. A name of a recommended Northern California gunsmith would be good too.

Since F. Bob Chow went out of business, I haven't dealt with a local gunsmith, where I could just walk into the shop and actually speak to the person who would work on my gun. I miss the days when gunsmiths were guys who could fix a broken gun not sell just me an entire catalogue of add on parts.
 
#5 ·
I once heard a story about a detective who went to use the restroom and while doing so hung his .45 from the coat hook. Unknown to him the safety had become disengaged. Upon finishing his business he retrived his gun by gripping it and in doing so pushed the trigger against the hook. The gun went off and because he was not ready for this he was not holding on very tight and it went full auto and sent 8 rounds into the ceiling. No injuries reported.
If you ever catch the right episode of American Shooter at the end there is a segment of Bob Munden preforming this exact stunt with two fingers in the trigger guard. When I saw this I just had to try it so off to the range I went (here, hold my sign). The trick didn't work with all of my 1911's but it did work with two of them that had had trigger jobs. I seriously doubt that there is anything wrong with your gun, just that everything came together at the right time.

C.A.
 
#8 ·
I was taught that when testing a 1911 after a trigger job (or one having problems such as yours) to only put 2 or 3 rounds in the magazine when shooting until you're confident that the trigger functions normally. That way if it does go full auto, it will only fire 1 or 2 rounds instead of a full magazine.
 
#9 ·
full auto

I think the double finger theory is correct We had a guy in my ordnance outfit who was a test firer for Winchester on M-1 rifles. He could take any M-1 we had and fire it full auto. He even offered 5.00 to anyone who could do it. He hungthe rifle loosely at his side and let the recoil bounce his finger. He never had to pay the 5.00 as none of us could do it. I guess him firing about 2 million rounds at Winchester helped
 
#12 ·
Hi everyone, this looks like a very good forum, and my first post. Pulling the trigger for a student is something that a lot of instructors do, myself included, it shows the student how to press the trigger better than you can explain it. On one American Shooter episode Rob Leatham showed the technique.

The auto fire could be caused by the bump affect or there is another affect, if you can hold the trigger in a certain position any 1911 will go full auto. It is very hard to do but easier with with a lighter trigger pull. It's possible that the " sweet spot " was found with two fingers in the trigger guard. I have a customer who can make about any 1911 go auto if he wants to, very hard to do a trigger job for him!

I would have that pistol checked out anyway just to be sure.
 
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