1911 double fired.

[N80]

I have a basic Colt 45 1911. Made in the early 50's. It has had, at the most, 300 rounds through it, probably closer to 200. My son was shooting it recently when it double fired. In other words, he was working through the magazine bang.....bang...bang and then bangbang......bang.

He says we was only aware of pulling the trigger once when it fired twice. To me it sounded faster than you could even pull the trigger twice.

Is this a known issue with these pistols? Is it a cleaning issue? I've only had it apart once but have cleaned the barrel a few times. I'm not a big pistol guy and generally prefer a revolver so I don't know much about autos.

 

[adventure bob]

It very unlikely that a 1911 failed in a manner that allowed it double fire. The only way to go into a another firing is either the trigger was inadvertently depressed or their was a failure at several components in the gun. A failure of this type wouldn't be intermittent it would be a pretty regular thing. Additionally, there's a finite time to the cycle, theres no physical way for it to be "faster" even if there was a failure in the manner you describe. The time to fully cycle the gun is mechanical and is what it is. If your gun is a series 70, then its possible for it to be slightly more likely. Series 80 and beyond pistols have another safety mechanism, the firing pin safety, that would also have to fail for the pistol to inadvertently fire as described. The more probable explanation is that he pulled the trigger again. The way to ensure that its not the gun, if your truly worried about it is to take it to a gunsmith and let him take some measurements of the trigger and hammer components.

 

[N80]

Thanks. I feel fairly sure that from what you are saying he was just pulling the trigger at the perfect moment and it fired as soon as it was mechanically possible. I don't know why, it may have been a grip/recoil/anticipation issue. (And I realize it has a mechanical limit in terms of speed, but it was fast. Faster than what you typically hear even in competitions). Anyway, it seems unlikely that there is a major issue as we continued to shoot it without problem. Thanks again.

 

[adventure bob]

My son, 11, tends to double tap by accident on his 22/45. It has a very light trigger and the recoil often helps him double tap it. Hes learning trigger control to prevent it.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I have a basic Colt 45 1911. Made in the early 50's. It has had, at the most, 300 rounds through it, probably closer to 200. My son was shooting it recently when it double fired. In other words, he was working through the magazine bang.....bang...bang and then bangbang......bang.

He says we was only aware of pulling the trigger once when it fired twice. To me it sounded faster than you could even pull the trigger twice.

Is this a known issue with these pistols? Is it a cleaning issue? I've only had it apart once but have cleaned the barrel a few times. I'm not a big pistol guy and generally prefer a revolver so I don't know much about autos.

I can't say anything about what might have happened. I just wonder about a gun almost 70 years old, having only 200 rounds through it. possible corrosion or dust contamination on key components?

Keep us posted on what you find out. Glad nobody got hurt.

 

[TripleR]

It can happen, just one video: Double Trigger/Full Auto Problem Fix/Solution for TM Hi-Capa Platform (HD) - YouTube

 

[brown40]

Are you confident he didn't double tap it? Did anyone ever lighten up the trigger pull for you? There's a lot of instances of it happening, but usually there's been a "gunsmith" smithing the sear. Measure the trigger pull empty and see where its breaking if you feel it could be light. If it is I'd get a look at the sear and hammer condition and see whats happening. People have lost digits having them go full auto racking the slide with a full clip, so I'd exercise caution.

 

[N80]

I can't say anything about what might have happened. I just wonder about a gun almost 70 years old, having only 200 rounds through it. possible corrosion or dust contamination on key components?

Keep us posted on what you find out. Glad nobody got hurt.

No, its like-new. Still have the original box.

I'm sure an unsafe situation could arise if this persisted, but in this case nothing unsafe happened. In fact, the shot still hit the paper.

 

[Sysop]

I've seen it happen on a few 1911s due to a slightly limp wrist on +P ammo. The light SAO trigger they have, coupled with the extremely short resets they're known for; it is relatively easy to have occur.

 

[blackdog2086]

I've seen it happen several times in my former career. Debris can hold the firing pin in the forward position so when the slide pushes the next round into the chamber the pin strikes it immediately without the normally necessary trigger press. I once saw a full 7 round magazine emptied full auto by this phenomenon. the shooter thought it was kind of cool (after his heart slowed to a normal rhythm) but couldn't get it to happen again firing subsequent magazines through the weapon. Usually the recoil will dislodge whatever is blocking the firing pin in short order so it isn't something that is continuous.

Since the gun is a bit older with very little ammo having gone through it, It may just need a good thorough cleaning and lubrication. Ultrasonic works great for weapons that have been stored for long periods.

 

[Clay45]

The double action pull is much lighter. I suspect it was just that along with enough on the grip safety and trigger to enable a fast double-tap. Unless you feel out of control with it I wouldn't give it a second thought.

 

[Sysop]

What is said above really makes no sense to me:

Double action pistols always have a heavier pull, generally around 7lbs or more. 1911s are all 100% single action only and many times have a 4-5lbs pull, and the trigger of a 1911 generally resets in less than half the travel of a double action handgun...

 

[N80]

This one is single action, of course.

 

[k0ua]

Some other causes of 1911 doubling can be disconnector too short. It should be a minimum of 1.292 inches. Replace it if necessary. Brownells is a good source of 1911 parts. Another can be the sear spring either needs adjustment (by careful bending) or just replace it. this is a cheap part, and again Brownells would be where I would go. Also check sear/hammer engagement. If it has been shade tree mechanic worked, this could be a cause.

I have seen doubles plenty of times and full auto runaway also. Usually from worn parts, like a worn out disconnector, and weak sear spring. IPSC competitors shoot 10's of thousands of rounds per year, and in a major match with over 100 competitors you often see such anomalies. Good luck with it.

 

[drizler]

I did the two rd auto burst wi ny Ar15 when first firing it. The disconnector spring hadn't gotten put in by yours truly. I could tell it was wrong by the way it would chamber another round then not fire and wouldn't go back on safety. Many yours has broken. It should be catching the sear each time the trigger is pulled.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

It can happen. Take it to a competent gunsmith and keep quiet about it. There is a fellow in prison right now because his weapon went full auto for three rounds, and the BATF found out about it (I don't recall how) and prosecuted him for having an unlicensed machine gun. By the letter of the law, he was guilty.

 

[adventure bob]

"a fellow in prison right now because his weapon went full auto for three rounds, and the BATF found out about it (I don't recall how) and prosecuted him for having an unlicensed machine gun"
I call BS: The BATFE don't give a rats about a malfunctioning weapon. This is fear mongering. The only way he committed a crime is if he intentionally modified the weapon to be full auto. Proving intent pretty easy when it comes to machine work and a real gunsmith would know the difference between intentional mods and a malfunctioning weapon. Additionally, unless the gun was used to commit a crime, the BATFE will generally confiscate the weapon and kill you in court for tax evasion. IMHO they'd rather get your money than throw you in prison.
As a person with an NFA trust and several covered weapons, I gotta say this kind of post is ridiculous.

 

[N80]

"a fellow in prison right now because his weapon went full auto for three rounds, and the BATF found out about it (I don't recall how) and prosecuted him for having an unlicensed machine gun"
I call BS: The BATFE don't give a rats about a malfunctioning weapon. This is fear mongering. The only way he committed a crime is if he intentionally modified the weapon to be full auto. Proving intent pretty easy when it comes to machine work and a real gunsmith would know the difference between intentional mods and a malfunctioning weapon. Additionally, unless the gun was used to commit a crime, the BATFE will generally confiscate the weapon and kill you in court for tax evasion. IMHO they'd rather get your money than throw you in prison.
As a person with an NFA trust and several covered weapons, I gotta say this kind of post is ridiculous.

I wasn't going to say anything, but you are right. Either there is more to the story or it is instant urban facebook legend. I can tell you first hand that this would not be worth the paperwork for any ATF agent.

And for the record, I own no guns and have no gun oriented affiliations.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

I call BS: The BATFE don't give a rats about a malfunctioning weapon. This is fear mongering.

This is fact. The BATFE has always been very anti-gun, and has gotten far worse under Obama.

David Olofson is a U.S. Army veteran who was tried and convicted by the U.S. Federal government on the charge of "transferring a machine gun" after he lent his 20-year old AR-15 rifle to a friend, Robert Kiernicki, and it malfunctioned on a shooting range, emitting multiple rounds and immediately jamming three times in a row, which aroused suspicion that the rifle was in fact an automatic weapon.

It was on mainstream news sources. Just took a quick search.

BATF charges man with illegal full auto weapon on a semi-auto AR-15 (attorney, weapons) - Politics and Other Controversies -Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Conservatives, Liberals, Third Parties, Left-Wing, Right-Wing, Congress, President - Cit


BATF prosecutes for full auto malfunction at DuckDuckGo

 

[oldpilgrim]

It's very easy for a newb to double a shot. It happens easier as the size and recoil get bigger.

Many people have doubled with the SW500 revolver. You wouldn't think a revolver would be capable of doubling, but it is. When I let a newb shoot mine the first time, I only load one round at a time.

I can understand how a 1911 could double with a new shooter handling a larger round for the first time.