[fmj50]

Just got this gun and fired it today and it's about the worse trigger i have ever encountered.
I understand it's a defensive gun but the pull weight was crazy and the trigger was cutting into my finger!

So i get home, and on net adn see this guy who used a paper clip to extend the hammer spring, made sense but i thought why not just stretch it a little.....

So i did and i also shortened the tip of the trigger and smoothed it out, and it feels 10x better now and measured 6.3lbs.

Then sadly I get on here to hear people saying DON'T do this....dang it!

Is the gun unsafe now?

I did measure the spring 1st and after forst attempt i lengthened it by .200

 

[Steve912]

See how it works out on the range.

Reducing the spring tension will slow the hammer strike, and firing pin energy...the question mark is 'ignition reliability'. IIRC, the original P-11 was built with a 10# pull, and later reduced to 8#, so some flexibility exists in terms of hammer spring tension. I've wondered how much we stretch the spring from factory spec, when disassembling it from the grip...:headstratch:

If it doesn't work out, a replacement spring is just a few bucks. Do let us know how it works out, and what ammo was used.

 

[PF9Newbie]

As the P11 is a true double action, the trigger pull is similar to that of a double action revolver, meaning fairly long and heavy. it is also the only safety these pistols have, and making it lighter does reduce safety. Stretching the mainspring, while it can reduce trigger pull weight a little, weakens the mainspring and can lead to light strikes, failures to fire etc. It may work for a while (or may not), but then may fail at a critical moment. Something I would consider unacceptable in a defensive gun. I would recommend replacing that weakened mainspring with a new factory spring. This might reduce the trigger pull a bit if Kel Tec is using a different spring. More likely to help with perceived pull would be to replace the trigger with one of the aluminum after markets, like the Northwood. While not reducing actual pull (and thus not affecting safety), this would help with perceived pull, give more room in the trigger guard, and generally improve the feel of the pistol. Lots of information available on KTOG from those who have done this, and how it improves the gun.

 

[Steve912]

Ya, $50 trigger or just heat gun the original and flatten out the bend some, and slip a couple of layers of heat-shrink over it.

Done both on PF-9 and P-11, can't say there's much difference, except where wallet is concerned.

 

[fmj50]

Thanks for the advice, I'll go shoot it today and reports back. I don't see a safety issue because I never carry or store a gun with one in the chamber.

 

[Steve912]

You can still carry it with a round in the chamber. Nothing you do to the hammer
spring will make it any more likely to fire without pulling the trigger. If you
lighten up the firing pin spring, that's a different story.

 

[WPhilB47]

Thanks for the advice, I'll go shoot it today and reports back. I don't see a safety issue because I never carry or store a gun with one in the chamber.

Hopefully the bad guys will send you written notice that an attack is imminent. The P-11 was designed to be safely carried with a round in the chamber. In a proper holster, or securely stored, it should be kept that way. Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but opinions not based on facts and good judgement are flawed. Take a gun handling course from any certified self defense instructor and see what he tells you about defensive firearms and their proper load status.

 

[TxCajun]

I would not rely on the gun having stretched the hammer spring and would order and install a new spring. If yours was an early model it may have had the 10 pound spring although odds are it was an 8 pound spring. After replacing the stretched spring, decide if the gun meets your needs or not and keep or sell it accordingly. Feel free to ignore the off-topic, unsolicited advice on carrying chambered vs not chambered. That is your decision (period).

 

[WPhilB47]

I would not rely on the gun having stretched the hammer spring and would order and install a new spring. If yours was an early model it may have had the 10 pound spring although odds are it was an 8 pound spring. After replacing the stretched spring, decide if the gun meets your needs or not and keep or sell it accordingly. Feel free to ignore the off-topic, unsolicited advice on carrying chambered vs not chambered. That is your decision (period).

Ditto. Exactly so, fmj50. I should have just mentioned that most agree that a loaded chamber is best and left it to you to ask why or ignore that comment. You may also choose to ignore the unsolicited advise on keeping or selling it.

 

[gpr]

I did the paper clip mod on my p40 and p11. It took several attempts to get it right. I could not be happier. I figured worst thing was to put the factory pin back in. I seem to remember a mod with an adjustable tension screw. That could be interesting also. Gary

 

[Super Buick]

Hopefully the bad guys will send you written notice that an attack is imminent. The P-11 was designed to be safely carried with a round in the chamber. In a proper holster, or securely stored, it should be kept that way. Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but opinions not based on facts and good judgement are flawed. Take a gun handling course from any certified self defense instructor and see what he tells you about defensive firearms and their proper load status.

Thank you for the laugh.
I have on two occasions avoided being robbed thanks to amateur thieves almost broadcasting in neon letters, "I will rob you if you are clueless!"
I would strongly agree that the OP should not gamble on such a thing and carry with one in the chamber.

 

[HyperJoe]

I was thinking seriously about this Mod to help the heavy Trigger Issue, after reading this, I'm guessing it better to just leave it alone? Learn how to deal with it and just cope with how it was Engineered? I'm stumped, sure would be nice to have it so after 100 rounds, You don't have to call the EMT from massive Blood loss on the Ol' Trigger Finger, gotta be something that works? Any Ideas? hehehe

 

[orangedog]

When mine was new I checked the trigger pull, it was 10 lb. This is an 8 lb. advertised gun. I did a non reversible mod and was able to get the pull to 8 lb.
after several trips to the range and 300-400 rounds, I had a failure to fire. I check the pull and it was down to 6 lb. My conclusion is the spring will relax with use. Better to be reliable than too easy and wonder if it's going to fire if you really need to depend on it. I reset the pull to 8 lb. and carry with confidence.