another model 41 question

I have had this gun, an older model, for about a year. It was my primary gun until I got my MG2.
Worked flawlessly the way I got it. Had a custom grip made by Dick Horton and it was still flawless. Recently put the stock grips on so my son could use it while visiting.
Replaced the Horton grips and the trigger wouldn't fire the gun. Field stripped and cleaned it and it still wouldn't fire. Removed the grips to see if there was other parts that needed cleaning. With the grips off it would fire normally. Replaced the grips and it wouldn't fire most of the time, and when it did it took a tremendously larger than normal force to fire. Once it fired, it would finish the mag, but wouldn't fire with the next mag in. Loosened the screws holding the grip, and it seemed to fire ok, except now the grips are loose.
Any ideas as to why this is happening and what can be done to fix it?

Thanks

Howard

My Ruger came from Clark all tuned up. When I removed the grips and installed Rinks I had the same puzzling symptoms and drove myself mad trying to figure it out. The travel adjustments on the trigger were set so tight that the trigger wouldn't always reset. It was intermittent and seemed to heal up when I put the slabs on.

You didn't mention what happens when it doesn't fire - are we talking light primer strike or no hammer drop? If the latter, hey maybe your travel adjustments are too tight too.

No hammer drop.
will check the travel adjustments

travel adjustment doesn't seem to make a difference

Check the trigger over-travel adjustment. The difference in the grips is likely stressing the frame in a different way and changing the over travel adjustment. Back off the over-travel adjustment slightly and all will be well.

If loosening the grips results in things returning to normal, then it seems likely that those grips are impeding something. I had the same experience with my Buckmark. It turned out to be the pin that locates the trigger and connects it to the trigger bar. The pin was binding against the right hand grip of one set, but not a second set. Just a guess, but this sort of thing might be the answer. If you coat the outside fire control parts with something that will transfer to the grips upon installation it might show where the problem is. Also, and I'm going to be diplomatic here: Is there any chance that the gun was taken apart while it was leant out?

That's a good idea to try to find where is was binding. It wasn't lent out. There were here visiting me and we went to the range together. I am the only one who does anything with the gun.

Make sure factory grips aren't letting his thumb bump the safety just enough to "engage" it.

^this.

Mr. Crawford suggested that I put a small bend in the leaf spring that applies pressure to the safety, and it cured the issue with my 41.

After a little trial and error, it appears the top of the inside of the right grip was putting pressure on the mechanism at the very top. There was already a relief cut into the grip. I extended the relief 3mm and deepened it 1/2 mm and this seems to have solved the problem. I will know for sure when I get to the range.

I am happy for you that the problem is solved.

Update. Went to the range and the gun wouldnt fire.
took it apart and cleaned it. inspected the adjustor for trigger wt. It is at the lightest setting, about 2 1/4 lbs.
reassembled and when you pull the trigger , no fire.
Now with the grip on or off there is no fire when assembled. If I release the trigger guard to remove the barrel, it fires normally. With the slide off it fires normally. reassemble without the grips and when the trigger guard is pushed up to lock the barrel, no fire.
Obviously, something must be binding somewhere, but I can't figure out where.
Any ideas?
Thanks

I recently put Horton's on my decades old Mod. 41 I bought new.  I had a problem with the hole for the mag release being slightly off and binding on the mag release button at one tiny spot.  It made the grips bind going on, and partially depressed the mag release when I tightened down the grip screws.  A few well-placed strokes with a round taper file solved the problem.

It could be that your grips are pressing against the release button - not enough to drop the mag out of the grip, but enough to stop the gun from firing.  If it's no that, it's probably going to be a bind somewhere.  Should be very few possibilities.  I don't believe there are many ways for grips to cause a "no hammer fall" situation.

Good luck,

Gary

I have had this problem with my Smith & Wesson 41, my trigger bar spring was broken it did not look broken but when I took it out it did not have any spring to it. I tried to bend it open to add more pressure to the trigger bar and it fell apart.

Took it in to the gunsmith locally. turned out to be a broken spring.
Fixed and working well.