Why You Should Upgrade Your 1911’s Firing Pin Stop

When upgrading a 1911 pistol, most shooters focus on barrels, triggers, or grips. However, one of the most overlooked yet impactful upgrades is the firing pin stop (FPS). This small but crucial part directly affects recoil management, reliability, and longevity—especially when you upgrade to a high-quality FPS.

What is a Firing Pin Stop, and Why Does It Matter?

The firing pin stop is a small plate at the rear of the slide that secures the firing pin and extractor. More importantly, it influences the interaction between the slide and hammer, which directly affects recoil and slide velocity.

Most factory FPSs have a rounded bottom edge, which allows the slide to cycle with less resistance. While this may seem beneficial, it actually allows the slide to move too freely, resulting in increased felt recoil and muzzle rise.

Why Upgrade to an EGW Firing Pin Stop?

1. Reduces Recoil & Muzzle Flip

One of the biggest advantages of upgrading to an EGW square-bottom (micro radius) FPS is that it reduces slide velocity during recoil. The slight resistance slows the slide just enough to:

• Reduce felt recoil, making the gun more comfortable to shoot
• Minimize muzzle rise, allowing for faster follow-up shots
• Improve shot-to-shot consistency, which is critical for competition shooting

This is particularly beneficial for those running heavy recoil calibers like .45 ACP and 10mm.

Factory FPS (Round Bottom)

EGW FPS (Flat Bottom)

2. Improves Reliability & Extraction

Many factory FPSs are made with looser tolerances, leading to excessive movement in the extractor and firing pin. This can result in:

• Failure to extract
• Light primer strikes
• Overall reduced reliability

By upgrading to an EGW precision-machined FPS, you eliminate unnecessary movement, ensuring a tighter lockup and improved function.

3. Extends the Life of Your 1911

A cheap FPS (often made of cast or MIM materials) can wear down quickly, leading to premature cracking and excessive wear on the extractor. EGW FPSs are CNC-machined from hardened tool steel, making them far more durable than factory parts.

4. Custom Fit for Maximum Performance

EGW offers oversized FPSs, allowing for custom fitting to your 1911 slide. This ensures a tight, secure fit, eliminating excess movement and providing better overall function.

Which EGW Firing Pin Stop is Right for You?

At EGW, we manufacture a variety of firing pin stops to fit different 1911 models and calibers, including:

• EGW Heavy Duty Firing Pin Stop – .45 ACP
• EGW Square Bottom (Micro Radius) FPS
• EGW FPS for Series 70 & Series 80 1911s

All our FPSs are precision-machined in-house to ensure superior quality, durability, and performance.