1911 not firing!! help please!

[MTF]

Relliott may well be right about the problem with your 1911. Please keep in mind that pinning the grip safety removes a safety feature that was put there for a good reason,
and if it's a new gun, will invalidate any warranty. If the gun is new, why not go to the store that sold it to you and ask how to get the warranty activated, and then send it for repair? If it's a used gun or out of warranty, and you find relliott's test solves the problem, I think his suggestion about "tuning" is the way to go, rather than pinning. You should see a gunsmith to have the gun examined and tuned (parts fitted carefully together and repaired or changed where necessary) so that the grip safety remains active. I know there's a certain popularity in pinning 1911 safeties; I've done it myself in years past. And I know there's a manual safety available, but pinning the grip safety does remove one safety device that you might need one day. Unless you're really proficient, understand well the mechanics of the piece, and shoot an awful lot, such as those heavily involved in one of the combat shooting sports, it's not a good idea to remove that (or any) safety feature. And even then there are specially made grip safeties that are easier to use and still are functional.

 

[relliott]

Naturally, if you can get the grip safety to function as intended then there is no reason to pin it. I was of course referring to competition firearms designed for fast draw/speed events such as IPSC, and note that very few semi-auto pistol designs use a grip safety. You can take from that whatever meaning you prefer. With the thumb safety, the firing pin block (series 80) and the trigger finger as the primary safety, a 1911 is as safe as any other pistol design in the world, with or without the grip safety deactivated. Of course there is the product liability issue to consider, as well as warranty. But these have never been concerns for me.
Your mileage may vary. Good luck!