Plastic MSHs

They are usually one of the first items to be replaced. I once had one split at the MS retainer pin hole. In addition they are very slippery to the feel and allow the gun to squirm in your hand. On the other hand, the nice checkered ones offered by Wilson, Ed Brown, etc. are priced to the point of being rip-offs. Annnnnddd then of course are the cast metal ones offered for a reasonable price that have mislocated thru-holes which makes them unusable unless you want to grind on them for a few hours.

No, life was MUCH better back when Colt used their own steel housings. My suggestion at this time is to either find used Colt steel housings at a gunshow or else buy Les Baer's serrated steel ones, which are somewhat less ridiculously priced.

I usually leave the plactis ones in and they work fine and usually hold up for years and years. I too split one at the mainspring retainer pin and I believe this comes from taking them apart too much.

The colt plastic housing is a good part.

Also, keep in mind that the MS housing is not under tension unless you take it out of the gun. Another advantage is a lot less weight. Chip McCormick makes a nice checkered MS housing available for about 10.00.
-Sparks

I've put a lot of custom parts in my Delta Elite, but I left the plastic MSH on it. It seems to work just fine, and saves a couple of ounces.

I have the plastic MSH on my full size '91A1. No problems, but I've not been brave enough nor had the need to do anything more to mine than field strip for cleaning. I've had it for 8 or 9 months or so and have shot it quite a bit. Plastic holding up OK.

My 1991-vintage Stainless Combat Commander Series 80 still wears the stock plastic flat serrated MSH and plastic trigger. Both have given excellent service, and I have found no reason to replace them.

For those of you that don't know, these plastic mainspring housings half been in Colts since the early eightees. This isn't a new thing and they are quite durable.

TIA,
Have no fears about the plastic Colt MSH. I've got a 1991 that's bone stock. After 400 rounds the extractor took a dump so Colt replaced it, but that's been the only problem. The plastic MSH is the last thing on my mind. --Brian

Originally posted by boing:
I'll likely put Pachmayers on the Colt, and the plastic MSH made sense from a rust prevention standpoint. So far I haven't been able to get anyone's experiences with the new colt MSH because everyone replaces them right away.

Click to expand...

Though I dislike Pachmayr's myself, perhaps if you get experiemental enough you'll try out the Pachmayr mainspring housing (I believe plastic with rubber)
Heck, maybe get the pachmayr grip safety too
"Forget plastic guns, I'm gonna build a rubber gun!"

I like the blue arched plastic MSH that came on my Lightweight Commander and have tried to buy more since. I want to replace all my flat MSHs, but nobody has them for sale. I've tried Colt, Brownells and a couple of other companies. Mine looks the same as it did when I bought it 5 years ago. I cannot say the same about the steel MSH on my Springfields, the finish is gone....Mike

Timujin, I might have a spare plastic arched MSH or two lying around at home. I'll let you know.