[Harrish]

When I picked up my 3 new Colt 1911 9mm pistols, I was surprised to find they had plastic mainspring housings. It actually isn't a terrible idea to make them of plastic. It saves weight and is less likely to show dings and scrapes. But something about it still bugs me. I think all the parts on a 1911 should be steel.

What do you guys think about the plastic housing? Do many of you change them out for steel ones? If so, which brand do you normally use as replacements? There are so many options out there. None are terribly expensive.

I have two new production 9mm Commanders and a new production Competition 9mm. It seems they all use the same housing, correct?

 

[huntershooter]

5” guns and Commanders use same MSH.

And heck yes replace them.
EGW makes great parts, Wilson are good.

The plastic MSH works, but it’s plastic (maximizing profits).
If you drop gun on the MSH it will likely break, resulting in s non functional gun.

 

[JalapenoCornbread]

I know that a plastic MSH is probably fine. Lighter, self lubricating, all that stuff....

I still replace them with steel.

 

[Mark Robinson]

I replace the plastic mainspring housings with steel ones on all my Colts, other than the ones that ship with steel housings.

It's fairly easy to do and good replacement options are plentiful.

 

[Retired AF CE]

I replaced mine on my s70 Competition in 9mm with a Colt steel mainspring housing.
It was the first thing that I did.

 

[tray burge]

I think it's an abomination on Colt to do this and its only done to reduce costs. I replaced mine immediately. Shame on Colt.

 

[mkk41]

I've seen plastic MSH that have split. If weight is a concern , there are aluminum.

 

[Col. Colt]

Having been a 1911 shooter since 1974, and having worked in a fairly busy, competent (Pistolsmith Guild Master Gunsmith) largely 1911 Shop, I have never seen - or even heard of a split DELRIN, Colt supplied mainspring housing failing. I cannot speak to other makers or sources Quality.

As already noted, the Colt supplied Dupont Delrin housings are lighter, self lubricating and don't ever rust - inside or out. There is nothing wrong with them or more would have been said about the need to replace them over the last twenty years or so......

Having said that, if you want steel, it's not hard to do, and I understand how it might make some "feel better". I'm not sure it's very necessary, but if it makes you happy, well, it's your gun! CC

 

[Retired AF CE]

Having been a 1911 shooter since 1974, and having worked in a fairly busy, competent (Pistolsmith Guild Master Gunsmith) largely 1911 Shop, I have never seen - or even heard of a split DELRIN, Colt supplied mainspring housing failing. I cannot speak to other makers or sources Quality.

As already noted, the Colt supplied Dupont Delrin housings are lighter, self lubricating and don't ever rust - inside or out. There is nothing wrong with them or more would have been said about the need to replace them over the last twenty years or so......

Having said that, if you want steel, it's not hard to do, and I understand how it might make some "feel better". I'm not sure it's very necessary, but if it makes you happy, well, it's your gun! CC

I personally just do not care for anything polymer on a 1911.

It's just not right.
Polymer belongs on Glock and other pistols but not on a 1911.

 

[dakota1911]

I generally do not in Colts. I think the oldest Colt I have with one of the Nylon composit housings is a 1988 GCNM in SS. I did replace one in a 1991 SS Commander I got several years ago that had an interesting history. It had been in the bed toolbox of a pickup truck for years covered in dirty oil, diesel and other crud. It was in a flap holster that I tossed. My friend was going to throw it out as it had a horrible trigger pull he said. I offered him $300 for it and he was thrilled. During a detail strip/clean/put together again I replaced the sear and disconnector and put in new Series 80 parts from Cylinder and slide. I also fit a longer Wilson trigger and put on wood stocks I bought off the Colt website back when they sold stuff there. I could not get the "plastic" MSH as clean as I liked and could not find a new one for sale in Silver at the time so I put on a SS one from EGW that looked pretty much like the original. Not shown in the photo is I replaced all of the springs in the pistol. In addition to the recoil, main, and firing pin spring, I also replaced the plunger and mag release spring and the tiny spring in the Series 80 plunger. The EGW MSH dropped right in. What took the most work is fitting the Wilson trigger.



Now a little off topic but I did have a crack on the inside of the plastic MSH on my 2005 Kimber Grand Raptor. Now several folks point out that area is not stressed when the MSH is in the pistol, but if the crack gets worse the main or hammer spring and associated parts could come out and say hello to you when you do not want them to during a field strip.



Now where Colt wants about $11 for their plastic MSH I wasing seeing about $30 for a Kimber plastic housing. I had a Brown scalloped MSH in my parts collection I tried it and it dropped in but the bottom did not match the frame and I did not feel ready to file on the Kimpie frame.



I ordered a Wilson MSH in SS which was a very Close match to the original Kimpie plastic one for about the same money as a new plastic one would be from Kimpie. Now this one took me some time to get it to fit the pistol. As it came the grip safety did not operate and given Kimber IIs have the Swartz like mechanical firing pin safety which runs off the grip safety this is a even bigger deal than it would normally be. Anyway a little work and the pistol looks like it did except now it has a SS MSH.



Back to Colt I was sort of interested so I weighed the empty MSHs. The Kimber was close to 6 grams and the Colt was 7 grams. A new plastic STI flat MSH I had in my parts box was also 7 grams.

Also considering Colt now they have been using steel flat MSHs for years on their Gold Cups and arched ones on their new Series 70 pistols so IF you can find a place like Brownells or Midway that has them in Stock then that might be another option.

 

[dfariswheel]

There have been Match shooters that used Colt polymer mainspring housings because of the self-lubricating lower friction of plastic.

I also have never seen or heard valid claims of a COLT plastic housing breaking.

If you want a steel housing, look on Brownell's. They carry most of what's available in flat, arched, modified, grooved, smooth, and checkered in several lines per inch checkering.
If you look around you can even find "blank" housings for custom modifications.

Smith & Alexander sell a number of types, including with optional GI type lanyard loops installed.

 

[dsk]

I think it's an abomination on Colt to do this and its only done to reduce costs. I replaced mine immediately. Shame on Colt.

Funny how Kimber does it as well yet not nearly as many people b!tch about it. The only thing I dislike about plastic housings is that they feel slippery, especially if they're only serrated. I replace them with Les Baer's steel housings for that reason alone.

 

[JayhawkNavy02]

I had one on my conceal carry 1911.
Replaced it, but I’m going back to save weight.

 

[BILLG]

I replace mine with a 1 piece magwell/mainspring hoising.

 

[wetidlerjr]

I have replaced all polymer MSHs that I have had with metal ones except one and I have a replacement for it. Nothing mechanically wrong with them. I just like an all metal 1911. I prefer the VZ aluminum model.

 

[Sandhills Write]

I have never had a Colt mainspring housing crack, but I have had many, over 10, Kimbers crack. Colt uses a better quality than Kimber. But I still like steel better than plastic.

 

[Harrish]

I had one on my conceal carry 1911.
Replaced it, but I’m going back to save weight.

OP HERE:

On the Numrich website I found some Colt OEM Aluminum housings for $13.95. Since my Colt LW Commander 9mm has an aluminum alloy frame, I figured an aluminum MSH makes the most sense anyway. Plus it will be as light as the plastic MSH. Seems like the ultimate solution to me for the LW Commander. Plus the current production LW Commanders have vertical lines/serrations on the frontstrap. These OEM Aluminum housings have the same serrations as the front strap. So even more perfect! Oh and they are $13.95 to boot! I picked up a couple.

Colt OEM Aluminum Black Serrated MSH $13.95:
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/1371430B

Not sure which MSH I should put on my other two Colt 9mm 1911s. I will probably go with a MSH with magwell for my Competition 9mm, and some steel MSH for my Combat Commander. I prefer the vertical lines/serrations over the 25 dpi checkering. They seem to be harder to find.

Speaking of checkered MSHs, Numrich also has some Colt OEM Reproduction steel MSH with the checkering for $22.95, I may just go that route for my all steel Combat Commander:

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/267350B

 

[RickB]

I've replaced one plastic housing, because it was flat and I wanted arched, and left a plastic one in place because it was arched.
No issues, either way.
I think the one I replaced was from Ed Brown, because they were one of the first, if not the first, to advertise that theirs were fully machined rather than cast.
Nice part, but it does extend just slightly below the frame, which is certainly better than being a bit short.

 

[JalapenoCornbread]

OP HERE:

On the Numrich website I found some Colt OEM Aluminum housings for $13.95. Since my Colt LW Commander 9mm has an aluminum alloy frame, I figured an aluminum MSH makes the most sense anyway. Plus it will be as light as the plastic MSH. Seems like the ultimate solution to me for the LW Commander. Plus the current production LW Commanders have vertical lines/serrations on the frontstrap. These OEM Aluminum housings have the same serrations as the front strap. So even more perfect! Oh and they are $13.95 to boot! I picked up a couple.

Colt OEM Aluminum Black Serrated MSH $13.95:
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/1371430B

Not sure which MSH I should put on my other two Colt 9mm 1911s. I will probably go with a MSH with magwell for my Competition 9mm, and some steel MSH for my Combat Commander. I prefer the vertical lines/serrations over the 25 dpi checkering. They seem to be harder to find.

Speaking of checkered MSHs, Numrich also has some Colt OEM Reproduction steel MSH with the checkering for $22.95, I may just go that route for my all steel Combat Commander:

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/267350B

If you want a Colt part from Numrich you'd better call and verify before ordering. I've had them ship me a Masen MSH when their online description made it sound like it was a Colt.

For 23 bucks, you're gonna get a Masen. Better ones cost $40 or more.

 

[Pale Face]

I think the only practical reasons to replace it (aside from it just bothers some people, self included) are to improve tactile feel, shift the balance (slight but noticeable), or to add a lanyard loop.

I replaced them on both of my GMs just as a matter of personal preference. The older pistol dated back to 1989, but I wanted a flat MSH with lanyard loop and added it when I had it refinished. The nylon MSH was actually in great shape, but I doubt the pistol has 2K rounds through it.