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1911 mainspring housing digging into hand

mousegunner

I've decided to shoot my 1911 .45 in some police games later this year. This will be the first time with the 1911 so I've been practicing drawing from my holster. I've noticed that the checkering on the bottom of the mainspring housing is digging into my palm. I can see me getting a blister at the rate I'm going so I'll need to scale back a little.

Anybody that shoots a 1911 in IDPA or similar have the same? I thought I could smooth out the checkering a bit or I could have the corner bob tailed ($$) or use a shooting glove.

I could shoot something else but I got a wild hair to use the 1911. Anywho just wondering if anyone else had the same issue.
 
Try replacing the main spring housing.
Arched, flat, smooth, checkered, serrated -- lots of choices out there.
Buy a low cost replacement, experiment (file down checkering if too sharp), and then maybe buy a nice one.
 
While it will make your hands sore for a while, callouses will come. I'd keep on using it with the nice sharp checkering. It keeps the grip from slipping around in your hand under recoil and spoiling your sight alignment.
Mine have 25 LPI on both the front strap and mainspring housing.
 
TimS said:
Maybe the .45 is too much. Have you thought about trying a 9mm?
Click to expand...

Have a Browning HP but can't find a good holster that I like plus I shoot better with the .45. Have a SW MP9 on my list, also have one I can borrow but want to give my .45 a chance at the games. Can also shoot my 6 inch Model 19 but that's too many speed loaders to carry for the tactical match:confused:.
 
Greetings,
I carried a 1911 for 27 of my 30 years in cop work. A 30lpi, checkered, flat mainspring housing is my favorite and on all of mine.
Good luck with the best handgun in the world!
John
 
I knew someone with the same problem. Two things: Are you squeezing the gun with a death grip #2 Perhaps a Past Shooting glove with the leather pad made for that very reason. Are your hands excessively sweaty? If so some powder on your grip hand so your skin doesn't stick to the medal. Personally I like a flat housing but I have smaller hands than yourself.
 
jonbearman said:
I knew someone with the same problem. Two things: Are you squeezing the gun with a death grip #2 Perhaps a Past Shooting glove with the leather pad made for that very reason. Are your hands excessively sweaty? If so some powder on your grip hand so your skin doesn't stick to the medal. Personally I like a flat housing but I have smaller hands than yourself.
Click to expand...

No not a death grip and don't have sweaty hands. I have medium sized hands. I like a flat housing too but maybe for what I'm doing a curved housing might suit me better.

After another practice session today I noticed some other things. Although the pistol fits my hand good I can see where an under cut trigger guard would help my grip. I also noticed the edges of the trigger guard could benefit from smoothing out. For now I'll work with what I have and maybe I can find a used curved housing cheap I can try.
 
I certainly like the arched housing over any others, the arch fits in the palm of my hand better and naturally keeps the muzzle up.
@bpd459 has more insight than most fellas on here.
J
 
Not knowing much about your gun I will give some generic mod advice. Replace the mainspring housing with something with either finer checkering and that also has a magwell to enhance feeding. I like a one piece mainspring housing/magwell combo, but the 2-piece mainspring housing plus screw-on magwell shoe will get the job done.

If you are shooting full load factory ammo then it is going to punish your hand after +200 rounds a session. You really want to work-up your own reload that clears power factor by 25-50 fps. No reason to deal with extra recoil mgmt.

I'm not huge fan of bobtail. It was designed to reduce gun's signature when carrying concealed. It reduces your grip on the gun... negative for shooting high volume.
 
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