1911 mainspring housing digging into hand

[DirtySteve]

Just checked and all mine have flat main spring housings. One has groves and the remainder are checkered. I prefer the checkered but the grooved functions fine. I have one with a Smith & Alexander mag well.. If these guns look a little used rest assured they have been. I have no use for a safe queen. The Kimber and the long slide have, well the term thousands of rounds get thrown a round a lot, and that would be an understatement for those two pistols.. lol..

 

[Oso]

Black 1911 has the Wilson Combat MSH/Magwell. The stipeling is much finer and there is less radius.
Stainless 1911 has the Nighthawk MSH/Magwell. The stipeling is more aggressive but does not tear up your hands at all. The radius is really nice straight from factory.

Note: Both 1911's with the additional Magwell still fit within the IDPA box (height restriction).

I need to bust out a toothbrush and clean those grips!!!

 

[Oso]

This just came in a sales flyer from VZ Grips... they are festuring a one-piece MSH/Magwell designed by Chen Si in Colorado. Has a very nice radius on heel and is a drop in part for most 1911's (per the marketing materials)

https://vzgrips.com/products/chen-s...m=Email&utm_campaign=5e6f8d30a97229007cf77c69

No experience with this product.

 

[nicholst55]

If you currently have a flat MSH, switching to an arched one will most likely make the gun shoot higher for you. That's the main reason that the Army switched back in 1927 - soldiers complained that their pistols all shot low. Not a big problem if you have adjustable sights, but obviously it can be with fixed sights. If I wanted to experiment, I'd buy a couple of the synthetic MSHs out there - they're inexpensive and easy to modify. Figure out exactly what you want, and then buy one in (stainless) steel or aluminum.

 

[Outrider27]

My .45 1911 has an arched housing, but it is serrated, not checkered, and gives no problem.

 

[TAJ45]

Re '27 change. Shooting low? Probably an increase in grip with jerk when anticipating the shot. Doing a ball and dummies w my students, they most always go low. Heeling is less common in my experience, for the newer shooter.

 

[232]

DirtySteve said:

Just checked and all mine have flat main spring housings. One has groves and the remainder are checkered. I prefer the checkered but the grooved functions fine. I have one with a Smith & Alexander mag well.. If these guns look a little used rest assured they have been. I have no use for a safe queen. The Kimber and the long slide have, well the term thousands of rounds get thrown a round a lot, and that would be an understatement for those two pistols.. lol..

DirtySteve,
Your Bob Day pistol is a great piece. Have not seen or heard much of his work for years.
Lucky guy you are!

 

[nicholst55]

Re '27 change. Shooting low? Probably an increase in grip with jerk when anticipating the shot. Doing a ball and dummies w my students, they most always go low. Heeling is less common in my experience, for the newer shooter.

Not having been around for those tests, I really can't comment on that aspect of it. I know that definitely holds true for me though, and is the reason that I don't own any flat MSHs.