Mag Well

[Gunpowder]

Just installed a S&A Mag Well in my Combat Elite. I had no idea that the factory main spring housing was some type "plastic" and not metal. Anyway, the new one works great.

[Rick McC.]

Colt, S&W and Kimber all use polymer MSH's in their 1911's.

I'm sure there are others, too.


Rick

[egumpher]

Hello,

Actually the MSH is made of glass filled Nylon and is very...very..light and durable. In-fact, Glock started the plastic pistol (glass filled Nylon) craze in the 80s and everyone else has followed with their own version of a plastic (glass filled Nylon) pistol.....Don't let anyone lead you to believe that this is an inferior material because it is not. The only issue I have seen with Nylon MHS is if the operator pushes out the MSH pin while the mainspring is still under compression that allows mainspring cap to snap against the small retention pin on top and distorts the pin hole.......clearly a user error....not because of material.

I prefer to use plastic MSH on all of my carry pistol because the material is so light and durable there is nothing else even close..........I am still looking for an Officer's size checkered plastic MHS for my Colts New Agent....the closest material I have found is anodized aluminum.

Best regards
Eric

[nevada 1911]

Left mine in too.

[Gunpowder]

That is good information. I also just replaced the arched main spring housing on myu original LW Commander(series 70 made in early 1980's) with an Ed Brown flat housing. The original is not steel and I don't think "plastic" - I suspect it might be aluminum. Like the new feel though of the flat housing. Do any of you know if someone makes an aluminum mag well kinda like the Smith Alexander that is drop in?

[Spyros]

Check VZ grips and Hogue grips. I know, both are grip makers, but I know I've seen aluminum MSHs on their sites.

One thought, though... I believe George Smith of EGW has written here in the past, that you are far more likely to have problems with an aluminum MSH than a nylon/polymer one. Something about anodizing in the spring tunnel clogging up the works...

[C1911]

I guess one could argue that for a SD pistol, the extra weight of the steel MSH is secondary to a poly in the event that you drop your pistol, as the poly will likely break before the steel.

I don't EDC my 1911's so the material of the MSH isn't a consideration. I have 3 pistols with poly MSH's and swapped 2 of 3 to steel. This was primarily because the MSH style I wanted was only available in steel, otherwise, I would have been content with the stock poly.

[Safearm]

I guess one could argue that for a SD pistol, the extra weight of the steel MSH is secondary to a poly in the event that you drop your pistol, as the poly will likely break before the steel.

I don't EDC my 1911's so the material of the MSH isn't a consideration. I have 3 pistols with poly MSH's and swapped 2 of 3 to steel. This was primarily because the MSH style I wanted was only available in steel, otherwise, I would have been content with the stock poly.

I'm the opposite; I changed out the steel arched MSH on my Combat Commander for a flat composite MSH. I like the feel of a flat MSH and the lighter weight helps too.

[boehlertaught]

Egumpher got it right on the strenght of glass filled plastics. This stuff is tough enough to be used in piston rings for gas compressors...and can last for years. Oh at continuous running, 1800RPM, 24hrs per day, 365 days per year...lots of time on duty...little wear. I have absolutely no issues with the use of a plastic MSH.

[Rick McC.]

I've never had any problems with any of mine; and I detail strip all my 1911's.

Rick

[dakota1911]

I wish I had gotten in the thread earlier as I have Colt, Kimber, and S&W with the composite MSH. Welcome to the new world. I have ordered steel ones off of Colts website in the last year. If you have to have them.