I just had a quick question about magwells. I've seen some that are fitted to the bottom of the grip and run about $20-30, and others that have an integrated MSH and run $70-90. My general perception is that the more expensive one would be better. Am I right? What are the pros and cons of each? Thanks in advance

Don't waste your money on the ones that fit at the bottom via a couple of extensions which go around the grip bushings. Get the real thing. Smith & Alexander is what I have, and although I seldom use it (only in IPSC matches), it is strong and reliable (in the sense that it does not move around). Plus, when I mount it on the pistol, if it wasn't for the different finishing (the gun is blue the magwell is stainless) you wouldn't be able to tell where the magwell ends and the pistol starts. That, needs some work though, but the result is excellent.

Rgds

__________________
John Caradimas SV1CEC
The M1911 Pistols Organization
http://www.m1911.org

I have one of each. I have the Wilson(attaches via the bushings) on a custom SA target gun and the Smith and Alexander(integral msh and magwell) on a full house custom SA carry gun. Both are very good. The biggest concern is that you CAN use any grips with the S&A, although flat bottom grips look much better. With the Wilson you need to buy specific Wilson grips cut for the magwell or cut your own grips to fit. The pluses to the Wilson are that it can be removed very easily and you can use any msh you choose. The S&A comes with 20 lpi checkering that can be pretty crude. I like both pretty much the same, but if I were forced to choose, I would probably go with the Wilson. Regardless of which you choose, I would strongly suggest you have it blended by a smith. Nothing, to me, looks worse than an unblended magwell just stuck on a 1911.

If you get the cheap one like I have, there is a large problem with field stripping the gun.
I put allen head grip screws in mine, and if you want to remove the MSH and grip safety, you have to remove the grips to get them to come out. So if you have malfunction in the field and no allen wrench, write that one off....
Can't get to it
just one disadvantage to think of