Need Advice on Upgrading 1911 Parts!

[GundamCL]

I currently DROS'ed up a Springfield Loaded and now am wondering what parts to upgrade. Since the 1911 I picked up is used, I plan on changing the recoil spring to a Wilson Combat 18lb recoil spring. I also want to change out the Mainspring Housing as well. Does anyone know if I need to change the Mainspring as well? The 1911 also has the ILS Mainspring from Springfield.

Any advice on whether my upgrades are a good idea or if I need additional parts to make my upgrades work would be greatly appreciated!!

[DArBad]

The stock hammer spring with the ILS is 28 lbs, which is quite heavy. Change it to the regular factory weight of 23 lbs. Might be a good idea too to replace and tune the sear spring, and change all the internals of the new MSH.

These are quite easy to do and has the potential of giving you a much improved trigger pull.

[zdragon]

shoot it for 500rds of factory ball ammo first before swapping anything out if i were you.

[GundamCL]

shoot it for 500rds of factory ball ammo first before swapping anything out if i were you.

The 1911 has about 1500 rounds through it already.

[TMC]

18lb recoil spring is too heavy no matter what load you are going to shoot. 16lb is typical for a 45 a 14lb would be better for recoil and function.

The only difference between an ILS housing and a normal one is the little deal to lock the plunger and spring. Any after market housing it will fit fine and the factory spring, plunger and retaining pin plunger will work in the new housing. You will need to get the small pin that retains the mainspring in the housing.

+1 on the lighter mainspring.

[Q619]

I'd go with a GI recoil guide/plug with a 16lb recoil spring, get either an Ed Brown or Wilson MSH (you'll want a lighter spring than what you've got as suggested), leave the sear spring alone (unless you know how to adjust it for the trigger reset/sear disengagement as well as adjusting it for tension on your grip safety), put a steel firing pin in there from Ed Brown (I believe EGW and John Harrison also make FP's for Springfield 1911's). Other than those minor upgrades, I'd get some good magazines (Wilson, Chip McCormick, Tripp).

[CalTeacher]

Test the pistol out first before you go swapping out parts for the sake of swapping them out. You could make a perfectly reliable pistol into an unreliable parts project really fast if you jump the gun with this stuff.

[GundamCL]

Test the pistol out first before you go swapping out parts for the sake of swapping them out. You could make a perfectly reliable pistol into an unreliable parts project really fast if you jump the gun with this stuff.

Understood. Probably will buy this stuff later when I get to test out the handgun. I will start out with some VZ grips.

[Don the savage]

I changed the msh on my loaded to a smith and alexander. I was unaware the spring was that much heavier than a normal msh spring. I will be chugging that spring I guess since my trigger pull is heavier than my norinco I have done work on.

[CalTeacher]

If it were me...and I realize it ain't...but if it were, i'd take the money for upgrades and use it to buy good mags and ammo.

[IPSICK]

You guys are silly. As long as he retains factory spring weights for the recoil spring (or down to a 14lb as TMC recommends) and the mainspring (non-ILS factory spring weight), reliability should be fine.

*Factory weights for 1911's can be found on Wolff Springs website. Again make sure you get the factory weight spring for a regular mainspring housing if you replace the ILS msh.

[GundamCL]

If it were me...and I realize it ain't...but if it were, i'd take the money for upgrades and use it to buy good mags and ammo.

I agree. I plan on getting some Winchester Ranger T-Series or Bonded 230 gr. for Self Defense. For magazines, I am still not too sure on what to get. I am thinking either Mec-Gar 8 rounders or maybe Tripp Research 8rders.

[Paradiddle]

I currently DROS'ed up a Springfield Loaded and now am wondering what parts to upgrade. Since the 1911 I picked up is used, I plan on changing the recoil spring to a Wilson Combat 18lb recoil spring. I also want to change out the Mainspring Housing as well. Does anyone know if I need to change the Mainspring as well? The 1911 also has the ILS Mainspring from Springfield.

Any advice on whether my upgrades are a good idea or if I need additional parts to make my upgrades work would be greatly appreciated!!

I'm curious why you don't shoot the heck out of it first - and then decide what you really need/want before you waste any money. PS - as far as mags go I really like Wilson.

[IPSICK]

If it were me...and I realize it ain't...but if it were, i'd take the money for upgrades and use it to buy good mags and ammo.

These are relatively cheap upgrades.

[IPSICK]

I agree. I plan on getting some Winchester Ranger T-Series or Bonded 230 gr. for Self Defense. For magazines, I am still not too sure on what to get. I am thinking either Mec-Gar 8 rounders or maybe Tripp Research 8rders.

I run Chip McCormick Power Mags in my TRP w/ no issues. They are the 10-rounders though, but I don't see why the 8-rounders would not be just as reliable. I've used the Tripps and for me they are only OK.