1911 Plastic Mainspring Housings

[Dannicus]

How long have manufacturers been using plastic for mainspring housings? Kindof odd that somewhere along the line someone decided to switch from metal to plastic for just one part of a 1911 like that. How long till they get brittle?

[M. D. Van Norman]

Someone is always trying to make guns lighter (or cheaper to manufacture).

[nickvig]

Most of them are a plastic composite, usually plastic and nylon mixed in the manufacturing process. I doubt they would ever get brittle in your lifetime. What you do see sometimes is wear around the retainer pin that holds in the mainspring cap. The retainer pin hole had been was beginning to turn to an oval in both the Kimber and Colt I changed out in my guns.

I think Kimber has always used a plastic mainspring housing and Colt has been doing that since sometime in the early 80's.

[bombadillo]

All metal on mine baby! Series 70 original for the WIN!!!

[Dannicus]

Most of them are a plastic composite, usually plastic and nylon mixed in the manufacturing process. I doubt they would ever get brittle in your lifetime. What you do see sometimes is wear around the retainer pin that holds in the mainspring cap. The retainer pin hole had been was beginning to turn to an oval in both the Kimber and Colt I changed out in my guns.

I think Kimber has always used a plastic mainspring housing and Colt has been doing that since sometime in the early 80's.

'Spose they don't break, too often. I haven't heard of it. My googling of the subject just showed a general distrust for a plastic part, but no reports of disintegration.

[9mmepiphany]

I remember Colts from the 80s having them in plastic...they hold up very well and make a lot of sense on a light weight gun

[Dannicus]

anybody know what the RIAs have? plastic?

[supersonic]

I didn't even know a PLASTIC mainspring housing on a 1911 existed until I bought my first Colt a few years ago. When detail stripping the weapon for the first time I was shocked! I figured it was just Colt being cheap. Anyway, I immediately got on the horn with Brownell's and got myself a proper steel arched MSH. GTG.

[ojisan]

I like the plastic ones for light weight on carry guns.
They are also very smooth inside which makes for quick consistent movement during cocking and firing.
Many metal housings are very coarse inside and cause rough action both in cocking and firing.

[ChrisO]

Mine on my RIA is not plastic. I have shot a colt with a plastic MSH no big deal didn't really notice the difference...

[Dannicus]

I like the plastic ones for light weight on carry guns.
They are also very smooth inside which makes for quick consistent movement during cocking and firing.
Many metal housings are very coarse inside and cause rough action both in cocking and firing.

Wouldn't a little deburring and lube should fix that?

[ojisan]

^ Reaming and hand finishing takes time, costs money.
This you can do yourself, but for production lines this is an added time and cost step, advantage to plastic for lower cost and consistency.

[Ultimate]

I have a plastic one on my para.... doesn't bother me. There are other more important pieces to worry about on a 1911 than a plastic MSH in my opinion.

[Tanner68]

Kimber uses plastic. I don't think SA does.