1911 Mag Well Help

[Branden967]

I just purchased Kimber Stainless TLE/RLII and I would like to do the mag well mod but a tad bit confused. Is there a need to replace the whole mag well spring housing or can I just do the Wilson combat flair at the bottom and achieve the same thing?

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Im also competent to enough to fit either in but Im finish particular. Im sure the Kimber part stainless color would match but does anyone know if the Wilson combat stainless color will match too?

Thanks for the help-

[Black Majik]

what in the mother of god is the first one?

The 2nd mag well should be easy, just swap out the internals in the MSH and replace the MSH. You can blend the magwell if you wish.

[Branden967]

LOL, The first one is this:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/138050/wilson-combat-custom-magazine-well-1911-stainless-steel

It just hooks onto the lower grip studs. Has anyone tried that?

[appagohm]

The first one works just fine, the only issue you have to work out is sanding down some of your grip to make the grips fit flush. As long as you don't have a lanyard loop on your 1911 the first one will work and look good. I had to sand down my grips where the hooks loop over the bolt. I also have the second one on my other 1911 which works great, but mine was in black so i'm not sure about the color matching on silver.

[S0M1L9S]

I do not recommend the first one.
It's suppose to take thin/slim grips, but the regular grips will work.
Yep, the underside needs a cut, for the hooks for the grips to sit flush/flat on the frame.
Installation is a pain as well, to properly install the bushing needs to be removed.

[CK_32]

I'm glad I'm not the only one scared by the first one.


I was like uhhhhhh....

[postal]

I use the wilson- the first one.

I also have a garage full of woodworking tools.

No issue. And a lot less money that the drop ins with MSH. And I hear a lot of those have to be fitted as well.

As to SOM1L saying it needs thin grips... I dont see how grip thickness would make any difference at all-

I dont recall, I may have removed the bushings to slip it in place- Like that's hard....

[jonzer77]

I'm glad I'm not the only one scared by the first one.


I was like uhhhhhh....

Scared?

Take a look at this one as well OP.

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/frame-parts/mainspring-parts/mainspring-housings/mag-guide-prod12752.aspx?avs|Make_3=1911

If finish is an issue then you will want to have the mainspring housing fit by a gunsmith because there will be a gap between the frame and the magwell. This is caused because it is meant as a drop in part to fit all 1911's and there will be a little variance which means it will drop right in but there will be a small gap.

[ptusa]

Spend some dough and get the NHC Magwell and a set of slim grips...

[Dannicus]

I installed one similar to the MSH one you pictured and it took a lot of fitting. It's just the nature of that mod unless you are very lucky and/or can live with slight misalignment. You may get a magwell like this that won't even slide into your gun without some filing.

[Branden967]

Thanks all for you input. Im definatley going to replace the stock grips with probably the VZ's or something similar with a square bottom.

Dannics, when you installed the MSH, what areas required the "fitting". Did you have to take some material off of the grips or actually sand the metal base plate? If you sanded the metal did you use file, fine sand paper, dremil or combination of? Was is difficult?

[wamphyri13]

The WC mag well (#1) looks better with thin grips because the overall outer width (profile) is narrower. Standard thickness grips will overhang the chute. The full magwell/MSH has a full width profile and will fit flush with the grips. The stainless will blend just fine with your pistol. That are is usually just beadblasted anyway, so it should be fine.
Ryan

[Dannicus]

Dannics, when you installed the MSH, what areas required the "fitting". Did you have to take some material off of the grips or actually sand the metal base plate? If you sanded the metal did you use file, fine sand paper, dremil or combination of? Was is difficult?

Those I didn't do any fitting to the grips.

Most of the fitting was with jewelers files, then the file marks were smoothed out using varying grades of wet-or-dry sandpaper and bluing was touched up with cold blue.



I had to take material from:

-top of the MSH portion to allow full motion of the grip safety.

-the tongues that run up the sides of the MSH portion so that it would slide in and align the entire MSH/Magwell assembly.

-edges of the retaining pin hole to align the edges of the frame holes for insertion of the pin and maintain alignment of the entire MSH/Magwell assembly.

-top flats of the feet where they meet the bottom of the grips and frame to eliminate gaps between the magwell feet and the frame.

-inner edges of the opening to match with the opening in the frame.



Difficulty is subjective. You may or may not have to do as much fitting, of course. I'm also very anal about fit.

[mtenenhaus]

if you're planning to replace the grips anyway to thinner grips you might consider the techwell system. i really like them.

http://www.techwearusa.com/techwell_system.asp

[stormvet]

I use magwells with all my full size 1911s they are a must have for me. I use the Wilson piece on a inexpensive Remington enhanced, I modified the stock grips to fit flush and have not looked back. It serves it's purpose to help with speed reloads.
On my more expensive (nicer) 1911s that did not have one from the factory, I used the two piece Ed Browns, look and fit great.