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I have not owned a Colt 1911 but a friend told me that some Colt models have composite/plastic MSHs. Is that true? If so it surprises me.
That being said, one of my range buddies has an early 1991a1 with the Delrin housing and he has many thousands of rounds downrange and that crappy housing still keeps housing the mainspring without fail.Yes indeed have had 3 of em come through the shop in the last 3 months. A little harder than Kimber’s plastics but still kind of crappy housing.
Why, its a production gun. It saves money and saves weight and as you admit completely fulfills it's role?Yep they work just wouldn’t be my choice of materials
Agree, while it is relatively low pressure when you take one apart and reassemble it you can see it change color where the spring and cap apply pressure at the pin. There is a stress point there and metal is a much better choice imo.Hmm, I'm familiar with Delrin. We purchase blocks of it from time to time and machine biological research devices out of it. It is hard stuff, machines nice and clean. I know MSH is a low pressure/wear part, still kind of surprised Colt would use non metal parts in their guns. The Delrin we buy is fairly expensive. I wouldn't think there would be much savings over metal, maybe a few cents per unit. I guess it's more of a psychological issue for some of us. Even though it may wear as good as metal it's kind of a turn off to think my metal gun has plastic parts. I do have a few Kimbers by the way.
You put in words exactly what I've been trying to express.Plastic on a Colt denies the history and nostalgia of the company. Sure, it works. So does a Smart Car. Replaced the one in my Competition first thing.
Well the MSH issue is a cosmetic issue at least now unless using one of the heavy MS for a 10mm for example, wait 100 years and depending on many things some as simple as UV exposure, may break down the composite. Remember the collet bushings used in the 80's? Now those were a functional problem given enough cycles and could render the pistol a trotline weight when one of the metal petals broke off---Agree, while it is relatively low pressure when you take one apart and reassemble it you can see it change color where the spring and cap apply pressure at the pin. There is a stress point there and metal is a much better choice imo.
Well one of the issues is because of the "texture" of the backside of a metal MSH it is against your hand. There were issues with the blued ones because some people when wiping down the guns did not get oil and clean the sweat and body oil residue out SO it rusted. Colt had a lot of complaints. So it is not quite as simple as it might seem on the surface---now on a SS frame why not--comes down to $$$$$'s only on that one.Plastic on a Colt denies the history and nostalgia of the company. Sure, it works. So does a Smart Car. Replaced the one in my Competition first thing.