Why is it that I see arched main spring housings on 1911's that are government models, but on every 1911 with a skeletonized hammer and beavertail grip safety, the MSH is always a flat one? I've felt the 1911A1, and like the arched MSH, however I've never tried it on an upgraded 1911. So yeah, I guess my question is just why?
1911 arched MSH question
- Thread starter OsOk-308
- Start date
It's one of those personal preference things: white walls / black walls, . . . coffee / tea, . . . snow scene / beach party, . . . etc.
It does one thing for me though that I like, . . . there is a "wrinkle" in my palm that it seems to naturally slide into. It makes getting the same "grip" easier for me when I am practicing or shooting. That of course, makes my shooting a little bit better, . . .
May God bless,
Dwight
It does one thing for me though that I like, . . . there is a "wrinkle" in my palm that it seems to naturally slide into. It makes getting the same "grip" easier for me when I am practicing or shooting. That of course, makes my shooting a little bit better, . . .
May God bless,
Dwight
For such a small piece, it makes a large difference, IMO.
Way back when, I couldn't stand the feel of the arched MSH. Now that my EDC happens to be a Glock, I still don't care for a hump in that area but an arched MSH on a 1911 is so much less intrusive than the horrific hump I'm dealing with on my Glock.
I like the look of an arched MSH on a 1911, but I much prefer the feel and operation of a flat one. But because of the Glock, I have to say that I *HATE* the arched MSH less than I used to!
If I ever get around to buying a GSG pistol, the arched MSH will be swapped out.
Way back when, I couldn't stand the feel of the arched MSH. Now that my EDC happens to be a Glock, I still don't care for a hump in that area but an arched MSH on a 1911 is so much less intrusive than the horrific hump I'm dealing with on my Glock.
I like the look of an arched MSH on a 1911, but I much prefer the feel and operation of a flat one. But because of the Glock, I have to say that I *HATE* the arched MSH less than I used to!
If I ever get around to buying a GSG pistol, the arched MSH will be swapped out.
Original was flat. Military testing showed the arched gave a more natural pointing pistol in combat type shooting and went with arched. The flat MSH has become more popular only in the last 10-15 years.
I think it really comes down to the type of shooting you do. For slow fired target type shooting flat is probably better. For fast instinctive combat shooting arched is probably more natural, but a shooter can probably adapt and shoot either type equally well.
I think it really comes down to the type of shooting you do. For slow fired target type shooting flat is probably better. For fast instinctive combat shooting arched is probably more natural, but a shooter can probably adapt and shoot either type equally well.
It's interesting that most people seem to prefer the flat mainspring housing on a 1911, but almost no other gun on the market has a flat backstrap; why is everyone getting it wrong? If customers want it flat, why don't Glock, SIG, S&W, Springfield, Beretta, et al., give us what we really want?
I really think the flat MSH is a supply-side deal. Most people buying 1911s today have never shot one with an arched housing, so it's not a matter of preferring one to the other. I think the prevalence of flat MSHs goes back to Colt offering it on the Gold Cup, when lesser versions of their "1911" models all had arched. If I were going to have a custom gun built, I'd want that flat housing that's on Colt's most expensive, exclusive model, right?
I really think the flat MSH is a supply-side deal. Most people buying 1911s today have never shot one with an arched housing, so it's not a matter of preferring one to the other. I think the prevalence of flat MSHs goes back to Colt offering it on the Gold Cup, when lesser versions of their "1911" models all had arched. If I were going to have a custom gun built, I'd want that flat housing that's on Colt's most expensive, exclusive model, right?
It's mostly a personal preference.
I've shot with both styles. After a few hundred rounds, you get used to whatever you are using. Personally, I like the arched one a tiny bit more than the flat one. My most commonly shot 1911 is currently a bobtail, which ends up feeling like a mix between the two, in my hands.
I've shot with both styles. After a few hundred rounds, you get used to whatever you are using. Personally, I like the arched one a tiny bit more than the flat one. My most commonly shot 1911 is currently a bobtail, which ends up feeling like a mix between the two, in my hands.
When I first got my 1911 Kimber, I added an arched mainspring housing thinking that, with my big hands, I needed the extra arched but found that it made the pistol point high for me. Also, I find the flat more comfortable to grip; it feels like I can center the grip better in my hand.
As everyone else said, it is personal preference.
As everyone else said, it is personal preference.
I find the gun points better for me with the arched/short trigger set up. Ive always replaced those parts on guns that didnt have them. Steel too, I cant stand that plastic stuff.
I guess call me a traditionalist, and a practical person, but I also like a lanyard loop on them too, something that seems to be forgotten in these "modern" days with the fancier guns.
I guess call me a traditionalist, and a practical person, but I also like a lanyard loop on them too, something that seems to be forgotten in these "modern" days with the fancier guns.
MidwestRookie
New member
what's practical about a lanyard loop?
do you make a habit of tying a piece of rope to your gun so it doesn't fall or get lost?
Carry_24/7
New member
I prefer flat, arched does not fit my hand well.
I'm not sure that this is true. What is true that in the last decade more new guns have been produced and sold with flat MSHs than at any time before. This was not so much "meeting" consumer demand as creating it by convincing a good many new shooters to the 1911 that they needed this feature. Many were not aware that there was an option nor that there was any noticeable difference.
As mentioned originally the gun had a flat MSH. The Army noted that a good many soldiers had trouble pointing the gun properly and had trouble engaging the grip safety reliably. The arched MSH was introduced in 1926 to help adjust for these problems. The arched MSH helped to force the hand upward where it more reliably engaged the safety. The military retained the arched housing for the remainder of the 1911s service life.
In the late 1990s or so the flat MSH had a resurgence of popularity among some IDPA and IPSC competitive shooters. This lead others to try it and like the option and Kimber, Springfield, etc. offered it as standard. It was marketed as a needed mod along with extended beavertails and extended thumb safeties, etc. Within a few years of this introduction many folks were finding that they had trouble reliably engaging the grip safety (predictable) and a "memory" bump was added to the grip safety. You can see these "bumps" on many grip safeties now days.
Which one you choose is a matter of preference. The 1911 is the most adaptable handgun made.
tipoc
Keep in mind that this gun was designed to be fired from horseback. The lanyard loop is part of its heritage.
I've seen the statement that "most folks" prefer the flat mainspring housing, but could it be that's because it's the only way the current generation has known the gun?
I can't say this for a fact but it seems to me the flat MSH became popular about the same time as the beavertail grip safety. The beavertail puts the hand up higher and completely changes the feel of the gun. The arch no longer acts as a palm swell but, instead, hits more toward the bottom of the palm.
I prefer the flat housing because with an arched housing I miss fully depressing the grip safety about half the time.
A good friend of mine prefers the arched housing because with a flat housing he misses depressing the grip safety about half the time.
Neither one of us is right or wrong. It is just personal preference...and in many cases hand size and shape that dictates that preference.
Dave
A good friend of mine prefers the arched housing because with a flat housing he misses depressing the grip safety about half the time.
Neither one of us is right or wrong. It is just personal preference...and in many cases hand size and shape that dictates that preference.
Dave
Andy Taylor
New member
Interesting, as I am in the process of ordering an arched MSH for the new Springfield I just bought. I too, have wondered why all the guns seem to come with flat these days. I have always prefered the arched. Admitably, the replacement MSH is to get rid of the stupid ILS as much to swap for an arched.
I have held the bobtail guns, but haven't shot one. They did feel nice in my hand though.
I have held the bobtail guns, but haven't shot one. They did feel nice in my hand though.