1911 IWB carry: Please share your experience w/ frontstrap & MSH textures

[Wayne G.]

Although I posted this on another forum, I'm hoping to get input from folks here as well.

I'm getting a Springer Mil-Spec worked over and I'm undecided on these items. I carry IWB year round. In the winter months I usually wear a tucked undershirt w/ untucked shirt and/or jacket while in warmer months I usually wear a single untucked t-shirt or polo. To this point I've only carried 1911's with no texturing on the frontstrap and vertical serrations on the MSH. Since the work includes replacing the MSH (doing away w/ the arched one) I have to decide which will best meet my needs.

I'm concerned that checkering on the MSH may abrade the skin on my side and/or "grab" my shirt while serrations or no treatment (smooth) may be inadequate for positive grip, especially in adverse conditions. Same concerns with the frontstrap. My concerns may be unfounded. I'm just speculating.

So that's where I need your help. What have you experienced to be the best texture on MSH and frontstrap for IWB?

Vertical serrations? Checkering? Nothing? Some other option?

Thank you!

Edited to add: For grips I plan to use either g10 (groovy) or vz-320's (smooth) as I've experienced sharp checkering in my side! For holster I've been using a Milt Sparks SSII and have a VMII on order.

 

[1911 guy]

Checkered MSH and FS, smooth grips.

I carry a 5" Springfield both IWB and OWB, depending on clothing. The most abrasive thing I've found is grip panels. 25lpi checkering, fwiw.

 

[BlindJustice]

I have a SW1911 5" Bbl. Stainless

I swapped out the stock blued & checkered
arched MSH for the Les Baer stainless with
bertical serrations, flat MSH. Brownell's offers
about 10 different makes/styles. One you might
look at is the Ed Brown that rounds off the rear
bottom of the MSH and the gripps require rounding
off - claims you still have a full grip

CHeckering - Robar, a shop in Arizona, I think
has a page on this said 30 lpi is fine, 20 lpi can
be more abrasive and 25 lpi is a good
compromise - FWIW

Milt Sparks has a half dozen IWB holsters as
well as a new one but no details on it. I have
the MS Axiom - waiting patiently since ordering
in late June. - an OWB FBI Cant

.

 

[Tarvis]

I carry a Colt 1991a1 Commander with an uncle mikes "sidekick" IWB holster. I couldn't tell you either way on the checkering for comfort, but I always wear an undershirt as the snap on the holster will rub me raw in 15 minutes if I don't. Far as what type of checkering for grip stability, my Commander has a smooth front strap and the MSH has vertical lines. I have never felt like it was going to jump out of my hand when firing, but it's just like anything else, what works for me may not work for you. Try the different styles for yourself to see what works. IMHO, I would get a checkered grip because it looks cool . If you're seriously worried that it will grab your shirt/skin I would go with no checkering and vert lines on MSH.

Idea: If you go basic and can't control it when you shoot, could try a wrap around grip.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I've carried my SIG-Sauer GSR (which has a checkered frontstrap and MSH) IWB. For me, the frontstrap and MSH do not touch my body in the first place. I also always wear an undershirt, so whatever contact the grip section does make is not against my bare skin.

 

[.45&TKD]

I'm fine with 30 LPI on my Kimber TLE. No problems.

I had a guy in a gun shop pushing a 1911 without serrations on me. When I asked about having serrations he gave me a B.S. story about abrasion. He was just trying to sell me that gun.

 

[CPshooter]

I haven't personally owned a 1911 with frontstrap checkering, but have held and looked at plenty of them. I can't see how having checkering will really matter.. I mean even the checkering itself isn't anything near as snaggy as let's say a piece of Velcro. The hard side of velcro material is made up of a bunch of small hooks that grab onto the soft and whispy opposite side of the velcro material. I've never seen any checkering on any handgun that resembled anything like the hooks that make up Velcro. I really have a hard time believing that any front strap pattern, except a Velcro-like one (which doesnt exist), would cause a T-shirt to actually catch onto it.

Sure, it's obviously not quite as smooth as a non-checkered frontstrap, but I still don't see any situation where you are completely halted in mid-draw by the checkering on your 1911's frontstrap. Seems like a shirt would have a tougher time clearing the base of the magazine than the frontstrap itself.

 

[1911 guy]

Huh?

Maybe I missed the queston.

I was under the impression that the OP wanted input about wear and abrasion on himself and his clothing while carrying a checkered pistol. Drawing it, your hand covers the grip frame anyway, so the point about velcro and such is moot.

 

[Markbo]

My Kimber Pro CDP is the one I judge all others by. It has checkering on the front and MSH and holds like it is glued to my hand. It does not cause any grabbing, sticking, etc on anything from poly golf shirts to cotton flannel. If you already have a similar pistol with no checkering you could always place some skateboard tape on the front strap and try that for a while to see how you like it. I have done that to a couple of smaller/carry guns and it works great.

 

[HisSoldier]

Dan Wesson's CBOB, which of course was designed for CCW, has no serrations or checkering on the mainspring housing. The grips are checkered cocobolo, but it is not sharp but snag free, and very nicely done. The gun looks so nice I hate to start carrying it.

 

[XavierBreath]

Wayne,
I think it's really a matter of personal preference. If you control the pistol well, the checkering is really expensive superfulous decoration. That being said, I don't thnk the downward facing frontstrap would cause and riding up of your cover garment. The mainspring housing may be another matter. If your holster snugs the pistol close enough to prevent riding of the cover garment, chances are the checkering will abrade your skin.

Gunsmiths make money off this stuff, ( and they deserve it) but a shooter must decide for themselves if it's really necessary on their gun. A custom gun is not a gun with all the latest trends tacked on it, but a gun designed to complement a particular shooter. Keep that in mind.

As suggested, try carrying and shooting your pistol with skateboard tape on these areas. If you like the result, consider checkering as a permanent solution. If you don't like it, tear off the tape and be happy. Shoot the pistol a while, and compare it to others you shoot. You will soon learn what you like and shoot best with.

My preference is a serrated, flat MSH, a long trigger, and a smooth frontstrap with a Brown beavertail and extended thumb safety on an enhanced Colt frame. The preferences of others may vary widely.

 

[AZ Husker]

Aggressive is for me! I find the grips abrade my side and clothing, not the front or rear straps. Chuck Roger's golfball treatment is the best I've found!

 

[SouthpawShootr]

Aggressive is for me! I find the grips abrade my side and clothing, not the front or rear straps. Chuck Roger's golfball treatment is the best I've found!

That frontstrap looks really sharp (meaning both good looking and abrasive). Does it beat up your hand?

 

[.45&TKD]

I notice a big difference with and without front strap checkering.

30 LPI is perfect for controlling follow up shots with sweaty hands, without being abrasive.

 

[AZ Husker]

Southpaw...
The golfballl is very aggressive, but it causes me no problem carrying. When it comes to shooting, I can do 200 rounds without damage. It's not made for comfort, but for secure grasp. I have a Wilson Protector with 25lpi checkering that actually is less comfortable than the Rogers golfball. I've got the same on a Kimber Pro SLE that is my usual carry, and I love the grip!

 

[VARifleman]

I find I like 3m safety walk tape better than the front strap checkering I've experienced at 30 LPI (Les Baer, Wilson, Taurus). The backstrap though, I like any of them. I have 20 LPI on the Baer, and something like 30 or 40 on a little Sprinfield. They both are fine, but catch on the rubber grips I use (Pachmayr on the Baer, Hogue with the front cut off on the Springer), not the checkering.

 

[Wayne G.]

Thanks guys! I decided on 25 LPI frontstrap and MSH.