1911 MSH Arched vs. Straight

[Bill B.]

I have owned 3 1911's and all have the straight mainspring housing that is checkered. I have read several posts about shooters changing out the Straight for the Arched? Since I have never fired a 1911 with the Arched what I am I missing? Also which do you prefer; Checkered or grooved MSH's? I am getting ready to change out the plastic MSH that came in a Kimber and want some input.

 

[wally]

They aren't that expensive so why not try an arched to see if you like it or not. Its a personal "hand fit" issue. I've small hands and prefer the straight (I've guns with both). My preference is not strong enough to bother with changing any of my guns that came with the arched to flat.

As I understand it the original had a straight housing, the Army wanted the arched along with the other "A1" mods made after WWI.

--wally.

 

[nonquixote]

I switched out the flat plastic housing on my Kimber for an arched stainless one. My reasons are threefold. First, I didn't want a plastic part on my pistol. It just seemed cheap. Second, I cut my teeth shooting CZs and like the feel of their curved ergonomic grip. Lastly, in examining my grip on the Kimber, no part of my hand was touching the flat housing. at least with the arched housing in place the heel of my hand was contacting the upper part of it, and I rationalized that the more gripping surface, the better the grip. It has worked well for me, my Kimber is now my favorite pistol to shoot.

 

[Walkalong]

I prefer the flat over the arched. I've always wanted to try one of the Wilson V-Grip mainspring houseings, but $40 is an expensive "try". I like a just a bit of a rounded edge on the bottom of the flat ones to keep that edge from digging in. I guess you just need to find folks with different kinds to try.

 

[1911Tuner]

The Arch

The arched housing was implemented in order to change the pistol's angle in the hand, and to combat the tendency to point it low when fired in a hurry without using the sights...which is how it's most often used in fast, furious, close-range fights. Works for some hands, not for others. Some people find that they point more naturally with a flat housing, while others swear by the arched design.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I did the same as nonquixote on my Kimber. I picked up a stainless arched MSH for a few bucks and thought I'd give it a go. It works better for me than the flat so I kept it on.

Another addition I did to my Kimber was a front checkered strap. Helps even more for muzzle control.

 

[10-Ring]

I went w/ the arched MSH because it helped me get a higher grip on my gun.

 

[daysleeprx]

I've shot with both and didn't really notice a difference in terms of my results (of course, your mileage may vary). I put flat MSHs on my 1911s just to keep things consistent. (I try to keep all my 1911s as similar to each other as possible!)

 

[Bergeron]

I prefer the flat. With the arched, the meaty part of my hand below the thumb does not come into contact with the rear of the frame. On the other hand, a friend of mine with a similar size hand finds the arched fills his hand much more than the flat, and prefers it.

I would advise trying both, and sticking with the most comfortable.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I prefer the arched. My hands are larger than some and the flat with standard grips don't fill my hand well. A set of finger-groove smooth panels are on my Kimber Ultra CDP to make up for the flat. It works and I shoot as well with it as with my custom Govt. with the arched. I can use either so long as the grip fills my hand well.

 

[Black Snowman]

I have to have an arched or the gun rotates in my hand when fired and points low on a solid grip. I prefer serated over checkering. I just find it more comfortable.

When I was shopping for my 1st handgun years ago I was down to Glock vs 1911. I ended up with the Golck because none of the 1911s fit me. If they had a model with an arched MSH, or I had known more about 1911s, I might have done more shopping and gone 1911 to start with instead of the plastic fantastic. I currently own one 1911, two Glocks, and 4 modern CZs.

 

[Deadmarsh]

I've tried all the combinations over the years and finally settled on the flat MSH and a short trigger -- small handed fellows like me should look at this setup...


Dead

 

[1911user]

I also prefer the flat MSH with a short trigger. It makes it point and feel right.

 

[IrvJr]

I like the arched mainspring housing plus a long trigger. For me, the single stack 1911 has a fairly narrow grip (especially when compared to double stack guns) and for me the arched housing seems to fill my hand a little better and point more naturally. I have medium to long, skinny fingers.

I currently only have the flat style MSH and long trigger on my 1911's but I'm going to switch out one or two of them for the arched one. I'm also thinking about getting some ergonomic wrap-around style finger groove grips to see if i can fill the grip out a little more.

 

[Baphomet]

I've always wanted to try one of the Wilson V-Grip mainspring houseings, but $40 is an expensive "try".

I'm using one on my Springfield and I like it. I definitely gives you a higher grip, in fact it almost forces it on you. The bottom corners were a bit too sharp out of the box for my taste's, but a light touch with a file remedied that quickly. The checkering I don't seem to notice, and don't really think helps one way or the other, but it's there.

 

[Old Dog]

Arched mainspring housing, long trigger guy here. Just simply fits my hands better ...

... and I still strongly prefer the classic look of a full-size "Gov't Model" 1911A1 with no front cocking serrations and the arched MSH, too ...

 

[SouthpawShootr]

I prefer flat. The only 1911 (out of six or so) that has an arched housing is my Colt Series 80 Government. That's the way it came from the factory. Haven't gotten around to changing it yet (but I will). The flat housing is just more comfortable to me. I prefer a flat housing and a long trigger. Not the A1 setup of an arched housing and a short trigger.