Springfield Armory 1911 - Mainspring housing replacement questions

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gunsrfun1

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Hello - Need some advice here, and THR is always my first source. I've read some previous posts on this subject, but have some different questions.

I have a SA "Loaded" 1911 in 9mm. Basically their 1911 with nicer sights, etc. I want to replace the OEM MSH (with the ILS) with this MSH housing, which has an integrated flared magwell: https://www.ebay.com/itm/222625928891

Note that it comes with an 18-lb mainspring installed, and my gun takes a 23-lb spring, according to SA.

SA told me I can simply install my OEM spring into the new housing, and I'll be good to go. Makes sense to me.

Then I thought about perhaps just buying another 23-lb. spring so I could keep the OEM MSH as-is, and installing it in the new housing. But when I go to Wolff's website and plug in my gun, I get this page: https://www.gunsprings.com/SPRINGFIELD/1911A1+SERIES/cID1/mID60/dID267

Note how Wolff is saying I need a special "Factory Standard 30-lb spring" because of the ILS. This makes no sense to me, and none of previous THR posts on this subject mention this, but maybe I am missing something.

Can someone clarify all this for me. Am I safe in simply installing a 23-lb spring into the new housing?

Thanks
 
If it were me, Id install the new MSH and see how things go. If all's goes well, I wouldnt worry about it.

Ive replaced the guts on a couple of Springfield ILS MSH's in the past, and as far as I remember, just used standard parts for the gun's model to do so, and never had any problems.
 
The ILS mainspring housing in your gun now has a short stiff spring and a long mainspring cap grooved for the lock. I would not reuse them in a regular MSH

The eBay MSH with 18lb mainspring already in place will likely fire any name brand primer but you can put in a standard 23 if you want to be certain and to have more retardation of the slide by the hammer.

I have had no problems with 19 and 20 lb mainsprings but a 17 was too light in MY gun although a lot of racerunners use them
 
Sorry, I am still confused. It seems like you are saying that I cannot simply install the OEM spring into the new MSH, but that instead, I need to order a standard 23-lb mainspring and install it.

Am I understanding you correctly?

Thanks
 
I guess, you CAN. Take it apart and compare the spring and cap to real 1911 parts and see what you can do with them.
But since eBay has a complete unit, why not give it a try, too.
 
Thanks. I guess I am suspicious that even if I try 10 rounds or so as a test and they fire, that it will not perform as well in the long haul with an 18-lb spring vs. the recommended 23-lb spring. Seems like a big step down from 23 to 18, but maybe not. I use this gun in competition, so reliability is key.

I may just buy a Wolff 23-lb standard mainspring and use that. My original post was because Wolff seemed to be recommending a 30-lb spring, and that threw me off. I'm still confused as to what they are saying on that webpage I referenced.
 
gunsrfun1 said:
Sorry, I am still confused. It seems like you are saying that I cannot simply install the OEM spring into the new MSH, but that instead, I need to order a standard 23-lb mainspring and install it.

Am I understanding you correctly?

Thanks
Click to expand...
That is correct. The ILS mainspring is shorter and stiffer than normal stock. Your new MSH would take a 23lb spring.
 
The Wolff 30 lb spring is for the ILS. It has a short stiff spring and a long cap with groove engaged by the lock.
It is not a real 1911 spring. As I said, I guess you could put the combination in a regular MSH but I do not see why you would.
The GI 23 lb spring is to provide abundant safety margin for military use. Many if not most competitors use lighter springs to "tune" their guns.
 
OK, thanks. Now we are getting somewhere. So you are saying the mainspring in the OEM MSH is not really compatible with "standard" MSHs like I have ordered. So if I want a 23-lb mainspring, I should order from Wolff or someone.

Now let me ask a question about lighter springs and your remark about tuning. I do understand about lighter sear springs and tuning a 1911. But not about the mainspring. I was under the impression that the mainspring only serves one purpose: to release the hammer to impact the firing pin. So the greater the mainspring poundage, the harder it will impact the firing pin.

I don't want the gun to shoot or feel any different than it does now, especially the trigger pull. I'm only getting this MSH for the flared magwell. Will using the 18 lb. mainspring that's in the new MSH affect the trigger pull or any other functionality (except for the hammer striking the firing pin) vs. how the gun feels now?
 
gunsrfun1 said:
OK, thanks. Now we are getting somewhere. So you are saying the mainspring in the OEM MSH is not really compatible with "standard" MSHs like I have ordered. So if I want a 23-lb mainspring, I should order from Wolff or someone.

Now let me ask a question about lighter springs and your remark about tuning. I do understand about lighter sear springs and tuning a 1911. But not about the mainspring. I was under the impression that the mainspring only serves one purpose: to release the hammer to impact the firing pin. So the greater the mainspring poundage, the harder it will impact the firing pin.

I don't want the gun to shoot or feel any different than it does now, especially the trigger pull. I'm only getting this MSH for the flared magwell. Will using the 18 lb. mainspring that's in the new MSH affect the trigger pull or any other functionality (except for the hammer striking the firing pin) vs. how the gun feels now?
Click to expand...
Hard to say depending on specs of the new MSH. 18lbs for a mainspring seems light, but if you don’t get light strikes, trigger pull seems about the same, you could just try it for awhile.

@1911Tuner used to emphasize that the springs in a 1911 are a system. 16lb recoil spring and 23lb mainspring would give you a safe gun and an acceptable trigger pull. Once you start changing springs, one affects the other because the mainspring affects recoil characteristics, too. A lighter recoil spring could require a different mainspring depending on the bullet load.
 
Thanks drband, that is very helpful info. I was not aware that the mainspring affects recoil characteristics. And I have no plans on changing any other springs on this gun. The trigger is fine and it functions 100%. I'm not really comfortable going down from a 23-lb spring to an 18-lb spring.

I'm going to call SA next week and try to get some better info from them on what to do. I am wondering if the person I spoke with may have given me some inaccurate information.

Thanks again everyone for your help on this.
 
Thanks. I found this video on YT after my last post, and it answered a lot of my questions. Apparently I cannot re-use the OEM mainspring in the new magwell, so I will have to order a regular 23-lb mainspring for the new magwell.

Here is the video if it helps anyone:

In addition, I found the following ad on ebay for mainsprings for the MSH with ILS, and you can see that they look longer than standard mainsprings. Also note the statement in this ad that, "In 2001 Springfield started shipping 1911 style pistols with ILS or Integral Locking System. This locking system uses a special mainspring housing with the locking mechanism built in and requires a special mainspring or hammer spring. All Springfield 1911 series pistols prior to ILS use the Colt 1911 hammer springs."

So that was the source of my confusion as to what Wolff was saying, and now I understand that the OEM mainspring will not go into my new magwell, and vice versa. I think I was given wrong info by the customer service rep from SA.

Here's that ebay ad with the photo of the OEM mainspring:
www.ebay.com

Springfield 1911 Full Size Integral Locking System Hammer Springs 24 26 28 30 Lb | eBay

They will not fit Compacts. Reduced Power (RP) 26 Lb 33626. Reduced Power (RP) 28 Lb 33628. Reduced Power (RP) 24 Lb 33624. Full Factory Standard (FS) 30 Lb 33630.
www.ebay.com

And finally, this post has some great photos comparing the innards of the OEM MSH with aftermarket MSHs:
www.1911forum.com

DIY: Removing ILS Safety and Replacing Mainspring Housing

Replacing and Modifying the ILS Mainspring housing in a 1911 Springfield Loaded. There is a lot of info out there on this subject and I wanted to update and consolidate that info into one easy to use place. First let me start by saying, there are many combinations of parts that will work -...
www.1911forum.com www.1911forum.com
 
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Tarosean - Generally no. I assume you are referring to the MSH I am buying from ebay. I contacted the vendor and asked where it's made, as I always do. (I will not buy Chinese stuff.) He responded as follows: "These are made in Israel and assembled in the U.S."

That is good enough for me, especially since he offers free returns.

The 23-lb main spring I am going to buy directly from Wolff.
 
I would also install and run the new MSH without changing anything. You may find the trigger breaks a little crisper/cleaner with the lighter spring.
 
Klonimus mainspring housing and well are drop in. I have one installed on my 9mm Kimber. The lighter mainspring hasn't been a problem with light strikes. If you are going to buy one wait on buying more parts and spring until you try it.
 
JTQ said:
As an FYI, 1911Tuner is John Travis in the article.
Click to expand...
Yep, tuner has forgotten more about the 1911 than most of us will ever know. He used to post on THR years ago and you could count on helpful, cogent advice that would solve problems.
 
Read post #3 again. Long cap = short spring. Not standard non-ILS equipment. This is trye regardless of spring K.
 
I prefer the arched main spring housing vs the straight main spring housing. I’ve swapped out several where everything works fine after only the change in housing is changed.

But, I stick with 230 FMJ factory equivalent loafs.
Drifting off into non standard loads may require changes in spring rate changes in various springs.
 
Replaced the Springfield ILS msh on my 9mm 1911 with standard MSH and standard spring/cap and have had no problems with the pistol functioning correctly.
 
Thanks all. I installed the Klonimus mainspring housing yesterday. The included 18-lb mainspring was clearly lighter than factory, almost to the point where it seemed like the hammer was simply flopping against the firing pin. Trigger pull also dropped by a pound, almost to the point of being too light. But based on your comments and my further research, I expected this.

I called SA and they recommended sticking with a 23-lb spring, which I have installed (from Wolff.) Seems to be back to normal, so I am sticking with the 23-lb spring. I don't plan to make any more changes to springs. I simply wanted to add a flared magwell, which I have done.

I haven't actually test fired it yet, but I don't see any reason it won't work fine. I'll report back if otherwise.
 
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