Also with respect to the actual main spring, this will be on a 9mm, but if I like it enough, the 10mm might get a Bobtail job as well. So, the question is; are all 1911 main springs 23 pounds accross the board regardless of cartridge, or is there a specific spring weight for a 9mm? I am presuming the length of the Bobtail MSH will prohibit using my existing spring, and that an “Officer” size spring will be in order?
I considered a bobtailed 1911, once, but any deviation from the “original”, is just that, a deviation! I’m not that keen on the series 80, may as well bubble wrap it!
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
UNLESS…
I ran across a “round butt” MSH option on Wilson Combat’s website. They come in full-size and compact sizes, and Stainless Steel, Blued, and Aluminum, for a total of 6 options.
I sent them an inquiry last night, here is how it has gone so far:
Me:
“I am interested in a round butt mainspring housing for an EMP4 (NOT the EMP 3"). I need to know if the full-size or compact MSH would be the correct size for the EMP 4". Also, any tradeoffs/advantages regarding the AL vs. blued steel in an AL frame.”
WC:
“You would need to identify whether your firearm is a full-size or compact. You would then select the appropriate compact or full size option. Please keep in mind that for MSH items will require some fitting work.”
Me:
“That is exactly what I asked for help with. Maybe you could provide dimensions for your full-size and compact MSH and I can compare to what I have?
Also, no insights regarding galvanic corrosion or any other issues due to dissimilar materials?”
Does anyone know for certain which MSH would fit my Springfield EMP4? Short of taking the MSH out of a Government size 1911 and trying it in the EMP4, which I can do, it is just very time consuming, I have not been able to figure it out on my own. BTW, I am not optimistic regarding help from WC at this point.
This photo shows a Colt Government Model on the left and the EMP4 on the right. Springfield calls the EMP4 a compact. The 2 MSH shown appear to look the same. The measurements I can take with them installed appear to match as well. I admit I don’t know how subtle or gross the differences between full-size and compact are.
I am trying to achieve a couple of things. I have always enjoyed modifying stuff I own. Sometimes the modifications are cosmetic, sometimes they are functional. In this case I would say it is a little bit of both. Cosmetically rounding off the butt will make it “look” a little bit different than as delivered from Springfield. Functionally, the hope is it will snag less on my cover T-shirt when I bend or squat down to get something at the grocery store, Home Depot, etc.
Yes to all that. The internal parts remain the same with the Wilson Combat option. The WC round butt is almost a drop-in modification, other than some filing/sanding/polishing blending of the corner of the frame. I would venture to say very few people would notice if you put the original MSH back in.
The Ed Brown bobtail is a no going back option. The hole(s) for the original MSH are completely filed/blended away.
Wilson Combat just sent me a response I can work with
"Good morning,
To identify whether you have a full size or compact model you need to measure from the center to center of the grip screws. If it measures around 3.0625", its full-size, if 2.6875", it’s compact.
I don’t think there is anything to worry about with respect to corrosion."
No more comments. That’s what you need to know.
As I mentioned before, the only difference would be spring’s length, weight of 19 lb (for 9mm) remains the same.
With Wilson Combat 20% off most stuff on their website, I ordered the round butt MSH. It looks markedly different than the one I pulled off the internet and posted above:
The finish on both the frame and the mainspring housing are hard anodise. My current plan is to use Birchwood Casey aluminium black to finish the shiny aluminium I expose in the reshaping of the frame.
Edit: if the Birchwood does not look acceptable, I might have to find some place that does hard anodizing
