Author Topic: Plastic in Kimber Gold Match (Read 1034 times)

Questor · « **on:** March 13, 2006, 01:41:17 PM »

Hey! You know that neat looking checkered mainspring housing on the Kimber Stainless Gold Match? It's made of cast plastic. I just took my gun apart for routine cleaning and part of the housing cracked off! This is a real surprise, to say the least. I expected it to be made of metal.

I also found out that high quality replacements are expensive: $44 for an Ed Brown model. Ouch!

rbwillnj · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2006, 05:05:16 PM »

For about $80, you can get a Kimber Magwell/Main Spring housing. It looks cool, and its great if your doing IDPA or something else requiring fast reloads. I did it on all of my Kimbers, including my two Stainless Gold Matches.

Still, its kinda disgusting that an $1100 gun has a plastic main spring housing.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2006, 11:40:32 PM »

Dont feel bad I picked up a 952 smith which is a 2000 dollar gun and the grip saftey and spring houseing are plastic.

Questor · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2006, 03:52:57 AM »

Gosh! I had no idea. I'll bet the grip safety on the Kimber is plastic too, but I don't think I'll touch a match to it to find out.

I don't object to the use of plastics so long as they are durable. But in the case of my discovery, the part just broke during disassembly, which is a pretty gentle procedure. The point of failure was at the top of the piece where there is a hole for the pin that retains the spring.

In the long run this failure is probably a good thing for me because I like the feel of the "arched" housings instead of the "flat" housing. They fit my big hands better than the flat variety.

I also ordered one of those Wilson Combat "drop in checkered front straps". The front strap on this Kimber is smooth and I've always wanted to have it checkered. I'll try this gadget and see how I like it and report back here.

44 Man · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2006, 08:15:29 AM »

I replace all of my plastic housings with Pachmayer ones. These are the flat ones with the rubber covered checkering. They are made of aluminum, work great and are inexpensive. Try it! 44 Man

Savage · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2006, 10:18:37 AM »

I can reccomend the Smith & Alexander MSH with the magwell.
Savage

williamlayton · « **Reply #6 on:** March 15, 2006, 12:25:31 AM »

I am not trying to hi-jack anyones thread but this thread made me stop and think.
I do not think it has made any difference to my feel of the weapon wheather the mainspring was arched, flat or a bump. Just a funny thought about it, huummmm. anywho, back to the topic.
Blessings

Questor · « **Reply #7 on:** March 15, 2006, 01:25:34 AM »

It makes a difference to me, but not a big one. When I pick one up with an arched housing, I think "That's nice!" So if I'm replacing one anyway, I may as well get the kind I like the feel of best. I think the flat ones look better though.

rbwillnj · « **Reply #8 on:** March 15, 2006, 01:35:33 AM »

My first 1911 was a series 70 gold cup with a flat mainspring housing and that's what I got used to. It just feels wierd when I pick up a 1911 with an arched main spring housing. Only one of my 1911's came with an arched main spring housing, and I HAD to change it to a Flat.

Mikey · « **Reply #9 on:** March 15, 2006, 02:40:03 AM »

I trick out all my 1911s with flat mainspring housings for both weight reduction and grip enhancement. I forget exactly who made these plastic parts but I haven't had any problems with them at all and all carry heavy duty springs from Wolff.

Questor - I would let Kimber know what happened and see fi they will replace the part - they should, free of charge. Mikey.

Questor · « **Reply #10 on:** March 15, 2006, 03:00:07 AM »

I checked the grip safety on the Kimber and it is metal.

44 Man · « **Reply #11 on:** March 15, 2006, 07:53:49 AM »

Yes, the grip safety, thumb safety, slide stop are all stainless steel on the Kimbers. Even the black ones! Colt is using plastic mainspring houseings and triggers pads also. At least these parts are easy to replace! 44 Man

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #12 on:** March 15, 2006, 11:24:35 AM »

I like em the old fashion way curved! to me flat mainspring housings were a cure for a problem that didnt exist.

rbwillnj · « **Reply #13 on:** March 15, 2006, 04:40:19 PM »

Actually, the old fashon way was the flat housing. The original WWI 1911 had a flat housing. It was switched to the arched housing with the introduction of the 1911A1 because the military found GIs had a tendency to shoot low. The arched mainspring was designed to compensate for that problem. They should have just taught them to stop jerking the trigger.

I'm pretty sure the The National Match target guns always came with flat housings. Everyone I have seen had a flat housing.

But hey, its just a matter of personal preference, and how the gun fits your hand

Questor · « **Reply #14 on:** March 16, 2006, 04:10:46 AM »

That's interesting. I tended to shoot low in timed and rapid fire for a long time when using a flat housing. I was able to train myself out of it after a time, but it took a while.