If you're considering a bobtail mod to your Government or Commander 1911, I found one alternative to reduce the grip on a 1911 that may involve a little less work. I've done a regular bobtail mod in the past. In addition to the main spring housing itself, I bought an installation jig from Brownells and I seem to remember having to buy an Officers model mainspring.
I wanted to do the same mod to a Kimber Raptor Pro. While looking for the MSH, I found that Wilson Combat sells a round butt MSH that fits a Commander and Government frame. It still requires removing some metal from the bottom of the frame, but it was relatively easy to do with some files and India stones to start with to roughly shape the frame. I then used fine sand paper and sanding pads for the final blending and polishing. Finally I glass beaded the shiny spots back to the Raptor's original matte finish.
Nice thing about the WC round butt MSH is you don't have to drill any holes for the main spring pin and you can use all the original MSH internal parts. Seems to give you most of the advantages of a regular bobtail MSH but without the extra work or cost of an installation jig. It feels much better in my hand while still reducing printing under an outer garment.
You could also do this mod to your existing MSH if you had the time and patience. I choose this route since I wanted to replace the cheap plastic one that comes on the Raptor. Just another option if you're considering a bobtail MSH.
I wanted to do the same mod to a Kimber Raptor Pro. While looking for the MSH, I found that Wilson Combat sells a round butt MSH that fits a Commander and Government frame. It still requires removing some metal from the bottom of the frame, but it was relatively easy to do with some files and India stones to start with to roughly shape the frame. I then used fine sand paper and sanding pads for the final blending and polishing. Finally I glass beaded the shiny spots back to the Raptor's original matte finish.
Nice thing about the WC round butt MSH is you don't have to drill any holes for the main spring pin and you can use all the original MSH internal parts. Seems to give you most of the advantages of a regular bobtail MSH but without the extra work or cost of an installation jig. It feels much better in my hand while still reducing printing under an outer garment.
You could also do this mod to your existing MSH if you had the time and patience. I choose this route since I wanted to replace the cheap plastic one that comes on the Raptor. Just another option if you're considering a bobtail MSH.
