Colt plastic parts?

T

ttowntoehead

New member
I recently bought a Colt Officers Model .45 MK IV Series 80. I am not in posession of it yet and I was wondering if anybody knows if and how many plastic parts(ie. trigger etc.) are in this gun. I've read about some plastic parts being in some of the guns and would like to replace the ones in mine if indeed it even has some. This will be my first .45 so I need a little help. Thanks
 
Colt uses a trigger with a plastic trigger pad, and a plastic mainspring housing. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the plastic parts, but 1911 owners tend to be a really conservative lot and dislike anything other than steel and wood. As a result the plastic parts have gotten an unnecessarily bad rap for no good reason.

If you want to replace the parts anyway, there's a google of aftermarket triggers and MS housings in the Brownells catalog (http://www.brownells.com). Any standard 1911 trigger will fit your Officers ACP, but only the shortened MS housings will.
 
Plastic will perfrom its job in the places where Colt has used it on the 1911, there's no strain on either that could cause them to fail in daily service. If you don't like the plastic trigger and MSH, they are inexpensive and easily changed, but there's no real reason to do so...
7th
 
looking for takeoffs...

looking for original triggers (plastic or steel, blue, long ok) and Commander stock grip safeties (narrow, upswept, not enhanced wide) for retro projects. E-mail prices (free is good) to: mondelarosa@mac.com. Thanks - Ramon
 
Ken Hallock says...

I spoke w/ Ken Hallock last month about this very issue. He assured me that the Colt plastic parts are more than capable of doing the job. In fact, he liked the plastic trigger. That took me aback. I figured an armorer from the old school would be offended by a plastic trigger and other plastic parts but he said that the parts work great and would leave them alone, especially if it's just for home defense or occasional range use.

Slabside
 
I leave them on myself because it's just adds wieght to a carry gun. Although not a lot. I have many thousands of rounds through guns with plastic mainspring housings, still like new inside. I personally don't care for the plastic trigger myself, but it will not cause a malfunction.
 
Umm...Slabside...

especially if it's just for home defense
Click to expand...

What more serious use is there for the civilian? Are we saying that we don't need quality parts in our guns if we are only using them for home defense? Good grief is all I have to say to that!!! Look at the cost of the replacement parts...plastic vs. steel. I don't have the actual numbers but I believe the plastic parts are only about 1/3 as much as the comparable steel or aluminum ones. Now why do you think Colt and Kimber and all the others use plastic parts. I assure you it is not because they are just as good or better. It is because they are cheaper...plain and simple.
 
Yes they are cheaper. But Colt reduced costs where it wouldn't pose a problem. A plastic trigger pad will work just as well and last just as long as a metal one. The trigger bow is still steel, and that part is what takes the wear.
 
Sundance:

You're not quoting me, you're quoting Ken Hallock, whom I recognize as an expert armorer, as most would. There isn't a thing about 1911's that he doesn't know. I didn't post my personal opinion one way or the other. Your query would be better answered by Ken Hallock himself. His address is:

Ken Hallock
4917 Karen
Oklahoma City, OK 73135

In particular, I had an in depth conversation w/ him about the Colt 1991A1, drawing attention to the plastic parts used. As I stated in my original post, he liked the parts and said they work great.

Please refer to dsk's comments as well.

Slabside
 
It doesn't sound like there is as many as I thought there might be. Like I said I haven't recieved it yet but I don't want any plastic in it one way or another. Replacing them will give some tinkering experience with it anyway. I appreciate everybodys input. Thanks
 
Plastic cont'd...

A lot of us buy 1911 style pistols because of its history and inherent accuracy...some because they were our first experience with guns (military)...others because they heard their Dads talk about them. Most buy them because they can readily and easily be modified, enhanced, accurized, made "prettier", non of which is necessary at all, since most, particularly Colt's, are ready right out of the box. For the vast majority, we have to be satisfied with something relatively new, but still, faithful to the original design, if not 99.9% an accurate rendition of what my Daddy and Grand-daddy used in the first two "Big One's".
Today's 1911's are not copies, like today's VW Bug, Chrysler PT's, Austin Mini-Coopers....they are the real McCoys, and every bit as good today as they were yesterday.

So what does this have to do with plastic? I personally don't like it...it was removed immediately from 3 1991's I own, and for that matter, I don't like MIM or cast parts....same with any of those I found on my Colts....replaced.

;)
 
Plastic on a 1911 = Junk
Plastic on a Glock = Tactical perfection

One day I hope I am able to figure this difference out.

Till then, I dont want plastic on a 1911 either.
 
I couldn't care less about plastic triggers and MS housings. However, the current plastic ones look ugly to me (they have a weird taper to them), so I junked the last one I had.
 
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