Choosing a Pistol Mainspring Housing
So you’ve decided you want to add a mainspring housing to your pistol. Whether you’re buying for aesthetics for some added grip, a mainspring housing (or back strap) comes in a few varieties and there are some choices to make.
- Arched? – Arched housings are great for shooters that:
- Have a short trigger
- If they have difficulty engaging their grip safety consistently
- Or flat? – If you don’t have any issues with your grip, a flat housing with a longer trigger will do just fine.
- Accuracy concerns – Some shooters let accuracy dictate their choice, as trigger length could affect how you consistently squeeze the trigger, altering your shot.
- Hand shape and arm placement – How you naturally hold your hand, wrist and arm when you shoot will have an impact on what feels most natural in a mainspring housing. If you have to alter your positioning to efficiently aim, you might want to try a different housing style.
At the end of the day, which mainspring housing you choose comes down to personal preference. Often times that preference is dictated by a shooter’s ability to engage the grip safety and comfortably reach the trigger. Experiment with both styles to see what works best for you!
