i never had an issue with a plastic guide rod, or a MSH break either
but when i spend good money, (like about $1,400 or up on a 1911) on a gun that is supposed to be/should be all metal, that's what i paid for, an all metal gun..polymer guns to me, are perfectly acceptable, as sold as polymer, and most of those guns cost me well under $800...Beretta prices paid
(i still replace plastic guide rods on polymer guns however)
however, i had seen a "few" pics or videos of field strip, or full disassembly, where "plastic parts" failed after a short round count..
i know that "some" gun makers recommend new recoil/trigger springs after about 5,000 rounds(??) as a matter of general maintenance, and reliability.
like you say, "if the owner prefers", which for the most part, i do.
i'd be "happier" however, if the gun makers just installed the parts the guns were originally made with, before "cost cutting" became the bean counters mantra.
i cannot recall the price i paid for the Beretta hammer "D" spring, trigger spring, and steel guide rod, but it could not have been more that $50(?), when we all know all gun makers buy thier parts in bulk, which (maybe) at thier pricing, would have cost Beretta all of $20 to have installed on the factory assembly line, then just add the nominal cost to the gun. as it takes no more time or effort to install the REAL metal parts, as it did to instal plastic.
same can be said for any MSH on a 1911, built on the assembly line.
