Please correct me if I am wrong, but there seem to be MIM cast parts on my new Springfield MC Operator. I ask because I would like to replace these parts with solid steel components, and I am curious if anyone has done a complete MIM to steel switch out. I am not planning on sending it back to Springfield unless that is the best option.
Basically, all of the small parts are probably MIM- hammer, disconnector, sear, thumb safety, grip safety. Some may be cast. Springfield seems to have their act together insofar as executing the MIM process pretty well. I have a TRP with a bunch of MIM parts that I was going to replace, but the originals are working well. I keep an eye on them for accelerated wear vs. tool steel components, but they’re holding up pretty well so far.
I understand your concern,but I wouldn’t BE concerned about it 
!!! Its like anything eles,there are Good MIM parts & I’m sure there are Bad MIM parts ! How many RDs have you put through it ??? If you have only put a few hundred through it & all is fine,don’t worry about it,shoot the heck out of it (I mean thousands of rds) and see what happens,& I bet nothing,LOL !!! If ya really want to narrow it down go here,http://forum.m1911.org/forumdisplay.php?f=30 they guys & gals over there are Top Notch & really know there stuff !! Ask the question over there & you will have a run down of all the MIM/Cast parts in a heartbeat !! I just bought a Loaded a month or so ago and have shot the hell out of it & it has run flawless,really a great pistol !! I know your Gun is a Nice Step up,so I’m sure there is better “stuff” in yours !!! Once ya find out what is what,buy the parts to have on hand,& if ya need them,ya got them !!
MIM vs. forged, etc. is an endless argument but like already mentioned, many MIM parts last as long as any other. I have heard of very, very few MIM problems with SA or Colt but if you don’t feel confident with MIM the best thing to do is replace them. 
A total de-MIMing sounds like a fun project. Unnecessary, but that probably wouldn’t stop me.
If you’re doing it for the enjoyment of getting your gun all naked and putting your hands all over it then great. However, it ain’t a Glock, and these parts (unless you use the pre-fitted C&S or Nowlin trigger assemblies) aren’t just going to drop in. Unless you’re very familiar with smithing these guns, the chances of you screwing something up in the fitting or installation and not knowing it are probably much higher than the chances that your MIM part will fail.
If it were me, I would shoot the hell out of that gun until the parts need to be replaced, then replace with better stuff as you go. But its your gun so do what you want.
It depends what you are going to use your 1911 for. Anything other than carry/duty use, MIM should be no problem.
If you carry your 1911, and train with it as you should, my opinion is I would unload most of the MIM parts. And I actually did that on my two Springfield 1911’s (one was a loaded originally, the other was a Lwt Operator). I am not superstitious about MIM: I believe that they can POTENTIALLY be very reliable. To quote something Dave Berryhill said one time, “It depends on the application.” Some parts on a Springfield 1911, say the grip safety or even potentially the thumb safety, can run just fine with a MIM part. Other parts, for example the plunger tube or the firing pin stop or the extractor, I’d want the best quality steel parts I could get, all the way. I’ve had three fps’s and 2 extractors break on Springfield 1911’s during use or dry firing, all were MIM. Then I had barstock steel parts installed at Springfield Custom, and no breakage since.
I definitely agree on the extractor and plunger tube. Though, I honestly didn’t know many makers were using MIM for those components.
You kiddin’? I’ve had a SA MIM hammer break and once a disconnector failed allowing to gun to fire when she went into battery…fortunately down range…I realize metalurgy is getting better all the time but I’m an old fashioned boy and I’ll take forged every time…
Hammer, strut, sear, disconnector, grip safety, thumb safety, firing pin stop, slide stop. Main spring housing may be but I wouldn’t worry about it. Main spring cap maybe. Plunger tube maybe but if its staked well I wouldn’t worry.
Me personally? I’d go to a GI recoil setup. I’d replace the firing pin stop and slide stop (I like EGW parts) and the hammer, strut, sear, disconnector (I’d like to try the Vickers components from BFG). I’d also replace the thumb safety only because I don’t care for the profile of the Springfield one (although I might just reprofile/refinish it). Get some Wilson or CMC Powermags and shoot the crap out of it.
Oh, and if they still do that ILS crap, I’d strip that out or just replace the whole MSH and internals.
I had a Kimber MIM mag release plunger break on me. I replaced it with a Wilson unit, but it was a carry gun at the time and that left me with a distrust of the gun. I would wonder what was going to fail next and when, so I sold it and started carrying a Glock 19.
Not all MIM parts are bad but the problem is not knowing which parts are good quality and which ones are not.
I’m not saying that you should run out and replace all of your MIM parts. What I am saying is that if I’m doing some serious upgrades to a pistol, I will usually replace most of the MIM parts as insurance.
Thanks guys for all the great replies. MIM superstition is like a benign tumor. You really don’t want it in your body even if your “body” is not for duty use. There is no round count on the weapon, I have had it only 2 weeks. I plan to shoot it about a thousand times as is and then have somebody who is qualified switch what I don’t like or is potentially weak. EGW stuff looks good to go, as is the Vickers hammer/sear/disconnecter set on BCM’s website. When it’s done I will repost with pics.
Thanks again.
You might want to look at the C&S fire control parts sets, also.
I have had good luck with one in this Colt.
I got this info off the 1911 Forum !! Hope it helps !! 
http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=33440
How the current Colt 1911 pistol parts made:
MIM
sear
disconnector
magazine catch
magazine catch lock
CAST
Thumb safety
grip safety
FORGED
slide
receiver
barrel
slide stop
MACHINED from bar stock
hammer
all pins
bbl link
bbl bushing
trigger finger piece
ejector
firing pin
firing pin stop
extractor
plunger tube
I have read (but can’t confirm) that there are only three MIM parts in current Colts. 
Springfield MC operator had MIM parts in it with over 60k rounds (over two years) on the clock with no parts breaking or any signs of failure/wear. This was a heavy competition pistol.
I seriously would not worry about it.
Yea,I hear ya,but I know those guys over at 1911 Forum are pretty on the ball !! Most of the Sub Forums have a Rep from the company that chimes in now and then !!! But like ya say,its a tough call !! But with that said,my Colt Combat Elite has been Awesome and Flawless through its first year of ownership and about 4K of shooting !!! And like most people say,I’m not really worrying about it !! When I get some extra $$$ I will order a few goodies from Wilson/Ed Brown to have on Hand,but for now,I’m just shooting the heck out of it !!!
Good plan !
wetidlerjr, whatever effect you add your photos is awesome. I can’t quite describe it, but it looks like it softens it up a bit and it really makes the subject stand out.
x2 harrison trigger sets are a good place to start!