I received this gun on Tuesday of this week and took it out for its first time last night.  As you can see it is an S/A 1911-A1 G.I. parkerized model.





Fit and finish were as expected with nothing out of the ordinary.  Frame to slide fit was tight, but there is still some play forward.  The trigger was better than I expected, with very little slop and minor over-travel.  Still, it is better than needed for a defensive gun.  Sights are a weak point in this model due to their size and I found myself taking more time to get a good sight picture.  Also, the thumb safety is Very tight and even after I broke it in with some heavy lube and repeated engage/disengage it is still too tight.  The barrel is a two-piece type with the opening of the chamber and ramp nicely polished.  The fit was as expected in a G.I. model.  I changed out the wood grips with some rubber ones I had from my Kimber.  The standard wood gips are nice but brittle.




Prior to going to the rane the gun was field stripped and cleaned using Mpro7 and lubed with Militec.  Everything disassembled easily and went back together just as easily.  The extractor seemed to be tuned right with a positive curve and stampped with a "K" at the end.  The firing pin is titanium and seemed to be of good quality.

At the range.  The range is indoors and distance is limited to a little past 50ft.  When firing I started at 15ft then moved to 20, 25, 30 and 50ft.  Ammunition used was Winchester "white box" 230grain FMJ 100 rounds from Wal-Mart for about $10.00.  I did not use the factory mags.  I used two Wilson Combat 47D's which have always been reliable feed boxes.


Failures:  I did have two failures and both were within the first 50 rounds.  The first was the last round failed to feed.  In fact, it just bounced out of the mag and sat in the feeding area.  The second failure was a "Stove-Pipe" where the bass seemed to bounce around trying to escape before the slide came back placing it in the charactristic "Stove-Pipe" position.  Those were the only failures and the rest of the session went without incident.  Ejected brass went high and to the right and one round did tag me in the forehead.

Accuracy was fine, proving more than enough for defense.
(1st 50)

(2nd 50)

I have read other posts discussing the same problems.  Extended ejector, tuned and better extractor (Wilson), cleaning up the breach face, lower/flare the ejection port and an 18.5 recoil spring will elliminate this problem.  I honestly feel that my problems were not extractor related but ejector and ejection port clearance.  The extractor did do its job and grabbed very will leaving consistent marks on the brass.  For now, the only thing I might change is the recoil spring.  After 1000 rounds or so the gun is going to be custom built by Wilson Combat.  I have a wish-list on Brownell's and will order the parts soon.  ILS system will also be shit-canned.

For what this gun is it is a nice little shooter that is a perfect platform for a custom build or just to shoot the way it is.  I hope you get something from this post.  If there are any questions please let me know.  Thanks for reading.

Thanks SGB.

Thanks.. I just got a Springfield as well and was wondering what tweaks you could do to one..Great post.

Hey JCG, I guess I posted my GI problem the same day you posted your range report, and you mentioned the same thing I was trying to solve!

Thanks for helping with my posts, now that I've read yours, how are you going to "...the gun is going to be custom built by Wilson Combat" , may I ask.. and how much will one be looking at spending?

nice report

Quoted: Hey JCG, I guess I posted my GI problem the same day you posted your range report, and you mentioned the same thing I was trying to solve! Thanks for helping with my posts, now that I've read yours, how are you going to "...the gun is going to be custom built by Wilson Combat" , may I ask.. and how much will one be looking at spending?

Well, the project is slow going I will be placing my 1st order with Brownell's sometime this week.  I am buying a lot of Wilson parts and also other companies quality parts.  Such as, a barrel from Kart, mainspring housing from Smith&Alexander, ejector from Ed Brown and a thumb safety from Chip Mc Cormick.

Once I have all the parts the gun will be sent to Wilson Combat to have all of the parts fitted and tuned properly.  The ejection port will be lowered/flared, dove-tails cut for Novak sights, dehorning Trigger work, barrel fitted, Checkering and a re-finish.  The cost of the build will still be high, but I will save some money by ording the parts with the discount I get from Brownell's.  So the build will not actually happen for at least another year.  In the meantime I plan on shooting the crap out of this gun.  This way when it comes time for the build I will know exactly what I want.

I chose Wilson Combat because they have always treated me very well and have always given me great info/advice plus their products are great.  I think of this gun as a project and a hobby.  I wanted something different that I could call my own.  I think the gun will mean a lot more to me, watching it go through its transformation, buying the parts, shooting, waiting, etc it will be a very cool thing once the gun is finished.

thanks, I am not trying to copycat you, just wanted to get some ideas.

I think my path will be shooting this gun til I get the itch to buy another 1911. That 1911 will be "fully loaded".. and then another one, and then I might be wise enough to come back to where you are at, to built one out of the share joy of calling it my own.

Good luck on your journey. Maybe we'll catch a post of your finished project next year.

Thanks...I definately will post pic's w/range report once it's finished.

Thanks, very good report.  

I'm in the market for a 1911a1 and was thinking of the SA GI .45.    
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Looking forward to seeing the transformation, even if it is over a year.

Nice review.

Don't take this wrong way...

Why not start with a Milspec SA that already has a better sights & lowered / flared ejection port for your custom project?

Quoted: Nice review. Don't take this wrong way... Why not start with a Milspec SA that already has a better sights & lowered / flared ejection port for your custom project?

Good question/point.  I like the more classical look and lines of the G.I. Since the sights and pretty much everything else are going to be changed the extras on the Milspec just did not matter to me.  If I wasn't looking to custom build the gun, then yes, a Milspec or even a loaded would have be my next choice.  The Milspec is a neat gun.

What are the significant differences between a GI and the Milspec?
I'm looking to buy an entry level 1911 (my first)

Quoted: What are the significant differences between a GI and the Milspec? I'm looking to buy an entry level 1911 (my first)

Milspec=better sights (3 dot) lowered and flared ejection port, forward slanting slide serrations

GI=small sights, verticle slide serrations, less $.

There are others I'm sure...

Cool report.

I just picked up a NIB SA GI .45 *(for 280bux ) . I got some nice lighter wood grips from my buddys SA when he switched to Rubber ones. Im also eliminating the ILS. and goin with a FLAT backstrap. I havent shot mine yet but look forward to it. Once I get some rounds thru it, I may get it "tuned"  but its mainly my SHTF gun, so I wanna make it as reliable as possible. I dont wanna turn it into a race gun or something that will be too picky with ammo.

I made the plunge.  This is my first 1911.    

$486.50 out the door including background check and tax.  

Now I need mags, mags & more mags.    

 
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Thanks for all the comments and questions.  It is also good to hear about newly acquired 1911s.  I'm still toying with ideas on what to do.  I am still deciding on which thumb safety to get.  I like the Mc Cormick and the Ed Brown.  I need to get out and shoot more to help me make up my damn mind.

Quoted: Cool report. I just picked up a NIB SA GI .45 *(for 280bux hter

lucky dog! er um i mean cow
K

Quoted: Cool report. I just picked up a NIB SA GI .45 *(for 280bux ) . I got some nice lighter wood grips from my buddys SA when he switched to Rubber ones. Im also eliminating the ILS. and goin with a FLAT backstrap. I havent shot mine yet but look forward to it. Once I get some rounds thru it, I may get it "tuned"  but its mainly my SHTF gun, so I wanna make it as reliable as possible. I dont wanna turn it into a race gun or something that will be too picky with ammo.

BTW, my ILS system has not given me any trouble.  Like you, I do not want it.  The keys for that system seem very brittle.  I can just see one of those damn points snapping off.  What would be even more ironic would be to find out that the keys are cast and the ILS system is MIM.  Thanks for your reply and happy shooting with your new G.I.