Posted: 1/11/2004 7:36:11 PM EDT
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I purchased a 1911 style springfield today, NEW. Took the gun home and shot the hell out of it. Groups like a dream. Prints about 3 1/2 to 4 inches LOW! This model has the fixed Novak Sights. I thought maybe it was me or the ammo, I let two friends try her out with different ammo and still the same Results. How is Springfield's customer service? Quick? What can be done to remedy the problem other than milling down the front site? |
| It sounds like you are "pulling" on the trigger. For any single action trigger, including rifle or pistol, prep the trigger before firing ,pull the trigger til right before release, do your exhale to the sweet spot, you'll feel it,Focus on the front sight so that rear sight and target are out of focus,then sqeeezzzze. BANG BANG Double taps. |
I though this might be the case, but it's not. The gun shot low for me and 2 other guys. Hell, I even fired it with the butt on a sandbag with the same results. The weapon definitely shoots LOW! |
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I dont know what else to say here, try doing the dry fire thing in front of the TV, make sure oyu have the "Blue Screen" on it makes it a little easier. but point it at the TV and squeeze the trigger, it sounds like it might have too much pull to it to me, but when you squeeze it watch the front of the slide, see if it goes down or stays the same level. What kind of ammo are you using? |
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Short of putting it in a Ransom Rest, you can't eliminate human error completely - but I trust that your gun is definately shooting too low. Call Springfield and complain, they should take care of you. I had my milspec 1911 sent back for FTF problems and they took care of it promptly. Their customer service has always been decent for me. |
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Hi chaos, I've got the same problem (among others) with my Springfield "Loaded" model. I'm going to send it in for service so I'll let you know. In addition to shooting low (and I know this because I bench shoot my handloads to check both accuracy and velocity/consistancy) it also crushes cases and jams because of a faulty extractor. The first time I sent this gun in for service it took three months to get it back. --Thank God for my Colt Gold Cup. |
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It is common for fixed sighted pistols not to shoot POA for some people. Everyone shoots iron sights differently and several factors in the way the pistol is put togather at the factory can make it shoot high or low compared to other pistols made on the same line. |
| Before I would send it back I would experiment with different ammo, to see if I could find a round it likes. And for the first shot next time at the range --- balance a dime on the slide when you take the first shot, this will make you concentrate on the trigger pull and sight picture, (the dime will fall off when you shoot,repeat process for subsequent shots) if the POI is still off. Send it in for adjustment, in which case I suspect they might replace the barrel..Springfield has the chamber welded onto the barrel and I suspect they may have muffed the job on yours if the ammo is not to blame. |
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Had the same problem with other make guns myself. First was a Kimber CDP Pro. 4" low and 4" left at 25 feet. When I called Kimber they started with the "everyone aims a pistol differently" crap. I informed them that 3 people had shot the gun with the same results. When I asked to talk with the supervisor, the person said to send it in and they would check it out. I received the gun back in 10 days (total time) with a letter explaining that they had to replace the barrel due to a bad crown. Now the gun will hold 3" groups at 30 yards. As for the Beretta Vertec. Initially it was shooting about 2" low and 6" left at 25 feet. Also had them check out some unusual wear on the bottom of the barrel where it meets the slide. The gun came back within 2 weeks. Included was a repair order and a test target. They said everything was within specs and they found no problems. I took it out and shot it. The group was within an inch of center at 25 feet. Still left and low. The thing that worried me was the wear on the barrel. With less than 250 rounds thru it the finish was worn off in two spots about the size of bb's. I exchanged it for another gun at the shop. |
The weapon has a pretty light trigger on it. Have repeately dryfired the weapon. Flinch is not the problem. Front site doesn't dip while dry firing. The gun is shooting good groups out to 25 yards. I shot the gun at 7 yards when I first noticed the problem. Shot a beautiful one hole 5 leaf looking clover with 8 shots. I've shot winchester White box 230gr. ball ammo, Remington 230 gr Golden Sabres ( Old box I had), Some roll yer owns, and some funny looking Winchester Headstamped NT ( These were another fella's who was willing to stop by and help me out, he is an old match shooter, he shot the pistol with the same results) |
Lumpy, a friend of mine(more like a DAD while growing up) who used to competetively shoot while in the military , back in the 70's fired the weapon with the same results. I am thoroughly convinced it is the weapon. He shot a one hole group at 25 yards with the gun....6 inches low. He uses a "6 o'clock" sight picture, where I place the top of the site exactly where I want the bullet to strike. I called Springfield, They gave me an authorization number, and info to UPS them the Weapon back to them FREE OF CHARGE. They Say they should have it Ironed out and back to me in 5 TO 6 WEEKS. I certainly had hoped for a quicker turn around, but I guess one can't bitch as they readily agreed to fix the problem. |
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Another, option, if it's shooting a little low, is to simply shoot a little high. If you're putting the top of the sight blade COM, maybe you should try placing the front sight dot COM instead. If that's what you're doing, then try resting the bottom of the dot COM. |
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First, this is a new gun. I would suggest that you put at least 500 rounds throuogh it, preferably 1000 rounds, before doing anything. Second, at what distance were you seing the 4" low event? The gun was most likely registered at 50 feet so that will probably be the design POI. Third, what weight bullet were you using? Generally, a lighter bullet will impact lower than a heavier one. See if you can find out what brand and weight SA uses when proofing their guns and try to duplicat that. |
This is okay advice as a stopgap measure. Problems arise, however, if you own more than one handgun. I own nine (I think) at this counting and they all either shoot to "six o'clock" or can be adjusted to shoot to "six o'clock". Having one gun that shoots low when you own many will really f__k you up. |
Hitting 3-4 inches low at 7 yards, 5-6 inches low at 25. Using 230 gr ammo, Cant get heavier in .45 acp that I have seen |
That was going to be my suggestion. I have quite a few handguns as well and almost all of them have been converted to adjustable rears for that very reason. I shoot a little differant than most and tend to shoot low and slightly to the left with non adjustable sighted guns. However, with my Series 70, which has Bo-Mar rear sights, I shoot dead on. May be the best fix for your problem. |
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It could be worse, your new springfield could have went tit's up after 20 rounds! www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=2&t=172838 My Springfield Milspec needed some windage correction. that rear sight dovetail was TIGHT too. But I finally got it close enough for my purposes. |
Barrel Up, Barrel Down....The sights move with the barrel. This wouldn't change my sight picture or adjustment. |
I dont think anyone makes a raised main spring housing for the new Springfields, they have the lock in the MSH now. You might want to check with Smith@Alexnader www.smithandalexander.com |
I hadn't heard of the lock until now. Do you have any other information on this? What exactly was/is its purpose? |
There is a little 2-hole slot in the MSH that you use a key to unlock. It locks the mainspring in place when engaged. They are interchangeable with other MSH. I changed them out as soon as I got my springfields home. I've had some bad SA 1911s in the past as well. Now I just buy Kimbers instead. |
| Two of the guys I work with had the loaded models w/ night sight and at 25 yds each pistol hit 4"-8" low. One of the guys sold his after it jammed more than his nintendo. The other guy sent it back and they replaced the front sight blade, it now hits right on the money. His rear sight falls off now..... Can you say quality control...... |