Posted: 5/22/2004 7:56:54 PM EDT
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I am thinking about getting a Sf 1911. Maybe even one with the OD Armory Kote. Chime in here with your Springfiled experiences and opnions. I have never owned one of their 1911s. Thanks! Monty |
| Great product. The Armory Kote is tough and seems to reduce some of the break in hiccups (usually due to poor lubrication). The mags suck, but that's what most manufacturers send out with their 1911's these days(exceptions being the higher end 1911's). The Kote finish also makes the trigger pretty nice. Although I'm not a fan of front slide serrations and full length guide rods, it's a hard piece to pass up. Good luck and HTH. |
| The G.I. (WWII model?) is great if you're gonna keep it the way it is. It's as basic of a 1911 you can get. The Mil-spec is a great base for a 1911 newbie to learn the weapon and build upon. The pistols with the NM prefix were assembled in the U.S. if that makes a personal difference to you. A loaded model has alot of upgrades, and is cheaper in the long run than building (but doesn't have that personal touch). The other plus to S.A. products is the extra safety mechanism can be removed by the owner, unlike the Colt series 80 and series II Kimbers. Not a BIG deal, and they're quality products, but a consideration none the less. HTH |
| I bought an Armor Cote almost two years ago now. After I gutted almost the enitre gun and replaced the cheap internals with Colt, Smith and Alexander, Ed Brown and Wilson components it actually runs. I am still slowly fitting a respectable grip safety to the weapon....SA uses one that isn't even actually fitted properly between the tangs of the frame and the Smith and Alexander doesn't fit any better...however it is a good starting point for creating one that works and fits correctly....if you don't mind a lot of grinding and mig-ing and regrinding. |
Actually you can pull out the firing pin safties in both of these. It's not quite as simple as replacing the MSH but it's no big deal. |
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I know I say a lot of negative things about SA...and considering the plethora of negative experiences I have had with their products and qualtiy control ( or lack thereof ) I believe I am justified. That being said, there are some good things about SA guns and even SA itself: 1. The frames and slides are very, tough and well built, though sometimes they aren't finish machined quite properly. It seems to be more the frams that are improperly finished than the slides. They are also very aesthically pleasing externally...unless you have a discerning eye and know what to look for. For instance compare an extened Kimber beavertail and and SA beavertail and you will immediately see the cheesy "out" that Springfield takes with "fitting" their grip safeties...oh wait, they DON'T. Still, the overall appearance of their guns is usually very nice. 2. SA's customer service folks are very nice, though you may have to send your gun back a few times before you realize they probably aren't going to actually fix it. It does depend on the issue. I had an M1A with a scored barrel that the fixed very professionally and promptly and it has run like a champ ever since. My 1911 just came back worse....if you have a problem that can be specifically pointed out, it is likely it will be fixed. If you have a mysterious malfunctioning error that you cannot discerne the cause of then you are probably up shit creek without a paddle. Same goes with ArmaLite by the way. 3. SA's custom shop work is excellent from my experience...I had a 1911 grip frame reprofiled and refinished by them and the work was absolutely excellent. Other custom shop guns I have seen were also very beautiful and worked very well. If SA was only a custom shop I'd go through them without hesitation. |
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I've been reading posts in other forums and have heard similar quality control issues being raised. Aren't Springfield's supposed to be manufactured in Brazil? I have been looking at a Springfield Stainless TRP. What have you guys heard about the quality of the TRP? I'm hoping since this model is higher up on their menu of offerings, that some higher level of quality control kicks in. I've shot 1911's before, but never owned one... I look forward to hearing what you more experienced guys have to say. |
| inferno715: I have a Walther P99 (don't laugh!) and have never taken apart the extractor for cleaning. I'm a new shooter, and have only put about 2000 rounds through it, but it has always shot without a failure to feed or extract. Do 1911's generally need to have the extractor removed and cleaned frequently? |
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I was going to post a similar topic because I am currently thinking of getting another 45. I am waiting for a Colt to come back from Wilson now. I do have a Springfield that took a long time to get in shape, thought maybe I just had a bummer. However, I have been hearing a lot of negative things about them. If I am going to have to replace everything in the gun, like I did the last time I might as well start with a base that I know is the best on the market place. I will be getting a Caspian frame and slide. I have been told (no names please) by people in the industry that if you want the best frame around you go with the Caspian, they are the benchmark. |
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I have shot my OD Springfield a number of times a month at IDPA matches and range practice over a period of two years. I have had no problems with my OD Springfield in the two years that I've had it. I have had no problems with my OD Springfield in the two years that I've had it. I have had no problems with my OD Springfield in the two years that I've had it. I have had no problems with my OD Springfield in the two years that I've had it. I have had no problems with my OD Springfield in the two years that I've had it. I have had no problems with my OD Springfield in the two years that I've had it. I have had no problems with my OD Springfield in the two years that I've had it. I have had no problems with my OD Springfield in the two years that I've had it. I have had no problems with my OD Springfield in the two years that I've had it. I have had no problems with my OD Springfield in the two years that I've had it. I have had no problems with my OD Springfield in the two years that I've had it. |
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I have one Springfield 1911. it is a mil-spec. For the gun it's self, physically it is ok for a modern day off the shelf pistol, here is the down sides. 1. Gun would not Eject correctly first time out with 3 different brand magazones(Colt 8 rd, Wilson 8 rd, and McCormick 8rd) 2. Slide clearance with frame was not good, causing a wear in the finish in the first 100 rds. 3. Sight was bent when the dot was drilled/pressed in. To make this a reliable weapon, I had to 1. Adjust the extractor. When it left the factory, if you had a casing in the breach, the extrctor didnt even touch it. 2. Clearance the dust shield so it does not wear the finish further on the slide. 3. File front and rear sights so the overhang from the staking for the dots does not affect dot alignment. I apear to be in the minority in out of the box gun functionality. But there some craftmanship area to the detail of the machining of the pieces that are lacking( Ejector port not cut straight, Excessive slide to frame movement, loose front bushing fitting). But this is a very accurate gun, I managed to blow out the center of both of my targets at 15 yards (standard orange target with 3" white for center bullseye). After the modifications, it is now very reliable. So my suggestions is, if your not handy with tools or gun smith work, step up and get a higher end model. |
What! 
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The grips are made by Simonich Knives. They are called "Gunner Grips". They are made of G10, the same material a lot of high end knife companies make their knife handles out of. I really like them. www.simonichknives.com/gunner.htm |
I think someone protests too much. In all the years that I have been shooting 1911's the only one that has given me a problem is the milspec Springfield. It may be that the higher priced models are somewhat better but I can tell you at least this, I have sent the gun to them twice. I sent two certified letters without a response. I have shot every kind of ammo out of it and it doesn't seem to like anything including the reloads that I have been using for the last 15 years with excellent results. A customer from the local gun shop sent his Springfield off to Wilson to see if they could do anything with it and Wilson sent it back saying that they could not help him the gun was so out of spec. I have been hearing more and more complaints about the Springfield and it is obvious on here that there are some with problems. |
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There seems to be a lot of people that are claiming that they are unreliable out of the box, and that you need to replace everything. My experince has not quite been the same. I first bought a Mil-Spec. My initial responses were that it patterned rather than grouped, and that the trigger seemed heavier than I expected. I took care of both issues by myself. I bought a drop-in barrel bushing from Ed Brown and the patterns became nice tight groups. I replaced the internals of the ILS with a regular mainspring, cap, and pin but kept the MSH. The ILS uses a 28lb. mainspring which makes the trigger feel heavy. The Mil-Spec is now one of my favorite range guns. It has never failed me, with the exception being some reloaded SWC ammo, which I didn't expect to cycle anyways. FMJs and hollow points all feed 100%. This gun was made in 2001, and it is known that there were some QC problems back then, more than today's production guns. I then bought an OD loaded. This gun was dead-on from the get-go! The only thing wrong with it was the extractor tension. It was ejecting 100% reliably, but it was sending shells 15 feet away! I adjusted the extractor using the guidelines at www.m1911.org and the ejection path is now perfect. The full length guide rod kept unscrewing, until I used plumber's tape on the threads. I replaced the whole kaboodle with a GI setup for ease of maintenance. This gun has yet to give me any serious trouble. My conclusion is that these guns are not well inspected at the factory, and parts may be used that are less than desireable for any particular pistol. The dregs of the "parts bin." This was certainly true for the pistols produced in the late 90s up until last year. I believe that the folks at SA got tired of footing the bill for customers to send back their guns for warranty repairs and decided to up the QC level. All of the examples that I have inspected from '03 and '04 have been good to go from the factory. Well, at least the ones I've seen. I still qould buy more Springfields b/c they have a lifetime warranty, and they are a heck of a lot cheaper than comparable Kimber pistols. So what if I have to buy a $20 part to remedy a problem for a pistol that was produced in SA's dark ages.?I still saved $100 in the long run! I know that the folks at Kimber have been known to have less than stellar customer service when it comes to warranty work, blaming the shooter and what not. It also seems that I see a lot of posts about MIM parts breakage with Kimber, much more than with the SA pistols. I'm not saying it never happens, but the numbers don't match up for these two manufacturers. Some speculate that Kimber had some QC problems with the MIM manufacturing processes that left them more prone to breakage. Could be true....or it could be a pantload. Without getting into a topic change, I think MIM problems are related to how well the part is made, not the process by which it is made. My name is B9, and I buy Springfield 
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RAMBOSKY: Excellent photos. How do you like the grit girps on the black stainless? I've been looking at that style of grips, but have never seen a pair up close. Some people claimed the grit works loose, gumming up your hands and possibly the handgun. Have you found any truth to that? |