Posted: 12/13/2011 7:50:11 PM EDT
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I picked this up... I'm new to 1911s other than a stock Kimber...
I want to tinker with it and do a few upgrades. I want a flat mainspring housing, upgraded trigger and hammer, and better sights. I'll probably do the sights first. What sights do you guys recommend that will fit on this slide? The gun will mainly be a range toy, with the occasional truck carry/defensive duty. Would it be worth sending it off to have others milled/installed? Thanks in advance! I already changed the grips... I didn't care for those pachmayrs and put on some ergo grips.... I think they look a lot better. 
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| you will probably be better off sending the gun off to get new sights installed, I did the same thing and finally had to have a gunsmith install a set that he had machine the gun so they would fit. I found out after the gun was apart and being worked on that Springfield installs an oddball sized sight that no one else sells, and the only sights they sell are the stock replacements. It was recommended to me to send the gun and have Novak style sights installed, but the gun was already in process when I found out that it would require extra work to get new sights installed. |
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Yours is a very early SA GI pistol. You should call SA and see when it was built. I also sent you a IM. Yes. I noticed the angled cocking serations and the NM serial number. Also looks like the ejection port is cut lower than my GI, although not beveled. Nice piece, a-bare |
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I'd shoot 500 cartridges through it before doing a thing. Kind of a get to know you thing.
If its like every Springfield I've been around, extractor will be first part needing replacement. Echoing what Gregory K said, for what you'll spend upgrading you could buy an upgraded pistol for less and not suffer the aggravation and 1911 bashing that sometimes accompanies self inflicted modifications. I'm working on a Springfield GI almost identical to yours. Doing as a favor for a soldier, freind of my son. He's got $1300.00 in parts and outside labor. We shipped it to Springfield Custom Shop for front strap and dust cover radius. While there we asked it get 25lpi front strap checkering. There will be another $150.00 spent on parkerizing and cerakote. The rest of funds all went for parts. Take what pistol cost and parts. He could have bought a used CQB. Include my labor that I donated and he'd been into a $3k custom. Which is exactly what Wesley will have when done. But it will still be a Springfield GI. You probably bought pistol to expand your working knowledge of 1911s. That's cool. Addictive, but cool. That's how many of us started. I'd still recommend you shoot the shit out of it before doing anything and if you've not yet invested in reloading equipment, you need to. First thing I was told after buying my first 1911. You need to learn to load 45acp if your gonna shoot it much Reloading is a key to understanding how your 1911 works. The cartridge is the heart and sole of weaponry. |
| That is a cool old Springfield. The NM prefix serial number makes it a little more special. In all honesty, it would be cheaper to sell that pistol then buy a pistol with all the parts and upgrades already on the pistol. It's what I did with an almost exact pistol after I found out how much it would be to change the sights, trigger and full trigger job, grip safety, hammer, and a to have the hole gun refinished. I went with a Springfield Loaded but with a target barrel and matching bushing. I'm much happier and I didn't have to send the gun off or have a backlog wait time. |
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That is a cool old Springfield. The NM prefix serial number makes it a little more special. In all honesty, it would be cheaper to sell that pistol then buy a pistol with all the parts and upgrades already on the pistol. It's what I did with an almost exact pistol after I found out how much it would be to change the sights, trigger and full trigger job, grip safety, hammer, and a to have the hole gun refinished. I went with a Springfield Loaded but with a target barrel and matching bushing. I'm much happier and I didn't have to send the gun off or have a backlog wait time. True. But it wouldn't be as much fun!  
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That is a cool old Springfield. The NM prefix serial number makes it a little more special. In all honesty, it would be cheaper to sell that pistol then buy a pistol with all the parts and upgrades already on the pistol. It's what I did with an almost exact pistol after I found out how much it would be to change the sights, trigger and full trigger job, grip safety, hammer, and a to have the hole gun refinished. I went with a Springfield Loaded but with a target barrel and matching bushing. I'm much happier and I didn't have to send the gun off or have a backlog wait time. True. But it wouldn't be as much fun! http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/effinNewGuy/PC180066.jpghttp://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/effinNewGuy/PC180065.jpg Is that a Berryhill build? ~Augee |
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I recommend purchasing a Harrison Custom Retro Rear sight then sending your slide off to Novaks and have them install the rear along with milling and having them install a dovetailed and pinned night sight up front.
You also mentioned changing the mainspring housing and trigger. As just a recommendation/suggestion; Brownells sells a complete mainspring rebuild kit that would supply all of the parts that would replace the ILS or internal locking system, since your Mil-Spec is an older model it may not even have the ILS. I really like the Harrison Custom, solid triggers and they usually require minimal fitting. The Harrison Custom bobbed hammer and ignition kit would work nicely on your Mil-Spec too. For mainspring housings I like the simple, serrated Les Baer or if you want a quality checkered one the Ed Browns are hard to beat. As others have mentioned the Extractor may need to be replaced. The Wilson Combat Bulletproof extractor is great. But, these are just my recommendations. But, I think the best recommendation as stated in a previous post would be to shoot about 500 or so round and see how the gun shoots/feels and go from there |
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Sell it and buy a Rock Island Tactical! Same manufacture and all the goodies in a package for a lot cheaper! RI's are an amazing bargain buy! Rock Island and SA are not anywhere near the same manufacturer. Not knocking RIA for what it is, but let's not go overboard in their comparisons. |
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I'm not looking to go crazy with it. I want something to start learning the 1911 platform better, and understand I could buy a brand xyz that has a b and c already on it for less money. That's not the point.
As far as my goals for this pistol... I want to put a flat mainspring housing (it does not have the ILS) I want better sights - possibly night sights, but something relatively basic and streamlined, but more than the nubs that are on it now possibly a better trigger and hammer(I only have 1 mag through it...lol) Keep it looking relatively "GI-ish" The guy I got it from had a low power recoil spring on it. I ordered a Wilson Combat full length guide rod and 18# spring to put in so I can get some rounds through it. I haven't read much on the full length guide rod, but will see what it does. If I don't like it I'll go back. Money really isn't an issue... I'm not going to go crazy, but I want to put in quality parts. Nothing I'm looking at doing will break the bank. The gun is going to be a shooter, carried at the ranch, possibly the occasional truck/defensive duty, and used to determine what I really want and can do with the platform. My next one will be something nice... I'm taking the "get both" approach :) |
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That is a cool old Springfield. The NM prefix serial number makes it a little more special. In all honesty, it would be cheaper to sell that pistol then buy a pistol with all the parts and upgrades already on the pistol. It's what I did with an almost exact pistol after I found out how much it would be to change the sights, trigger and full trigger job, grip safety, hammer, and a to have the hole gun refinished. I went with a Springfield Loaded but with a target barrel and matching bushing. I'm much happier and I didn't have to send the gun off or have a backlog wait time. True. But it wouldn't be as much fun! http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/effinNewGuy/PC180066.jpghttp://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/effinNewGuy/PC180065.jpg Is that a Berryhill build? ~Augee Not quite. It's an effinNewGuy build with lots of http://www.berryhillguns.com/ goodies. I did pattern it after his MEUSOC clones. I consider your question a compliment. |
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Sell it and buy a Rock Island Tactical! Same manufacture and all the goodies in a package for a lot cheaper! RI's are an amazing bargain buy! Rock Island and SA are not anywhere near the same manufacturer. Not knocking RIA for what it is, but let's not go overboard in their comparisons. Some of the Springfield Armory 1911's are Brazilian slides and frames, some assembled in Brazil, some in the US from Brazilian parts. I believe the SA Spartan is made entirely in the Phillipines by SAM or ARMSCO. There's not a thing in my opinion that makes the SA guns better then the RI and I own a couple of both plus Kimbers! |
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Sell it and buy a Rock Island Tactical! Same manufacture and all the goodies in a package for a lot cheaper! RI's are an amazing bargain buy! Rock Island and SA are not anywhere near the same manufacturer. Not knocking RIA for what it is, but let's not go overboard in their comparisons. Some of the Springfield Armory 1911's are Brazilian slides and frames, some assembled in Brazil, some in the US from Brazilian parts. I believe the SA Spartan is made entirely in the Phillipines by SAM or ARMSCO. There's not a thing in my opinion that makes the SA guns better then the RI and I own a couple of both plus Kimbers! Take some time to learn about the different manufacturing materials and methods before you spout off. |
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Sell it and buy a Rock Island Tactical! Same manufacture and all the goodies in a package for a lot cheaper! RI's are an amazing bargain buy! Rock Island and SA are not anywhere near the same manufacturer. Not knocking RIA for what it is, but let's not go overboard in their comparisons. Some of the Springfield Armory 1911's are Brazilian slides and frames, some assembled in Brazil, some in the US from Brazilian parts. I believe the SA Spartan is made entirely in the Phillipines by SAM or ARMSCO. There's not a thing in my opinion that makes the SA guns better then the RI and I own a couple of both plus Kimbers! Take some time to learn about the different manufacturing materials and methods before you spout off. I'll admit that I am not a machinist or metals whiz expert, just speaking from personal experience from my own firearms. I'm willing to take the time to listen and learn if your willing to enlighten me since it sounds like you know of what you speak! Thanks for straightening me out 
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Update:
I installed the Wilson Combat full length guide rod, new spring, and one of their buffer things (not sure what I think of this yet, but it came with the spring so I'll give it a chance). I know there are some mixed thoughts on the full length guide rods, but I can already tell what a huge difference it makes on the feel of the gun when cycling it. The gun wasn't sloppy before by any means, but feels so much nicer. I hope to have some time over the long weekend to shoot it, and will update with the results and new pics. |
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That is the only change a steel flgr makes it makes the owner feel better. I can honestly see the argument both ways. If it shoots like it should, I don't care if it's a full length, regular, titanium, gold plated, or radioactive. I needed to replace the spring regardless, and the guide rod wasn't exactly high dollar. I'm curious to know if you've tried one and are speaking from experience, or just the "if it ain't broke" standpoint. If you did use one, what kind was it and what didn't work about it that made you not like it? |
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That is the only change a steel flgr makes it makes the owner feel better. I can honestly see the argument both ways. If it shoots like it should, I don't care if it's a full length, regular, titanium, gold plated, or radioactive. I needed to replace the spring regardless, and the guide rod wasn't exactly high dollar. I'm curious to know if you've tried one and are speaking from experience, or just the "if it ain't broke" standpoint. If you did use one, what kind was it and what didn't work about it that made you not like it? I have 1911 models set as GI with full length guide rod, with 2 piece guide rod, and one set up with a tungsten (sp) guide rod. tungsten is supposed to help with recoil a small amount as it puts more mass up front. the full length I've used as both a gi set up and as full length, no change in accuracy or reliability. think of it as why a fishing lure is painted, to catch fishermen. Only one that really sucks is the 2 part one piece guide rod. I have no reason to swap a gi set up over to a 1 piece FLGR, as I have no reason to switch over a FLGR over to GI. 2 piece FLGR should be avoided. |