Posted: 10/28/2006 9:37:39 AM EDT
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I just got a SA mil spec. It works fine with the exception of the thumb safety. The safety goes on smoothly but is very stiff coming off of safe. This is my 4th personally owned 1911 and have carried several others belonging to uncle sam. This is the only one I ever had this issue with the safety. I have compared it to my Kimber and can see the big difference. The kimber safety has a gentle curve where the plunger rides when engaged in the on safe position. The SA one has a much deeper curve that allows the plunger to come farther out of the plunger tube. When trying to disengage the safety the bearing surface of the safety pushes mostly sideways on the plunger which makes the operation difficult. It's obviously a geometry problem and not something that will wear in. I recall reading about this issue a year or two ago in a gun rag regarding this exact situation on the test pistol. I'm tempted to send it back for the safety to be replaced but I half expect to be told that it's in spec to be 10-12 pounds to disengage the safety. Anyone else have this and how was it resolved? thanks for reading SoS |
+1 here. The thing that smarts is that you will be without your pistol for about a month.  I would consider trying to smooth things out on your own or replacing it with a Wilson. Should only cost about $23 or so. |
I did and am still considering replacing the safety. What irks me is I planned on keeping the safety stock as I'm not into extended or ambi safeties. thanks |
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I'll probably be happier if I do. I kinda wanted to stay stock there so as keep the finish matching. ....or can I find a parked thumb safety from a quality parts maker? I always see blue and stainless options. I should be getting a brownell's catalog any day now. |
That is the part of the equation that is total HORSE SHIT! Springfield should set up authorized repair shops inside of every STARBUCKS to handle these bullshit problems. These fuckers are the OLYMPIC ARMS of the 1911 realm! 
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| That kind of crap should have been caught by the factory. They should send you a shipping label so you don't have to pay $25 for Fed-Ex or UPS. If they absolutely won't, I'd dump a big turd on them here and a couple other places, then fix it yourself. Given the cost of shipping, pistol "warranties" are conceptual only for minor repairs. |
AMEN, BROTHER! People get pissy when I make those points, but it's not like this is the first thread about a Springfield QC problem. |
Without seeing it, can't be completely sure. Does not sound like an issue with the safety lever. Rather the problem lies in the drag between the plunger and it's housing. If it were me, I'd remove the safety lever. It's easy. Read how to do it and note that you will need to make sure the plunger and spring don't leap across the room. I'd use a rag around the whole thing to capture them. Once out, clean out the plunger housing and look for burrs. Clean the plunger(s) and polish them by hand ( no power tools ). Might as well clean the spring while you're at it. Then lube and re-assemble. If that does not work to smooth it out, buy a new plunger/spring assembly first. If the plunger is being pushed sideways as you say, it's likely the plunger itself is too short, allowing it to cant. I would not go changing the detent profile on the safety. There needs to be some effort required to take it off safe. Cocked and un-locked is not a good way to carry.  Don't be afraid to DIY. My $ .02 Oh yeah. To all the Springfield Armory bashers, IT WORKS. It worked when it left the factory. How much effort required to disengage is SUBJECTIVE, and a large scale manufacturer, marketing to the "average Joe" at the $600 price point, in today's litigious climate, will always err on the side of "more effort", not less.  Less effort means it will come "off safe" easier, therefore increasing "average Joe's" chances of an accident. Where the hell did common sense go??? Give it a rest already. |
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Yup it does work. zero jams, fired everytime, merely combat accurate. I had the safety out but I didn't think to pull the plunger and spring. I really think it's a geometry issue but that's good thinking for the hand polishing. I sent Springfield an email first thing yesterday explaining the problem and requesting a return label. So far, 29 hours later, no response. I also yesterday had emailed LaRue for a matter with an LTR scope mount, I got an email 20 minutes later directing me to call the owner, which I did and he is sending replacement part right away. I wish I got that kinda response from SA Inc. It's not like I didn't expect it. My bud had a SA .45 10 years ago that he had to keep sending back because of issues with the slide stop locking the gun open prematurely. Sent it back twice same problem but they kept giving him extra mags. The third time they replaced the gun with a much upgraded one. I sent an M1a back two times before I was happy. Eventually they get it right. O well this is a project gun and not a priority. (see my post regarding my review of the SA mil spec in the springfield section if you want; shameless plug) Granted I only put a box through it an initial test and identified this issue. I just wanted to test the basic function of the pistol before I got into project mode. As I didn't intend to change out the safety I kinda want them to fix it (on their dime). I've already scaled back the project. Right now my only plans are to go with tritium low profile sights down the road and swap out the mainspring housing and mainspring. I'll probably leave the MIM parts alone. SoS |
You do get your money back for shipping you know. 
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 So tell us how you really feel..come on, don't hold back  I'm with you on having repair shops...I happen to have a good springfield, But I have heard a lot of horror stories here |
| the safety on my Mil-Spec was pretty tight to but not to the point that it prevented the function. I eventually put a stainless one in as I was doing other work and really just copied the pattern of the original grooves on the stock safety and it works alot nicer and cleaner. You can try to just do it yourself and take alittle away from the inside of the safety or take it to a smith if you don't feel comfortable doing it but it should'nt be a problem. |
the thumb saftey is not a drop in part the "lug" on the saftey comes oversize and must be fit to the gun. If it was a drop in I can see cases where the thumb saftey would not stop sear movment. |
Nice 11/17 I got a response from SAinc. from my email sent on 10/30. Sorry,.....we forgot about you and didn't forward this to the right person until now. Well I've been so busy I didn't think about the new pistol much. Hopefully I'll be getting a shipping label soon. SoS |
All the Springfield stuff I've owned worked perfectly fine. My Oly Arms stuff ran perfectly fine too. Safety being a bit stiff to knock off? I thought that was the whole point of the damn thing. The safety on my Springfield is just as stiff as the safeties on the rest of the pistols in the house, and I'm fine with that. |
Yeah, I know. And after seeing some of the home gunsmithin' mishaps posted on here, I didn't want to do it myself. It wouldn't even go into the frame, so I wasn't trying. |
Remind me again what is drop in on a 1911?
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Quality mags, ammunition, and grips. And lights if your 1911 has a light rail. |