Posted: 5/18/2008 10:37:26 AM EDT
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Springfield Armory 1911 TRP With almost three times the cost of most of my other pistols, I'm wondering where the value went? Parts? A lot of MIM parts and, possibly, cast hammer and slide stop, if not MIM. (I already replaced the magazine stop after it chipped during improper disassembly). The most offensive piece is the obviously MIM firing pin stop and (cast)? hammer - how can that stand the beating of 230gr. Winchester Lawman +P ammunition? Looking to get that replaced soon Accuracy? There are cuts and "grab" marks in the SS BBL match barrel. I've never seen anything like this before, but I've heard its a risk you run with SS barrels. That could explain why, out of six factory loads, the best groups are averaging 4" at 25 yards off a rest. Not bad, but not great either. The trigger doesn't have a lot of travel, which is to be expected with a single action, but my stock Baby Eagle .40's trigger "breaks" easier - at 1/3 of the cost!  Should have got a Colt or a GI and taken it to a smith to customize (like I'm going to end up doing to this expensive POS). People on the Internets were telling me to "get SA" because Kimber had cheaper "plastic" parts. How much cheaper can you get, really?  EDIT: ADD: The night sights were nifty even though I got MIM ones. That's the first time I've had any and I just ordered some for my Baby Eagle. |
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Interesting... My TRP is one of the nicest 1911s I have ever handled for the money but I paid around $1100 for it and it is not SS. Mine drives tacks at 25yd and shoots very well at 50. I did replace many of the MIM parts but that is just personal preference as MIM will almost always either break quickly or last as well as machined parts. I am not defending MIM as I don't want it on my personal guns but it IS the way of the future...like it or not. Sorry to hear you don't like yours. |
| I've shot ikors gun, and it does indeed put the bullet right where it belongs. My own SS TRP was the same. I was not thrilled with the MIM parts, but none of them gave me a problem at all. Mine was capable of better than their advertised 2.5 inches at 25 yards. |
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I would contact SA about the barrel and lack of accuracy. For as much as you spent you should at least be able to hit a beer (ahem, soda) can at 25 yards. Every time. Then again, if you can find a local smith that you know and trust. Pay to have a barrel fit (I like Schuemann's). The other small parts you can replace over time. I know you're thinking, "...but I shouldn't have too, I spent XXXX dollars...". Unfortunately, when you buy production, you get production. |
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Using premium JHP loads at standard velocities...such as Ranger T 230gr...and military Match ball (from the 1970's) it will easily do 2 to 2 1/2 inches at 25 yards from a rest...I have little doubt it would do even better but my eyes are not that good anymore. It is certainly not a 2 1/2in at 50 yard gun but it has no problem with shooting 4-5in groups at that range either. I was once able to stand on my hind legs and shoot very well at those distances but those days are past I fear...still, after owning and shooting several full customs, I personally consider the TRP to be an excellent value. Maybe you should send yours back to Springfield? Everyone gets a lemon now and again. |
That's great. I'm glad to hear you got a good one. I'd me more than happy for mine to do that with just one load - of any kind!
Yeah. Trying to avoid that, because it has to be shipped overnight, and shipping prices both ways are atrocious. Interestingly, my most accurate is 230gr Hydra-Shok and, with the nose of the bullet being deformed every time it is chambered, I believe it can do better with FMJ - it isn't Winchester or Blazer though. I'll work with it more.
Thats exactly how I feel, and the remorse here is that I should have bought a GI and taken it to a smith. |
+1, nobody's perfect, but SA is known to make things right when a problem arises. |
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When I got it home and looked at the barrel, after exclaiming, "what is this!?", I knew it probably wasn't going to be a shooter. I know it looks insignificant in these pictures, but its a lot easier to see in person, and I'm not a professional photographer. Basically, there are a lot of... how should I best describe.... "horizontal marks" that go perpendicular of the rifling.  larger, different angle, clearer Is that enough for SA to justify a return? |
You'd choke if you saw the price of an SA Loaded with all MIM parts. I imagine it would be hitting the 900 dollar mark, if not more. The average purchaser of this type of gun has no clue what MIM is, or how it matters, and would simply see that there are similar guns for less money elsewhere. |
I think you meant all NON-MIM parts my young friend...and you are correct. |
Yeah, what you said. <----------idjit |
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I don't think the horz. lines in the barrel are as disrupting to accuracy more than the fit of it. Definitely ask to have them pay for shipping and if it doesn't shoot 2.5" at 25 request they install a new barrel. Given that you are sending it back due to poor accuracy, they "should" have someone correctly fit a new barrel to it. |
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I have an issue with MIM parts. I dislike them very mcuh. Colt is down to a couple MIM parts on their base guns now. The sear, which is a high quality MIM, but still MIM, and the mag catch, I think. SA does to some nice work. My partner runs all SA and his guns are top notch, although they have been back to SA for improvements. Send it to SA and have them correct or replace anything you do not like while it's there. You should be pretty happy when it comes back. |
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I have seen this before. Prob what you are seeing is the marks left by the bit that cuts the crown on the barrel. A shank fits in the barrel a bit so the crown is cut correctly to the bore of the barrel. Usually this kind of thing will not hurt your accuracy too much. I would have to really damage the lands and grooves, but I can not tell from the pics. Now a fouled up crown will mess you up real quick. How much slop is in the bushing and the barrel fit? |
I kept getting worried thinking about how much $$$ it would take for me to upgrade all of my pistols (much less figure out which parts are MIM in the first place); and then I realized.... they function perfectly - why phuck with it? |
+1. Mine is Amory-Kote black and on any given day is a better shooter than I am. Great pistol, and my favorite of three SA .45's. |
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Premium quality 1911's will cost more than they are worth. Simple fact. 1911's ain't for everybody. Want a tight frame to slide fit that feels like liquid glass? Want 1" groups at 25 yards? Want 10k rds without a single malf? Well, it's gonna cost more than a grand.  Facts of life. 
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Very,very true. The TRP is one of the finest production 1911's available, but it's still a production 1911. That's the reason I own semi-custom and custom 1911's. |