[Sgt Stevo]

I just bought a new 1911. the springfield Us. It is a copy of the www-2 issue gun.

how can i get it to be as good a defence gun as i can. And leave it stock looking. Also I want a period holster. thanks HR.

[stans]

You will probably need to replace the ejector and extractor, maybe the firing pin stop as well. Reasons:

Springfield's ejectors are reported to be slightly out of spec and will eject rounds into the wall of the ejection port. This will result in heavily dinged brass and may result in empties coming back towards your face. 1911Tuner has done a fair amount of research into the Springfield ejector problem.

The extractor is likely to be cast steel or worse, MIM. These usually won't hold proper tension for very long. Ed Brown's Hardcore extractor is nice as is Wilson's Bulletproof. Cylinder and Slide supposedly still makes spring steel extractors and this is what J.M. Browning used in his original design specs. Don't expect a new extractor to drop in. It might, but odds are it will take a little fitting to get it just right.

The firing pin stop provides several functions. It holds the firing pin in the slide, it holds the extractor in the slide, it cocks the hammer. Standard firing pin stops usually fit loosely and have a generous radius on the bottom edge. The loose fit will allow the extractor to rotate a bit in its tunnel. This causes erratic ejection patterns. An EGW flat bottomed firing pin stop is oversized to allow you to fit it so that the extractor will not rotate. Also, the flat bottom will keep the gun in lock up just a wee bit longer. The flat bottom was the way J.M. Browning designed it, the U.S. Army put the radius on it to make racking the slide easier.

Before you run out and buy any parts or change anything, I highly, highly recommend you test fire with at least 100 rounds of 230 grain FMJ ammo.

[Jim Watson]

Certainly shoot it first, it might have some gross defect that you could get fixed on guarantee and would not want to pay for repair on.

[Domino]

I have a Springfield WW2 Mil-Spec as you described, I bought about a year ago at a gunshow for about $360. I carry the weapon daily in my vehicle and I trust it with my life, The only modification bieng a set of mahogony grips to replace the plastic ones it came with. I currently keep it with two mags of Remington 230g golden sabers, perfectly suitable for self-defense. The weapon has proved itself utterly reliable except for the first 200 rounds (a few jams here and there). I would definately shoot it quite a bit to break it in, once you feel comfortable with its performance then and only then should it be considered as a carry gun. As far as the extractor goes, i'm sure it is a nice modification but unneccesary (in my opinion) for self-defense. I have had several hot brass casings hit me in the face when target shooting along with some dinged brass but in a self-defense situation I imagine it to be of no concern. As far as accuracy goes, mine is OK but not great. I can hit a man in the face at 15 yards but not in the eye, but so what. If I was in a situation I needed to use it (usually within a couple of feet) I would blow the culprit to hell and back and still have 4 rounds for his friends to deal with. I don't have a holster but there are a billion holsters for a 1911 and you would have to find one that fit you to your needs. I am sure 1911Tuner has his opinion on what you would need to do to make it a servicable pistol (I believe he wrote a review on the WW2 Mil-Spec) and you should take his advise but I feel the most important thing about a self-defense weapon is to simply have a reliable weapon that you are comfortable with.

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

Much has been written on the .45 caliber WW-II Mil Spec from
Springfield Armory. As a Springer owner myself, the only thing
I have changed is its grips. Instead of the brown plastic ones
that originally came on the gun, I have a very beautiful set of
smooth "bloodwood" grips that were custom made by a very
well known and respected THR member. And I'm of the same
opinion as many other people; "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
Sometimes tinkering with our toys causes other problems.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[1911Tuner]

'Ts true...The GI Springfields have thus far been very good pistols overall, with just a few minor annoyances. 6 of my friends bought one on my recommendation. (with applicable caveats) All but one had extractor issues, and half had ejector problems. Easy to correct, but...

Maybe the feedback has prompted Springfield to correct the problems in the newer ones. The complaints are fewer and farther between than in the beginning.

Their extractors appear to be real steel, though the heat-treatment is questionable and erratic. Some do well...others don't. Some get tweaked and work for thousands of rounds...others get tweaked and re-tweaked and eventually fail to hold tension through more than 3 magazines.
Don't know what's goin' on with that...Hopefully they'll get it worked out.

Overall...I think Springfield's got a winner with the GI Mil-Spec. If they'd
tend to a few details, they could probably take a huge share of the market
on entry-level 1911 clones...if not dominate it. I'd buy another one.

Luck!

Tuner

[Old Fuff]

Domino:

>> As far as the extractor goes, i'm sure it is a nice modification but unneccesary (in my opinion) for self-defense. I have had several hot brass casings hit me in the face when target shooting along with some dinged brass but in a self-defense situation I imagine it to be of no concern. <<

Everyone has a right to their opinion, but I would point out that the reason you are getting dinged cases is because the ejecting case is hitting the side of the slide at the ejection port. If the case should fail to eject for that reason you'd have a jam. In a self-defense situation this could cost you your life.

A hot round in the face (and I have had this happen plenty of times too) could do plenty of damage - especially if you got hit in the eye at the wrong time.

From my perspective what is happening to you might be acceptable on a pistol used exclusively for target shooting or some-such - but I wouldn't tolerate it in a pistol I was staking my neck on.

You of course can, like I have, make your own choice. But I sure do hope you never have to use that pistol for something serious ...:uhoh:

[Johnny Guest]

There's some good advice above. You'll do well to have the extraction/ejection tuned on your pistola to keep those hot cases off your face. Whether you wear corrective lens glasses, sunglasses, or simply eye protection, as all shooters should ;), it can be downright distracting when a hot case gets caught between the eyeglasses and your cheek or your eye. Believe me, alll proceedings come to a rapid HALT while you remedy the problem. Bad enough during a plinking situation, it'll ruin your score in a match, and it can devestate your entire weekend if it happens during an unpleasant social interaction!

I caught a hot .38 Super empty on my left cheek on 4 JUL last, and it took over a week for the burn to heal.

Best,
Johnny

[22luvr]

having been pelted by hot casings from my P11 and P-3AT, I wear very snug-fitting Smith and Wesson shooting glasses, plus a baseball hat. End of problem.

[Old Fuff]

And any time you carry one of your pistols for self-protection you wear that outfit - hat, glasses and all?

Of course not, and I'm kidding. But I do want to make the point that some people carry pistols in the context of having a weapon. The wise precautions you take for shooting at a range (or at least that's what I presume you're doing) won't work for them.