[Thumper]

This is a review of Springfield Armory’s PX9109L, the parkerized version of their Loaded 1911A1. Price was $619.99.

The gun comes with two seven round magazines, owners manual, cleared chamber flag, cleaning brush, hex keys for takedown (see below) and the cursed ILS keys.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/ThumperRon/Box600x450.jpg

Initial Impressions:

Overall, fit and finish are pretty good. If you look very carefully, there’s a slight color mismatch between the parked steel and the MIM parts. If you look here, you can see the telltale marks that indict this hammer as MIM.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/ThumperRon/MIMhammer600x450.jpg

The grips are double diamond patterned checkered cocobolo. Earlier loaded grips weren’t the DD pattern , and not as desirable, in my opinion. Grip screws are torx, which is kind of a nice touch. Other features include real Novak Night Sights, beavertail grip safety with memory hump, fore and aft slide serrations, extended ambidextrous safety, beveled magwell, and a full length guide rod. You need this little hex key to remove it (included), then disassembly is as normal.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/ThumperRon/Hexkey600x450.jpg

It’s hard to tell with my poor photography skills, but the feedramp is very nicely polished. I can’t see or feel any surface marks at all.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/ThumperRon/Ramp600x450.jpg

Similarly, the throat job is outstanding. Very slickery.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/ThumperRon/Throatedandpolished600x450.jpg

The plunger tube pin sticks out a little too far. This is a problem during reassembly. I had to push the tip in with a knife while doing the “slide stop finger ballet.” The barrel fit is good. This picture was taken with the barrel tip pushed all the way up. Note the plunger area.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/ThumperRon/Barrelfit676x507.jpg

When chambering the first round in 1911s, I’m used to a “kla-CHUNK” sound. This thing chambers with a very satisfying “SLOOP.” Again, very slickery. It will not, however, chamber an empty case.

On to the range:

All shooting was done at 21 feet with the mags that came with the gun. Ammo was Wally World Winchester white box 230 Gr. Ball and Federal 230 Gr. Hydra Shok. I oiled the pistol well with Hoppe’s before shooting.

The pistol was very smooth. I experienced no failures of any kind. The slide locked back after the last round every time. The front sight is very skinny with plenty of daylight around it.

Ejection is very positive, with brass ending up in the grass a good twenty feet behind the firing line. I had to get help to find all my brass.

This sucker’s easy to shoot. The first 28 rounds out of the gun went into 1 ¾ inches, as measured here by “Island Floyd,” the RO.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/ThumperRon/Measure600x450.jpg

Sorry to any glockophobes out there. This pic is to show that the Springfield out shoots my daily carry gun (barely). I might have to switch after a little more reliability testing.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/ThumperRon/1911andGlock600x450.jpg

I fired 155 rounds overall, twenty of which were the Fed. Hydra Shok mentioned above. Remember, this gun had no break in period at all, and there was never a bobble. It obviously shoots well also, if a little low.

Closing thoughts:

I plan on replacing the hammer, sear and slide stop with real steel, but aside from that caveat, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this as a serious fighting pistol. Overall, this is very good rendition of Mr. Browning’s masterpiece. It doesn’t hurt that it’s quite handsome.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/THR-Thumper/springfield600x450.jpg

Questions and comments welcome. Thanks.

[Rob1035]

great review, definitely making me rethink my plan of building a GI

[HighVelocity]

Nice review and pics. I really like that pistol and the price is great.

OT, Sugar Land is my hometown. Left in 96. :D

[mpthole]

Great review. Sounds like you got a good one.

My Loaded model (in OD green) had to go back to the factory for a barrel replacement and front sight replacement. It shoots great now. The only problem I have with mine is that the finish sucks. I can pretty much scrape it off with a fingernail. :(

[HD]

slick , obscenely accurate, feeds anything ,
i kept it in spite of the pos extractor (since replaced)...
i considered putting the SA adjustable rear sight on it for paperpunching...
it is my best ootb 1911 since my bob chow goldcup...

[el44vaquero]

Thanks for the review. I have a few GIs and was wondering about this pistol. Might have to get me one.

[Black Majik]

That was a great range report.

Pictures are fun. :D

[Lennyjoe]

Ronnie, good to see you have another .45 for your collection.

Great review!

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Wow. I'm going to have to rethink as to why I don't have a 1911 anymore. Keep this up and I'll have to buy a pair so I can have one for myself after SWMBO sees it.

Where you been, Thumper? Your feet still dry?


Regards,
Rabbit.

[Thumper]

I've gone through more 1911s than most people go through coffee filters, Lenny. It's a sad state of affairs.

Good to see you, Rabbit. Yep, dry feet all around.

You guys dont forget: the Hun Farm shoot is the second weekend in November. Fire up the Bronco, Lenny.

[Lennyjoe]

You guys dont forget: the Hun Farm shoot is the second weekend in November. Fire up the Bronco, Lenny
:( I wont be able to make it. I'm heading to Missouri to go deer hunting with a buddy on the 8th of Nov thru the 19th.

[Mossyrock]

When you get around to replacing the MIM pats, take a look at EGW's hammer-sear-disconnector set. Very nice tools steel parts at a very good price. Ed Brown's Hardcore slide stop is also a very nice piece of work. While you are at it, replace the ILS mainspring housing with a Les Baer, and you will be set! Although, personally, I would replace the guide rod with a GI set up (also from Ed Brown) and the trigger with a long, solid Greider (Videki). Does your have Tritium night sights?

[Thumper]

That sucks, Lenny. I was hoping to see you there.

Mossy, after considering it, I might leave the pistol as is for awhile. Or I might just replace the extractor and slide stop with Wilson bullet-proof parts.

I haven't really decided yet. I was hoping Fuff and Tuner might be persuaded to stick their noses in the thread.

ETA: Thanks for the kind comments.

[19112XS]

Good review Thumper! Sounds like you've got a good 'un. Some people have problems with the two piece guide rod unscrewing during operation. Repairs for this range from Loc-Tite to Teflon tape, or even eliminating the problem altogether by substituting in a GI Type recoil plug, or a one piece FLGR. You may not need to address this problem. A really nice, inexpensive modification is to swap the stock firing pin stop for a reduced radius one. In my experience, this reduces muzzle flip and allows a quicker return to target. Your plan to replace the hammer is a good one. There is some question (by those more knowledgeable than me) about the hardness of some of the MIM hammers. Good luck, good shooting.

[SpookyPistolero]

Good review, and nice pics. I bought the exact same pistol a few months ago and had almost exactly the same experiences. Pistol was in great shape, nice ramp and throat. Accuracy was excellent, and reliability was boring. It actually did replace my Glock 33 for primary carry weapon. The darn thing is just too easy to shoot well for me not to carry. The weight is quite doable in my C-TAC.

[W Turner]

I am a big fan of SA's 1911s. Both of them that I have owned were great guns for the money. I bought a used, blued loaded model about a year ago, carried it daily then sold it off to fund the purchase of a lightweight loaded model. Mine has had approximately 500 round thru it since I bought it new in Feb. and it has been flawless.

Great values overall.


W