Springfield Armory Micro Compact
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TinNePa
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Because it was a jam-o-matic. I had one, couldn't get it to run. Different ammo mfgs, different bullet weights, different mags, a trip back to the mother ship for a new extractor. Still wouldn't run reliably. Extracted cases would end up jammed BACKWARDS in the ejection port. Mine was an Argentine made specimen. Sold it off when Covid hit and people were buying everything in sight.
NIGHTLORD40K
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I'm guessing the introduction of the 911 may have had something to do with it as well.
Deanimator
Member
A friend's got one. It shoots everything from 230gr. ball to 200gr. LSWC match loads, to the weird 117gr. Aguila IQ.
When "knife and car jihad" got to be a thing on this side of the pond, I decided I needed to step up from 9x19mm. Having recently sold my Norinco M1911 and wanting something smaller anyway, I discovered that the MicroCompact had been dumped. I instead went with a Citadel 3.5CS. With McCormick magazines, it runs just fine. Works with the OEM magazines if you load them one short of capacity.
I wish I'd've known you had one to sell. I have one, but I'd've bought it, flat out, as long as it wasn't banged up.
Mine initially would reliably malfunction -- failure to feed, stove pipe, failure to extract -- routinely. The problem with the pistol was, the distance between the extractor claw (for wont of a better word) and the bolt face was too shallow. If you ever inspected the cases that did manage to eject properly, they almost always had an extractor score mark on the outside edge of the case rim, as if the extractor had used the edge of the rim to pull the empty case out. And *that* is exactly what was happening, when the pistol did function properly.
The solution was to send it back to SA (they paid for shipping both ways, but I didn't request reimbursement for sending it) and have them machine the bolt face and increase the distance to the proper specification. After they did mine, it would eat .45 ACP cartridges, like a 1911 is supposed to do.
I can't understand why that trivial manufacturing flaw evidently repeatedly passed inspection. It's like production samples were never test fired, and a new recoil system had to be implemented in the design for such an out-of-specification shortened slide. It very effectively sullied the reputation of the pistol. (Actually, I think *that* is why it was dropped; I just wanted to hear confirmation.)
They're fantastic pistols. Perfect for every-day-carry. You really need to use a light bullet, though, for such a short-barreled pistol. For example: https://www.lehighdefense.com/all/451-45-acp-xtreme-defense-120gr-bullet I suspect you might be able to reach a thousand fps with a fast-burning powder.
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Thunderchicken
Member
I have one. It runs reliably and has since I got it, used.
I really like the Micro Compact. I haven't had any totally bizarre problems with it, that couldn't be figured out.
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.455_Hunter
Member
In 2005ish, I bought a Brazilian made NIB Micro Compact GI from an LGS with attached range. I picked-up a box of ball and they covered the access fee. I got through the box and was still having multiple going-into-battery failures. The shop packaged it back-up and off to SA it went. While there, I called and had them do an ambi-safety and rosewood grip installation on my dime. The gun came back pretty quick and I was pretty happy with it for a while until I had another LGS with gunsmith look at changing the sights. We were shooting on their range for POA/POI analysis when it locked-up solid, slide partially in-battery with something wrong with the links. The second shop sent it back again to SA and then I had them put it on consignment with full disclosure. I wouldn't trust it again, so it had to go.
zaitcev
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I doubt a gun that small cannot attain enough ATF points for importation from Argentina. Although, if it's in .45 ACP... BTW, how did you know? Was there an identifying mark?
Old Dog
Member
Pretty sure you meant Brazilian-made. SA never made anything in Argentina, just Brazil.
As it happens, I bought an SA Loaded LW two-tone Micro-Compact back in the late 90s. I stupidly traded it off a few years later, and I still miss that pistol; yeah, it was a 3-incher, but boy, was it ever accurate and reliable. Plus, the stainless slide over blue frame looked great, and the Trijicon night-sights were sweet as well. Just an awesome carry pistol. In the category of "what was I thinking?"
TinNePa
Member
You may be right on being made in Brazil, fuzzy memories of a forgettable gun. I still don't have a 45 acp concealed carry piece yet. I found a used all steel Kahr k40 that's become the replacement for the 1911. Been flawless so far, and my first forty.
TinNePa
Member
It was stamped in the frame under the barrel. I though it said Argentina and I thought to myself "odd place to have your guns made". I knew Brazil is big in firearms manufacturing. I wish I took a pic of it. I should have known something was up with it when it came with 6 mags including 3 kimber's.
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