Springfield's GI 1911

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Slater

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For those of you that have owned this particular 1911 and kept it unmodified, how has your overall reliability been? I've heard both good and bad.
 
I have one, but only 100-200 rounds through it. So far reliability is 100%, and really stoppages would be more likely brand new before it gets worn in. BUT... it's a pretty short test period so far.

I also own SAI's "mil-spec" model which is US assembled and has a couple of the simpler "custom" features, like a bigger ejection port, better sights, and a flared magwell. It is dramatically better in every way, and they only run about $100 more I believe. The trigger pull is better, the fit is both tighter and smoother (the GI rattles a bit), and you will really be missing the flared magwell after you try putting mags in the GI model.
 
Totally not answering the question:eek:, but...

The GI won't have a lowered and flared ejection port which is pretty much standard on every other 1911 out there and may hamper reliability. The Springfield MILSPEC will offer that feature and still have a relative GI appearance and not cost much more.
 
I had one I picked up for $275 new in box. Functioned hot, straight and normal. Put about 500 rds. (American Eagle 230gr. ball) through it before a friend talked me out of it for $400. He likes it. No problems. (Wish I had it back)
 
Mine was a lemon out of the box. I had at least one failure to feed with every magazine, usually more, and it was shooting extremely low, I mean like 12-14 inches low of POA at 7 yard. I put my 500 recommended rounds through it and sent it back. The good news is they upgraded to a stainless barrel, new extractor, polished the internals, and did a fantastic trigger job on it, all on their dime of course. I love it now. Also, mine is very tight, no rattle, nor have I had any issues with the ejection port. So even though it was a frustrating disappointment at first, I feel I got way more than my $499.99 worth in the end.
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I've had my GI for about a year now. By next week it will have 2k down the tube. It's been flawless. Shoots a little bit low from POA, but not much. I've thought about calling SA and sending it back in, but haven't yet. Reliability wise it runs like a sewing machine. Never had a hick-up.

I'm not sure what you would consider un-modified. Mine has had the ILS removed, Harrison trigger installed, new FPS, EGW bushing, and mag well beveled.
 
Mine ran like a top with either factory or reloads. Put a couple of thousand rounds through it. Wish I had it back, but it wound up in the hands of a young guy just beginning shooting 1911's. Good home.
 
since i got mine new, i have never fired factory rounds throug it, to dam expensive where im from. so nothin but reloads i shot, with more than 500+ rounds through it never had any problems with it, shooting 230gr fmj
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I purchased mine about a year and a half ago, and to date have had no problems with it at all. Mine's been fed a steady diet of 200 gr. LSWC bullets, and has never failed to cycle, or had a misfeed with them. The pistol is completely stock, and is used for SASS Wild Bunch matches.
 
I have the Champion Model, it's slightly different that the full size GI.45, I've put around 200 round though it all 230 gr FMJ. Had no problems what so ever. I forgot to take a box of hollowpoints to the range. I have manually cycled a couple of magazines through of Winchester PDX loads. They seem to need a strong "slingshot" to feed reliably into the chamber from the mag at first, but after shooting FMJ they seem to feed much easier. My only complaint is the lack of contrast on the small sights.

Your mileage my vary since the Champion model has a ramped bull barrel as opposed to a standard Mil-Spec barrel.
 
I had a Champion GI for a while and put approximately 800 rounds through it before I sold it. Great gun, it fed everything I put in it, and the factory mags, McCormick Shooting Stars, and Colt GI surplus mags all worked fine. Zero issues or malfunctions in the time I had it. Surprisingly the action was verrry smooth, especially after about 250rds or so. I sold it to help fund a CCO, but I wish I still had it. I never modified it other than putting a set of thin Alumagrips on it.

The only annoying thing about it was every 6th rd or so it would bounce the empty brass off the top of my head or forehead. Extractor probably needed some sort of tuning but I didn't want to mess with it as reliable as it was and just left it alone.

Based on my experience, my brother-in law bought a Stainless GI, and had all kinds of problems with it. It would hardly ever go through one mag without a malfunction of some sort. Even with my mags that worked in my GI. He sent i back to Springfield, and it worked great when he got it back, but he was upset about it and sold it. I should have bought it but I don't like stainless on a GI, just sort of wrong IMHO.
 
The only regret I have with my GI is that I got the OD color. I really don't like it that much now that I'm a year into it. Oh well, I'll do a couple more little mods, then refinish it. ;)
 
My Springer GI has exactly 1,250 rounds through it. 900 of those rounds were 200gn LRN reloads, the rest was a mixture of assorted factory FMJ and JHP.

Using the factory mag it would hang up trying to feed the first round of some JHP ammo. Chip McCormick mags solved that little problem. Otherwise, it has been perfect.
 
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