1911 Gurus. Help me improve my Springfield Loaded

[12 Volt Man]

Help me with ideas to improve the Springfield Loaded. I have a Springfield Loaded model in Stainless with the regular Novak sights. They are not night sights. I have installed a S&A arched MSH with a magwell. The previous owner left it stock and only fired 100 rounds through it. I have since put another 300 round of various ammo through it. I made some very nice burled grips for it. I am going to make another set that fit flush with the magwell. I have had this gun for almost a full year and it has sat in the safe because it shoots six inches low and one inch to the right at 15 yards. I have had myself and two other very good shooters test this so I know it is not my shooting that is causing this. I have procrastinated contacting Springfield. I am going to do this soon and see if they will fix it or send me a new front sight.

I have focused my attention on my CZ for the last little while. I have caught the 1911 sickness again and have thought about buying another 1911. But then I think I should get this one where I want it before I aquire another one. So......... here is where I am looking for help with your suggestions. What part upgrades should I look at to make this the "ultimate" 1911. I realize everyone has an opinion on this. I am by no means knowlegable enough on 1911's to know what I should do without evaluating some suggestions to I thank you in advance for your thoughts.

Some thoughts I have had so far......

The trigger is fairly nice. I don't know the quality of the factory part. I see the "Videcki" trigger mentioned alot. Should I look at those?

I believe the slide stop is MIM. I have thought about getting the Wison Bullet Proof stop? Any thoughts on that?

The gun had an integraded locking system in the factory MSH. When I put the S&A MSH on it, all I did was take out the factory MSH and install the S&A one. It seems like I read somewhere that there are other parts that should have been replaced to totally get rid of the locking system. If that is true, what are those parts?

I have thought about getting rid of the guide rod system because it requires an allen wrench to take down the gun. What are the pros and cons of doing this? If I do it, what parts should I look at?

Lastly...... What else should I consider?

 

[Jim Watson]

Sights: Six inches at 15 yards is an error on the sight of about .067", either a shorter front sight or a taller rear sight. Will 1/16" off the front blade leave you anything to aim with? Novak makes a taller Lowmount intended for short barrelled guns with steeper lockup angles, but I don't know if it is that much taller.
Contact SA. Maybe they will take your word for the 6 @ 15 and you can just send the slide and save shipping ripoff on the whole gun. Or maybe they will pay it.

Trigger: Mr Videcki is retired. Grieder makes a similar trigger, my FLG mostly uses McCormick. Changing the trigger only will let you fit the trigger to its track and eliminate slop and play. My SAs are not bad in that respect, I don't know about yours. It will not affect the weight of pull.

Slide stop: I am shooting a SA for IDPA with factory MIM slide stop and other parts. I figure I will replace anything when it breaks or if it shows wear upon teardown and inspection. I think I would want milled parts there and a lot of other places in a defense or championship gun. Wilson is OK, so is Brown. So is the Master Class that Gil Hebard sells.

When I had the ILS MSH replaced with a mag well funnel, my 'smith installed a Wolff mainspring and standard mainspring cap and retainer pin instead of the ILS guts and separate retainer. A 19 pound mainspring will fire every primer I have seen and will lighten the trigger pull a bit.

A GI recoil spring guide and plug will simplify takedown. Any gunsmith will have takeoffs left over from putting in FLGRs or you can buy new.

Other? Well, what is the gun FOR?

Now a question for me: I like your grips. I have tried to get two local guys to make me some grips but it seems they lost interest about the time I wanted to buy. Can I send you MY wood to be made into grips? I have some Hawaiian Koa wood that I have a sentimental attachment to.

 

[Shalako]

First, nice grips!

Second, I would heed advice from Mr. Watson.

Third, MMC makes an adjustable rear sight that fits the Novak cut. Brownells sells them. I'm getting one for my SA due to a barrel change and something my gunsmith said about a different barrel angle changing POI.