1911A1 It's about time...

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Working Man

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Lately I have been feeling the call of the 1911A1 in .45. I knew it was bound
to happen. Don't get me wrong I love my H&K USP .45 (never a problem of
any kind) but it lacks the class of the 1911A1. So I figured if I am going 1911
I should go big... without breaking the bank.

So what I am looking for is a 1911A1 in a .45 stainless Long Slide for around
$850 to $1000. What I want is:

Information from owners of 1911A1 Long Slides
*Accuracy
*Recoil
*Problems
*Best brands available
*What I should know as a prospective 1911A1 owner.

Any thoughts or first hand information on the
Springfield Long Slide V-16 45 SUPER / 45 ACP?

This is what I am currently looking at.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-pstl-1911-ls.shtml

Much thanks.
 
I like the looks of those long slides. Just don't really like the looks of the kimber. Would like to see a Springer, S&W, or Colt do the same.
 
No more info?

Aww come on... I know there has to be more information out there. Help
a 1911 deficient guy out. :confused:
 
The Springfield Longslide that I shot was very accurate. I don't remember if it was bushingless or not. The additional weight seemed to tame perceived recoil and muzzle flip. The recycle time was noticeably longer than a 5”. Overall very fun and satisfying. Springfield has a reputation for good customer service.
 
Working Man said:
Ok, tell me about your experiences.
Click to expand...

Reference the AMT Hardballer thread...:banghead:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=176023

Mine never had any galling problems, but wouldn't feed anything with a hole in the front of it. It'd feed my cast 200 grain SWC load pretty well and a round nose cast bullet after I had the feed ramp polished and ported. Typical 1911 way I saw it, one of the many reasons I don't own one anymore.

It wasn't super accurate, but quite acceptable shooting its better loads into sub 3" groups from 25 yards off sand bags. It was more reliable than my Auto Ordinance, at least. It WOULD feed cast bullets. That thing was a hardball only gun. I polished the ramp, didn't matter. The AMT was picky about OAL of the loaded cartridge and in order to get the cast 200 grain SWC to be reliable, I had to seat it out longer than normal, but didn't seem to hurt anything.

When I first got the hardballer, the extractor wasn't properly fitted. I had to have that fitted, so I let the smith work the whole gun over to make it reliable. Danged shame a gun can't be reliable out of the box like Ruger autos are, but hey, it's an antique design, a little harder to machine fit I reckon. I don't really blame the Hardballer for being a mediocre gun. It's typical of ANY sub $1000 1911 pattern the way I see it. Just look at the path the round takes out of the magazine, up that ramp, across the transition from frame to barrel, then into the chamber at a rather steep angle. It's a great platform for building a gun if you have several G notes to put into it the way I see it, lots of improved aftermarket parts out there to build it with, but out of the box you'd better be content with having some minor smithing done and feeding it hard ball. Guess that's why the call it "the hardballer", eh?

I sold that Auto Ordinance because the Hardballer shot better. I got the Hardballer stolen, took the insurance money and bought a Ruger P90. I've never longed for that AMT POS since. The Ruger groups 2" or better and has never bobbled on anything I've fed it. It goes bang every time and puts 'em where I look. Don't get no better'n that. I really prefer the DA system, too.
Click to expand...
 
Working Man... what would your intended purpose for the gun be? And why have you decided to buy a long-slide model? I honestly think that for general use, a Government length is a better choice, that's why I'm wondering why you want a long slide. If long range target use is your primary purpose I can see how the long slide might be of some use, otherwise, why go there?
 
DHart said:
Working Man... what would your intended purpose for the gun be? And why have you decided to buy a long-slide model? I honestly think that for general use, a Government length is a better choice, that's why I'm wondering why you want a long slide. If long range target use is your primary purpose I can see how the long slide might be of some use, otherwise, why go there?
Click to expand...

It wont be a CCW (I have a HK .40C & .45 USP for that) but rather a
range/fun gun. I have always liked the look of the long slide and want
something I can customize over time. I also would like a pistol that I can
use for more distance target shooting without breaking the bank as I'll be
tossing my tax return only at it.

MCgunner

Thanks for the information, I've heard like issues with various 1911 types
(as well as good out of the box) but am willing to do the work over time to
get it just right and customized.... this would be a project gun of sorts. I
have never had to do any work on my other pistols (Ruger, Beretta, & H&K)
so if I did this will be a first for me but for this one I would not mind.
 
MCgunner said:
Reference the AMT Hardballer thread...:banghead:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=176023
Click to expand...

AMT Hardballers were horrible. No wonder why you don't like the 1911's. I had a Hardballer...briefly. They really don't feed HP well, hence the name 'Hardballer'. You would need to adjust the feed ramp and throat. Not worth it. The barrel link fell off of mine when I broke it down to clean it. The pin was not "tacked" in right. They had a lot of problems.
 
VinnyT said:
AMT Hardballers were horrible. No wonder why you don't like the 1911's. I had a Hardballer...briefly. They really don't feed HP well, hence the name 'Hardballer'. You would need to adjust the feed ramp and throat. Not worth it. The barrel link fell off of mine when I broke it down to clean it. The pin was not "tacked" in right. They had a lot of problems.
Click to expand...

Well, I admit to making a mistake buying that one, but the Auto Ordinance wasn't any better. I didn't have that one long at all. The 1911 has issues as a stock, out of the box gun, by design. It's an OLD design. I don't like the feed ramp, rather have a modern barrel integral ramp. The angle at which the magazine feeds is WAY low. Modern gun's cartridges barely need to touch the ramp on the way into the chamber. It's almost a straight shot. Therefore, they're much more reliable. Modern extractor and ejector designs are much easier to manufacture with less hand fitting. All in all, improvements have been made. The Browning Hi Power had many of the improvements, linkless for instance. I also prefer a recoil spring guide.

All of these things can be done to a 1911 to one extent or another to modernize it. The aftermarket is HUGE for the guns, for a reason. They NEED the aftermarked. But, if the intent is to buy a gun to play with, customize, improve, well, I have to say there's no better gun on the market for that, not a handgun anyway! It's fun lookin' through the catalogs trying to decide what bling you want, what internal goodies to buy, this and that. Accurized and worked over trigger, they make fantastic target guns, too. I don't like carrying a 1911, but if you have an H&K, well, that's not the deal. :D If I get another 1911, it'll be for exactly the same reason, to play with and work over, a range gun with personal touches. I will try to find one a little better fitted than that POS AMT, though.:rolleyes:
 
Working Man said:
Don't get me wrong I love my H&K USP .45 (never a problem of any kind) but it lacks the class of the 1911A1.
Click to expand...

I'd be happy to take your classless USP off of you for the right price.

-and-

You can have all my nineteen eleven nightmares free of charge (if you want them)!
 
thorazine said:
I'd be happy to take your classless USP off of you for the right price.

-and-

You can have all my nineteen eleven nightmares free of charge (if you want them)!
Click to expand...

Oh no, it has a whole nother style to it that I can appreciate. :evil:
 
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