Bye SA Micro Compact, hello SP101

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mick53

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Hi guys,

Bought a NIB Springfield Armory Micro Compact about a month ago.

On average I was having about 1 FTE out of 10 for the first 300rds or so which I consider an adequate break-in period. I tried a lot of different types of 230gr in it, no difference.

Brought it to a trusted "smith who knows 1911s well. He polished the breech face, feed ramp, deburred it where it needed it and so forth. He gave it a good work over.

I picked it up after he had done the work and took it to the range that afternoon. There was no real difference. It kept on stovepiping on me.

I went back to the 'smith and told him nothing had changed.

And here's what he told me. "Look, I did the best I could. But the big ol' 1911 was designed around that big ol' cartridge. Now everybody is redesigning that pistol to make it smaller. When you get a good one, you get a good one but when you get one that ain't right, there real hard to make right. Good luck with it."

Of course I had the option of sending it back to SA and hassling over who would pay the shipping and waiting 3 weeks or a month to get it back. But no matter what, I figured I'd always have some nagging doubt in the back of my mind about the pistol.

So I traded it in for a 2 1/4" barrel Ruger SP101. It took the SA plus $75 bucks to get it. I lost some dough but what's piece of mind worth when it comes to your carry piece, right?

I also gave up 2 rounds; the SA held 7rds with one in the chamber, the Ruger holds 5. The "one shot stop" stats give the edge to the .357 but I figure it's like the difference of being run over by a big Lincoln or a big Cadillac, in other words, there ain't much difference.

I took the SP101 to the range tonght and I'm very happy. Folks will tell you they are built like a tank. They ain't lying to you.

I shot some .38spl, some 38spl +P and finally a lot of .357 ranging from 110gr to 158gr. The recoil is not the "snappy" muzzle flipping type. It's more of a straight push back like a 1911.

Follow up shots were very manageable. I was very surprised and pleased with the lack of bad ass recoil. I was expecting a lot worse and it was really nothing.

I was shooting at regular slow fire pistol targets all night and used a silhouette target for my last 10rds. It was Remington full power 158gr stuff shot from 21 feet, all double action. i wasn't doing any rapid fire by any means, just steady pulls on the trigger.
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I was all smiles walking out of the range. First time out? Hell yeah! And I can't wait to spend some more time at the range with this revolver. I literally couldn't be happier with it.

Now I love the idea and concept if the micro compact 1911s and one day I'll probably buy another but I don't know if I'll ever carry one for self-defense.

Take care,

Mike
 
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I had a couple of Compacts that wouldn't run on 230 But ran like a champ on 185 gr ammo.
I would have done more befor trading for a revolver And a Ruger no less:D
 
I had a couple of Compacts that wouldn't run on 230 But ran like a champ on 185 gr ammo.
I would have done more befor trading for a revolver And a Ruger no less

michaelt,

i think the firearm owner should dictate what the firearm shoots, not the other way around.

You said you had a couple of Compacts the wouldn't run on 230.gr. So youobviously tried the round in these pistols and they wouldn't function with it.

why would you allow the pistol to dictate to you what it wanted to shoot?
you could have sent it back to the manufacturer, I suppose. Who made these compacts?

And what's wrong with Rugers? I've never heard of a Ruger chipping metal off the feed ramp and frame under normal firing conditions like that Bersa Ultra Compact .45 we discussed on the Bersa Talk forum.

Mike
 
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Good choice! Nothing at all wrong with "Five for sure." ;)

It does suck that you lost some $$, but you're saving yourself a lot of heartache in the long run, oh yeah and no chasing brass either. :D
 
majic,

I ordered two new mags from Springfield and the same problem occurred with each of them.

Mike
 
Go with what works. With the level of unreliability displayed by that pistol, it is little more than a bludgeon or a throwing object.

There are other subcompact autoloaders virtually the same size as the little Ruger that do work, but again, you know this one works.
 
A freind has a Kimber compact that is unreliable also. He paid over $700.00 for the gun and hinted at me buying it. I passed. I don't like the 45 acp.

He bought a Ruger 101 with a bobbed hammer and carries everywhere. He cleans stores at night and has it on him at all times. Its totaly reliable. Its also what i told him to get in the first place.
 
The SP101 is a great gun, but why don't you try a full size 1911?

I don't think a full size 1911 is any harder to carry concealed than a 3 inch version.
 
I have a COLT Enhanced Officers .45 ACP in S.S. & a SPRINGFEILD ARMORY Micro-Compact in .45 ACP. Both were bought new and I have never had a problem with either of them, but my wife produced a failure to return to battery in my colt and my twin brother produced a stove-pipe in my Micro-Compact. These two failures in two different guns by two different people are seperated by more than 15 yrs. but they share one thing, neither one of them had ever fired a compact .45 ACP. My wife had never fired a gun before and my twin brother is a revolver shooter. Thease guns requier a FERM GRIP. They do not tolerate "limp wristing" I'm not trying to knock anyones shooting skills, all I'm saying is that I think this fact gets over looked & the compact .45 ACP. guns get more bad press than they deserve. Shure there are bad ones out there, just like any other type of gun, but I think the fact that a FERM GRIP is required needs to be said more often than it is on the gun boards. :)
 
Itty Bitty .45 ACP pistols ...

Big cartridge (bullet) ... small package (gun).

Now, factor in some potential ammunition sensitivity, and any potential amount of inherent shooter-related issues (recoil sensitivity, grip technique, strength, locked wrist, etc.) ...

Not exactly surprising that the combination doesn't offer everyone the level of functional reliability they may desire.

I've seen a number of folks experience functioning issues when shooting the smaller 1911-style pistols, as well as a couple of other styles. Very small .45's do seem to tend to demand 'more' of the user/owner than similar size platforms in other calibers ...

The Ruger SP-101 is a very decent compact revolver, all things considered.

Personally, having carried .357 Magnum revolvers as issued weapons back before we transitioned over to semiauto pistols, I've always thought the revolver platform has been receiving less attention than it deserved for a personal defensive weapon.

I've also developed the personal opinion that learning to safely, properly and accurately shoot a Double Action revolver helps develop and build a great foundation when it comes to handgun skills.

When it comes to revolvers, I've been limiting myself to small-framed revolvers in recent years (J-frames & my SP-101), leaving my larger framed revolvers in the safe.

So, when I took the opportunity to do some extended shooting with a nice M66 2 1/2" over a couple of range sessions, using various 125gr & 158gr full-power loads, the controllability & accuracy of the medium-framed .357 Magnum revolver came right back to me as a pleasant experience. Why did I ever stop shooting and carrying them? :D

But then that's just my opinion, and I grew up shooting Single Action Magnum revolvers a bit earlier than I started shooting many single action pistols.

I look at semiauto pistols as working tools, for the most part (notwithstanding the pleasures of range/leisure/sporting enjoyment).

Granted, I find the heft, balance, ergonomics, controllability and inherent practical accuracy of a properly produced full-size 1911-style pistol to be an excellent example of the breed ... for me. I own a few of them. I also own a couple of small .45's, and several 9mm & .40 S&W 'working' defensive' pistols, as well.

I just find the inherent qualities of DA/DAO revolvers to be something I really enjoy, appreciate and find useful for personal defensive purposes.

I've always wanted to pick up a 3 1/16" SP-101 to go along with my DAO 2 1/4" Quad-Ported SP-101.
 
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I do own 2 full sized 1911s, an SA "loaded" model" and a 1991 Colt (NRM) Series 80. Both are great pistols and function like that proverbial swiss watch.

I was always very aware of how I was shooting the Micro Compact. I'm convinced the failure was the pistol's not mine. I guess I just didn't get lucky with this one. But what's done is done and I'm real happy with the SP101.

Mike
 
Good decision. SA has great customer service, but when you get a bad one...you REALLY get a bad one. I had one that had just about everything replaced on it before I finally gave up an sold it. Tons of people will post comments about how great their gun is or how reliable their micro whatever is, but that wont change how poorly yours performed.

The fact is that when you change an existing platform that can already be finicky you can be asking for problems. IMHO, the only compacts or subcompacts I will buy are those built from the ground up on a platform designed as a compact or subcompact. There is only one company I trust for this (I wont name names), but the smaller the gun the more you have to pay attention to the manufacturer IMO.

Anyway, you made a good decision and dont listen to the tons of posters that will reply telling you how good their whatever is in order to justify their purchase or brand loyalty.
 
I was always very aware of how I was shooting the Micro Compact. I'm convinced the failure was the pistol's not mine. I guess I just didn't get lucky with this one. But what's done is done and I'm real happy with the SP101.

Yeah, not everyone reports being fortunate in the way of getting a small version of a 1911-style .45 that functions as well as the regular size versions.

One of our guys just got rid of another brand's 3" 1911-style pistol after giving the manufacturer two attempts to get it functioning to his satisfaction. He went to another company's 3" 1911-style model ... wanting to remain with the short platform ... and so far reports that it's exhibited the desired reliability during the first 500 rounds.

I own .45 pistols of traditional double action and single action designs which include barrel lengths of 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4.25, 4.5 & 5".

I fully trust the original model 3.75" 4513TSW I personally own, as well as the newer one I'm issued ... and I trust my 5" 1911-style pistols. For smaller pistol platforms I prefer 9mm, followed by some .40 S&W models ...

Congrats on your SP-101. Ruger makes a good quality, affordable, reliable and durable revolver.
 
"Look, I did the best I could. But the big ol' 1911 was designed around that big ol' cartridge. Now everybody is redesigning that pistol to make it smaller. When you get a good one, you get a good one but when you get one that ain't right, there real hard to make right. Good luck with it."
Ain't that what Tuners been trying to tell us. :evil:
 
eh - I dunno....:scrutiny:

I have a 5" 1911, 4" 1911, 3" 1911 - all in .45ACP - & a 2-1/4" SP101 in .357MAG.

All of them work as they should, & I have no hesitation in carrying any of them.

Guess I'm just lucky... :cool:
 
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