Got a new springfield mil spec today,

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

silent one

Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2003
Messages
312
Location
NORTH EAST
Just picked up my new springfield mil spec this morning. Brought it home , field stripped , cleaned and oiled it. Off to the range even though the temp here is 2 degrees above 0. Should be interesting to see if the lube turns to molasses. At any rate I'll post a range report when I get home and let the icicles melt. Till then, be safe.

SILENT ONE
 
Congratulations on your purchase their Silent One;
and I'm quite sure you will enjoy that nice Spring-
field mil spec. Hope its not too cold for you to try
it out? But, with the temp +2 above 0, I believe
I would have too wait; cuz I'm getting old, and
those kind'a temps don't set well with me any
more! Enjoy~

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
Ala Dan,
Thanks for the response. You're right I do enjoy the springfield. And yes, it was cold. My range is in the boonies, and pretty much wide open, so it gets pretty darned cold this time of year. The temp there was -5 degrees.
Well on to the range report. I set the target 50' down range, loaded the mag that came with the gun, [7 rounder], took aim and put all 7 rounds right of the 5" shoot & see target at around 4 o'clock. All were out of the black. I ran a patch down the bore, being this is a new gun and I wanted to break it in properly. I reloaded the same mag and proceeded to shoot a group just inside the black at 3 o'clock. Ran the patch again. this time I used a Chip McCormick 10 rounder. This time the group was in the black, close to center at 3 o'clock with a couple of fliers. Patched it again, loaded a Wilson 10 rounder and shot a pretty good group, all but 2 in the black in and around the 10 ring. I went back and forth using all 3 mags for the rest of the session. All of them worked perfectly. As the gun wormed up and was breaking in a little, the groups were becomming more consistant.
I shot a total of 150 rounds, one box of S&B, another box of Federal American Eagle. Both boxes were 230 gr fmj. The last box were hand load semi wad cutters. All rounds went through the gun without the slightest problem. The only part of the gun that takes some getting used to is the low mount combat sights. they're small, and the front blade is thin,and the notch in the rear sight is small making it a little harder to get a good sight picture. Than again, this is a reproduction of the WW2 45, and this is the sight that was on it then. All in all, I think this is hell of a shooter and a gun that will only get better as it's broken in.
Tomorrow I plan to white dot the rear sight and apply some orange on the front sight to help with sight acquisition. I do this to all my sights that don't have night sights, I find it helps tremendously. I will also cratex the feed ramp even though the machining is really good on this gun. It's just another one of those things I do to all my firearms. Then I'll put a set of my hand made wood grips on it to set it off from the croud. That should do it, until I think of something else to do to it. Ahhhhhh it's tough when your a .45 ahaulic, it grabs you and won't let go. But what the hey, there are a lot worse things we could be doing like paying the mortgage, or buying food, etc, etc, etc.
By the way, I really envy you people who live in warm climates. I'm just now starting to feel my fingers and nose. For awhile I thought I left them at the range. Not to worry, they're forecasting a heat wave for Monday, 20 degrees. I'll probably be at the range in my tee shirt and shorts grabbin some rays. Yeah right. at any rate,
Good luck and be safe

SILENT ONE
 
Well, it's 11 degrees Farenheight here, so I can't exactly claim this to be the sunny and warm South! Congrats on the new 1911, sounds like you got a winner!
 
A very detailed excellent report, Silent One!:)

As you know, I shoot a .45 caliber SIG-SAUER P220A;
but, I have experience with several variations of the
Springfield as well. Funny thing, I've NEVER seen or
heard of a problem with their firearms. They seem
to run just like an expensive Swiss watch :uhoh:,
by never missing a beat! ;)

As to the cold, even down here in "Old Dixie" its
been bone chilling. Temp was suppose to dip to
around +22F last night; and rise to around 50F
today? I use to shoot in all kind's of weather
rain, t-storms, snow, ice, etc; but now that I'm
a former LEO, I can't make myself get out
in that mess if it isn't necessary! :rolleyes: :uhoh: :D

Keep up the good work my friend; and try to stay warm.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
Wow, you're all in a heat zone. It was down to -10 to -20 last night. guess I should take out the AC now huh?
What finish did you get? How's the fit of the parts? Just asking 'cause I'm likely buying one of the Springfield mil-specs (parkerized) for my father-in-law. If I left it to him, he'd buy cheap Argentine copy, so I'll make sure he gets a decnet piece instead.
 
Ala Dan,
Thanks, I appreciate the feed back. It's people like you that keep these forums going in the right direction.
Today I white dotted the rear sight and coated the front with orange. Now I can see the target area much clearer. I also cratexed the feed ramp. It looks like a mirror now. Also put on my grips that I made from blood wood,and that really set off the looks of the firearm. I'm not so much concerned with keeping the original look as I am with personalizing it. Lets face it, it's not an original, it's a re-pop. If I paid 3000.00 for an original, I wouldn't touch it, but for 400.00 bucks anything goes.
You were correct when you said you don't hear much negative talk about Springfield. Come to think of it, neither do I. As far as I'm concerned, they make one hell of a firearm, and I don't think anyone could do much better in the price catagory either.
By the way, your no more of a ''former'' LEO, than I am a''former'' Marine. It's in our blood, and flows silently through our veins until called to duty.
Until then my friend, Be Safe

SILENT ONE
 
Blackhawk 73,
Yeah, you can take the AC out of the window now, I don't think you'll need it until the end of Feb when the temp up there gets into the 20 degree range. I know it gets cold up yonder. We owned a camp in the Dover Foxcroft area for years. It's beautiful country up there. I .can still see the salmon swimming up stream from Sebec lake.
Well on to the Spring field Mil Spec. All I can say is ''wow''. This is probably one of the best values on the 45 market today. The one I got is a gray black parkerized version with low mount G.I. sights [which takes some getting used to], and black grips. You can read the range report I posted to give you an idea of how it performed for me. To say the least i'm impressed. It's not like my Kimbers, but it's darned close. And for 400.00 I personally couldn't ask for, nor do I expect more from it. It's just well made. Fit and finish are excellent, trigger breakes crisply with little take up and it points naturally. All I can say is to try one, I think you'll like it.
Good Luck, and be safe

SILENT ONE
 
Congrats on the new Mil Spec & good report ;) Personally, I too would have waited for warmer weather or gone indoors!!!!
 
Cold storage..er...shooting

Nice range report!!
I can't imagine shooting in tempratures that cold!!
I went shooting at my nice air conditioned, yes air conditioned, range yesterday!! :D
It got up to 80 degrees here!! :neener:
Right now, we have the windows and front door open to let in some fresh air!!
 

Attachments

  • no snow!!!.jpg
    no snow!!!.jpg
    95 KB · Views: 103
10 Ring,
I guess i'm one of those guys who just can't wait to test a new firearm. The cold weather was also a pretty good test as to how the Springfield would function under somewhat adverse conditions. Well as you probably read my range report, it worked perfectly. This firearm is definately one for the opposition to contend with IMHO. Not a single malfunction throughout a 150 round session, that's got to tell you something about Springfields' firearms.
It's around 8 P.M. and the temp has reached a balmy 22 degrees. Hopefully tomorrow will be a little warmer. I'll be at the range to test it in the hot weather.
Until then, good luck and Be Safe


SILENT ONE
 
80 Degrees? You suck! I have 2 inches of Ice for a front lawn, and looking out the window I can't even see my dead Subaru because we got a white-out condition right now!
Going shooting on a day like this?
Not unless it's something that really needs to get shot....
 
Denfoote,
You guys in warm climates are just jealous. Now honestly, wouldn't you rather be here putting on 5 layers of clothing, than going out and praying old nelly will start, that is if you don't break the door handle off while trying to get into the car because the damned thing is frozen shut. When you do get in and she hopefully starts, you got to wait till she warms up enough to stay runnin on her own so you can put the heater on full blast. At this point you get out and make a mad dash for the house and hope you don't slip on the ice and break your keaster. Then you gather up all your shooting gear, load it in the car and head for the wide open range, all the while looking for patches of ice on the road that could cause serious damage to ones body, both metal and flesh types. Now I say again,'' wouldn't you rather be here''? Better yet, shouldn't I be saying ''I should be there''. You never know, I may someday be standing next to you on the line at your range. You'll know who I am. I'll be the one with no tan and the frost bitten nose.
Until then, good luck, and be safe


SILENT ONE
 
george,
The nerve of some guys, 80 degrees. They're just jealous. Maybe it's us who are jealous. No it's them, no it's us. Oh Lord, I can't believe this, my thought patterns are going numb from the cold. He had to insert that picture. I'm shutting down now, all this is getting to be too much for this old frost bitten duffer.
Until then, Be SAFE

SILENT ONE
 
My Father got a Springfield recently and did have a few problems....a trip to the gunsmith and $90 and it's 100%.....the smith said things were actually "too tight"....I guess he loosened it up and did a trigger job....anyway it's now 100%...as of 1/1/04 anyway....we shot in my yard....we were even mixing hollowpoints and fmj of all kinds in the same magazine and no problems....Dad's happy.......BTW it was bellow zero here too....I feel your pain.....:cool:
 
RANGE REPORT #2
Just got back from the range. The Springfield didn't miss a heart beat. I went through 250 rounds of 230 gr FMJ. It snowed last night, around 3 " or so. The temp was 34 degrees, so it was more comfortable to shoot.
I loaded 3 mags, same ones as the last time, put a 10 rounder in the chute,took aim and put the first round dead center fo the 10 ring. I took aim again and the round was totally off the black. This continued for another 48 rounds. I was all over the map. I think I got over confident with that first round and I got put in my place real fast. I decided to take a break and went in the club house and had a coffee. That's what I needed. When I went back to the line I was more settled down, took my time, and started shooting much better. In fact it started getting a little boring after 100 rounds or so. 90% of the rounds were in the black, with a ragged hole in and around the 10 ring. All shots were fired from the off hand position 2 hand hold. The target was at 50' for all shots fired.
The Springer was awesome. It worked perfectly, same as the lest time. The coated sights helped considerablyand the new grips seemed to give me better control. The only thing I'm considering is to change the main spring housing. All of my other 45's have the flat housings, The bowed one on this firearm seems to put pressure on the palm of my hand. After I finished shooting, I felt a little painful in the palm area. This never happened with the flat main spring housings. It's a minor thing, and some shooters prefer the bowed one. I guess it's all in what you like.
I put 400 rounds through it so far and all I can say is, ''If your in the market for very reliable,well built, and accurate 45, go out and get one.'' I seriously doubt that you'll be unhappy with it. By the way, if you do get one, run a patch down the bore every 10 rounds for the first 500 rounds, it really does make a differance during the critical break in period IMHO.
Good Luck, and Be Safe

SILENT ONE
 
Gabeodog'
Please read todays range report above. I think you'll be interested in it.
All I can say is wow. By the way, Springfield offers a version with the Hi Viz sights on what seems to be the same model if your interested. The cost is about the same. They are a little larger and might help with sight picture. Just a thought.
Good Luck and Be Safe

SILENT ONE.
 
Tony B,
Can you imagine a firearm being too tight.? A lot of shooters pay serious money to get firearms that are tight. Normally that's a sign of a well fitted piece. I guess some times they can have glitches, just like anything else. For me personally, tight is better. I can always remove a bur, or polish the slide rails to help loosen it up a little. It's more difficult to tighten up a sloppily machined firearm than to do as I stated. At any rate, I hope your dad is as happy with his Springfield as I am with mine.
Good Luck and Be Safe

SILENT ONE
 
Sarge 48,
Ditto, It is one hell of a firearm isn't it.? This is my first Springfield pistol, and all I can say is it won't be my last. I do have an M-1A Springfield. It's a pre ban with the suppressor and lug. It has an original M-2 bi pod, hi cap mags and sniper scope. I also have the original Winchester sniper barrel that was on it when it was manufactured. Everything on it is national match now. That too is one beautiful rifle.
Good luck with your Springer and enjoy.
Be Safe

SILENT ONE
 
Silent One, thank you for the range report and congratulations on
the purchase of your new Springfield Mil-Spec.

During your shoot, did you experience any hammer bite? Does
the size of your hand affect whether you incur hammer bite?
 
Ala Dan,
Thanks for the positive reply, it's appreciated.
Now, what's with the Sig.? You had better start using it before it grows that green funky stuff all over it. It's much too nice a piece to have a dasterdly thing like that happen to it. So, I recommend you take that baby out to the range tomorrow, load her up with high octane, and burn up a bunch of stuff. I find it clears ones head and puts things in proper perspective. Not to mention the ol gal won't think your neglecting her. But most of all, it's a hell of a lot fun.
Thanks again my friend, and Be Safe

SILENT ONE
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top