I love my Springfield Mil-Spec 1911!

[PirateRadio]

I finally got a hold of my Springfield Mil-Spec 1911 after waiting almost 3 weeks!

(I had a FFL transfer for a S&W 910 on the same paperwork. It took them almost a week and a half to fax their FFL to the place i bought the S&W from and another week for the S&W to ship.)

What a fun gun to shoot! Although I finally realize what you guy are talking about when you say the 1911 "bites". I had trouble making it through 50 rounds before my hand started getting really sore.

It did have two FTEs. One was so bad that I had to grab a screw driver and pry the casing out of the gun. The guy at the range told me that after about 200 rounds the gun will loosen up and I won't have that problem anymore. Does that sound right?

My only real complaint about the gun is that taking it apart for cleaning and then putting it back together is a total pain in the ass. It took me like 45 minutes to figure out how to get it back together.

 

[bluto]

Now you know. Mil Specs are just fantastic guns. They shoot straight and are very reliable (all mine have been anyway).

Two FTE's is a bit unusual IMO. Did you field strip the pistol and clean and well lubricate it before your trip to the range? From the factory, pistols often come with very heavy cosmoline like goo that can affect function. I always make sure that the barrel, rails, etc. are nice and slick and I never have had any function problems. Clean the magazines also as they can be full of the sticky protective grease. I use TW 25B and BreakFree but there are lots of quality lubricants out there.

Take down on a 1911 can be a bit tricky the first couple of times but it gets easier and faster. The Mil Spec is an excellent choice.

For a bit more on you new 1911 check out this review:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Critical Look at Springfield Mil Spec.htm

 

[PirateRadio]

Yeah, I gave it a good cleaning before it went to the range.

I was using Magtech .45ACP if that makes a difference. It was the first time I've used that brand in any of my guns.

Thanks for the link!

 

[PirateRadio]

Double post!

 

[Walkalong]

The guy at the range told me that after about 200 rounds the gun will loosen up and I won't have that problem anymore. Does that sound right?

It should not take 200 rounds to "loosen up", but aside from that debate. I don't think loosening up will help an extractor problem. If it persists call Springfield. They are great and will take care of any problem you may have.

 

[MT GUNNY]

Are you using 230 grainers?

 

[PirateRadio]

Walkalong- Hmmm, thats not good. Think it might be an ammo issue?

lucas_flesher- Yeah, Magtech 230gr FMJs.

 

[Walkalong]

Think it might be an ammo issue?

Doesn't hurt to try something else, but I have never had "ammo" probems in guns. Then again, I have not bought factory .45 ammo going on 25 years either. If it is the extractor, it will be an easy fix.

Post in the Gunsmithing section. They will help you out.

 

[bluto]

I doubt it's an ammo problem. I've shot thousands of rounds of MagTech without a hitch. If it persists then it is most likely an extractor problem, but I'd try different magazines before deciding just n case the mag is somehow interfering with the extraction.

In any case, SA is a great manufacturer. If you have to send it back I'd do it through the dealer.

I use Novak 8 rd. nickel mags exclusively in all my 1911's including my Les Baer and SA Competition. They have performed flawlessly.

 

[umc180gr]

I like my mil-spec too but it sure likes to throw at least one empty case in my face out of each clip. Bounces off my safety glasses off my hat etc. I guess that is what the unflared ejection port gets you.

 

[jaysouth]

If you have a SA without lowered ejection port it is not a Mil-Spec.

Mil-spec has the lowered port and large, very usable sights. Sounds like you have A GI.

 

[Tom Fury]

The straight up, ejection in your face thing...

...is an ejector problem, not an extractor or port problem; usually cured by tweaking the ejector to throw right. Or installing Commander style ejector and tweaking to throw right (See Kuhnhausen). Have had one ejected straight up that landed between my face and my glasses; that was fun, and very motivating for me to find out why instead of just accepting the guns' quirks.
Happy to see you've discovered the joys of the SA MS.
I'll buy another in a heartbeat. Yours does sound like GI tho, as per above.
Cheers, TF