I'm contemplating the purchase of a Springer GI mil-spec.

Status
Not open for further replies.
E

Erik Jensen

Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2002
Messages
523
Location
Detroit. um... Dogg.
anything else similar that I should consider instead? as a background, I'll say that I don't want any 1911 that has the following: front slide serrations, extended slide release, extended grip safety, commander hammer, ambi safeties, extended safeties, FLGR, etc. I just want a plain-jane, no-frills 1911 that goes bang when I pull the trigger, and isn't going to empty my bank account. I was also looking at the Colt 1991A1 or the standard Mil-Spec, but I can't see anything about them that would make me want to spend the extra money. any other choices that I've overlooked? anyone had any problems with the GI Mil-Spec? thoughts?
 
The Springfield GI model is a good pistol if you think you will keep it in a GI configuration.

If you think you will end up modifying it a bit in the future I'd go for a Regular Mil-Spec to get the flared and lowered ejection port. The taller sights on the Regular are a bit easier to use as well.

I have had no problems with either of my Mil-Specs. They are good pistols IMHO.
 
was also looking at the Colt 1991A1 or the standard Mil-Spec, but I can't see anything about them that would make me want to spend the extra money.
Click to expand...

At about $140 more, it's not really a fair comparison, but the Colt smokes the Springer mil-spec. It's got a real blued finish with polished flats, much better parts, nice wood grips, terrific barrel throat, made in USA, and so on. It has none of the stuff you don't want, and if you ever decide to get custom work done, the basic NRM Colt has become the choice of many top smiths as a base gun.

Colt's not perfect across the board--I wouldn't bother with their XSE models, which are supposed to compete with the "loaded" 1911s out there--but their basic NRMs are a great buy.
 
Hate to be the only anti- Springfield but I will give you fair warning.They have the slowist rudist customer service,they don't know what parts fit which of their products.

In my dealings with them I was told by their own head of customer service and the head of the service dept the following.The 1911 pattern guns are made in Brazil with parts from numerous suppliers in Brazil.If your gun needs warrenty work done in the USA the parts used are bought from whatever supplier the bought from this month and there are many,not the same manufacturers as the OEM Brazil parts.They are mil spec but do not use common firing pins as all other 1911 manufacturers,they us only the springfield ones no enterchangability there.

What does this mean?Half a dozen incorrect extractors that don't fit the gun and them telling me my slide needed to be machined because it was the trouble,this besides the fact I had explained to them it functioned fine with all othe extractors "barrowed"from my other guns.

Get the Colt ,the $100 more for less aggravation for a American made gun is the better deal.CWatson
 
I bought the milspec 1911a1 last year and I am very pleased with it.

They are mil spec but do not use common firing pins as all other 1911 manufacturers,they us only the springfield ones no enterchangability there.
Click to expand...

Thats because they are using a titanium firing pin, so that they can pass the various communist drop tests in Komifornia, and Mass.?, without resorting to the schwarz safety or the 80 series fp safety.

Like I said mine is very accurate and reliable.

A very good deal for the money, and unlike colt they do know how to put on a front site, and an ejector, so it does not come off.
 
I've also got a Springfield Milspec and I am beginning to enjoy it very much. I had to tune the extractor out of the box, but since then have had no problems.

Some other options could be Rock Island Armory and Sestima. Saw a Rock Island at the local gun show for $329. Not bad, looked in good shape as well.

I have had great experience with Springfields customer service.

Good Luck hunting.
 
Shot my Mil Spec just the other day.

Picked it up, gently used (shot maybe once) for $265.

The magazine was absolute crap, and was replaced rather quickly with a couple of Chip McCormicks.

I put a set of Pachmayer wrap-around grips on it.

The biggest problem with it is that it smashes or tears about 10% of my brass to the point where it's unusable.

But given that I have about 5,000 pieces of brass now days, I don't much care.
 
I'm thinking about getting a Springfield mil-spec also. Does anyone know if they have one in stainless? And if so, what the cost?
 
Beretta92F,

I have a Springfirld WWII GI Milspec and it really is a great value. So far no complains at all. HOWEVER, if I didn't already have a "nicer" 1911, I'd get the regular Milspec instead. The sights on the regular milspec really are MUCH better, IMHO. And having the lowered ejection port can't hurt.
 
Master Blaster,

My firing pin is not Titanium,just a different size.As far as parts falling off Colts,I have been lucky and none have fallen off any of mine in 15 years.

On the subject of ejectors,some Spriengfields are not pinned in but "bonded"with a locktite like compound.

All companies let lemons slide through from time to time but after my experiance I have found through forums like this,GB,and the 1911 forum that Springfield lets through more than most.They also do not deal with the ones they let slip in a fast or professional manner.

If you or anyone else has got one and have had no trouble great wish everyone else was as lucky but they are not.After my troubles with them more than one person I tried to steer away from their products bought them and had trouble.One poor soul I recommended not to, bought two SA products a Loaded stainless and a XD and both had to go back for service.Slide locked up on the 1911 and barrel trouble with the XD.How was he treated?I don't know but if he reads this post maybe he will chim in.I do believe not to long ago he was selling them all off and going Glock.


Good luck on any choice you make,CWatson
 
If it has "real" GI sights, get something else, or plan to change them and you'll shoot a lot better.
 
I thinks SA pays for shipping both ways on repairs, from what I have seen/heard they have better then average quality control/ customer service.
 
As an alternative, SOG is selling the Rock Island Armory milspec .45 for $277. Mine's over 500rds and 100% reliable w/everything I've tried (Wolf, Winchester, Federal EFMJ). Good fit, finish & trigger right out of the box, accurate & reliable, hardchromed bbl, no MIM/plastic parts or 2-piece bbls, what's not to like for $277?
Tomac
 
But the Rock Island doesn't say Springfield Armory :neener:

Seriously. I am thinking of a quantity buy of the Mil-Spec for family training/arsenal. I think that torture test thread is telling. Quite frankly, I was also looking at the >$1,000 crowd, some up to $3,000. I will probably never use the potential of those. Mil-Spec apparently gets it done. Point and Shooter.
 
Another vote for the standard Mil-Spec. Mine has functioned flawlessly OOB and is very accurate. Matter of fact, so accurate, it makes me look good! :D Mine was accurate OOB, but after a brief break-in period is even more accurate. I also recommend Chip McCormick mags. I have 1 Shooting Star 8 rounder, and actually just ordered another. FWIW, never had any problems with the factory mag though. SA Mil-Spec: Great gun for the money! :cool:
 
Just went thru this in May/June, and bought the Colt. The Springfield is nice, but I liked the Colt better. First off, the Colt felt better in the hand, probably due to the Springfield having the thicker front strap. Colt is using the best steel on the market right now. Less use of MIM. The trigger on the Series 80 is just as good as Series 70 type 1911's. And if you should decide you don't want the 1911 anymore (yeah right) the Colt will have higher resale value.
 
I just recently got two of the WWII mil specs. While they are the same gun, they are different. The first has the blocky Springfield contour frame while the second has the more Colt contoured frame. The first has a great trigger, was very smooth, and shoots great. The second was not quite so nice. The trigger was real heavy, about twice that of the first. Some nit wit took an etching pen and carved the last three digits of the serial number into the underside of the slide, and pretty deep too. This caused the disconnector to drag heavily when the slide moved across it. About 10 minutes with a stone solved that for the most part. I figured I'd pull the trigger and see if I cleaned it up if I couldnt get it a little better. These guns both have the new "lock" in the mainspring housing. When I knocked the pin out and pulled the drift out, the housing about flew off the gun. There is no pin holding the spring in the housing. Now I was thinking another nit wit, or maybe the same nit wit with the etching pen, didnt have a pin and put it together anyway. So I call Brownells and get the pin, and while I'm at it, get a new cap as the one in there is funky. I'm figuring that this might help the trigger, and it did, by quite a bit. Now, someone else on another board tells me that the lock cant have the pin in there to work and after thinking about it, and looking at the other gun, which also doesnt have the pin(I looked but didnt take it apart yet) I'm thinking that the funky cup and lock work to hold the spring in for removal when the lock is set. When its not on, its not captured in the housing. The lock doesnt work with the new cup and pin in there, so I guess the funky cup is part of the lock system. I guess the trigger on the other gun is just better than this one. Anyway, now I have one with a lock and one without. These will probably be the last Sprinfields I do buy. I had a lot of trouble with a Loaded model a little while back and swore I wouldnt buy another Springfield after that till these came along. I think I'm going to stick with the Colts from now on. Now, if Colt will just get off the cheap kick and go back to all steel parts! Jeez! It never ends!! :D
 
These will probably be the last Sprinfields I do buy. I had a lot of trouble with a Loaded model a little while back and swore I wouldnt buy another Springfield after that till these came along.
Click to expand...

You want me to take those nasty Springfields off your hands?

They're so bad, I won't be able to give you much (I'm sure you understand why, now) but I can help you recover some of your wasted money. :evil:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

BUGUDY
  • Locked
Is there a SA 1911 GI mil spec and 1911 A1 GI.mil shpec?.
Replies
1
Views
338
j1979
J
D
  • Locked
  • Poll
Springfield 1911A1: GI, Mil Spec, or Loaded?
2
Replies
49
Views
8K
Gruely
G
peacemaker45
  • Locked
  • Poll
Fully loaded, or stripped down? 1911 poll
Replies
17
Views
1K
Eyesac
E
H
  • Locked
Springfield Mil-Spec vs. "Loaded"
Replies
6
Views
3K
hrb02
H
F
  • Locked
Springfield Mil-Spec or WWII GI
2
Replies
25
Views
1K
Z_Infidel
Z
Back
Top