Opinions on Springfield Loaded Champion

[MikeJ]

I recently posted a thread about customizing my Colt Commander but just took a look at the 4" stainless Springfield Champion, the loaded version as they refer to it. This gun seems to have everything I would want in a 1911 and I really liked the look of it. I would like to hear from anyone that has any experience with it in terms of reliability, quality etc. Thanks, Mike

 

[Deepdiver]

FWIW - I have one, and I like it a lot. Seems to be very reliable, as well as accurate. Paid just under $700 NIB for mine. Have several hundred rounds thru it, without any problems - so it is barely broken in yet. I will let you know for sure after about 2000 rounds (but I suspect it will just get better).

 

[denfoote]

Don't have the Champion, but I do have the Government loaded. Very very reliable and it is probably the most accurate pistol I own!! Of course, those big Novak sights are a welcome feast for my poor, middle aged, bifocaled eyes!!!

 

[Mute]

I like mines.

 

[Country Boy]

I have a stainless loaded champion. I like it, am not planning on trading it, but I have had occasional jams. It seems like it has a slightly small diameter link pin, because it will jam where I can't rack the slide. I need to have it looked into. My full size SA is great. I like the series 70 style opposed to the series 80. It doesn't have a bushing system FYI, it has a flared barrel.

 

[frankie357]

I like my Champion very much. Mine's about the same size as my series 80 Colt Officer model. Reliable and accurate for me , at least, out of the box. The loaded is the way to go IMHO. I shoot S&B fmj for practice. My defense load is Federal Hi Shock Personal, it really likes those. The gun has given me no problems at all. It is a very tight gun.

 

[Tamara]

Other than a seeming inability to deliver a pistol from the factory with a properly-tensioned extractor, I haven't had a lick of trouble out of either of the two Springfield Loadeds I have. (Wait... I think the Stainless Loaded I have broke a leg on the ejector after the first 250 rounds or so. Kept shooting, but the gunsmith replaced it when it went in for a large batch of custom work that week.)

 

[MishMash]

MikeJ - I own a copy of the SA Champion. This was my first 1911 and it is also my primary carry gun. My Champion is very reliable. Will shoot anything I have fed into it. I have used 230 gr FMJ and JHP along with 200 gr LSWC. NO jams, no fuss, no muss. Just load it up and go.
I chose the Champion due in great part to the features contained on the gun. Rather than take a mil spec version and add all of these features on my own I decided to go with a "factory" gun.
I have replaced the extractor and slide stop due mostly to my own demand. My gun did require extractor tuning before I switched it. The extractor and slide stop I have now were "drop-in" and required no effort on my part to properly run. All of my magazines worked after the slide stop was changed.

Regards

 

[Prodigalshooter]

Mine worked fine for about 6 months then developed extraction problems (as noted by others above), I sent it to Springfield and it's been fine since.
My full size never hiccuped once, I'll be picking up my WWII SA this coming Friday, we'll see how that one does, I've had good reports from other's who've gotten them.