Fly320s
Member
I finally made up my mind. Yesterday I bought a new Springfield 1911-A1 Loaded, like this one: New Gun.
I had been trying to decide between one of the Springfields and a Kimber Tactical or Eclipse for a full size .45. I already have a Kimber Pro Carry .40SW, which I like very much, so I was inclined to buy another Kimber. But after checking features and prices and going to various gun stores to find the guns to compare side by side, I finally chose the Springfield.
The 1911-A1 Loaded won because I like the features it has (ambi safety, mag funnel, steel frame, no front strap and trigger guard checkering) and it was about $50 cheaper than the Kimber Eclipse, which didn’t have those features. The Kimber also has the Series II firing pin block, which I think is unnecessary and a PITA. The Loaded has Springfield’s Integral Locking System (ILS), which is a way to lock the gun by engaging a small locking device in the mainspring housing. Frankly, I don’t want either feature on my gun, but I figure that the ILS mainspring housing can be replaced with a standard housing when I choose. The firing pin block is not removable, as far as I know.
Besides, the Springfield is ‘purty.’
Last night I gave the pistol a thorough inspection and light cleaning in preparation for the range workout today.
So this morning I went for a range session to make sure that the two of us would get along fine. Other than the 40-degree air temperature, it was a great day for shooting. Aren’t they all?
Today’s session consisted of a basic function and reliability check. The gun passed, as it should. I fired 320 rounds through the gun without any failures. [I’ll take this space to say the gun will not feed empty cases, but I don’t consider that a failure] The ammo consisted of Winchester USA in 230gr FMJ (Wal-Mart value pack), 230gr JHP, and 185gr FMJ. Also along for testing were some PMC 230gr FMJ and Speer GD 185gr GDHP. As I said, all the ammo functioned flawlessly. The Win 185 FMJ was the softest shooting round while the Speer and Win 230 JHP felt the heaviest.
I didn’t shoot for accuracy/consistency or grouping, only to break-in the gun a bit. I’ll wait until I’ve put 1,000 rounds through the Springy before looking for a well grouping load and adjusting the sights.
One minor issue that occurred while shooting is that the two-piece guide rod started to unscrew. I noticed it after about 200 rounds had been fired. I tightened it with the included Allen wrench and never had a problem again.
The gun worked very well, but it does have a few items/flaws that I’ll point out. First, the gun is sharp; lots of edges and pointy things. I realized later how much I like my short Kimber, which is nicely dehorned and smooth. Specifically, the rear sight (adjustable) and the slide serrations are quite sharp. Considering that I’ll probably use this gun for IPSC, where I’ll be working the slide often, I think I’ll have to grow some tough skin on my hands.
Second, the trigger isn’t quite as nice as my Kimber’s. I don’t have a trigger scale, but I’d guess the trigger is 4.5 – 5 pounds. It also has some gritty take up (1/8 inch) followed by some creep, a little vertical play, but almost no over travel. Hopefully, the 1,000 round break in along with dry firing will clean it up.
Moving on to the ambidextrous safety. I like the safety. It has a nice, positive snap as it goes on and off. I do question the need for the extra little arm on the right side safety lever. It rubs a little on my trigger finger and it looks a little goofy. If it isn’t needed I might change that or have it removed.
Lastly, I normally don’t like adjustable sights on my handguns. But the Springfield sights look pretty durable and are nice to use, so I’ll give them a try for now, but those sharp edges have to go.
Overall, I’m quite happy with my new gun. It’s not exactly like I want it, but it’s close and at a good value. I looked at and handled a few Ed Brown and Wilson guns. Those are closer to my vision of a perfect gun, but I just can’t talk myself into that price.
Tomorrow, Ichiro Nagata is coming by to photograph the gun and me. I had my most horrifying Hawaiian shirt freshly pressed for the occasion as any aspiring gun magazine writer would.
I had been trying to decide between one of the Springfields and a Kimber Tactical or Eclipse for a full size .45. I already have a Kimber Pro Carry .40SW, which I like very much, so I was inclined to buy another Kimber. But after checking features and prices and going to various gun stores to find the guns to compare side by side, I finally chose the Springfield.
The 1911-A1 Loaded won because I like the features it has (ambi safety, mag funnel, steel frame, no front strap and trigger guard checkering) and it was about $50 cheaper than the Kimber Eclipse, which didn’t have those features. The Kimber also has the Series II firing pin block, which I think is unnecessary and a PITA. The Loaded has Springfield’s Integral Locking System (ILS), which is a way to lock the gun by engaging a small locking device in the mainspring housing. Frankly, I don’t want either feature on my gun, but I figure that the ILS mainspring housing can be replaced with a standard housing when I choose. The firing pin block is not removable, as far as I know.
Besides, the Springfield is ‘purty.’
Last night I gave the pistol a thorough inspection and light cleaning in preparation for the range workout today.
So this morning I went for a range session to make sure that the two of us would get along fine. Other than the 40-degree air temperature, it was a great day for shooting. Aren’t they all?
Today’s session consisted of a basic function and reliability check. The gun passed, as it should. I fired 320 rounds through the gun without any failures. [I’ll take this space to say the gun will not feed empty cases, but I don’t consider that a failure] The ammo consisted of Winchester USA in 230gr FMJ (Wal-Mart value pack), 230gr JHP, and 185gr FMJ. Also along for testing were some PMC 230gr FMJ and Speer GD 185gr GDHP. As I said, all the ammo functioned flawlessly. The Win 185 FMJ was the softest shooting round while the Speer and Win 230 JHP felt the heaviest.
I didn’t shoot for accuracy/consistency or grouping, only to break-in the gun a bit. I’ll wait until I’ve put 1,000 rounds through the Springy before looking for a well grouping load and adjusting the sights.
One minor issue that occurred while shooting is that the two-piece guide rod started to unscrew. I noticed it after about 200 rounds had been fired. I tightened it with the included Allen wrench and never had a problem again.
The gun worked very well, but it does have a few items/flaws that I’ll point out. First, the gun is sharp; lots of edges and pointy things. I realized later how much I like my short Kimber, which is nicely dehorned and smooth. Specifically, the rear sight (adjustable) and the slide serrations are quite sharp. Considering that I’ll probably use this gun for IPSC, where I’ll be working the slide often, I think I’ll have to grow some tough skin on my hands.
Second, the trigger isn’t quite as nice as my Kimber’s. I don’t have a trigger scale, but I’d guess the trigger is 4.5 – 5 pounds. It also has some gritty take up (1/8 inch) followed by some creep, a little vertical play, but almost no over travel. Hopefully, the 1,000 round break in along with dry firing will clean it up.
Moving on to the ambidextrous safety. I like the safety. It has a nice, positive snap as it goes on and off. I do question the need for the extra little arm on the right side safety lever. It rubs a little on my trigger finger and it looks a little goofy. If it isn’t needed I might change that or have it removed.
Lastly, I normally don’t like adjustable sights on my handguns. But the Springfield sights look pretty durable and are nice to use, so I’ll give them a try for now, but those sharp edges have to go.
Overall, I’m quite happy with my new gun. It’s not exactly like I want it, but it’s close and at a good value. I looked at and handled a few Ed Brown and Wilson guns. Those are closer to my vision of a perfect gun, but I just can’t talk myself into that price.
Tomorrow, Ichiro Nagata is coming by to photograph the gun and me. I had my most horrifying Hawaiian shirt freshly pressed for the occasion as any aspiring gun magazine writer would.
