bluto
Member
popeye! I hope you have better luck with Olive than I did. The MilSpec is a sweet gun to work on. I'm thinking about getting mine refinished, but I'll probably shoot 'em some more first.
Springfield 1911 - Made in Brazil? Cast slide? Bad accuracy? Are the Rumors true?
- Thread starter AirPower
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cxm
Member
Loaded Models
My experience with a 5 year old "Loaded" model was pretty different.
Though I invested about $500 or so in improvements, only two were really "neccessary."
The two piece full length guide rod would not stay together when being fired over about 10 rounds. A new Plunger and 1911 stilly rod fixed the problem forever.
The other NECCESSARY is required on all 1911s I own except for the S&Ws.... a quality trigger job. The S&W guns are good as they come out of the box (and IMHO the best value on the market.)
My major complaint about Springfields is the very sharp edges... VERY sharp... mine got a heavy "melt down" Once that is taken care of it has become a very good gun indeed, having worked two classes at Thunder Ranch... and if a gun survives that, it is a quality gun.
FWIW
Chuck
==================================================
The following is my story of my one and only Springfield Armory 1911. Obviously this is ONE case.
4-5 years ago, I bought a full sized Springfield 1911. They called it "loaded" or the "loaded package" or something like that.
It was a piece of junk in every way. It wasn't accurate and it wouldn't run.
I went out with a friend to shoot shortly after I bought it. I couldn't keep all the shots on a paper plate at 25 yards. He said I should practice. I pulled out my many year old Colt Government Model and proceeded to put him to shame. He couldn't begin to keep up with me. So, he suggested that I try the Bar-Sto barrel that he had in his Springfield: luckily, it dropped right in. My groups were immediately cut by 75%. So, problem #1 was identified: barrel sucks. The second problem was that the slide would not go into battery every time. Most of the time it wouldn't. The reason was obvious. When you ran the slide you could feel the fact that it wasn't even: there were obvious high spots you could feel. The wear pattern on the rails confirmed this.
My inital attempt to make this gun work was a foolish mistake. I took it to a local "gunsmith". I had a Bar-Sto barrel and told him to fix the problems. He didn't. So, I sent the gun to Clark's and they dialed it in.
My experience with a 5 year old "Loaded" model was pretty different.
Though I invested about $500 or so in improvements, only two were really "neccessary."
The two piece full length guide rod would not stay together when being fired over about 10 rounds. A new Plunger and 1911 stilly rod fixed the problem forever.
The other NECCESSARY is required on all 1911s I own except for the S&Ws.... a quality trigger job. The S&W guns are good as they come out of the box (and IMHO the best value on the market.)
My major complaint about Springfields is the very sharp edges... VERY sharp... mine got a heavy "melt down" Once that is taken care of it has become a very good gun indeed, having worked two classes at Thunder Ranch... and if a gun survives that, it is a quality gun.
FWIW
Chuck
==================================================
The following is my story of my one and only Springfield Armory 1911. Obviously this is ONE case.
4-5 years ago, I bought a full sized Springfield 1911. They called it "loaded" or the "loaded package" or something like that.
It was a piece of junk in every way. It wasn't accurate and it wouldn't run.
I went out with a friend to shoot shortly after I bought it. I couldn't keep all the shots on a paper plate at 25 yards. He said I should practice. I pulled out my many year old Colt Government Model and proceeded to put him to shame. He couldn't begin to keep up with me. So, he suggested that I try the Bar-Sto barrel that he had in his Springfield: luckily, it dropped right in. My groups were immediately cut by 75%. So, problem #1 was identified: barrel sucks. The second problem was that the slide would not go into battery every time. Most of the time it wouldn't. The reason was obvious. When you ran the slide you could feel the fact that it wasn't even: there were obvious high spots you could feel. The wear pattern on the rails confirmed this.
My inital attempt to make this gun work was a foolish mistake. I took it to a local "gunsmith". I had a Bar-Sto barrel and told him to fix the problems. He didn't. So, I sent the gun to Clark's and they dialed it in.
Shear_stress
Member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2005
- Messages
- 2,728
Like I said above, I've had great luck with my Springfield in terms of reliability. In the interest of full disclosure, I haven't had as much success with the accuracy. Even after the factory service and a professional trigger job, I have a really tough time getting it to group like my Kimber at 25 yards. I can't put my finger on why--both guns "feel" the same to me. It's kind of frustrating.
Still, at fifteen yards or less, my Springfield delivers great accuracy.
Still, at fifteen yards or less, my Springfield delivers great accuracy.
aerod1
Member
I am totally impressed with my Springfield Loaded model. I could never part with it.
Jim
Jim
TNrifleman
Member
I have a Springfield loaded that shoots extremely well and is also utterly reliable. I have had it for over 5 years and like it very much. I would buy another one. 
We've had two SAs. First was an Ultra Compact, the second is a GI. Both are fun accurate shooters, and the only real issue I can recall is the grip safety on the UC wasn't working. That got adjusted by the guy at the gun shop and it was good to go. I initially thought the GI was having extractor issues, but another 200 rds through has smoothed the young pistol out.
Though we havent used them, I've heard nothing but good things about SAs customer service. I surely wouldn't hesitate to call on them.
Like was mentioned above, it doesn't matter where the parts come from if they do the job and someone is willing to put their name on the product to back it up.
Though we havent used them, I've heard nothing but good things about SAs customer service. I surely wouldn't hesitate to call on them.
Like was mentioned above, it doesn't matter where the parts come from if they do the job and someone is willing to put their name on the product to back it up.
Now I understand why my Springfield Black Stainless is so inaccurate. I can almost never get all five shots into the same hole. Usually they cluster together with the edges overlapped at 7 yards but I can almost always see at least four holes. 
Seriously, it is a very accurate pistol and the quality of mine has been outstanding. It is only about a month old but already has over 1200 rounds through it without a single failure of any kind.
Fit and finish are excellent in a gun in this price range and comparable to many I've held that are twice the price. I'd buy one again in a second.
Seriously, it is a very accurate pistol and the quality of mine has been outstanding. It is only about a month old but already has over 1200 rounds through it without a single failure of any kind.
Fit and finish are excellent in a gun in this price range and comparable to many I've held that are twice the price. I'd buy one again in a second. Sean Smith
Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2002
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- 4,925
Frames are made in Brazil. Possiby other parts too. Slides and frames aren't cast, they're forged. Guns are fine, on average. End of story.
Shear_stress
Member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2005
- Messages
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Like I said, my Springfield groups great out to fifteen yards. At 25 yards, though, the accuracy of my particular Springer is no where near that of my other 1911, or my CZ, for that matter. Your mileage may vary.
I am not much of a marksman, but I don't know if I could label a gun "accurate" based on seven yard accuracy alone. That distance is not asking a lot of most modern handguns that are in good condition. Similarly, I wouldn't rate most handguns by their fifty or one hundred yard accuracy.
That said, my Springfield is great, relatively inexpensive, well-made gun that will satisfy most people.
I am not much of a marksman, but I don't know if I could label a gun "accurate" based on seven yard accuracy alone. That distance is not asking a lot of most modern handguns that are in good condition. Similarly, I wouldn't rate most handguns by their fifty or one hundred yard accuracy.
That said, my Springfield is great, relatively inexpensive, well-made gun that will satisfy most people.
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GaryK
Member
I have 2 Springfields. A Champion and an early 90s "NM" serial #ed government model. Both guns worked out of the box and after shooting both for awhile they still do. I have seen bad guns from ALL mfgs. (including Colt). I think that with the current state of quality control in the industry that you should take the time to learn how to check out a 1911 and do so thoroughly before buying. I think that it would be interesting to see just what components each mfg. builds "in house" and what they outsource. I suspect that we would be suprised.
Brad Johnson
Member
I have a Springer Loaded Longslide. Picked it up a couple years ago. Cheap. The guy said it shot like crap but I didn't believe him. Turns out he was right. Terrible accuracy. However, a trip back to Springfield and one fitted match barrel later (under warranty, no less!) and the gun shoots a ton. I was so happy I had a local 'smith polish up the trigger to a crisp 2.5 lbs. Benched it'll do one-ragged-hole groups at 25 yards. Truly an outstanding pistol!
Brad
Brad
W Turner
Member
I have had two..the first was a blued Loaded Model that was 100% form the day I traded for it, the other is a Loaded lightweight that I have had for two months that has been 100% and is my favorite pistol.
Both were machined by IMBEL and both have been accurate and reliable. I would have to give the Lightweight model the edge in accuracy and fit, but the finish part has left a little to be desired due to one of the forward serrations being buggered up new outta the box. That's ok though because I got a deal because of it. To give you an idea, using my reloads at 25yards, 3" and less is not hard. Personal best is a three shot group that was just shy of 2" shot offhand at 25 yards.
W
Both were machined by IMBEL and both have been accurate and reliable. I would have to give the Lightweight model the edge in accuracy and fit, but the finish part has left a little to be desired due to one of the forward serrations being buggered up new outta the box. That's ok though because I got a deal because of it. To give you an idea, using my reloads at 25yards, 3" and less is not hard. Personal best is a three shot group that was just shy of 2" shot offhand at 25 yards.
W
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