Springfield 1911
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XavierBreath
Member
Springfield makes an accurate, reliable, and durable 1911.
If you want a military style 1911, they make it.
If you want a souped up model, they make several like that too.
The prices are competitive, and the guns are good. Buy one you like and enjoy.
If you want a military style 1911, they make it.
If you want a souped up model, they make several like that too.
The prices are competitive, and the guns are good. Buy one you like and enjoy.
Black Majik
Member
I rate Springfields at around 7/10 for a production 1911. Their Custom Shop is TOP NOTCH. The highend Springfields are excellent, including the Springfield PRO, and TGO guns. But, even their flagship guns use MIM parts. For a gun that expensive, it shouldn't have MIM parts, regardless of whether or not a MIM made part can holdup or not.
For the most part though, Springfields are pretty good. A little loose in slide to frame fit, heavy and gritty trigger, and the retarded ILS. But, they usually work. The Milspec guns are great base platforms for custom builds, as well as a workhorse pistol. The Loaded pistols are also still good value. The TRP taps in semi-custom pricing territory. The PRO, is definitely top notch. Excellent attention to detail, and one heckuva shooter.
All without a FPS also, which is a plus. Except that retarded ILS.
For the most part though, Springfields are pretty good. A little loose in slide to frame fit, heavy and gritty trigger, and the retarded ILS. But, they usually work. The Milspec guns are great base platforms for custom builds, as well as a workhorse pistol. The Loaded pistols are also still good value. The TRP taps in semi-custom pricing territory. The PRO, is definitely top notch. Excellent attention to detail, and one heckuva shooter.
All without a FPS also, which is a plus. Except that retarded ILS.
Compare the base model like the GI item with the REAL GI issues. How close does Springfiled come?
I am unable and also unwilling to buy a .45 auto with a lot of bells and whistles.
What I want is a pistol close to what the military issued, but without the age and wear on it.
Can Springfield come close?
Lone Star
I am unable and also unwilling to buy a .45 auto with a lot of bells and whistles.
What I want is a pistol close to what the military issued, but without the age and wear on it.
Can Springfield come close?
Lone Star
trickyasafox
Member
i have a mil-spec and it has been top notch for the first k through it. works with any mag i've tried in it (read cheap and used) and groups better than me. 7-10 yards free hand will do 1 hole, which for me is very good.
Black Majik
Member
Just my opinion of course, but I feel Springfield's Custom Shop blows Kimber's Custom Shop outta the water. I still don't quite get Kimber's Custom Shop. It's not a significant difference from their production pistols, they got some cool scales to offer, but their flagship guns has the same amount of MIM parts as their base level gun.
Guns like the CDP, or any other with the "Custom Shop" rollmark doesn't quite compare to the guns Springfield Armory's Custom Shop puts out such as the TGO1 and PROFESSIONAL models.
Just my opinion though.
Chupacabra
Member
My brother just got a "Loaded" model. Fit and finish are pretty good. The sights are nice and it managed to get through the first 100 rounds without a malfunction. The only real issues are the relatively heavy trigger and sharp safety, but I think they will smooth out over time.
My Kimber CustomII is quite a bit smoother, but it has thousands of rounds through it.
My Kimber CustomII is quite a bit smoother, but it has thousands of rounds through it.
Rob96
Member
I just recently did up a Mil-Spec with the Custom Shop. I found the Mil-Spec LNIB for $366. Shot it for a while and decided what I wanted to change. Snet it in to the shop for beavertail, extended thumb safety, 10-8 trigger and rear sight, 4.5# trigger job and reaprk the whole gun. Only cost me $420. Both Springfield and their Custom Shop are fantastic. Had 3 Kimbers and all 3 had problems. Never again!
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
While I still own one Kimber [a 3" Stainless Ultra Carry], I have 2X Springer
G.I. models and one MIL SPEC. All (including the Kimber) have performed
flawlessly; but I prefer the 5" guns from Springfield Armory over all. If you
can afford it, go with the MIL SPEC as it will have better (3-dot) sights
and a lowered and flared ejection port. Also, they are shipping these with
beautiful cocoabolo wood grips, with the crossed cannon Springfield logo.
My only other experience with Kimber, was with a NIB 5" Raptor. I played
with it for 'bout six months, then made the decision to trade it in on a 5"
Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special; and I have NEVER looked back~!
G.I. models and one MIL SPEC. All (including the Kimber) have performed
flawlessly; but I prefer the 5" guns from Springfield Armory over all. If you
can afford it, go with the MIL SPEC as it will have better (3-dot) sights
and a lowered and flared ejection port. Also, they are shipping these with
beautiful cocoabolo wood grips, with the crossed cannon Springfield logo.
My only other experience with Kimber, was with a NIB 5" Raptor. I played
with it for 'bout six months, then made the decision to trade it in on a 5"
Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special; and I have NEVER looked back~!
XavierBreath
Member
Lone Star,
Unless you buy the Colt Repro for twice as much, the Springfield GI45 is as close as you're going to come to a M1911A1 and still get a forged frame and slide. I feel the forged frame and slide are important on a 1911. Others hold a different opinion.
Swap out the mainspring housing and toss in a new mainspring along with a spring cap, and you get rid of the "retarded" ILS that causes so many people to wet their pants. Three small parts, and the mechanical aptitude to remove a pin with a drift punch and Bob's your uncle. Alternatively, you can just leave the ILS unlocked. It has no history of magically locking itself like other lock guns do.
The trigger will slick up with use, or if you are in a hurry, dress it up on a whetstone. 10 minutes later, you will have a sweet trigger. Springfields do have a looser slide to frame fit than some other 1911s. Accuracy does not come from slide to frame fit though, reliability does. Accuracy is the result of barrel to slide fit, as well as the ability to return to exactly the same spot cycle after cycle.
The GI45 does have a two piece barrel. This goes unnoticed by many people. The chamber is actually press fitted into the barrel. On a worn parkerized barrel, you can often discern the joint. I've never seen or heard of one separating, and I've followed these pistols since they were first produced in 2003. The two piece Springfield barrel is no Nowlin or Kart barrel, but it is as accurate as a GI barrel.
I own two GI45s, a parkerized I bought new, and a stainless I bought used. I replaced the recoil springs on each one at about 800 rounds. I have enough lead downrange through these pistols to make a fair judgement call. I think they come, or used to come with weak recoil springs. Everything else is good.
If you want one like a M1911A1, here is a brief article on my attempt. With a few small parts swapped out, you can have a reasonable facsimile of a M1911A1.
At one time Kimber was the gun to get. They pretty much revitalized the 1911 game, forcing other makers to produce an upscale 1911 that people wanted or lose market share. A lot has changed since then. I will not speak badly about Kimber, as I have no personal experiences with their product. I've never owned one, and I suspect I never will. No need. Folks do not seem to be as happy with Kimbers as they once were though.
Finally, I have to mention......Colt makes a pretty darned good 1911 too. They kinda know their way around the 1911 blueprint in Hartford. You might want to cast an eye their way too.
Unless you buy the Colt Repro for twice as much, the Springfield GI45 is as close as you're going to come to a M1911A1 and still get a forged frame and slide. I feel the forged frame and slide are important on a 1911. Others hold a different opinion.
Swap out the mainspring housing and toss in a new mainspring along with a spring cap, and you get rid of the "retarded" ILS that causes so many people to wet their pants. Three small parts, and the mechanical aptitude to remove a pin with a drift punch and Bob's your uncle. Alternatively, you can just leave the ILS unlocked. It has no history of magically locking itself like other lock guns do.
The trigger will slick up with use, or if you are in a hurry, dress it up on a whetstone. 10 minutes later, you will have a sweet trigger. Springfields do have a looser slide to frame fit than some other 1911s. Accuracy does not come from slide to frame fit though, reliability does. Accuracy is the result of barrel to slide fit, as well as the ability to return to exactly the same spot cycle after cycle.
The GI45 does have a two piece barrel. This goes unnoticed by many people. The chamber is actually press fitted into the barrel. On a worn parkerized barrel, you can often discern the joint. I've never seen or heard of one separating, and I've followed these pistols since they were first produced in 2003. The two piece Springfield barrel is no Nowlin or Kart barrel, but it is as accurate as a GI barrel.
I own two GI45s, a parkerized I bought new, and a stainless I bought used. I replaced the recoil springs on each one at about 800 rounds. I have enough lead downrange through these pistols to make a fair judgement call. I think they come, or used to come with weak recoil springs. Everything else is good.
If you want one like a M1911A1, here is a brief article on my attempt. With a few small parts swapped out, you can have a reasonable facsimile of a M1911A1.
At one time Kimber was the gun to get. They pretty much revitalized the 1911 game, forcing other makers to produce an upscale 1911 that people wanted or lose market share. A lot has changed since then. I will not speak badly about Kimber, as I have no personal experiences with their product. I've never owned one, and I suspect I never will. No need. Folks do not seem to be as happy with Kimbers as they once were though.
Finally, I have to mention......Colt makes a pretty darned good 1911 too. They kinda know their way around the 1911 blueprint in Hartford. You might want to cast an eye their way too.
the pistolero
Member
The Kimber Custom would probably compare with the Springfield Loaded as far as features go. Two Kimbers reside in my safe, as well as two Springfields -- a GI and a Loaded, both parkerized. From my experience with them all, I personally couldn't justify spending $150-200 more on a comparably equipped Kimber than a Springfield. My Loaded also came with the ambidextrous safety, which is good for me as I am a lefty, and I think you'd probably have to pony up a bit more cash on top of the existing difference for a Kimber with that ambi safety. I do like both my Kimbers, though.
I have a 4" Champion, and the 5" 'GI-45'. While the Champion has the bigger ejection port and Novak Night Sights, I prefer the "feel' of the GI-45. I shoot it better than the Champion, even with those tiny GI sights. Other than the SA "Integrated Lock System", the GI-45 is probably closer to a WWII issue than most anything else out there.
Phil DeGraves
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I have had much better luck with the customer service from Kimber than I have from Springfield. I have 5 Colts, 4 Kimbers and 1 Springfield. Personally, I'd be a little bit reluctant to buy another Springfield if I can get the equivalent Kimber. That being said, I'm in no hurry to get rid of my Springfield; it shoots very well, but it is fussier than my Kimbers and Colts.
Old Dog
Member
A bit of dissent with Phil DeGraves' post ... In my experience, SA's customer service is light-years ahead of Kimber's. While I own several Kimbers (and really, really like 'em all), I am to the point where I'm going to give most of my future 1911 to SA (and I've bought nine Springfields new since 1992), because I feel SA is more responsive to its customers. Kimber totally blew me off when I raised valid complaints about the finish on a brandnew TLE II, while SA's reps listen patiently to the most petty complaints.
Not to turn this in to an SA vs. Kimber thread, but frankly, the plastic MSHs on the Kimbers, providing only one magazine with new $1K pistols ... SA provides extra accessories w/new pistols, too, and simply more features on its 1911s at a better price point ... you get the picture.
For LoneStar -- I totally concur with XavierBreath's assessment of the GI. You just can't go wrong with the SA GI. Given that the price of a parkerized GI is far less than Colt's "Repro" model (or whatever they're calling the current incarnation of the basic GI .45, ol' Gov't Model these days) ... it's a no-brainer.
Not to turn this in to an SA vs. Kimber thread, but frankly, the plastic MSHs on the Kimbers, providing only one magazine with new $1K pistols ... SA provides extra accessories w/new pistols, too, and simply more features on its 1911s at a better price point ... you get the picture.
For LoneStar -- I totally concur with XavierBreath's assessment of the GI. You just can't go wrong with the SA GI. Given that the price of a parkerized GI is far less than Colt's "Repro" model (or whatever they're calling the current incarnation of the basic GI .45, ol' Gov't Model these days) ... it's a no-brainer.
fletcher
Member
Of the two Springfields I have had (GI .45, Loaded 9mm), both have worked perfectly. During my ownership of the .45, there was not one malfunction - same with the 9mm. If you happen to get a bad one, Springfield will take care of it.
Great company, great guns.
Great company, great guns.
Slugless
Member
Cleaned up the trigger
I recently started shooting an inherited Springfield 1911A1. It's a nice pistol. Shoots low but very very straight - I was bouncing cans with it at 80 yds. Can't argue with that.
I didn't like the trigger, took it to my smith. He examined it, grunted, and said 'Springfield. This is nice. Springfield makes a good product". It now has a very nice 4.5 lb trigger, $60. If you're handy, DIY.
Took it to the range yesterday, blew big ragged holes in the paper.
I'm going to be shooting it a lot more.
I recently started shooting an inherited Springfield 1911A1. It's a nice pistol. Shoots low but very very straight - I was bouncing cans with it at 80 yds. Can't argue with that.
I didn't like the trigger, took it to my smith. He examined it, grunted, and said 'Springfield. This is nice. Springfield makes a good product". It now has a very nice 4.5 lb trigger, $60. If you're handy, DIY.
Took it to the range yesterday, blew big ragged holes in the paper.
I'm going to be shooting it a lot more.
Cougfan2
Member
To echo other replies, the only complaint I have about my Springer is the trigger pull out of the box. Haven't shot it enough to determine if it will lighten over time. The trigger is crisp with absolutely no creep, but heavy. I will probably have my local gunsmith lighten it to 4 lbs. Feels like about 6 lbs. now.
texagun
Member
My experience with SA has been very positive. I bought a Springfield Loaded several years ago when they were new on the market and it has been a great gun. I can't remember a single malfunction with this gun. And it came with all the stuff you might want to add to a basic 1911 at a very fair price. I think it was about $699 back then.
Springfield_1911SS
Member
I have a Springfield 5" Loaded, I love it. It shoots very nicely, the gun is much more accurate that I am. My dad can shoot awesome with it. One day I was ant the range and the guy in the next lane was letting me shoot his guns so I let him shoot my 1911, he shoot a very tite group right in the center of the target. After he shoot it he told me never to let it go, and he liked it better than his Colt gold cup. my only complaints are the trigger and guide rod. the trigger has a little play in it, once you take up the slack it is very crisp. As far as the guide rod goes, the Loaded model comes with a 2 piece full length guide rod, it would start coming loose after a few mags. I just droped in a Wilson one piece full length guide rod and its fine(I could of just used lock-tite)
)10-Ring
Member
My preference is for Colt, but a close 2nd would be the Springfields -- really like the TRP & Operator models in particular
Dick1911
Member
I don't think you'll be disapointed wiht a Springfield. I have a GI model and have been very pleased with it. I am going to have 2 mods done, different sights and a beavertail style grip safety. It's been very reliable to date with no problems in the 700 rounds I've put through it.
Phil DeGraves
Member
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2006
- Messages
- 1,531
The problem I have with SPringfield is that they won't send you parts. You need to send the whole gun back and then they try to fix it and send it back to you. I've sent my gun back twice; they fixed one problem, didn't fix the other in two tries. That's $50.00 every time I send it. I had to buy parts from Brownells and fix it myself. Kimber was willing to send me parts (no charge) or, if the pistol needed work, all they required was the slide; $11.00 to send that as opposed to $50.00. And when I got it back, it worked.
But, they usually have more features for less money and they do include two magazines instead of one as has been mentioned earlier. But I think the Kimbers are better. Then again, that doesn't mean I think the Springer is garbage; mine is a great shooting gun and I would not discourage you from getting a 1911 from Springfield.
But, they usually have more features for less money and they do include two magazines instead of one as has been mentioned earlier. But I think the Kimbers are better. Then again, that doesn't mean I think the Springer is garbage; mine is a great shooting gun and I would not discourage you from getting a 1911 from Springfield.
Rob96
Member
Did you send/fax your receipt for reimbursement?
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