Springfield Armory 1911A1 --- MIM Parts??

[SamlautRanger]

So does anyone know if the Springfield Armory 1911A1 Plain jane govt issue copy pistol contain any MIM parts or is it all good machined tool steel?

Thanks.

 

[KadicDeshi]

I believe 1911Tuner gave the Springer GI a good once-over not all that long ago... 'Course my memory sucks, could have been a year or more. Just do a search on 1911Tuner with either Springfield GI and/or MIM. That should get it.

Barrett

Edit: Here ya go - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=79540&highlight=Tuner+MIM

 

[Ala Dan]

The Springfield WW-II G.I. replica does contain a few MIM parts; but if cast
correctly, they should not be a problem.

 

[Onmilo]

I may be wrong, but I believe the Brazilians use a casting process to produce the frames and the slides too.

For the sheer number of these guns floating around, very, very few ever seem to break anything.

 

[clipse]

frames, slides, and barrels are forged. So sayeth my little tag that was on my 1911

 

[Kestrel]

SamlautRanger,

The Springfield guns have a lot of MIM parts. The frame and slide is forged. A lot of the barrels are two-piece. Unless they've changed their practice, most of their 1911s don't have a pinned ejector - it's glued/loctited in the slot. A lot of the GI guns DO have pinned ejectors, though. I've seen a few of the Mil-Spec models with pinned ejectors. These are the ones that were actually completely assembled in Brazil. They are assembled down there when SA gets behind in their production up here. If SA assembles it here, though, the ejector is glued. The barrel hoods have the loaded chamber indicator slot and the MSH has their locking device. (I've seen some GI models that don't have the loaded chamber indicator, though.)

None of this applies to their Custom Shop guns (The Professional, Custom Carry, etc. These are built with better fire control components and are fitted guns. They also use one-piece Nowlin barrels. On their Custom Shop pistols, they will also let you specify what components and finishes you want, if you want something different. (This doesn't apply to the Professional model. It comes in one configuration - no options or changes, unless you send it back to them.) Their Custom Shop pistols also don't have loaded chamber indicators or locking devices in the MSH. The Springfield Pro has three MIM parts - the mag release, the slide stop and maybe the grip safety (can't remember the third part for sure). I asked Dave Williams in the Custom Shop why MIM on the slide stop and he said it was actually a very good one. He told me he had NEVER had a slide stop break on any of the Pros/FBI guns. (By the way, the Professional Model is not to be confused with the TRP/Loaded model. The TRP is one of their standard line guns.)

Are you still in Cambodia? If you have a chance, you can give Debbie in the SA Custom Shop a call and she's usually very informative if you have questions about which parts are MIM, etc. in the standard line. Her number is: 800-617-6751

Hope this helps.

(I don't work for Springfield, by the way.)

Steve

 

[wally]

Barrels are two piece construction so they are stretching the definition of "forged" here.

IMHO I don't think it matters a hoot as proper heat treating is more important in the end than if the part started as liquid metal poured into a slab and pounded into rough shape and size before final machining or if it starts as liquid metal poured into a mould of much closer to final dimension and then finished.

MIM is different process, sorta like a cross between casting metal and making ceaimics. I ran a poll a while back and it seemed most MIM/cast part failures were during the "break in" period and gave normal service life if they survived. More experience and beter QA/QC should reduce the "infant mortality failures.

Even high dollar semi-custom guns have infant mortality parts breakage despite the claims of "no cast or MIM parts" -- peruse the Ed Brown and Les Bear forums at www.1911forum.com for recent examples.

--wally.

 

[chrisTx]

the sear, disconnector, firing pin stop, hammer, slide stop, thumb safety and grip safety are all MIM. i think the pins are also MIM. i haven't had any major issues with the MIM parts other than the finish. i have a stainless GI and i rounded off the end of the thumb safety. now, the tiniest bit of sweat turns the area i sanded on a light brown rusty looking color. i do intend on replacing the MIM parts eventually, but i'm in no hurry.

 

[brickboy240]

Kimber and Colt also use some MIM parts in their lower model guns.

I have had no peoblems with the MIM parts in my Springer and I have shot it extensively for two years.

-Brickboy240