Springfield armory 45 mil-spec

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fordfan

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Hello all was wondering what your thoughts are on this particuler 1911? Is it a good reliable gun for the money?
 
Quite a few years ago, I bought a Springfield Armory 1911A1 built like the 45s we used in the Army. It has always been a reliable firearm and I did carry it for a while. I take it to the range once in a while, but no longer carry it.

As much as I love a mil-spec 1911, they were not drop safe. The odds of one going off when dropped may be low, but it is possible. When I bought it originally, I considered a firing pin block a do nothing part that could fail. I had one fail on one of my Colt pistols and did not trust firing pin blocks for a few years. Now, I consider them essential for a carry gun.

Some people change the firing pin with one that is much lighter and made of titanium. I do not know how much safer these are when dropped, but I expect they are not more dangerous.

Mil-spec 1911A1s feed 230 grain hardball very well; other ammo will need to be tested before trusting.
 
I purchased one (NM serial #) with with the intent of doing some upgrades. It is such a good shooter, I can't see spending anymore money to change anything.
 
I think the Mil-Spec hits the sweet spot between price and features, a fine value for the money. It won't ever be confused for a high-end custom, but it's a lot nicer than the Armscor guns. I carry mine and am quite happy with it.

Scottie, the current Springfield 1911s use titanium firing pins and a heavy firing pin spring. They are certified drop-safe in California, and if they can pass the test there... Yours being older, though, it may not have those parts.
 
the current Springfield 1911s use titanium firing pins and a heavy firing pin spring.
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Yep. Rendering them drop-safe.

The MilSpec is a great pistol for the money. The GI, however, is not. Please note that there is a difference in these two guns, and many online sellers and gunshops market the GI as the GI MilSpec. It's one or the other, not both.

The MilSpec has usable sights, a lowered ejection port, and an beveled magazine well. The MilSpec makes an excelent platform to build on.
 
On the advice of the then MEU-SOC 1st Marine Division armorer, I bought two of them many years ago and had him MEU-SOC-it-to-me one of them to give as a gift. It has now made its way back 'round to me and both have been outstanding pistols even before considering the price.
 

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I really appreciate all the feed back and feel even better about my purchase. I bought mine about three months ago and fell in love. I had a place called otto comp in St Louis Mo put adjustable sights on it and that has made alot of difference for me in my shooting.

I'm thinking about getting a springfield long slide. has anybody ever shoot one of them?
 
Like kcshooter said; the GI and the Mil-Spec are a great difference apart; my buddy in GA bought a GI, and after shooting it I knew I HAD to have usable sights.

Oh, the frame, barrel and slide are all top-notch quality and the piece was reliable, but the minor differences made, well, all the difference.
 
Can`t say enough good about the Mil-Spec I have had, for about 8+ yrs and close to 20,000 rounds.Zero issues, everything is still tight, and the finish (park) looks better than ever.
 
I purchased one (NM serial #) with with the intent of doing some upgrades. It is such a good shooter, I can't see spending anymore money to change anything
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^^^This^^^

I've had kimbers, S&Ws, SA Loadeds, but non of them was fit tighter than my NM Milspec!

Tight as in no frame to slide slop, needs a bushing wrench, accurate as hell, no failures of any sort:)
 
We bought a Mil-Spec in stainless years ago, for my wife. It hasn't given us a problem in over 10 years of steady use.:)
 
It's set up how a prefer a 1911. Mine was reliable though accuracy left a bit to be desired. I'd buy an "NM" one but I'm done with "N" serial # SAs.

NM Serial Number Prefix = Assembled/Finished in US (they are better fit and finished in almost every example I've seen compared to an "N")
N = Not
 
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My MilSpec's grip safety was sharp enough at the back end to cut both my hand and my nephews' during recoil. I ended up having to dremel it to round it off enough to not cut my hand. And I don't like the concept of the Integral Locking System built into the gun. But since the ILS can be ignored and the gun shoots both reliably and accurately...
 
...gunshops market the GI as the GI MilSpec. It's one or the other, not both.[/QUOTEThe label on my green box WW series GI says GI MilSpec. YMMV. A rose by any other name still needs good sights for older eyes...;)
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