Springfield GI .45 vs. Mil-Spec

[DirtyBrad]

Looking at the Springfield 1911s and wondering what the difference between the GI .45 and the Mil-Spec is, other than about a hundred bucks.

I'm looking more for reliability than anything else, so I'm hoping I can get away with the GI.

Thanks a lot.

 

[daysleeprx]

Milspec has different sights, and a lowered/flared ejection port.

 

[DonP]

I have the Mil Spec

I think they are pretty much identical, except for cosmetics.

I've had my SA Mil Spec for about six years now and it eats everything I feed it EXCEPT, Win Clean. For some reason that blunt nose jams on the feed throat.

It's one of my favorites and is my "go to" gun when the wife hears something funny at night.


Editorial comment:

You asked about reliability.

The SA Mil Spec and GI 45 are not "race guns", but with practice they are plenty accurate out to 50 yards on our local outdoor range.

It has a correct slide to frame fit, the way Mr. Browning intended it to. Not too tight that you can't feel movement. I hate it at a gun store when some clerk is trying to show you what kind of quality a 1911 has by proving how tight the fit between the frame and slide is. The tighter the fit, the better the chance that it might bind up if it gets dirty or dropped.

If every gun was always shot in a nice clean range that would be fine. But the 1911 was meant to be a combat weapon and should be a little little loose, that's where the reliability comes is. Drop it on the ground, or in the mud and the slide still works and, if the muzzle is clear, shoot away.

The sights are military standard (read lousy except in bright sunshine) but a set of Crimson Trace Lasergrips make that irrelevant for a Home Defense gun.

 

[DirtyBrad]

Thank you for the replies. I delved a little deeper into the search results after posting. What is the advantage of the lowered ejection port on the Mil-Spec. Does it eject more reliably?

Is the barrel on the Mil-Spec stainless?

I definitely appreciate a bit of play in favor of reliability. I don't want to have to worry about binding if it gets a little dirty.

One more thing. A lot of these I've seen on GunBroker come with a small polymer slide holster. Nice to come with a holster, but they don't seem to cover the safety. That seems like a no-no on an SA gun.

 

[1KPerDay]

Nice to come with a holster, but they don't seem to cover the safety. That seems like a no-no on an SA gun.

 

[ugaarguy]

What is the advantage of the lowered ejection port on the Mil-Spec. Does it eject more reliably?

The GI ejects just fine, but can ding up caseheads with the standard ejection port.

A lot of these I've seen on GunBroker come with a small polymer slide holster. Nice to come with a holster, but they don't seem to cover the safety. That seems like a no-no on an SA gun.

A few things. The thumb safety has a very positive lock up from the spring and plunger holding it in place. Even if the thumb safety gets disengaged the grip safety must be depressed, and the the trigger pulled at the same time. The 1911 is very redundant in it's safeties. Also, oddly enough, my nylon Bianchi OWB belt holster that I use for open carry when out plinking has a thumb break that actually disengages my SA GI's thumb safety. All that to say I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[51Cards]

My GI "holster" refused to release, regardless of the setting on the retention screw. :banghead: ANY belt play would result in a total lock-in. I finally gave up, sawed it in half (to prevent someone else from accidentally using it), and pitched it.

My dealer recommended the GI as a basic "builder," and he was right on. The sights are horrible --- but if you get creative with three dots of white paint, you'd be surprised at your scores while you're saving a couple of hundred $$ for milling, real sights, etc.

I already have a vintage (1943) Colt (it flew over the Pacific in a P-47D), so I didn't care about the GI stocks. Hogues are on it. Feel great, let you loosen up a bit, and look mean .

 

[Dr. Dickie]

The difference is not just cosmetics.
How old are you?
If your eyes are over 40, go with the Mil-Spec. I loved the look of the GI, and I got one. The sights are true to GI sights (SMALL!!).
The ejection port is not really a concern (though mine did throw brass 10 feet straight up in the air! ), but if you are going to use it to shoot rather than look at, I would suggest the Mil-Spec simply because of the sights.

 

[High Planes Drifter]

Those itty-bitty sights on the GI model do make for a faster, snag-free draw when carying. I had a problem with my GI model, it FTRTB a couple times out of a hundred rounds. It did this every time I went to the range. I followed some steps found in the sticky section written by 1911Tuner, and fixed it. Good advise on 1911's can also be found over on 1911 forums.com.

 

[Just_a_dude_with_a_gun]

I bought a GI in expectation of haviong several things changed, including new sights, grip safety (to a beavertail), mainspring housing (to a flat), and possibly some other work.

I've been shooting it for quite some time now, with probably 800 rds through it. Quite frankly there is no impetus to customize, or operational problem to account for, so I may never bother.

Sights work fine. spot on. Ok, they don't glow, so what. Ejection is positive, and they always pop 3ft straight up, and 2ft over, on my right hand side. Nice little pile. I don't reload, and never bother to look at the spent casings.

If you have no plans whatsoever to customize, get a Milspec to be safe. If, for some reason, you can't get a hold on a Mil-spec, and CAN find a GI, just buy it. It's not that big a difference, and is less money.

 

[nitesite]

My Mil-Spec got a steel firing pin and correct spring to allow better primer strikes. The titanium pin and stronger spring might allow it to pass the California drop test protocol, but I wanted my pistol to leave deeper primer indentations. Heavier firing pin and lighter spring was perfect for me.

I also had very erratic ejection "out of the box" so I replaced the stock extractor with a more tunable premium version. Made a huge improvement after tuning. I used to get some cases boinking me in the forehead and others going off to the right, but now they all fall into a pile.

I am now totally pleased with its reliability and accuracy. Trust my life to it, actually. Other than a momentary lubrication issue when once it wouldn't chamber a loaded round into battery (I posted about it here and it was my fault for letting it get dry in the first place) it is a very capable performer.

My Mil-Spec is now a reliable "go-to" pistol.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

I believe the GIs are actually manufactured completely in Brazil, while the Mil Specs are forged as slide and frame in Brazil, but the rest is done at Springfield Armory. Additionally, the Mil Spec has more modern style sights and a flared ejection port. That's about it, though I think you are more likely to run across one of the older Springfield type squared off frames with a mil spec than with a GI. I prefer the newer frame style, which harkens back to the traditional Colt 1911A1 frame. Much nicer looking and feeling, IMO.

As for reliability, I own a GI, and it is not only super reliable, but the fit and finish is excellent. One point to consider, though, is that many people who shoot a straight GI 1911 will experience damage to the skin on the top of the web of their shooting hand. I do. If I were to start carrying my GI 1911A1, I'd have to first either file the hammer back a little, or switch it out with a Commander style hammer and install a beavertail grip safety. You might have to do the same thing, which is an additional cost to consider.

 

[XavierBreath]

If you really want the minutia on the differences, visit this thread at the 1911 forum.

As far as shooters go, both the GI45 and the Mil-Spec are good buys. Both benefit for a snugger bushing and a good trigger job. Both are fine buys. I own both, and in my opinion, I would buy the GI45 if the plan was a sight swap anyway. The high GI ejection port has the advantage of less grit getting beneath the barrel. It does eject with no problems. It can ding cases.