Springfield V-10 Ultra Compact

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Denmark116

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Anyone have any experience with the Springfield V-10 Ultra Compact?

I have a line on a very good deal on a new in box V-10, and I have been looking at getting a small 1911 style pistol... I think that the porting will help with the recoil that a hand cannon like a 3.5" .45 will have...

Additionally, they also gave a springfield ultra compact high capacity... However I cannot find any info on this and it is not in Springfield's current line-up... Anyone have any info on this?

I can get the V-10 50.00 more then I can get the mil-spec ultra compact and the high capacity is 20.00 less then the mil spec at the local gun shop (519.00)....

Please let me know....

Thanks

Denmark
 
I think that the porting will help with the recoil that a hand cannon like a 3.5" .45 will have
Click to expand...

I don't think you'll find the mild recoil of the forty five objectionable. I have an Ultra-Compact, which is just Springfield's version of the Officers Model and has a 3.5 inch barrel. I believe that is identical to what you describe except that it lacks the porting and I am most thankful for that.

The gun is all steel and weighs about 40 ounces loaded. The recoil is negligable, even with +P loads. I cannot recommend porting, particularly for a carry gun. The noise is louder, the muzzle blast is pretty well objectionable and the vertical gas discharge could be a safety issue.

When I was searching for my PX9161L, I noted that the ported V-10 models were cheap, cheap, cheap. My guess is that they weren't moving well and the price was discounted to get them off the shelves. They don't sell them cheap enough for me to buy one.

Just my $.02.
 
Don't do it. The ultra compact 1911s have questionable reliability (not good for a carry gun) and porting is generally a bad idea for carry guns.
 
Are the V-10's really that bad??? seems to have a ton of extras and it is a sharp looking gun...

The other option is the SA ultra compact "loaded" (I think) hi-cap...

Any options on this one? I cannot find a product number on it..... :confused:
 
I had a V-10 Ultra Compact. The operative word is "had". I bought it cheap because they wouldn't move. Mine was reliable, and easy to shoot, but the accuracy sucked. I spoke to the guys at SA and the admitted the gun would have accuracy issues because of the cut in the slide for the ports, but they figured accuracy wasn't an issue with a sawed off carry gun.

I got rid of the gun and went to a light weight commander sized pistol and I am glad I did. I have no use for a ported .45 with a 3.5 inch barrel (or any ported carry gun for that matter) and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. Of course, that's just my opinion and you know what they say about opinions, lol.
 
I've had the opportunity to tinker with a friend's Springer Ultra Compact (non V10 version) Even 600-700 rounds in, according to him anyways, reliability was questionable. I want to say that he sent it back to Springfield once, but my memory fails me at the moment, so I dunno. Reliability was kinda hit or miss. There were several return to battery failures. The slide would be like a 1/4" from going into battery, bump it and you're good to go. Wasn't very encouraging for a pistol that costs that much.

I'd step up to a Commander or full size Government model, but if you're really, really, really set on an Officer's sized 1911, just be advised that it may require a bit more fiddling to get it to work right. YMMV, of course.
 
I had one too. POJ, POS, POC and just plain no good. It had the extractor, mags, ejector and all springs replaced by Springfield, twice. I finally had to trade it/dump it at a gunshow for way less than I had invested. They were the biggest garbage that Springfield Armory has turned out. I don't buy Springfields anymore because of that poor quality hunk of Brazilian junk.
 
I must say that I'm kinda suprised by these responses about these particular gun. The argument that 1911's with barrels under 4" are less than reliable and not accurate, but my speciman skews that argument. I bought a SA Ultra Compact Lightweight Loaded about a year ago and after I shot it a few times I decided it was indeed a keeper and I even customized it a little bit. The recoil in mine feels no worse than my 5" 1911's and is just as accurate as some of them as well. I've put a Wilson Combat guide rod in it, did a trigger job, and then had it Tuff Gun'd by Mac's Shootin Iron. I've never used the SA supplied mags and only use either Wilson 7-rounders or CMC 7-rounders. It's one of my favorite handguns now and I would estimate that I've probably put about 300-400 rounds through it without a single failure of any kind. Now, I have heard questionable reports about the SA Micro. I would agree about it not being a good idea to have ports on a carry gun however. From your description it sounds like you are looking at CDNN offerings.
 
I would not purchase a Springfield V10 Ultra Compact for a carry piece. As others have said, the porting would be a liability for carry. Not to mention that each time you shoot, the muzzle flash would be terrible.

The recoil is actually manageable. You have to practice with any gun to become proficient, and with practice, you can manage recoil. Its when you do not practice that recoil and flinching become a problem.

About the only time I would get a ported piece would be for a 460Rowland, but that would not be Ultra Compact. It would be a long slide version :D
 
I had one. HAD. Never could make the thing work right. It had failures to go into battery. Pushing forward on the slide would do nothing, no matter how much pressure you put on it. When you pulled the slide back a little bit and let it go, it would go all the way forward, no problem.

It was neat looking, and a great size, just horribly unreliable. I sold it to someone who said he could fix it. After two trips to the smith and 6 months or so inbetween, I had no more patience for it.

Two gun magazines that tested it at the time also had the same problem I experienced. Gun Tests and Guns & Ammo I think.

About a year later a buddy of mine showed me his new toy. It was a V-10 Ultra Compact just like the one I had. I told him about my troubles. He said his worked great.
 
Alright I get it... I have decided against it...

I cannot really find anyone to say anything good about it.....

The search continues....
 
Upon closer examination, you'll find:

A) No one said the gun was inaccurate based on the size.
B) Your Kimber is unrelated to the gun under discussion.
C) This thread is 5 YEARS OLD!

Carry on... nothing to see here... :)
 
I have no idea what ANY of you are talking about when you say
1. the V-10 is not accurate - I have absolutely no problems in that area. It is a wonderful piece and just as accurate as any other (non match grade) .45 I have owned.
2. that the porting would be a 'liability' in a carry gun. Why? The porting DOES help with the recoil, and doesn't catch on anything when I need to draw - so how is it a 'liability'?
3. that the flash from the porting would be blinding or distracting in case of need to shoot. Nonsense. The first time you shoot the pistol, yes, the flash is startling. Only the first time. I have never noticed it since the first time, and I shoot inside, outside, daylight, artificial light, and 'twilight' conditions with both strong and off hand.

I think that some of you were startled by the muzzle/porting flash and decided that because of that, the pistol was 'no good'. It strips down quickly and easily, cleans up a dream, is a great concealed weapon (yes, I'm a woman, and NO not in a "purse"), accurate and easy to shoot. As for them being "cheap, cheap, cheap" - mine was a Christmas gift, so I don't 'officially' know what it cost. But I do know that my Christmas gift (pistol, 2 mags, 2 holsters, reloading dies, 500 rds brass, 500 rds semi-wad cutter bullets for reloading, and 250 rds of full metal jacket ball ammo for target practice was well over $800 - 8 years ago. If I could get another setup for the same price right this moment, I wouldn't hesitate a second!

I am thrilled with my 'bang-bang', and carry it everywhere I go, and feel naked without it. And I can assure you gentlemen, I definitely can HIT what I aim it at - no matter the conditions or time of day.
 
Tell me that you'd want to shoot your ported gun from retention:
S_hip.jpg

:banghead:

Now, go shoot in low-light. The vertical fireball from that thing is something to behold. You can't possibly convince me that shooting that thing in low light isn't distracting and detrimental to your night vision.

And now for my favorite part...

And I can assure you gentlemen, I definitely can HIT what I aim it at - no matter the conditions or time of day.
Click to expand...

[Seth and Amy]REALLY??[/Seth and Amy]

And WFT is up with the Necroposting?!?!?!
 
Firing my V-10 at the retention position pictured is no problem.

Besides, if I had to use that position, it's because the badguy is already upon me, so HE will take the ported blast, not me.

Muzzle flash depends on the load used, as not all ammo displays the same amount of flash.
 
True, about the ammo, but with about 1" of barrel before the first row of ports, the fireballs usually come in the following sizes: "Whoa!", "Holy Carp!", and Mushroom Cloud...
 
I have a V-10 as my primary carry gun. I have shot ii in the dark no problem. Shot at dusk no problem. I also have the full size and love it. to me it the compack shoots like a 38 sp. If you are not going to buy it let me know where it is because i have a few friends that want one. thanks.
 
My first 1911 was a SA Ultracompact V10 with Hogue grips. I bought it used and neglected, she was stove piping and failing to go into battery. I put in a new recoil spring and dropped in a new Wilson extractor and honestly after that it ran like a new gun but by then I discovered the porting was just not for me.

Without hearing protection shooting it was agony, not just loud but more like red hot ice picks in the ear. I would never recommend a ported anything for a up close and personal carry weapon.

Springfield said they'd fit a non ported barrel for $150.00 but the chance to sell it came up right then and it was gone. No regrets.
 
Wow, this post is pretty old.

I still have to throw in my .02. I bought a the SA UC V10 about five years ago, and it was reliable for about the first two. Then the problems started.

I have about 5k rounds through it. It will not feed a 50 round box of 230 gr ball ammunition with at least one jam, and it will not feed three consecutive rounds of any HP ammo despite my best efforts. The main problem is that the rounds nosedive in the magazine, which I think is from the slide going too fast for the magazine spring to present the next round.
100_2837.jpg

I have replaced the recoil spring and guide rod with a new factory SA one. I previously tried recoil springs from Wolff. Mags are Chip McCormick or Wilson; the SA mags that came with the gun never fed from day one. I have tried Wolff extra power mag springs which didn't help. I have polished the feed ramp. I've been looking for an extra power mainspring to hopefully slow down the slide velocity, but there aren't any for the worthless ILS system. Not a half an hour ago I ordered a new mainspring housing for a Colt Officer model, which will do away with the ILS. I also ordered a 20# and 23# mainspring, of which I think the 23# is about factory weight, but I think the hammer strut may be shorter to accomodate the ILS. Time will tell.

As for recoil, the porting does take the snap out of the gun, but I will never buy nor recommend porting in any carry piece. It's not worth it. If you have to fire the gun in self defense inside your home or car, you will have very permanent hearing damage. You were wondering about flash?
CTonesnuclear1911.jpg

Do you really want that fireball coming out of your gun in a dark parking lot? The ammo is WWB 230 gr ball.

To recap: my UC V10 is a jam-o-matic that will not feed even half of a magazine with any HP ammo; it is about as blasty as a handgun can get; the fireball is the size of a small nuclear weapon blast.

The next option is to sell it and buy a full sized 1911, or to send it to SA and have them put a non-ported Champion slide and barrel on the thing.

I hope this helps somebody.
 
my .2

I've got to argue the fact about the noise being a factor.... (1) You were obviously shooting at a firing range of some sort so you shoould always wear hearing protection (2) in a high stress situation ie: having to draw your weapon for fear of you life, you will incur audio block and tunnel vision. I know, I've been there I had to make a split second decision and shoot someone with my .357 in self defense. The only noise I heard was a slight "pop" kind of like a primer going off. I don't even rember having to pull the trigger, it was all sub consious. So please dont base a carry weapon based on how noisy it is. I always go by 1st shot stopping power, size\weight, and lastly, but more importantly, reliability.

Just my .02 :)
 
TechBrute said:
What is it about this thread that makes noobs keep bringing it back? That's the third time this year.
Click to expand...
It's not really important, but I think I can answer that. A very photogenic display of a stainless steel weapon clearly identified as "V10 ULTRA COMPACT .45 ACP" is in an old post on a "Guns" thread on a Motorcycle-oriented forum. Noobs read old posts on some threads, see something they've never seen before, Google "V10 Ultra Compact" and this thread is the first return. And that's why!
 
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