thoughts/experiences with springfield GI ??

[adrianleewelch]

I am considering purchasing the 5 incher in OD green, just for a no frills gun to put tons of lead through and neglect to clean !! Seriously I spend 2 hours cleaning the other pistols after each use and I want something that I dont need to be so anal about. Does anyone own one or have any experience with them ?? Is it a decent gun for 500 bucks ?? Keep in mind that Im not gonna shoot matches with it !

 

[Rob1035]

my shooting buddy just bought one, only about 250rds through it so far, but for the money its been great, totally reliable with cheap FMJ, more accurate than we are. The sights are a bit hard to use, but they do work.

 

[lycanthrope]

Yep, seen a couple at IDPA matches and they run, run, run.......

 

[bigmike45]

My GI WWII Champion shot so good that instead of buying another loaded model and taking the chance on its accuracy, I modified mine to suit my needs.

Accuracy of this little gun is above par.

 

[middy]

I used to have one. Accurate and 100% reliable. My only beef was that the ejection was erratic; right, right and back, or up and back to land on top of my head. Apparently the ejectors are a bit out of spec, but not enough to affect reliability.

I'd get the Parkerized model, personally, I think owners of OD pistols are going to be asking themselves a few years from now, "What the heck was I thinking?"

 

[Old Dog]

I'd get the Parkerized model, personally, I think owners of OD pistols are going to be asking themselves a few years fom now, "What the heck was I thinking

My thoughts exactly!

I love the GI, but mine was bought more as a keepsake, to remind me of my original issue pistol ... I'd spend the additional 100 bucks and get the parkerized Mil-Spec, take advantage of the better sights and lowered ejection port. I got my GI for $399 about a year ago, by the way. As far as I'm concerned, one of the best deals in the world on any semi-auto pistol ...

 

[GunAdmirer]

My stainless GI .45 has been totally reliable in the 800+ various rounds I have put through it. It is plenty accurate.

However, I would opt for the mil-spec unless you want something more like the original models. The mil-spec has upgraded features that you might want later on. The GI model can be upgraded but at a significant additional expense.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

I received my first Springfield Armory WW-II G.I. model .45 from a real
life THR member as a gift. Its a parkerized model, and has been 100%
reliable; with all types of ammo, including my handloads using a 200
grain hard cast Magnus L-SWC bullet. My second WW-II G.I. model
.45 is a stainless model that I bought myself NIB for $360. It too has
proven 100% reliable, using the same ammo. Is ejection erractic? You
bet'cha, but I can live with that~!

BTW, that are some handloaders that complain 'bout the Springfield
G.I. models dinging cases upon ejection. Yeah, this is true; but if
you have been handloading long enough, you should know how to
adjust your dies to take care of this problem.

 

[Lonestar.45]

I love my GI Champion. 600+ rds through it with zero problems. FMJ or JHP, it eats it. Like another poster said, sometimes you may catch empty brass on your forehead, but I've actually gotten used to it which is funny. I think it has something to do with the non-lowered and flared ejection port.

I paid $419 for mine. For the money, it can't be beat. Even with the no-frills sights, it shoots very accurately. I run factory mags, and Chip McCormick 8rd shooting stars with it, and have had zero problems. The only modification I did was buy a set of thinline Alumagrips. I thought about putting better sights on it, but it shoots so good now, and I'm used to them. Plus they really are snag free compared to higher profile sights. If it ain't broke, don't fix it right?

I do break mine down and clean it every 150 rds or so, but I'm sure it would go a lot longer than that without needing to. The action was just a little tight at first, but now it is smooth as glass. I'd highly recommend one.

 

[GunAdmirer]

Yes, the ejection is quite erratic and hard on the brass if reloading. My forehead has taken more than a few hits.

Okay, so how do you adjust your dies to take care of it? Sizing the brass takes care of most of it (except pointed dings). Anything else?

Mine has worked great with Wilson and McCormick mags and every major brand of ball and hollowpoint ammo. A friend has one and has had an equally good experience with it.

 

[Knife_Sniper]

Unfortunatly mine has allot of failures to feed.

I thought I was limp wristing so I strangled the thing and it would still FTF.

It is strange... the weapon chambers the round 9/10s of the way into the chamber and then it stops. A small push on the back of the slide with my thumb chambers the round. I beleive it may be that the extractor is tight and that is what is giving me my problems. Any way I can tune it?

FYI the gun is 600 miles away from me right now so I cant look at it.

The only other problem I had was that its integrated safety managed to start going to the locked position on its own. Is it hard to remove that blasted peice of worthlesness?

Thanks guys.

 

[GunAdmirer]

Your rounds may be out of spec. Have you tried other brands/types of ammo? I had that problem with some lead swc reloads. Pushing the slide forward slightly solved my problem too. I think the crimp wasn't tight enough for the round to chamber all the way..

The locking mainspring device can be replaced with a different mainspring housing and parts. I haven't had a problem with it. A local gunsmith told me he hadn't seen or heard of any problems with it. You might make sure it is assembled correctly, send it to Springfield for repair or replace the parts with the original type of parts. Springfield treated me right when I had a minor problem.

 

[NoahFN]

I have purchased 2 of these to lightly customize. Both were great in their stock configuration. I'm considering buying a 3rd to keep stock. They are a great value in the 1911 market IMHO.

 

[adrianleewelch]

It sounds like a good choice then ! I called my dealer this a.m. and had him order one. Thank you all for your input !

 

[lyricsdad]

I one one.. shoots nice. Once in a while, usually on the last round i get a Fail to Feed. I think its the magazines fault though, I want to upgrade my mags, other than that, if the FTF was not as prevelant, i would carry it.

 

[Sactown]

My bone stock SA GI needed extractor tuning. It wouldn't go 4 rnds without a jam. Since the tuning, it's been much better, but still not 100%. I may buy a new extractor in the future.

 

[Don of Kalifornia]

My wife bought me a WWII for Christmas two years ago. It's the best $400 gun I've ever shot. Infact it takes one of my Gold Matchs to out shoot it> One of these days I think I'll buy another and build a nice carry gun out of it.

 

[varoadking]

Mine is the proverbial tack driver...

 

[Boss Spearman]

Of the 1911s I've had (I just don't care for them) the Springfields in general, from the GI on up have been the best ones.

 

[Dienekes]

Bought an SA stainless Mil-Spec and a Ruger P97 at the same time about 18 mos. ago. The P97 is gone and not missed. The SA is a winner.

I should have known better than to stray from JMB-designed pistols.

 

[skeezix]

Quote from middy: "I think owners of OD pistols are going to be asking themselves a few years from now, "What the heck was I thinking?"

Well, it's only been 18 months and I am already asking myself that question :banghead:

Vigorous straight-up ejection and bent brass, but has shot all 13 rounds straight to the point of aim. Anybody want to buy a green gun?

 

[middy]

Don't forget one of the coolest things about the GI... vertical slide serrations just look so much better.

 

[lyricsdad]

I just got myself a kimber 8rd magazine, and it has fixed my last round not feeding into the barrel. Feeds flawlessly well at least for the 150 rounds of ammo i dumped through it. I ran Remington UMC 50 of them and 100 WWB. All fed perfectly. ejection, now thats another question.. i may purchase a new ejector and see if that helps any. Oh yeah I installed a new grip set, the pachmayer set wood with the rubber finger grooves. love it now. This may become a regular carrier, i just need some good leather for it, I got the fobus kydex holster for it, my local sheel's was out of leather for it.