why the shortage on Springfield GIs? am I not meant to have a 1911?

[mljdeckard]

I wasn't aware that SA 1911s were ever IN trials against Beretta or S&W autos for a military contract. The contract that was awarded to Beretta was for a double-action 9mm pistol. In any event, that was over 20 years ago, and every pistol category has improved greatly, including 'vintage' design SA autos. Kimber didn't exactly fall apart in the trials for LAPD SWAT. In 1992, I switched out my unit's 1911A1s on WWII frames for new Berettas. I IMMEDIATELY had to start sending them back to support for problems, failure to feed, failure to extract, and soldiers taking them apart, playing with them, and damaging springs. I remember thinking, "These things aren't going to be around too long."

My Kimber has functioned flawlessly for three years. I had a Para Ordnance P-12 that I didn't shoot very much, but I never had a problem with it. I had a Thompson/Auto Ordnance 1911A1 that was junk.

GI 1911s are made to function with one kind of ammo. I'm going to suppose that a lot of these problems arise when people use non factory ammo that is something besides 230 FMJ. If this is not the case, then perhaps Springfield's quality needs to be questioned. I did my homework before I bought my Kimber, I have seen no reason to switch to anything else. I hate homework. $630 NIB.

 

[Walkalong]

GI Springer

I traded a stainless Colt series 80 for a parkerized Springfield in the 80's and have never regretted it. (I know, the Colt fans are cringing - think of it this way - I made one of them very happy.) Anyway It was 100% dependable out of the box and never let me down and I shot it a lot for a long time. (Sold it to my brother and am trying to convince him to sell it back.):banghead:

I have 2 Kimbers now and a loaded 5" Springfield. Two are 99%+ reliable and the 3" CDP is 100% reliable. The 4" CDP has an external extractor and it had to be replaced, but other than that and a little polishing here and there they are box stock. Not bad.

Any company can put out a bad gun, but all the big ones will make it right. I agree with the above post. The GI Springer is a great base gun. Don't give up on it. The reason I want mine back is it was so dependable. Thought I could spend more money and get a better gun. More accurate, but not neccesarily more dependable. I can't shoot that good anymore anyway. Old eyes are a B#*#*

 

[foghornl]

Don't own a Stainless Steel model, but I do have a Champion and a GI-45. Had a magazine issue with the Champion (wrong spring), but got that sorted out with assistance from THR's own "1911Tuner".

After the mag-spring issue, no other problems with either one. The GI-45 even works with a lot of different defense ammo...Golden Sabres, WinWhiteBox HP..anything I feed it.

 

[cavman]

I just checked Bud's

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/21_24

And he has one for $428.


cavman

 

[Hero Gear]

SA has been a complete PITA this year.
Their order fill rate must be below 50% at best

It doesnt matter if I check inventory with the 3-4 largest gun distributors in the industry, or if I source direct. Bottomline: SA is having a horrible time filling orders and keeping product flowing to the market.
(if fact, I lost a very large LE dept. order for XDs because SA couldnt deliver in less than SIX MONTHS!)

Part of these problems may be a result of limitations in production.
Perhaps things are good for SA, and they are selling more guns than they can produce. Good for them.

The OTHER problem (from a dealer's standpoint) is that SA has had some very agressive dealer promotions over the past year (I can think of 4 off the top of my head) that many web, bigbox, and garage based FFLs have bought in to in a very big way.
They then turn around, and whore themselves (and the guns) out via the web at below dealer costs.

Result?
1. kinks in the supply chain. non-traditional "dealers" buy in big on these promotions, stock pile guns, and then flood the market at super low prices.

2. traditional gun STORES (yeah, the kind you grew up going to with your dad) has a very hard time stocking Springers for their customers to come in and actually touch, see, and feel.
When asked to special order a Springer by a potential customer, that dealer has an almost impossible time finding that gun for their customer.

Case in point:
Today (28 Nov 2006) if you were to check real-time inventory of two very large distributors (Ellett and RSR, each who do hundreds of millions in sales each year) for SA 1911s, the ONLY guns that actually come up as available are a few TRPs.
So if 2 of the largest players in the industry can do nothing but offer a few TRPs to their dealers, it doesnt take a genius to figure out something in the system isnt working as it should.

/rant :banghead:


Anyway, good luck in your seach for a GI or Milspec gun These guns have been very popular with people wanting a quality no frills 1911, and those wanting a great platform to build their dream gun on.

 

[carterbeauford]

Thought long and hard and finally orderd a Rock Island from Classic Arms for $320. That will leave me some money to play with in the future, I am planning on buying crates of milsurps once my C&R arrives, and a .22 target pistol. Read nothing but good things about the Rock Island and too many mixed reviews on the GI to pay $500 for one right now.