Wilson Combat vs. Springfield Custom Shop

[Jimmie]

I want to have my 5" SA Mil-Spec 1911 tuned and cleaned up a little bit. I didn't buy it to be a project gun, but, well, you know how that goes.

Springfield Custom Shop offers a "Defense Package" for $175. They say they will:

Deburr complete pistol internally, tune extractor and ejector, recut barrel throat and polish feed ramp, check barrel bushing fit, check headspace, install heavy duty recoil spring & buffer system, and tune trigger to 4.5#

Wilson has:

Standard Trigger Job, 3 3/4 - 4 3/4 lb (Includes #1 Competition Match Trigger) - $100

Complete Reliablity Package (less parts): Polish feed ramb & throat barrel; Polish and adj. extractor; Polish breach face; Adjust breach face clearance; Install recoil spring, Tighten ejector if necessary and Check chamber depth, adjust if necessary - $100

The two sound like the same work, albeit in 2 packages at Wilson vs 1 at SA.

So question #1 - showing my ignorance: Are these things even helpful? Or is it a lot of important sounding psychobabble that really does nothing but drain my wallet?

Question #2: Which would you use? Wilson or SA? Any appreciable difference? Both excellent work (which is what I expect you'll say)?

The price difference is moot and not really an issue. I'll have to ship to SA - I can hand carry to Wilson. And even if there's $50 difference, I'd rather go with the better shop.

Thanks for the edumacation.

 

[rcmodel]

You are looking at $30+ each way to ship it back and forth to Springfield.

Wilson does very good work, and you are getting a $16.00 match trigger thrown in.

Face to face conversation might be worthwhile, as opposed to long-distance phone calls & such.

If any further adjustments are needed, you are looking at $60+ shipping charges once again to send it to Springfield a second time.

All things considered, I think I'd go with Wilson.


rcmodel

 

[Jim Watson]

Is your gun not reliable?
If you bought it new, and it does not work, SA will fix it on warranty and probably adjust the trigger pull gratis.

 

[Jimmie]

No, it's not reliable. I had thought about the warranty. My fear was that they'd get it, shoot it, it wouldn't jam, and they'd send it back saying, "Couldn't duplicate," or something to that effect and I'd be out the $60 shipping with nothing gained. Do you think they'd go ahead and clean it up even if it didn't jam to help me out anyway?

And I do want the trigger cleaned up/lightened.

 

[Jim Watson]

Springfield has a teriffic Internet Reputation for "customer service" when they sell a defective product. Call 'em up. If they will pay the shipping you will not be out anything but the time if they can't fix it.
I would not pay them to fix a gun that I doubted they would fix on warranty.

So my recommendation is warranty or Wilson, no more money to SA.

 

[Jimmie]

I would not pay them to fix a gun that I doubted they would fix on warranty.

Logical enough.

 

[rcmodel]

Call them and find out.
It's free!

Phone # 1-800-680-6866

Tell them what the problem is, and ask them what they will do to fix it.

If it's a fairly new gun that never worked right out of the box, they should issue you a UPS or FedEx call tag so you won't have to pay any shipping.


rcmodel

 

[Walkalong]

My EMP had to go back to SA and they told me to ship via UPS or FED Ex and then they reimbursed my shipping. My EMP runs like a top now.

 

[Jimmie]

Cool. That's good to know. Thanks for the warranty tips.

So once I get the gun to 100% reliable and I want to upgrade parts, would you use Wilson or SA Custom Shop?

 

[obm]

Cool. That's good to know. Thanks for the warranty tips.

If you go with SA and they will fix under warranty, you might as well take adavantage of the free shipping and get some enhancements done while it's there.

So once I get the gun to 100% reliable and I want to upgrade parts, would you use Wilson or SA Custom Shop?

I think it's splitting hairs when comparing the well known custom shops. If I lived near Wilson, I'd take it to them for convenience and supporting local shops.

I've sent stuff to SA Custom and perfectly happy with them.

If you're impressed with American Pistolsmith Guild membership, a couple years ago SA had three smiths in APG...not sure if all three are still with SA, but Dave Williams is the head of SA Custom Shop:

http://www.americanpistol.com/guild_members_list.php