Experience Opinions on Springfield Armory 1911s

A

Anthony

New member
After reviewing the many versions of the full sized 1911 on the market, I've decided that the Springfield Armory Loaded series is the closest to what I am looking for and would therefore require the least work from a gunsmith.

How do the Springfield Armory guns stack up against the other brands on the market in terms of:

* Quality
* Performance
* Suitability for Customizing

??

Opinions??

Please don't tell me to do searching through the archives as I'm looking for current and experienced opinions about the 1911s Springfield Armory manufatures and sells now.

Thanks for the help folks.

- Anthony
 
I've had mostly good luck with mine. I had a problem with feeding out of the box, but SA had it back in my hands within two weeks of when I UPS'd it. Since then, over 1-2000 rounds with no problems not tracable to ammo (Cor-Bon and Winchester Win-Clean range ammo, due to shape of bullet).
As for customizability, I added an ambidextrous safety for weak-handed shooting and it went in and functioned properly without fitting. I use Wilson Mags, for the solid follower and extended base plate which helps get the mag seated all the way in. I got pinched pretty painfully using the flush factory mags with the flaring to the bottom of the mag well.
Accuracy: gun does its part (sorry, no numbers) just have to get the operator up to par.
For the features and service you get and the price you pay, a Springfield will do well for you for a 1911 clone. My main regret is that I got the parkerized model instead of paying a few extra bucks for the stainless. I've changed the barrel/bushing out with stainless Wilson just for ease of cleaning. Both just dropped right in with nice snug bushing-slide fit and no reliability change.
Good luck to you. :)
 
You get a lot of features for the money with an SA. $600 or less, with lowered and flared ejection port, flared mag well, aluminum trigger, beavertail safety, commander-style hammer, full-length guide rod (easily swapped out if you don't want to keep it), extended thumb safety and Novak rear sight. The downside (and there always is one): sharp edges. I've been quite happy with mine, that I have had for about a year and 500 or so rounds.
 
The guide rod in my new SA 2001 model was received with deep tooling marks on the surface. Yes, SA did replace the piece, but I had to wait two weeks before I could shoot a brand new gun (grrr...), and this minor QC problem made me wonder about the overall quality of the gun. Let's face it, a 1911 is not rocket science, and it's manufacture shouldn't be either.
 
I shot a rental at my gun range, at first I thought it sucked, it kept jamming, so I took it back to the desk and told them what I thought of it. The guy behind the counter took the Clip out of his personal Springfield and told me to try the rental with his clip.

All the difference in the world! Gun shot great!
 
Have a Stainless Loaded, a customized V-10 and a Professional in the house. All very fine handguns.

The largely box-stock Stainless Loaded has digested ball, Gold Dots and 185gr +P Magtech Golds with aplomb. Tackdriving accurate and (so far) 100% failure-free right from the box. Trigger is heavy, though, and it has that annoyingly blocky Springfield frame (I had it recontoured on my V-10).

Much, much better experiences than I had with GI-style Springfield many moons ago.
 
Springfield Armory 1911s

I have 4 of them and wouldn't keep buying them if I had trouble with them. Us good mags and they are some of the best guns you can buy. :D
 
CASPIAN, OF COURSE

High quality, mediocre-to-decent performance, superb base gun for customizing (its best feature!).
 
Not my gun specifically, but I've put many rounds through a V-12. Nice guns, well finished, likes ammo on the hotter side. As has been mentioned, the trigger is a little on the heavy side and the one I shot had a burr that disappearred after shooting it a while.

I'm contemplating picking one up myself.
 
My SA 1911 functions perfectly. The only thing I don't like is the flatter or boxier front strap on the grip compared to the more rounded strap on my Remington Rand or Colt. It's not a major problem by any means. It hasn't had any failures so far either.
 
I recently bought a Springfield Loaded and have put about 350 rounds through it. It has functioned perfectly out of the box using the 2 factory mags. The pistol is accurate and reliable. On top of that, it looks great, too.

I would definitely buy another one. (In fact, I'm considering doing that soon)
 
I have a stainless loaded and an ArmoyKote full-size TRP. I have not had a single problem with either after thousands of rounds.

The TRP is my normal self-defense carry weapon; I trust my life with it; there is no higher accolade.

Springfields are excellent 1911A1s, and mine compare favorably to my Kimber and pre-WWII MilSpec Colt. IMHO, Springfield produces first-class 1911A1s and provides the best value in the non-custom market.
 
I have a stainless M1911A1 in .45 acp. I tuned it up and have had it for five years. I carry it EVERY DAY on the "job". It has never failed me and it shoots great. If I miss the bullseye while shooting it, it is because I screwed up, not it.

You'll like the Springfield better then the Colt.

Clem
USMC Retired
 
I recently purchased a used Gunsite GSP2000. It's a lightly customized Springfield Armory full-size M1911.

I've since found that:

1) it doesn't lock back reliably on the last shot (even with a new Wilson Combat slide stop and good Wilson Combat magazines that are reliable in my Kimber).

2) it is significantly LESS accurate than my Kimber compact (with a 4" barrel).

3) the matte black finish is very delicate.

4) the trigger has G*d Awful creep. Ugh.

5) the grip profile is very, very blocky. Much less comfortable than my Kimbers.

6) the dust cover profile is wrong, such that it won't fit in many holsters (e.g., my Mad Dog Tactical Kydex holster that fits my Kimber and ParaOrdnance).

I've sent it off to a gunsmith (minus the slide). He's going to replace the slide, firing pin, extractor, thumb safety, grip safety. hammer, sear, disconnector, mainspring housing.

Other than that, I think it's great :rolleyes:

M1911
 
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