Steve Smith
New member
As many may recall, I sent my SA Champion back to the factory about 1.5 months ago for an accuracy looky-see. I had just started reloading, and I was actually paying attention to group size after owning the gun for over a year. I felt that it should have shot better than it was, since I was trying every reloading combo known to man. Dave Williams, head pistolsmith at Springfield, told me, "You have a lifetime warrantee...use it. Send it in and we'll look at it." SA paid for the express shipping both ways. After SA had had the gun for a week or so, Dave called. He advised that he was going to an FBI class, and if I wanted someone else to look at it, it would be taken care of in a week or so, but if I wanted him to look at it, it would take longer. "No problem, Dave, I want you to look at it." I said. That's why it took a little while. Anyway, he asked if there was anything else that I wanted done since the gun was there...I pointed out that the trigger wasn't perfect, but I understood that it was a factory job and I didn't expect perfection...he said he'd look at that too. About 3 weeks later, Dave called again, and advised, "I shot the gun, and accuracy was "borderline" so we're putting in a new barrel." Great! When the gun was ready to come back, he called again, and said that they had an extra match barrel, and they put it in...FREE! They also cleaned up the trigger. He said that it came out so well that he wished that it was his...Now I don't know if that's a little exaggerated, but it's still a good compliment on a gun! Anyway, on to the range report:
When I first handled the gun, I noticed that the slide was much tighter to the frame than it used to be. Also, I noticed the heavier match barrel was VERY tightly fitted to the slide. I'd say that the barell/slide fit is equal it the ledgendary "Les Baer" fit. The barrel locks up very well on both upper and lower lugs, providing absolutely no movement...the cone barrel is equally fitted to the slide. The trigger is, although about 4-4.5 lbs, so crisp that it feels like 3.5.
I shot the pistol today, with a selection of handloads. I shot 200gr. LSWC with W231 powder, from 5.0gr. to 6.0gr. loads increasing in .2gr. amounts. I shoot IDPA, and the 200gr. must go 825 fps to compete. My previous barrel demanded that I shoot 5.7gr. of W231 just to barely average 825fps on a 3 shot group. The new barrel allows me to shoot 5.4 gr. of the same with plenty of headroom on my power factor.
The best accuracy came out of 5.0 gr. W231, but luckily the next best accuracy was with 5.4 gr. Dave Williams had said that he expected the gun to shoot 3" 50 yd groups, and I believe it will...I wish I had a Ransom Rest! It outshoots me by a rediculous margin now. At least I have something to work on! I don't have an exact figure on accuracy, since I'm out of practice, but at 10 yds with my wrists on sandbags, I was getting 1.25" full magazine groups. That is way impressive to me. Three cheers for Springfield Armory and Dave Williams!
BTW, I should probably say that SA isn't in the habit of slapping match barrels in every gun that gets returned...however, they will try their best to make you happy. SA obviously does care about their customers, and I'll be buying more. Their Customer Service is awesome!
[This message has been edited by Frontsight! (edited July 29, 2000).]
When I first handled the gun, I noticed that the slide was much tighter to the frame than it used to be. Also, I noticed the heavier match barrel was VERY tightly fitted to the slide. I'd say that the barell/slide fit is equal it the ledgendary "Les Baer" fit. The barrel locks up very well on both upper and lower lugs, providing absolutely no movement...the cone barrel is equally fitted to the slide. The trigger is, although about 4-4.5 lbs, so crisp that it feels like 3.5.
I shot the pistol today, with a selection of handloads. I shot 200gr. LSWC with W231 powder, from 5.0gr. to 6.0gr. loads increasing in .2gr. amounts. I shoot IDPA, and the 200gr. must go 825 fps to compete. My previous barrel demanded that I shoot 5.7gr. of W231 just to barely average 825fps on a 3 shot group. The new barrel allows me to shoot 5.4 gr. of the same with plenty of headroom on my power factor.
The best accuracy came out of 5.0 gr. W231, but luckily the next best accuracy was with 5.4 gr. Dave Williams had said that he expected the gun to shoot 3" 50 yd groups, and I believe it will...I wish I had a Ransom Rest! It outshoots me by a rediculous margin now. At least I have something to work on! I don't have an exact figure on accuracy, since I'm out of practice, but at 10 yds with my wrists on sandbags, I was getting 1.25" full magazine groups. That is way impressive to me. Three cheers for Springfield Armory and Dave Williams!
BTW, I should probably say that SA isn't in the habit of slapping match barrels in every gun that gets returned...however, they will try their best to make you happy. SA obviously does care about their customers, and I'll be buying more. Their Customer Service is awesome!
[This message has been edited by Frontsight! (edited July 29, 2000).]