Springfield Range Officer in 9mm: Finicky but good.

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sharpie443

New member
Picked up this pistol a few months back. It seemed like a good way to break into more expensive target pistols. I might have to spend a bit in modifications but it would still not brake the bank.

So far I've been very impressed with it. It's certainly accurate. I'm getting better groups with it than my Beretta 92 or even my Hi-powers.

It is a bit selective about ammo. I've found this is always true with 1911s. The more tightly machined they are the more finicky they are about ammo. You get a trade off or accuracy. A loose 1911 will shoot anything but might not be a tack driver.

This problem is compounded with the lower pressure of the 9mm. The higher pressure .45 ACP will more easily hit the minimum pressure to get the pistol to function with most ammo. However the 9mm will require a better selection of ammo to function reliably.

Over all I'm pretty impressed with the gun. If you are looking for a good target gun I highly recommend it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2QRscz26v0
 
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Just because it's Friday, and Friday is the day to be picky about stuff,
9mms run at a much higher pressure than .45acp.
And "brake" is a different word than "break."
Don't you feel better now that we got all that straightened out.
I know I do. :)

P.S.
Thanks for the road test.
I've been thinking about getting a 9mm 1911, too.
And from personal experience, Springfield makes very good 1911s.
Enjoy yours.
Nice shooting.
 
You're using the term 'pressure' incorrectly.

Pressure, when talking about cartridges refers to peak chamber pressure. In this sense, the 9mm is a much higher pressure round than the 45 auto (9mm maximum SAAMI pressure = 35,000 psi; 45 Auto maximum SAAMI pressure = 21,000 psi).

You're describing, from what I can tell, recoil force, which is a function of bullet weight, velocity and powder charge weight.

Also, it's 'break' not 'brake'. And Beretta, not Baretta.
 
Interesting that your RO 9mm seems to be picky on ammo. Mine eats everything I've fed it so far without complaint. I found mine orders to be run a little wetter than I had oringnally started with it. I just keep a can of the spray lube in the range bag in case the slide starts to act likes it's getting sticky.

I do love the RO in 9mm though. More accurate than I am and a very soft recoil. I swapped my grips for The Hague rubber grips, which only made it shoot softer. Overall, it's my favorite of my small collection.
 
Was joke.
Apparently not a very good one.
Referring to all the corrections and criticisms to be expected.
Can't get away with nuttin' around here even when folks know exactly what you meant.
Just the nature of the beast.
Don't sweat the small stuff.
 
I have the Springfield Loaded 1911 in 9mm. It has run very reliably and is an absolute joy to shoot. I believe it is pretty close to the Range Officer based on what I've been able to find, minus the ambidextrous safety. Mine is the stainless version with the match barrel. I know that 9mm runs the gamut from 115 grain to 147 grain (common weights). I'm not sure why you would have reliability issues since it seems my recoil spring is fairly light. I'm guessing the heavier slide off sets the lighter recoil.
 
I've had a 9mm Range Officer since they were released, probably 1k rounds through mine.
Not a picky pistol, I use Metalform magazines and get fine reliability from them.
I'm usually shooting 120-145g coated bullets, loaded to minor power factor.
 
Same here, my RO runs anything I shove down its throat.

Like the energizer bunny, just keeps on running.
 
From what I've seen on the range, heard from shooters and talked to a gunsmith about, the 5" 1911s in 9mm sometimes run into trouble with the power level of various 9mm ammo. It seems to be mostly a matter of recoil energy, where the lighter 9mm loads don't always have enough kick to cycle the action smartly.

Otherwise, everybody seems to really like shooting them. Low recoil, inexpensive ammo and a noticeable capacity advantage over the .45 models. What's not to like?

Incidentally, a gunsmith told me the .38/9mm and .40/10mm 1911s were generally less picky in bullet profile than the .45s, in his experience.

(Also, my "sub-caliber" 1911 is a Colt's Super .38 Automatic. I can't walk in and find ammo at every shop, nor can I scrounge brass at the range. But it definitely generates enough oomph to cycle a 5" slide! :cool: It might get a 9mm conversion barrel someday.)
 
I have a 5" 9mm RO and it runs everything without failure; 115, 124, 147gr, RN, JHP, etc. Over 2000 and no failures. However I do have a 5" 9mm Remington R1 Enhanced and it won't run anything from the above list and has a 25% failure to cycle rate. The pistol has been back four times and no change, Remington says nothing is wrong. The problem is they put a 45 extractor in a 9mm pistol. They were told the problem but can't fix it? I bring this up as any pistol can have an issue and it depends on how a company resolves it. I would call SA and speak to their Customer Service. If 9mm 1911s are manufactured correctly they can and should run and cycle fine.
 
There's so many manufacturers making 9mm pistols and even more making 9mm ammo.
It's not surprising to find irregularities with both.
It probably rivals .22 rimfires in that regard.
 
Hello Sharpie, Just a comment or two about 1911s being selective about ammo, especially those finicky tightly machined ones. I'd have to agree that some of my 1911 type pistols, mostly Colts,from the '70s to mid-'90s were not too functionally reliable. But over about the past 20 years I've begun to experience excellent reliability with most major manufactuer's 1911 types in 9MM,10MM, 38 Super and .45 ACP. Most of mine are rather tightly/closely fitted, a couple looser. They all work with the same boring reliability. IF my 1911s were finicky, believe me, I would have no interest in owning them. Everything comes after reliability for me.

BTW P-990, I've seen several reports too of people experiencing issues with 9MM 1911s, trying to use the most lightly loaded factory or reloaded ammo, and/or cheapest ammo they can find. Then, wondering why their, sometimes expensive, guns don't function reliably. My 9MM 1911s of the last nearly 20 years, 3 9MM Kimbers, an STI 9MM,a 38 Super/9MM Colt conversion, and a current Kimber 38 Super/9MM conversion, just work. But extraction and ejection certainly can get a little lazy with some lightly loaded ammo. I think many shooters are unaware that their 9MM slides are the same weight as .45, 10MM,etc. slides, and Wimpy 9MM ammo may not perform up to their expectations......


PS, attached a gratuitous photo of some tightly machined, and a couple looser, 1911s. All just work. Really Boring. You'd think they were Glocks or something;)
 

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I have 9mm 1911's made by Kimber ( a 4") and Wilson Combat a 5"....and they have no problem with any ammo...( from 115gr to 147 gr )/ including lower velocity ammo - some that I reload in 115gr.

I think whatever ammo issues you are having...may be related more to your mags ..than the ammo.

1911's in 9mm....when they are well made ( and the Wilson Combat 5" Protector model I have ...is tight / and very accurate with 1" groups guaranteed at 25 yds )...and it has always run 100% with all kinds of ammo.

I have buddies with 9mm 1911's ...from Wilson Combat, Springfield and Kimber...and they are all running 100% with a variety of ammo as well...so in general, there is no reliability issue with 1911's in 9mm.
 
I have on older Springfield 1911 9mm and it is a favorite of mine. The first center fire handgun I ever shot was my Dads Colt Commander in 9mm, it was memorable for me and was a no brainer when I finally found a 9mm 1911 I could afford. Mine will shoot 115, 124 & 147 grain with out any problems. You may just need to get out and shoot it some more to break it in to get it running smooth.
 
my experience is quite different. I own the RO in 45 full sized and 9mm compact sizes. they've both run like tops although I will say the design and construction is much different on the compact than it is on the full size, perhaps the 9mm full size retains the traditional 1911 internals and suffers for it? not sure. if I could find a decent AIWB holster for the RO I would replace my current rotation in a heartbeat but alas that's a tall order apparently.
 
We have several SA 9mm 1911 Loaded Target models. Our very light loads get by with an 8 lb. recoil spring. With FP bullet profiles the first round chambered may stick on the feed ramp, but there is never an issue once the gun is "primed" We had our first hard failure on my wife's competition gun at 60K rounds, a hard lock-up possibly due to a broken link pin. The gun is back at SA for warranty repair.

This is pretty low mileage for this sort of failure, but SA's customer service is great.
 
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