SA 1911A1 Milspec - good or bad? (pics added)

Riflechair

Riflechair

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Hello everyone
I was recently advised by a fellow rod and gun member at our recent vintage service handgun championship to sell my Springfield Armory G.I. milspec re-issue 1911A1 because "They have problems".

Can anyone here enlighten me why this might be?

I use the pistol for Military shoots and perhaps if I get bored of my XD-9 I'll use it in the odd ISPC or IDPA match. I was advised that the original GI issue 1911A1's were only spot case hardened in areas of higher wear instead of entirely case hardened. Was told the life expectancy of the average US officer straight off the boat had a life expectancy of 2 weeks. Therefore the pistols were of lower quality to suit production requirements.

I can't verify if this was true, maybe you guys can enlighten me? Regardless this SA 1911A1 is a modern replica meeting modern manufacturing protocols.

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Springfield Armory Milspec

That looks like a GI , given the military sights. I have a SA GI and like it fine, although the trigger and sights don't match the SW1911 I used to have. I certainly haven't heard of nor experienced any "problems" with the Springfield Armory GI. It is an excellent clone of a WWII 1911A1, with a better barrel and tighter lockup. Mine feeds HP ammo just fine. I seem to shoot low with it compared to my revolvers and Inglis Browning Hi-Power, but I think I am pulling the gun down with a not-so-ideal trigger squeeze. I'm sure that issue is my fault, not the fault of the pistol.

I did replace the grips with double-diamonds of a better wood, but that has been my only change.

Check www.1911forum.com for more info.
 
It's another great 1911. You may get a bit of hammer bite but that's about it. It's a replica of a 100 year old time tested proven firearm. If it fit the bill for the military the world over then it should work great for you and I. There is nothing fancy about any components on your GI. Everything is as basic as it gets. I had the same gun and it never had any problems. I shouldn't say that, the only problem it has is that it likes expensive .45 and a lot of it. I don't think that particular 1911 would be my gun of choice for competition though.
 
Yes its the USGI replica made by SA.
It doesn't have the spot case hardening that a lot of the original 1911A1's had so I was quite attracted to it. I've removed the GI grips and have some correct bakelite grips installed. These also have a titanium firing pin to boot.

I don't know what he was talking about and thought I'd talk to you guys to see if I was missing something.
 
Riflechair, the question you need to consider is if you have experienced any problems with your pistol and if so can those problems be easily solved or have they soured you on the gun? The original 1911's ejection port was undersized and the original sights were difficult. The front sight wasn't much more than a pimple on the end of the slide and second only in uselessness to the front sight on some military Hi-Powers. I thought the enlarged ejection port was now universal on all of Springfield's 1911's, and the sights are easily upgraded if you have an issue with them. Depending on the loads you run through your gun, you may want a slightly lighter or a slightly stronger recoil spring. The Springfield I had annoyed me in that the slide stop etched the parkerized finish, and none of my other 1911's did this (the pistol was bought used and came marred). If you get bit by the hammer spur, that too can be resolved by replacement or grinding. I had no issues with the extractor on mine, although some folks consider an upgrade to be important.

The Springfield Armoury manufactured 1911's are well made and are often the choice of those wishing to go the custom route from a complete gun.
 
Been thinking about one of the Springfield GI models myself. :cool:

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Just to be different, I'm kinda partial to the stainless model that Frontier has on their site....

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Bad news. It a cause yer bullets ta explode. Hemorrhoids too I hear.

I hope your "associate" isn't responsible for decisions of any consequence to others. Clearly a case of the "ID ten t" phenomenon.
 
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