It is a fine pistol if you're looking for a GI type 1911. That price is not good IMO for a used one, even "like new."

Looks like $720 is the lowest price (online) for a new stainless milspec.

 

...my nephew, who is in collage...

 

The current Milspec is a good gun.

 

Hopefully you can haggle that price

 

I’ve had nothing but great luck with Springfield 1911s

 

They aren't a bad gun to get started into the 1911 world....match barrel, carbon steel frame, . I had on and mine was reliable with HP and FMJ round but sold it when I got my Range Officer Operator.

$750 is overpriced for a used gun.

 

Just a little Pawn Shop rule... Never pay the asking price for anything... Take cash and do a deal.

 

Look it over hard. Springfield can turn out a dud just like anyone else.

Lousy barrel #1

Springfield’s ‘Mil-Spec’ 1911A1 | The Sixgun Journal

Lousy barrel #2

Springfield MilSpec Problem Child: 2012 Edition | The Sixgun Journal

 

2005 and 2012?

 

If he wants a Colt then I say save a while longer and buy one.
They will always be worth more $ then anything else in their price range.

 

The Springfield Mil-Spec actually isn't mil-spec. Tall sights, bigger thumb safety, lowered ejection port, and slanted slide serrations.

 

Back to the Gun Show thread - as soon as I walked into the gun show today, the first gun I noticed was a used Springfield Mil Spec. Had some gripping grooves filed into the front strap, part of the hammer spur cut off, a short trigger installed and who knows what inside. $750 firm. 🤣 😆 I guess it cost more than a mint one because of the custom gunsmithing.

But the Mil Spec is a Springfield Armory 1911, so I would never hesitate to trust one that had not been subjected to home gunsmithing.

 

.

 

Springfield Armory makes good stuff. CZ has recently bought Colt; and I do not consider the Colts as good as Springfield Armory's 1911's. Hopefully CZ can do the same magic on the Colts that it did on the Dan Wesson 1911's.

 

Now my nephew, who is in collage, wants a .45 1911. He insist on Colt. I told him it's north of $1000 now for a Colt.

So gents, your thoughts?

If he wants a Colt then I say save a while longer and buy one.
They will always be worth more $ then anything else in their price range.

A few years ago I decided I needed a stainless steel 1911. I compared the Colt and the S-A and the Colt was much better quality in my opinion.

I have been shooting 1911s for almost 60 years and the opinion from the senior community is get the pony. Colt will always be the standard.

 

Viking you're a good guy so don't take any of this personal.

Springfield is primarily an importer. They don't make squat. They do have remuda of competent gunsmiths gunsmiths capable of fitting top quality US aftermarket components to their imported guns, turning them into top quality pistols.

They are not nearly up to the quality of even entry level Colts. I have had top-name aftermarket barrels that wouldn’t shoot a bit better than a stock Colt barrel did, given a .003 clearance bushing. I had a bone-stock 1991A1 Commander that would plant five, 230 grain Federal HydraShoks inside 3 1/2 ” at 50 yards. It also ran for 3500 rounds without a single malfunction. There were no malfunctions with this gun, either. Hell, I’ll just go ahead and say it- replacing the barrel in a recent Colt auto is probably a waste of money which would be better spent on a case of ammo. The quality of Colt's barrels more than makes up for the price difference between entry level Colts and entry level Springfields.

 

You are wrong on so many points.

 

I don't own a Mil Spec, have never owned one, so take this for what it's worth. I've had two SA GI models, both of which were purchased about 10 years ago, maybe a little more. The first one was awesome, ate everything, shot accurately, you name it. Unfortunately, I only owned it for about 2 range trips and 3 weeks before it was stolen. 🤬 The second one was pretty much a jammomatic. It had to go to the gunsmith, who replaced a bunch of parts. It's been long enough that I don't even know what all he replaced any more. That said, it's been a beast (in a good way) since then.

If I could go back and do it over, I probably would have bought Mil Specs instead of GIs. If memory serves, the big difference between the two at the time was that the MS had a lowered and flared ejection port. Not that it's made a big difference in my life not to have it, but my guess is that's a relative expensive change to make in a pistol after you've bought it.

 

OP- I wouldn't hesitate to go with a Springfield. I don't "do" stainless 1911's anymore, but Springfield makes a good, solid gun.

FWIW, Colt has improved a lot over the last ten years. A lot of them show up at pistol matches I host and they are very reliable and they have a good following with some outstanding shooters.

 

I don't "do" stainless 1911's anymore ...

FWIW, Colt has improved a lot over the last ten years. A lot of them show up at pistol matches I host and they are very reliable and they have a good following with some outstanding shooters.

I always thought I wanted a stainless 1911 too. Because I remember in the 1980s a lot of companies popped up with stainless 1911s and they never worked out.

Actually nothing wrong with a nickle plated 1911 at the FOP BBQ.

 

I've owned enough SAI and Colt 1911s to determine that either is generally a win. Within both companies' GI styled entry level options (Milspec, O1991/O1911C) there seems to be a range of build quality. I've certainly had a couple Colts I wasn't impressed with, and a Springer that wouldn't run out of the box. Small things easily fixed. On the other hand, I have had very well made examples from both. Luck of the draw is a known risk at the lower end price point. One thing to consider is at least replacing the SA slide stop, which is a MIM part. Nothing against MIM parts necessarily, but the stress taken by the slide stop warrants a higher quality piece, IMO. On the Colt side, yes as Bradd D stated, the thumb safety fitment is atrocious.

 

A) The pistol is overpriced for a used Springfield imo. Take cash in hand and negotiate. Or shop elsewhere if possible, including the internet.

B) Right or wrong (and I tend to go with right), "the Pony" has a significant edge in resale value if that is a factor for you. That's not even debatable imo.

I'd tell him to save a little more, shop a little harder, take someone with him who knows 1911s, and buy a Colt.

Yes, I am a fanboy for Colt 1911s, but I didn't start out that way. I got there after owning SIGS, Kimbers, SAs, S&Ws, and Colts.

Just my $.02.

 

If you’re looking for a mil spec gun, check Rock Island and Girsan. They can be had new for $400.00+/-, and are good guns.

 

My buddy has had Springfield 1911 mil spec for several years, no problems. I guess you could get any brand with a issue. I have plain jane 1911s Colt Gov, Ruger SR1911, Kimber Custom 2 and cheapest Tisas US ARMY, never a issue out of them. I shoot for fun. Carry Glocks for edc. I love all 1911s.

 

Springfield is a joke in my opinion. Buy a name, mimic a logo, import lame guns, label a grip area, call a 1911 mil spec when it is not. Id be embarrassed to own one.

above all else they tried to screw illinois gun owners in the past.

Every Springfield thread i see, i do my best not to post my opinion but this hit me on a bad night.

Id rather buy any brand out there than a Springfield except for maybe Turkish brands.


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There is only one handgun that looks better in SS IMO and that’s the Beretta 92.

But absolutely, the SA Mil-spec is good to go. I have had one for years.

Toss the factory mags and replace with Mecgar, Wilson, or Checkmate 7rd mags. Replace the factory recoil spring with a +2 pound Wolff. That gun will now reliably eat any ammo you can find. I think SA ships them undersprung and I’m not a fan of the wadcutter mags they shipped with for years. Mine hasn’t jammed in years since I did the two above upgrades.

Don’t forget to keep the rails wet.