Congratulations on the Springer.
You do know that owning and shooting 1911s is an addiction don't you?
Prepare yourself!

Originally Posted by L8models

I ended up getting the Springfield 1911-A1 Full Size, Parkerized. Also, picked up two Wilson Combat Magazines to dress it up a little. I will post some pics as soon as I shoot it tomorrow and get it back home and clean it.

Congrats on your new 1911! Springfield makes a great 1911 and Wilson mags are the best I've ever used.
Before you shoot it at least pull the slide off and run a patch through the barrel and oil the rails on the frame and slide.

Congrats. I took the plunge with a Mil Spec and also bought a couple Wilson 47D's. It's my house gun now. Have fun!!

Is there any way to get the barrel bushing off without the bushing wrench? It tight as I don't know what!

U da man!

It depends - after a while, it will loosen up. While the 1911 purists will come after me with a bat - I personally like the full length guide rod. But, I like the 2 piece 1. WIth the two piece, it can be easier to take the bushing out depending on the order that you disassemble the slide.

Should of had a wrench with it. They cost about $4.00 for them plastic ones. Congrats on your new SA Milspec. Sometimes thoes mags they come with just don't work right. That was a wise move buying them Wilsons to take with you. Don't forget some pictures and a range report on your new pistol.

After tomorrow... you will be a different person...

Suggestion... make sure your feed ramp is REALLY clean.

If it isn't polished - "smoothed up" - you may want to do / have it done soon, in my experience, this simple upgrade will eliminate / prevent a lot of problems you could have.

Originally Posted by L8models

Is there any way to get the barrel bushing off without the bushing wrench? It tight as I don't know what!

You should be able to push the plunger in with your thumb.

Yeah, after I posted about having problems with the barrel bushing, I made one last effort to wiggle it loose and it worked. Disassembled the whole gun, dragged a patch through the barrel and put some CLP on the rails. I think I may make a trip to Raleigh later this week and put some Wilson combat goodies on it. I haven't even shot the damn thing yet and I'm already wanting to play with the internals....gotta love the 1911. Thanks for the help guys, I appreciate it. Damn, it looks so good "locked and loaded"....hehe

Originally Posted by L8models

Yeah, after I posted about having problems with the barrel bushing, I made one last effort to wiggle it loose and it worked. Disassembled the whole gun, dragged a patch through the barrel and put some CLP on the rails. I think I may make a trip to Raleigh later this week and put some Wilson combat goodies on it. I haven't even shot the damn thing yet and I'm already wanting to play with the internals....gotta love the 1911. Thanks for the help guys, I appreciate it. Damn, it looks so good "locked and loaded"....hehe

The most common cause of malfunctions in 1911's is fiddling with them. You've got a very nice gun there. Very nice. Just about perfect, in fact. Please resist the natural temptation to start hanging Christmas ornaments on it. If a part doesn't work, then by all means, replace it. If you get feeding malfunctions, and you can see roughness on the feed ramp, then polish the ramp. But please don't put stainless steel ambidextrous extended mudflaps on it. Please don't polish something that is working 100%. 1911's work just fine if you leave them alone.

I've spent hundreds of dollars fiddling with my 1911's. I've also spent hundreds of dollars having gunsmiths undo my "improvements" and getting my guns back to where they were before I "improved" them. If you feel the urge to spend money, buy ammo!

Well, I can see changing out the sights and grips. And, back when I had a Milspec, I had the trigger changed out to a skeletonixed one, because I liked the look. But, I had a smith do it. U may or may not want a trigger job, depending on how your trigger is. That can vary for each particular gun from Springfield.

But, you have a nice 45

As for the bushing - glad ya got it to work. I have had ones in the past where ya really needed the wrench. But the Mil Spec ones can usually be turned by hand.

My Springfield 1911A-1 "Loaded"..........NOT mil-spec...lol

Nice gun!
Have you had a chance to shoot it yet?

Originally Posted by 2400

Nice gun!
Have you had a chance to shoot it yet?

Yeah, just returned from putting 100 rounds through it...BIG, BIG difference in the factory magazine and the Wilson Combat...Gun is more accurate than I am. No FTF's or anything. Hands down, the BEST handgun I have ever owned....I hope to get to the indoor range this weekend and put some more through it.

Originally Posted by L8models

My Springfield 1911A-1 "Loaded"..........NOT mil-spec...lol

Sweet looking gun. ENjoy it

Originally Posted by L8models

My Springfield 1911A-1 "Loaded"..........NOT mil-spec...lol

WOW that's a great looker. What I don't like about mil-spec is the tiny sights, so I'm sure your happy with the ones that came with it. I think springfield has the best looking 1911. Congrats.

Thanks for the compliments. It takes a act of congress to get the guide rod spring put back in place. There has to be a trick to getting it back to together quicker.

Originally Posted by L8models

Thanks for the compliments. It takes a act of congress to get the guide rod spring put back in place. There has to be a trick to getting it back to together quicker.

You'll get better at it. But you are right - even with practice - it will never be as fast to do as the newer models of semi autos where ya just pull something down or press a button

Originally Posted by L8models

It tight as I don't know what!

As a virgin? Had that problem once and use K-Y but I don't suggest using it on your gun like I did but I did shoot a wad.

My thumbs still have indentions in them.

Originally Posted by L8models

My Springfield 1911A-1 "Loaded"..........NOT mil-spec...lol

VERY NICE WEAPON... and "yeah" Wilson mags are nice upgrade I have 3 apiece for each of my SpringFields

Originally Posted by L8models

My thumbs still have indentions in them.

we are proud of ya ...

I have one question. Would it be a waste of money to upgrade to a Wilson Combat stainless steel barrel bushing and internal springs? The gun shoots damn good, don't get me wrong. I think that a stainless steel bushing would look good with that polished trigger. Then again, I almost hate to touch something that's already so good. Maybe a recoil buffer? I just want to waste money on this damn gun...lol Give me some ideas on what to do with this gun. Yes, I thought about wasting it on ammo too.

And please allow me to get on my soap box for a sec...

I bought this gun at Jim's Gun Jobbery, in Fayetteville. The gun was $659. Ended up costing $703.48 with tax. Ok, the Wilson Combat Magazine was $29 each. I also went down to Guns Plus, in Spring Lake, on the other side of Ft. Bragg. They had the same gun for $799 and the Wilson Combat Mags were $39 a piece. Not to mention, their selection of guns was pathetic. Didn't even come close to Jim's. You would think with all the radio advertising Guns Plus has on the radio, they would have better, competitive prices and a better selection.

Originally Posted by L8models

I have one question. Would it be a waste of money to upgrade to a Wilson Combat stainless steel barrel bushing and internal springs? The gun shoots damn good, don't get me wrong. I think that a stainless steel bushing would look good with that polished trigger. Then again, I almost hate to touch something that's already so good. Maybe a recoil buffer? I just want to waste money on this damn gun...lol Give me some ideas on what to do with this gun. Yes, I thought about wasting it on ammo too.

IMO, yes, it would be a waste of money to buy a stainless bbl bushing and springs. There is a chance that the bushing won't fit exactly right -- like a thousandth of an inch -- and you'll turn a reliable gun into an unreliable gun. Don't risk function for looks, or at your funeral, people will say, "But on the bright side, his gun looked good!"

Ditto springs. If your springs don't work, replace them. If they do work, for God's sake, don't replace them!

Recoil buffers are malfunction-inducers. Avoid them.

If your gun is the "GI" version with the teeny sights, there's where you can spend your money. Replace them with something decent, like Novak or Heinie. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, get tritium inserts. On the other hand, if your gun is the "Mil-Spec," it already has decent sights, plain black. They are fine sights that do not need to be replaced.

A trigger job is going to run you around a hundred bucks. Borrow a trigger scale from somebody. The trigger pull should be not less than 4 pounds, and not more than 5. If your gun has a 7 or 8 pound trigger pull (not uncommon in factory guns), then that's where you should spend your money.

A fighting pistol needs good sights and a good trigger. It needs to be reliable. Spending money on anything else is flushing money down the toilet. If the sights are already OK, save your money. If the trigger is already OK, save your money. If the gun is already 100% reliable, don't spend money trying to make it "more" reliable than 100% - that ain't gonna happen.

Looks? You're going to carry it concealed! Who cares how it looks?