SA Mil-Spec Stainless

[wswisconsin]

Saw a Springfield Armory Mil-Spec Stainless at Gander Mountain for $512.00 - on the 45 cal pistol shelf.

Is this a good/reasonable buy?

Is there anything I should watch out for, anything I should have checked before purchasing?

[BamBams]

The odds are in your favor of getting a decent pistol from Springfield.

The price seems fair to me, but I'm no longer in a position to get a current dealer cost for you as I quit my job as a gun shop manager recently.  They didn't seem to want to pay me for my work. *smiles*

With a brand new pistol, I'd ask permission to take it apart - just the top end, and check out the barrel fit and the bushing for looseness.  If you don't know how yet, then get them to take it apart.  I'd also push down on the barrel chamber (through the ejection port) while the pistol is locked into battery.  If I can push the barrel down with my thumb, then I get a little concerned about the pistol being too loose for me, of course, this test is a little subjective anyway.  Some pistol barrels can be pushed down A LITTLE and still be accurate enough.  I probably shouldn't have even mention this!  :grin:
 
I would dry fire it several times to see if the trigger pull needed much work.  If they won't let you dry fire it, then they don't know 1911s and it should be explained to them that, with this pistol, some dry firing can only improve it.

I would function check all the safeties, and the sear.

I'd check the magazines in the pistol to make sure they ejected smoothly when I hit the mag release button.  

Here's a great website for you.  I'd suggest reading over the "technical issues."  There is much more there than I could ever type here.

http://www.m1911.org/m1911dt.htm

Above all, make sure you get a good warranty!  If you take the thing out, and it won't shoot accurately enough for you, you've got to be able to come back on somebody and get quick results.  Ask about that.

Good luck, and please keep us informed.

[skpp108]

I just got one from GM here in Geneva, Il. for $459.

Is there anything I should watch out for, anything I should have checked before purchasing?

No, buy it and run. I was very impressed with mine. Almost as tight as my Kimber. Shot very well with factory ball right out of the box. Was able to keep most of them in 3" offhand at about 12 yards which is good for me. No failures of any type. The first thing I might change down the road would be the sights. Pretty small and hard to pick up on under certain lighting conditions but overall a great gun for the money. Also fired my lighter 200 gr. Rainier flat point target loads no problem. I might look for a better price, though-

[wswisconsin]

Finally got approval from the state of Wisconsin to pick up my SA Mil Spec parkerized 45 ACP from Gander Mtn.; only took 8 days!  I examined both the stainless and the black Mil Spec models - the parkerized one felt a little tighter, and priced better at $479.

Took it out this afternoon.  Factory ammo shot 4 inch group at 25 yards from a sandbag.  Now I need to find a good bullet mould so I can cast my own bullets and reload.

Any suggestions on a good, accurate bullet mould for the 45?

[mr.frosty]

:shock: i was looking at the springfields mil spec and the gi model and the salesman couldnt tell me the difference between the 2.
the one difference is the sights and since i dont know that much about
autos which would be good to ccw or just shoot for fun :bye:

[twodollarpistol]

:shock: i was looking at the springfields mil spec and the gi model and the salesman couldnt tell me the difference between the 2.
the one difference is the sights and since i dont know that much about
autos which would be good to ccw or just shoot for fun :bye:

I was at a gun show this weekend and two different dealers couldnt tell me the difference either. They both had G I models but no one had Mil Spec's. If I understand it right the Mil-Spec has bigger, as in better, more easly seen sights and the ejection port is relieved slightly. Also the G I's are parkerized and I think the mil-spec is armory coat finish. If I am correct about all this I would prefer the mil-spec. Either way I think your chances of getting a good gun is very high.