Range report on SA Champion
At this time I have about 100 rounds through my new Champion after two lunch hour trips to the range.
I am still pissed at Springfield for the switch a' roo they have pulled on
this model. Their website shows this as being a cut down Standard Model 1911
which is what I wanted.
http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/pistols/PW9142LLarge.jpg What I got was a plain Jane GI version of this
http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/pistols/PX9142LLarge.jpg (note the lack of Barrel bushing).
Still I decided to give it a try. At the range I removed the slide Assembly
and lubed the beast, then loaded up it's mag with 7 rounds of very old brass
(which was left at the range) with my standard practice load of 5.8g
of W231 behind a 230 cast bullet.
Sights are NOT as good as my Kimbers. I can use them but will plan on
replacing them some day. My 48 year old eyes want sights a little
bigger then they did 20 years ago. It did shoot dead center and 1.5"
high at ten yards however.
Trigger, well they never seem as good on the range as they do in the store. A
little heavy and soft. Not as crisp as the Kimber.
Hammer bite. Yes now I remember why I like beaver tails on a Gov mode. 50 rounds
left a mark on my hand that I can still see and feel. A beaver tail is going
to happen to this gun. After the second day and 100+ rounds total, my hand was bleeding.
Thumb safety. Small and tight but usable. Very positive and easer off then on. A little long
one would be nice but will probably not be bought for this gun.
Ejection, Very positive but spent cases end up on my head, in my foforeheadnd to my rear left and right.
And one and so far only one flipped around and landed back in the ejection port, jamming the gun.
This was the only jam with this gun so far. I may take the gun to my FLG for a little TLC
on the ejector/extractor.
ReRelighibility99+ % (for 100+ or so rounds) so far. Still far from broken in.
I shot the Champion and my Kimber Pro Carry II side by side and like them both. The
Champion is if not a diamond, then at least an emerald in the rough. With a
few mods and a little work it will be a very nice gun and my replace my Kicambers my everyday
carry gun.
Steel frame vs the Pro Carry's Aluminum one makes the gun a few oz's heaver. The recoil spring is heaver then
the Kimbers. Perhaps as much as 3 or 4 pounds heaver. Does not have that stupid extra safety
that the Kcamberhas (sort of like the extra safety the Colt Series 80's have)
Grips work well. wtfdye, they are checkered wood! However they look unsealed on the back-side and one has a
faint crack. SA will be contacted, but I just might replace them with a nice set of Hogue grips anyway.
I'll keep it. And I probably will not make any changes to it until I have at
least one thousand rounds through it breaking it in.
