Author Topic: Smith & Wesson or Springfield 1911 ??? (Read 1560 times)

NYH1 · « **on:** April 07, 2005, 10:23:25 AM »

I'm going to be buying two 1911 45 ACP pistols. One for my father and one for myself. I want the same models for both of use with the exception being my dad likes blued or parkerized and I like stainless steel and/or Bi-Tone. The pistol's will be use for plinking mostly, but may see some "concealed carry" use as well. I was looking at both Smith & Wesson's "SW1911" and Springfield's "Loaded FULL-SIZE 1911-A1". I think I'm leaning towards the Springfields. The Springfields come with an "ambidextrous safety" and my dads left handed. Are these two manufactures on par with one another or is one better then the other? I heard a lot of good things about Springfield's 1911's. I haven't heard that much about Smith & Wesson's 1911's. Here are the model's that I'm looking at.

Smith & Wesson-
SW1911
#108285- carbon steel http://www.firearms.smith-wesson.com/store/index.php3?cat=293609&item=1205495&sw_activeTab=1
#108282- stainless steel http://www.firearms.smith-wesson.com/store/index.php3?cat=293609&item=831452&sw_activeTab=1

Springfield-
Loaded FULL-SIZE 1911-A1
1911-A1 PX9151L- stainless steel http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/pistols/PX9151LLarge.jpg
1911-A1 PX9104L- bi-tone http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/pistols/PX9104LLarge.jpg
1911-A1 PX9109L- parkerized http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/pistols/PX9109LLarge.jpg
1911-A1 PX9154L- tactical combat black stainless steel (if it cames with the "ambidextrous safety" it isn't shown on the web-sight) http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/pistols/PX9154LLarge.jpg

Thanks in advance !!!

NYH1 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 07, 2005, 10:49:50 AM »

Quote from: New York Hunter

1911-A1 PX9154L- tactical combat black stainless steel (if it cames with the "ambidextrous safety" it isn't shown on the web-sight) http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/pistols/PX9154LLarge.jpg

Springfield sent me a return e-mail and said it doesn't come with the "ambidextrous safety". Can one be added pretty easily?

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 07, 2005, 12:31:11 PM »

I am a S&W nut but, I like the Springfield's. You can buy an after market ambidextrous safety, and it can one be added pretty easily.

HouseofCash · « **Reply #3 on:** April 07, 2005, 12:58:12 PM »

I do not know to much about the S&W 1911s so, I'm not going to give you any pros or cons. That would would be unfair on my part.

But, I know a far share about the SF 1911s. I own both of the 2 SF you posted in SS. I love them.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/pistols/PX9154LLarge.jpg

That is the newest of the 2 for me and I happen to like it the most. Comes with Novak's low mount night-sights 2 mags ext. ext. . It does not come with the "ambidextrous safety" like the other ss link you posted, but, I had one added to mine, took no time at all, I took it to my gun smith.

I will say that with both gun companys you are a getting a very stable history, a company that is not going any where, a great warranty and they are also very very proven companys, I do not think you can go wrong either way.

Shot what you like, what feels good and most importantly what you trust.

Dave.

HouseofCash · « **Reply #4 on:** April 07, 2005, 01:03:09 PM »

http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/pistols/PX9151LLarge.jpg

http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/pistols/PX9154LLarge.jpg

I noticed there was another SS link you posted, so to clear it up. These are the two I own.

Keep us posted on the news.
Dave.

TScottO · « **Reply #5 on:** April 07, 2005, 06:20:57 PM »

I havent had the opportunity to shoot a Smith 1911 but when comparing the Smith and the Springfield side buy side the Smiths are fit and finished better. I also feel the external extractor on the Smiths is a good improvement for the 1911.

For some reason or another, I cannot explain, Im just not a Springfield fan. I think, for the money or a few more bucks, there are better built guns out there. I own a Colt, Para (cannot really consider this a 1911 I dont guess), Kimber, STI and an Ed Brown but cannot bring myself to buy a Springfield. The only Springfield it would possibly buy would be the Champion.

The next 1911 purchase I make will more than likely be the Smith Scandium Commander size pistol. These are well fit, light, tough good shooting pistols. They might just be the perfect 1911 for CCW.

Here is a link full of Smith 1911 owners if you wish to read what people have to say about them:

http://forum.m1911.org/forumdisplay.php?f=29

Take Care,
Scott

williamlayton · « **Reply #6 on:** April 07, 2005, 11:53:53 PM »

I own neither, however; this does not make it impossible to have an opinion.
I have read many things concerning the SA weapons and almost to a person, these reports have been good reports.
I am kinda in the market for a 1911 and I believe I would get the SA if for no other reason than the price and the fact that as a base weapon it will be acceptabe to all the good aftermarket parts one wants/needs.
I would/will go for the SA.
There is one thing that turns me off about the S&W and that is the billboard on the side.
Blessings

HouseofCash · « **Reply #7 on:** April 08, 2005, 03:27:52 AM »

I kinda feel the same way about there "billboard" thing.

Dave.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2005, 12:14:21 AM »

my take on 1911s is that I havent owned a smith but have shot a few. Ive owned springfields and still have a couple kimbers. But the 1911s that ive had the best luck with have the word COLT on them. Every kimber and spingfield ive owned has been sent back to the factory for something or other and my colts seem to just keep on going eating up dammed near any ammo i put in them. Just cleaned the gold cup yesterday after over 1500 rounds of dirt bullseye powered loads and it never missed a beat it just go so grundgy that you could hardly tell it was stainless

I had an old combat commander that shot thousands of rounds and never missed a beat and like a dumb ### i sold it and bought a kimber pro eclipse and it took two trips back to kimber to make it reliable and it still isnt as accurate as the old colt was. I know theres lots of springfield fans here and ill probably get jumped on for this but the ones ive owned and shot have never been as reliable or accurate as the colts and kimbers ive shot. I had one reliable springfield champion that would eat any ammo you put in it but it was at best a 3 inch 25 yard gun and took alot of load experimenting to get that out of it and the ones that have shot well have never been reliable. The Gold cup will eat up any ammo even wadcutters and never miss a beat.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2005, 02:12:38 AM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale

my take on 1911s is that I havent owned a smith but have shot a few. Ive owned springfields and still have a couple kimbers. But the 1911s that ive had the best luck with have the word COLT on them. Every kimber and spingfield ive owned has been sent back to the factory for something or other and my colts seem to just keep on going eating up dammed near any ammo i put in them. Just cleaned the gold cup yesterday after over 1500 rounds of dirt bullseye powered loads and it never missed a beat it just go so grundgy that you could hardly tell it was stainless I had an old combat commander that shot thousands of rounds and never missed a beat and like a dumb ### i sold it and bought a kimber pro eclipse and it took two trips back to kimber to make it reliable and it still isnt as accurate as the old colt was. I know theres lots of springfield fans here and ill probably get jumped on for this but the ones ive owned and shot have never been as reliable or accurate as the colts and kimbers ive shot. I had one reliable springfield champion that would eat any ammo you put in it but it was at best a 3 inch 25 yard gun and took alot of load experimenting to get that out of it and the ones that have shot well have never been reliable. The Gold cup will eat up any ammo even wadcutters and never miss a beat.

My Springfield is the same way. Anything I feed it works. Never been back to the factory for anything.

myronman3 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 10, 2005, 05:28:00 AM »

my only gripe about the springer is the trigger. my buddy and i were shooting side by side, and i went from shooting my kimber to his springer. as i squeezed the trigger, it was on safe. so i went to put it on fire, and it was! the trigger is so stiff. my goodness, to get it to go off i would have to pull the hell out of it. i dont care for that at all. that said, the springer is very reliable. my other pal has a springer v16 that's bore is so marred up by the lousy machining of the ports that it wont shoot cast bullets at all. i want a bit better gun than this.