Springfield Armory 1911-A1 Micro Compact a POJ?

[DzrtRat]

Hi guys,

About a month back I bought a Springfield Armory Micro-Compact in .45 ACP.  It's a neat little pistol.  Easy to carry, easy to shoot, and it shoots pretty accurately.

Today though, I took it out to do some shooting and on the last round from the second magazine, the guide rod (or whatever you call it that runs through the middle of the slide spring) broke.

Now I'm concerned about the reliability of this gun.  This isn't a gun that I bought for hunting or taget shooting;  it's meant to be my daily carry gun.  I may (hopefully) never get into a situation where I REALLY need it, but I'd hate to have it happen and have the gun break on me.

How reliable are the Springfield pistols?  Is this particular part known to break often?  I really like this pistol, but reliability is THE one most important feature for a carry gun IMO.  No matter how much I like it, if this pistol isn't any better than what I've experienced so far then I'll get rid of it and get something better.  (please don't tell me to get a Glock.  I've had one and didn't care for it)

Thanks in advance.

~Rat

[Mikey]

DzrtRat:  Your Springfield is reliable.  You do not need the guide rod, and many folks have a tendency to take it out and put it in a box, leaving just the main recoil spring in place.  The guide rods were originally designed with accuracy enhancements in mind.  My latest Gun Tests magazine ran a comparison on the Colt Lightweight Commander and the Springfield Compact, the bigger brother of yours I believe.  That was in the January, 2002 issue if you want to get on line and check the article for their findings at www.gun-tests.com.  

There have been other fellas who have complained about and then removed their guide rods.  Try your micro-compact without it and you probably won't notice a difference.  Some folks have said their 1911s shoot better without it.  I don't know if the Springfield guide rod is a one or two piec unit, I think it's two pieces, but it would be interesting to know where it broke.  Try it without it - you may like it better.  If not, complain to Springfield and have them send you a new one.  HTH.  Mikey.

[DzrtRat]

Mikey,

Thanks for the reply.  The guide rod on my pistol is a two piece unit, and it broke where the guide rod connects (spot welded?) to the guide rod head.

I wasn't aware that you could shoot this pistol without the guide rod so I do appreciate your advice.  I've shot guns all of my life, but I haven't spent a lot of time yet shooting the 1911 type pistols so this one's a new one on me.  I called (or rather, my dealer called) Springfield this morning and they put a new guide rod in the mail for me.  It should be here by the end of the week.  I'll try the gun with it and without it and if it shoots the same I'll likely remove it and stick it in the safe.

The pistol came with a lifetime warranty, and that's great, but I always figure showing that warranty to the BG while I'm holding a broken pistol isn't going to do me a lot of good.  I live within a few miles of the US/Mexico border so a dependable firearm is important to me.  On top of the criminal element that exists within this country we also have drug runners, border bandits (Mexican nationals who cross the border to commit crime), and a steady influx of UDA's (undocumented aliens).  I've yet to have to fire a gun in self defense, but a few times I've had to pull the gun and was ready to use it.  I sincerely hope I never do, but in reality the situation along the border is getting worse, not better.

Aw well, I've strayed from the topic, but thanks again for your input!

~Rat

[Mikey]

DzrtRat:  You are more than welcome.  Stay safe in that neck of the woods, I think you have a lot of Poncho Villa wannabees down there.  As for the Springfield, get another one and carry two - ain't nothin' faster than a New York reload when ya need it.  Mikey.

[DzrtRat]

Mikey,

Yeah, Poncho Villa wannabees on the mexican side and some Wyat Earp wannabees on this side.

It's funny how some people think that by moving anywhere near Tombstone they are moving back to the old west.  These days Tombstone reminds me of that movie "Blazing Saddles"!

Take care,
~Rat

[Savage]

DzrtRat,
While the compact SA might continue to function without the guide rod, I'd only fire it in an extreme emergency. If memory serves, you have two varible rate springs captured on the guide rod. The purpose of the guide rod is to hold the springs in alignment to prevent coil binding and kinking. If either one of these conditions occur, the weapon will cease to function, or at best, batter the devil out of your frame. I'd put it back in the safe until the new guide rod arrives.
Stay Safe,
Savage

[DzrtRat]

Thanks Savage.  Actually, the gun's sitting at the gunshop waiting on the part to arrive.

When it broke, I took the gun apart on the spot to see what had happened.  At that point the spring was in an awkward position and it didn't look like anything good would come from firing it that way.  With Mikeys post, I figured I had maybe missed something and that there might be a way to make it work.

I've thought about it some, and I'm going to give the gun another chance.  I'm going to put a lot of rounds through this handgun before I make up my mind whether or not to keep it though.  Any further problems in the next few months and I'll happily get rid of it for something better.  I have no doubt that I'll lose money doing it, but reliability really is worth more than the money I'll lose.

Just another lesson at the college of screw you!

I really do appreciate all the replies.  I don't think anyone knows it all about every handgun, but the collective knowledge of this board is awesome!

~Rat