Advice on Springfield Mil-Spec 1911

[Alex Quiroz]

[TomReloaded]

Get a flat firing pin stop. They're dirt cheap, easy to fit, and make a significant difference.

I think a beaver tail is a must, but that's a significant job.

[CWL]

Why don't you shoot it first? Shoot it enough to get comfortable with it so you will understand what works or doesn't work for you. Then you will be ready to swap parts & upgrade.

I want you to save your money. I buy SA mil specs and use them as base guns for full house customs, I will throw $Ks into each build but I know what I want and why I want it, not because strangers online push something.

[simonp]

[snacks]

i like wilson mags or CMC mags. Metalforms are good as well.

Lots of ammo. i like shooting it the way it is. Once you've shot it a few hundred rounds you'll get an idea of what you want to change out. Most people change out to an extended beavertail but it does take a smith to do the mod.

I kind of like the Beavertail that colt uses on their commander and bob the stock hammer so you don't get hammer bite on your hand.

The nice part of the milspec it's fairly easy to change out to nigh sights if you want to. Just make sure the smith knows which size tenon to use to stake the front sight.

Have fun thats a nice platform to build on.

Here is an image of the BT with commander ring hammer

http://www.harrisoncustom.com/Media/Gallery/DSC06569.JPG

[Alex Quiroz]

[G-forceJunkie]

Why would yo buy a basic 1911 when you want a bunch of upgrades? For not much more money you an buy a 1911 with the common upgrades: sites, extended saftey, beavertail, commander style hammer, etc. for less money than your going to spend modifying that pistol.

[Alex Quiroz]

Why would yo buy a basic 1911 when you want a bunch of upgrades? For not much more money you an buy a 1911 with the common upgrades: sites, extended saftey, beavertail, commander style hammer, etc. for less money than your going to spend modifying that pistol.

[simonp]

Why would yo buy a basic 1911 when you want a bunch of upgrades? For not much more money you an buy a 1911 with the common upgrades: sites, extended saftey, beavertail, commander style hammer, etc. for less money than your going to spend modifying that pistol.

[ChampCarStar]

I don't have a Springfield 1911 Mil-spec, but I do like the standard 1911s.

All of the ones I own are either 1911 or 1911A1s that were in service. The youngest one I have is my Colt from 1944.

As far as magazines, I'm a traditionalist and don't use these guns as primary home defense weapons. Extra capacity is not needed for me. I tend to use the original mags on my guns, but if I do want to load up extras I have used the Mec-Gar 7rd mags exclusively. They work perfectly and with my Big Daddy Unlimited membership I was picking them up for $13.00 a piece.

I just prefer mags that are close to the original issued mags from WWI or WW2. Fixed baseplate with no extension. Great mags for the range.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

As a Lefty, an ambi safety is a must for me. But as stated above, give it a good range session before making any changes. It is a great pistol out of the box. I don’t care for the cheap magazines that come with it. My 1911 loaded came with those and I never bothered to use them.Eight or ten round mags from WC, CMC, and Mecgar are a much better choice.

[Cowboy T]

Those who say leave it as is and get to know it at the range are right-on. Mil-spec guns work, and personally, I like the look of the military configuration. It's classic and timeless.

As for magazines, I like the ones from the CMP. Yes, the CMP sells military-surplus 1911 magazines! Of course, they work very well, as you'd expect.

[Milsurp Collector]

I think the parts that most need upgrading on a military-style 1911 are the sights. If you are not planning on carrying the pistol I would get fiber-optic sights rather than tritium night sights, for example but not limited to

https://www.amazon.com/Springfield-Fiber-Optic-Sight-Front/dp/B01LY2Z985

There are a wide assortment of 1911 grips. What you choose is a personal decision. For example, just one company, Hogue, offers grips made from exotic woods, rubber, aluminum, synthetic ivory or pearl, and G-10 laminate

https://www.hogueinc.com/grips/1911-grips/government-commander-clones

I like the extended magazine release offered by Wilson Combat

https://shopwilsoncombat.com/Magazine-Release-Extended-Blue/productinfo/31B/

If you are left-handed an ambidextrous safety is a good addition, but if you are right-handed and the pistol isn't going to be used for carry or home defense I wouldn't bother with the ambidextrous safety.

Some people like an extended slide stop but I usually use my left thumb to release the slide stop so an extended slide stop is superfluous for me. I installed one on one of my 1911s but I ended up removing it.

There are several makes of good aftermarket magazines available and many are 8-round capacity

https://shopwilsoncombat.com/8-Round/products/371/

https://www.cmproducts.com/Full-Size_c_50.html

https://mec-gar.com/product-category/magazines/1911-fullsize/

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[GeeBee49]

I shot my Colt 1991 mil spec for years without any problems and that includes stock magazines. Last year I picked up a Kimber Custom II and a Springfield 1911 Loaded and both came with a few basic upgrades.
To me, in 1911s, lever actions and single action revolvers I prefer the traditional approach. The only 1911 upgrade I appreciate is the extended beavertail because I have big hands and if I'm not careful I'll get bit.

[elSquid]