A 9mm 1911 for CA...The Springfield Loaded target...a review

[DirtyRussianAmmo]

Another SA 1911 9mm fan. Fun to shoot. Tack driver.

[splithoof]

I have one, and it is indeed reliable. My main gripes are two. One being that the front of the frame lacks checkering. The other is that the rear sight blade has very sharp corners. The sights are a copy of the old Bomar design and need to have the sharp edges slightly rounded. I also ditched the key lock mainspring housing and went with a traditional guide rod.
In its current form, my pistol now is very similar to what we paid a lot of money to a gunsmith to do back in the early 1980s. And SA has done a better job of it IMO.

[Zenderfall]

I agree with the above post, although ai have a few others to add.

No Front checkering on grip
Trigger pull measured about 5.5-6.0. Would like that dropped to 3.0-3.5.
Rear sight is a rectangle, should be rounded or have diagonal corner cuts
Key lock reminds me of Hillary Hole in Smith revolvers
Two piece guide rod (replaced with GI guide rod)

Still, an excellent gun for $865.00 new, shipped from Springfield. Accuracy is up there, almost on par with other accurate pistols including my M41.

[Scratch705]

I need to do the guide rod swap and mainspring replacement.

[splithoof]

I need to do the guide rod swap and mainspring replacement.

It is very easy to replace the MSH and be rid of that ILS junk. I have done that fix to a number of SA 1911 pistols. Interestingly on my version it has the ejector that is properly pinned. Some are glued in place. They all should be pinned.

[joefrank64k]

Well, just DROS’d my SA, and threw a couple of recent roster additions on the DROS, haha!!

That 03FFL/COE combo is a wallet killer haha!!

[XDJYo]

Biggest complaint on the SA 1911's in general are the lack of front strap checkering. You have to go upmarket to the TRP or Professional models to get it. I would LOVE to see a blued 9mm Range Officer with front strap checkering, although in a finer cut than the standard 25 lpi that they normally do. I do think they do a much better job on the Professional model though, it isn't quite as sharp as the ones on the TRP.

Doubtful the roster will fall (completely) soon. I put that in the same category as the mag capacity/AW/CCW/sensitive places ban.

[dilbert40]

Wilson Front Checkering Insert

Biggest complaint on the SA 1911's in general are the lack of front strap checkering. You have to go upmarket to the TRP or Professional models to get it. I would LOVE to see a blued 9mm Range Officer with front strap checkering, although in a finer cut than the standard 25 lpi that they normally do. I do think they do a much better job on the Professional model though, it isn't quite as sharp as the ones on the TRP.

Doubtful the roster will fall (completely) soon. I put that in the same category as the mag capacity/AW/CCW/sensitive places ban.

Why is this wonderful thing from Wilson such a secret? $10. Black or Silver.
I have them on all my lower-end 1911s.

Brownells. Even amazon has it.

https://www.brownells.com/gun-parts/handgun-parts/handgun-frames-parts/1911-checkered-front-strap/?sku=965100002

[XDJYo]

Why is this wonderful thing from Wilson such a secret? $10. Black or Silver.
I have them on all my lower-end 1911s.

I went the even cheaper route with a $8.99 3 ft strip of skateboard tape. I put some on my 1911 (SA Loaded since sold) and then put some on my totally rad deck bro!

[splithoof]

[QUOTE=dilbert40;28166161]Why is this wonderful thing from Wilson such a secret? $10. Black or Silver.
I have them on all my lower-end 1911s.

Brownells. Even amazon has it.

https://www.brownells.com/gun-parts/handgun-parts/handgun-frames-parts/1911-checkered-front-strap/?sku=965100002

If it was really made to last it would be better known. It will quickly become loose after any serious holster work in short order. Grip tape works better but is also a very temporary fix. On a stainless steel pistol having checkering done properly is not a big deal for a competent gunsmith.
I have seen this product attempted to be used at school during a basic pistol class. It was gone by the end of the first day. Most of that type of stuff is gone before lunch.

[BigPimping]

These are very attractive looking. They seem well-made and nice. However, I do not understand the advantage of these have over Glock 17 or Glock 19 if you?re going to be carrying something. I myself am trying to track down a Springfield EMP. But I don?t think I would ever use it on my CCW permit. Just too heavy and I?m not sure I could ever fully count on it.

[joefrank64k]

These are very attractive looking. They seem well-made and nice. However, I do not understand the advantage of these have over Glock 17 or Glock 19 if you?re going to be carrying something. I myself am trying to track down a Springfield EMP. But I don?t think I would ever use it on my CCW permit. Just too heavy and I?m not sure I could ever fully count on it.

I hear you, BP.

I wouldn?t carry any 1911/2011-style gun. Too heavy, bulky, etc for my tastes. They are purely range toys for me.

I carry a NAA .22 Mag revolver with Hornady CD ammo 24/7. I?ll carry a G27 once in a while.

If I?m out and about on a hike, and expect possible encounters with bears, etc, then I?ll carry a G20 Long Slide with Underwood ammo.

With that said, I still have all sorts of other pocket pistols because, you know, my G17/19/20/23/27/35 can?t fill every role, haha!!

[Angrysnarf]

Sexy

[XDJYo]

These are very attractive looking. They seem well-made and nice. However, I do not understand the advantage of these have over Glock 17 or Glock 19 if you?re going to be carrying something. I myself am trying to track down a Springfield EMP. But I don?t think I would ever use it on my CCW permit. Just too heavy and I?m not sure I could ever fully count on it.

There?s an EMP on the marketplace with a handful of mags. In Sacramento.


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[M76]

I got an SA Loaded 9mm used here on CGN years ago, was so disgusted that
it saw the idiot scratch at the PPT that I had it cerakoted magpul black