[VaughnT]

I guess I shouldn't have expected better out of a less-than-expensive sidearm, but I did and now I want to upgrade.

Originally, I thought to simply sell my loaded and buy something better, but now I'm thinking of simply having the pistol-in-hand tricked out.

What I'm looking to do is as follows:

Fill in the forward slide serrations (or replace the slide entirely).

Add Ashley sights (non-useable rear sight one more reason to replace the slide)

Overall reliability. I've seen a lot of wiggle where I don't think wiggle belongs. Is that barrel link supposed to flop around on the slide stop?

I haven't seen many SA guns that are stock (all the local smiths own them and tinker incessantly) so I can't say how my weapon compares to them. I have put it up against customs and there is no comparison; that Les Baer compact I passed up a few years ago still sticks in my mind as a faux pas of serious magnitude.

Anyhow, do you think it would be better to send it back to SA for work? Or should I just send it to a smith like Clark or Burns?? Or...is this Fate's way of telling me to buy another gun?

Thoughts?

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When reason fails...

 

[LW McVay]

Regarding your question about how good is the SA Custom Shop:

In a word.....SUPERB!

To say anymore would be to waste time.

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"Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never do less." - Gen. Robert E. Lee

 

[MD from CT]

VaughnT --

I certainly understand your desire to have your pistol spiffed up, but I'm not sure I understand what's wrong with it as it is. To me, "reliability" means feeding and firing rounds, not tightness of parts fit. Having a tight fit between the slide stop and the hole in the barrel link serves no purpose. Not for accuracy, not for reliability. What's important for accuracy is that the lower lugs of the barrel stand up firmly and evenly on the slide stop pin when the slide's in battery. If you can push the barrel hood down while the slide's in battery, accuracy will suffer. The link just serves to pull the barrel down out of engagement with the upper lugs when the pistol cycles.

Does the pistol have reliability problems? What's wrong with the rear sight? If you want a custom gun because you want one, go nuts! Sometimes, though, I think people lose track of how well stock 1911's really work, and are made to feel as if their pistols are inadequate because of all the hype over slicked-up guns.

-MD

 

[VaughnT]

MD, I'm sitting here with the weapon stripped down so that I can see what I'm saying as I type it.

The slide stop pin does not contact the bottom lugs. Instead, they long-linked the barrel so the top lugs mesh with the slide(the corners of the top lugs are rounded and dinged). There is a lot of wear on the slide stop pin as well as the bottom of the link wear it's apparently hitting the frame.

Also, the sides of the bottom lugs where they join the barrel are scored from slicing across the dado cut for them in the receiver. The gap between the receiver and either side of the bottom lug is immeasureable. The polished metal and fine shavings in this area also indicates wear. I wonder how long it will be before the lugs shear off.

I already had to send the weapon back once to have the thumb safety recut so the hammer wouldn't fall to half-cock and that hurt my confidence in the maker. What does more damage, though, is that these other flaws would have been overlooked.

As I explained to SA when I sent it back, this was to be a duty weapon. Unfortunately, my belief in the weapon is such that I would hesitate to use it even as a club. Now what I have to decide is, can SA renew my faith be repairing this piece, or should I simply demand a refund and go with a better maker? Should I just send it to a good smith like Clark or Burns? Is the weapon really worth it considering what might have to be replaced?

As for the sights, I simply want something better. Those black-on-black novaks are worthless for real world fighting (98% of engagements occur in low-light).

As always, your thoughts are welcome.

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When reason fails...

 

[Guest]

VaughnT:
I must say that I was flabbergasted when I read the condition of your SA "loaded" pistol.I have four SA pistols and all of them are excellent-my personal favorite-the Trophy Match-will group as well as any of the high-dollar custom guns guys at the range I go to have.
I've had work done at the Custom Shop on three seperate occasions-each time the work was as high in quality as any I have seen.
You should call their customer service dept. and express your concerns-they may want to take a look at the pistol and repair any problems free.

 

[topstrap]

I'm really surprised that your SA is not up to snuff.... I have your basic loaded..... it's had thousands of SWC stuff thru it and has never....repeat never failed to cycle and function reliably other than twice I jammed a cheap SA 10 rd. mag too far in on an open slide and it jammed. Mags fault, not the gun. The magazine didn't have a stop to prevent this... Better mags and that solved that problem.

I'm relatively new to the action style of shooting but have shot silhouette since the early 80's and as far as accuracy... the loaded shoots good enough out to 100 yds to hit the little rams every time if I can hold it. How much more accuracy do we really need? The farthest target I've seen at the action matches I've been to is 25 yds and they are awfully big. I've got a friend that has a Les Baer Premiere II and this gun will shoot just as accurate and is every bit as reliable.... It doesn't look like we need adjustable sights for the size target and the distances we shoot.... A better front sight (fiber optic) and a dovetail slide to put it in would have been more appropriate but as long as it shoots to point of aim at 15 yds.... what more is needed? It appears that you have got a bad one, but I'm more than happy with mine..

Topstrap

 

[Guest]

Send it back!This sounds like poor fitting to me from what I've gathered of the loaded.I've had two earlier standard models that were much worse than this.One for instance was a failure to feed and the slide couldn't be removed.When I got it back,the slide did come off(front rt frame rail too wide),and they throated the piss out of the barrel.Problem was they didn't check it to find out the breach face was narrow enough to prevent 95% of any ammo to slide up the face,so I said screw it and fixed it myself.Although I haven't tried a Loaded,I'm pretty much done with SA.A Brown safety looks bad on their tang cut,and both were tight at the rear of the trigger stirrup channel.Trigger works fine in normal travel+,but is pretty tight to pull out of frame.Just my experience with them-but they both were made at over 5-7 years ago.

PS. I really don't think the custom shop touched the one I sent back,probably a lineman,but don't know or care anymore.

 

[regionrat]

I can not answer your question just yet. As some may remember I had concerns about a loaded model back in July. I shipped it off to Springfield for warranty work on July 26th. I figured while it was there I would have MMC adjustable night sights installed and have a carry bevel package done to it. I am waiting to get it back and shoot it before I post anything. Stay tuned.

 

[Guest]

regionrat

You still don't have it back?I'd be pissed and riding them after 2 mos.This sounds like another bad experience to me.The more I see and hear about them,the less I want to do with them.Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[Big George]

When I sent my Springfield HiCap to the custom shop for warranty work (barrel hood way short, gouges and swirl marks, loose slide frame, and notchy trigger) I also requested a 3.5 pound trigger job.

Custom shop requires that you give written permission to take the trigger below 4 pounds. They also required me to buy a new hammer and sear! Since the trigger was non-adjustable, I asked them to replace the trigger with a lightweight unit...they did all the above for $240. (no charge for warranty work)

This took eight weeks. The work was pretty good, and the trigger has "matured" to be a very crisp and right at 3 pounds, a really nice trigger!

 

[MD from CT]

VaughnT --

It does sound as if your barrel is not properly fitted. If I took delivery of a pistol with an inoperative thumb safety, and improperly fitted barrel, I think I'd send it back for complete repair or replacement under warranty, and ask for NO custom work.

So long as they are doing warranty service to bring your pistol up to the condition in which it should have been delivered, the burden is entirely on them. Once you ask them to customize the gun for you, you "own" it.

If I wanted the pistol, but was tired of dealing with Springfield, I would send it to a custom smith I trusted, and have him "make it right" from top to bottom.

Good luck.

-MD

 

[JerryM]

I would send it back to SA. My experience with them has been extremely satisfactory. I admit that their QA could use some improvement, but when they get a return their shop is first rate. Jerry