I've only had one experience with a Springfield 1911, pretty much unsatisfactory all round. I wanted a 1911 but didn't think I could afford a Colt or even a high end SA. I found a new Springfield Lightweight GI Champion in a local gun store for $499 and bought it. As far as I can tell that was close to the bottom of Springfield's lineup at the time. (2008) It won't feed hollowpoints. I ended up replacing the soft extractor and loose firing pin stop. (The extractor was clocking, I didn't see any reason to fit a new one unless I did the FP stop as well.) The trigger was gritty and just nasty for a 1911 so I put in a Cylinder and Slide USMC thru hardened hammer, sear, disconnector and a new sear spring. That necessitated refitting the thumb safety. Since I don't care for the crossed cannon grips I put a pair of Colt double diamond grips that appear to be from a WWI reissue. By the time I got done I could have had a Colt for the same money, and I still have the itty bitty GI sights on a gun that shoots hardball only. The thing that bothers me most about it is how soft all of the parts were, obviously installed in the gun as cast and soft as can be. Even the extractor was soft, I polished the Bullet Proof extractor hook and it was much, much harder than the original. The gun sits in the safe and will until my kids sell it to pay for the hall rental at my going away party.
If you are going SA, I suggest you go for one of the top shelf guns, maybe you will have better luck.
