Got a fullsize 1911!

[SpringerXD]

I had been thinking of a fullsize 1911 for some time now. So on Friday, I just happened to be in some pawn shops (actually guitar shopping). Lo and behold, I ran across this:





I had already lost a good bit of the love I once had for my Colt Defender. It just didn't have the "magic" for me anymore, so I traded it and got a pretty decent deal on the difference.

It's a Springfield Loaded .45.

I took it straight to the range AS-IS. No cleaning, no oiling, nothing. It had several failures to return fully to battery, sort of a nose diving issue. That night I cleaned it and oiled it and went back to the range on Saturday. I fired 100 rounds of JHP's and 50 rounds of hardball, all 230-grain. Flawless!

The two mags that came with it were 7-round, which surprised me. So on Saturday I bought two Chip McCormick 8-rounders and those were all I used. I also discovered that night that one of the mags that came with it has the Kimber logo.



Anyway, those hideous rubber grips are history as soon as I decide on some new ones.

She might even be a candidate for night sights!

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[C hawk Glock]

I had been thinking of a fullsize 1911 for some time now. So on Friday, I just happened to be in some pawn shops (actually guitar shopping). Lo and behold, I ran across this:





I had already lost a good bit of the love I once had for my Colt Defender. It just didn't have the "magic" for me anymore, so I traded it and got a pretty decent deal on the difference.

It's a Springfield Loaded .45.

I took it straight to the range AS-IS. No cleaning, no oiling, nothing. It had several failures to return fully to battery, sort of a nose diving issue. That night I cleaned it and oiled it and went back to the range on Saturday. I fired 100 rounds of JHP's and 50 rounds of hardball, all 230-grain. Flawless!

The two mags that came with it were 7-round, which surprised me. So on Saturday I bought two Chip McCormick 8-rounders and those were all I used. I also discovered that night that one of the mags that came with it has the Kimber logo.



Anyway, those hideous rubber grips are history as soon as I decide on some new ones.

She might even be a candidate for night sights!

SWEET!!!! Welcome back to the light side of the force! Put some badass grips on there and you will be good to go!

[gasmitty]

Nice catch! Certainly capable of a different kind of music than the guitars you were looking for...

Save that Kimber mag for range use or for a paperweight. I'd be hard-pressed to find a more troublesome mag than the one I got with my Kimber.

[gottabkiddin]

Very nice. Personally I like the grips, but if you're planning to use it for CC, well yeah I can see changing um out. Awesome pistol, the SS looks sharp.

[GM]

Glad you like it. Enjoy.

[SpringerXD]

Update: I just ordered a set of slimline Alumagrips in Olive with my initials, plus some Pearce finger groove inserts.

[Seraph]

Congratulations on the new purchase. Is that an "NM" serial number prefix? Can't see it clearly.

I recommend ditching the full length guide rod, in favor of the traditional parts. That will save you a lot of trouble stripping and reassembling the pistol.

[buckeye .45]

I think the SA Loaded models are usually just about the right balance between usable features, reliability, and cost, looks like you made a good buy there.

[rson63]

Nice looking weapon, goodluck with the new friend. Why are rubber grips not a good idea for cc ?

[SpringerXD]

Nice looking weapon, goodluck with the new friend. Why are rubber grips not a good idea for cc ?

Thanks. Some people say that rubber grips will snag on clothing when drawing. I've never carried with them so I don't know. In this case, I think the rubber is just ugly on an otherwise attractive gun.

[sgb]

I recommend ditching the full length guide rod, in favor of the traditional parts. That will save you a lot of trouble stripping and reassembling the pistol.

I agree, it will also make one handed malfunction drills much simpler as well.

[EvilMonk]

...plus some Pearce finger groove inserts.

You will love those. I know I do.

[OldVet]

Nice. A little clean and lube job can work wonders. Yeah, those grips are pretty chunky. I'd go for a really sharp set of wood grips if it were mine. I just replaced the rubber grips on my 4566. It wasn't the texture so much; they were just to big for my hand. Installed the straight factory grips. Now it feels like ... my Glock. Oh well. A set of wood grips was $100+ and I'm not ready to drop that on grips (yet).

[TJK68]

Congrats, Great pistol, great shooters. I hope it serves you well.

[carguy2244]

Nice weapon. Good luck. Is that a 6 inch slide?