KainThornn

I looked but didn't find this anywhere (or I just didn't do a thorough search).

I've done the side by side on paper, but I'd prefer to hear from anyone who has either/both. Yep, I'm opening a potential "Colt VS SA" war, but I really don't want screaming matches. I'm looking to finally pop my 1911 cherry. My ex (back in 1998) talked me out of a 1911 and into a 92FS *vomits in disgust*. My main areas of curiosity are;

How are they out of the box?
How much fine tuning was needed to make then better (if needed)?
Initial quality?
Known issues?

Thanks in advance!

Sarge405

I waited to see if someone smarter than me would answer first, no luck. So, here goes with MY OPINION.
You asked 4 questions, they were basically the same. But I'll preface first, you didn't say which models, how much you intended to spend initially, what you wanted to put into them. Now all that said, out of the box with basic models both will generally work with most quality ammunition. Some will hiccup. Its specimen specific,ammo specific. FMJ will usually work. Me, buying a basic model from Colt or SA and its off to my gunsmith.

one eye joe

Sarge, out of curiosity, is there a basic set of refinements that you request from your 'smith--"The Sarge Package" so to speak--or do you just turn him loose on the weapon ? ? If it's the latter, on a Colt, what work does he usually do ? ?

Alabaster

I thought he did specify models. R.O. and Gold Cup.

Haven't owned eitherthe R.O. or the Gold Cup specifically, but have had at least 2 models from each mnfctr. I had a better experience with my S.A.'s than I did the Colts. The S.A.'s fed whatever right off the bat. Colts got new mags, and a LITTLE polish lovin and they were bangin' away too. Though, packing a Colt 1911 is like riding a Harley, it seems. There are people who ride cruisers. Some bought a HD, the rest wish they had. Or so it seems. Having owned 'Zuki's, I can vouch for the underdog there too. I prefer the Gold Cup here though , because of the stainless steel. If there was a SS R.O, I'd be leaning S.A.

If you start with a basic gun and build it, you can pick and choose what you want and don't. Like from Fusion Firearms. There is something to be said for having EXACTLY what you want, and NOTHING that you don't. You'll never get the $ back out of it, but if it's truly built to suit your wants and needs, I doubt you'll ever really look to get rid of it anyhow, because your desires are not all that likely to change, IMO.

Brian D.

I like the Springfield Loaded Series, had excellent functioning from several of them the last few years. The Range Officer is basically a Loaded with the substitution of adjustable sights, should be about the same thing.

Never owned a Colt Gold Cup but have been around several of them thru the years. A few were totally dependable, the rest always seemed to have issues or would only work right if the shooter was diligent in figuring his gun's "preferences".

I guess these days Colt's uses a more solid adjustable sight than the old Elliasons of years back. Anything stronger than a bullseye wadcutter load and that rear sight would shake itself loose or apart in some manner. Forget shooting several tables of full power bowling pin loads without difficulty, regardless of springs, shock buffer, etc.

Sarge405

Yup he did say, I didn't see it.

I took a quick look at the RO. I have seen the GC and never liked them. If you ever plan on doing any work to it later on go with the RO, it will be easier.

Joe, generally I want:
nite sights
frontstrap checkering/mainspring checkering
ejection port lowering
muzzle crown
breachface polish
feedramp polish
slide/frame fit and tightened
internal parts changed to Ed Brown Hardcore(best I have found)
install EB beavertail grip safety.
install EB barrel bushing

one eye joe

Sounds like my kinda weapon, Sarge. I favor Ed Brown parts myself.....

Alabaster

I didn't see anything about ambi-safeties, magwells, accessory rails, or rhinestone uncorn grips! What's the world coming to? This guy sounds like he wants a fighting pistol! WTF?!

one eye joe

Sarge, what improvement/advantage do you seek to gain by polishing the breachface ? ?

Wild Bill Caldwell

I don't need or want an accessory rail.....BUTT...if possible at all I'm gonna have an AMBI safety and the flared MAGWELL Caspian casts on their frames...flared magwell might give the concealment away, so what , ....I ride the HELL out of a thumb safety , two hand , strong hand or weak hand , My thumb is ridein the thumb safety

Wild Bill

Sarge405

Ok guys, simmer down.
My magwells already have a bevel to them on my carry/duty 1911s. On my competition guns they get an add-on flared model. As for ambi-thumb safeties, well thats personal taste. I don't want one. I have seen the offside disengage from wear. But thats not the worst. I watched an officer at FLETC years ago have his offside ambi break at the pin disabling the thumb safety altogether. I trained for 30 years to use my offhand to manipulate all controls on the left side.Just like my SIG P229, decock on left.

one eye joe

JMHO, but I find the ambi safety completely un-necessary even for a lefthander......

Wild Bill Caldwell

Al....I've broke a few Thumb Safetys over the years , most were probably mim....but the pressure I put on a thumb safety could possibly break a well machined and heat treated one.....Granted Ambis are not as strong because of the male/female fitup and if I shoot a lot WEAKHAND (lefthand for Me) I can start the female end to start spreadin' slighty , hammer or vise fixes the problem but it will come back....Years back somebody made one that the pin went all the way thru and extended well past the frame , was square on the end and held the thummb pad on with a screw , all things considered that may have been a good one....Maybe like the Briley Spherical Ring bushin's , I've had some of those crack and start seperatein' but I still use them , JohnTee mentioned barrel spring in a recent post , I can't see it happenin with the Spherical Ring and it's easy to get a Half Thousand fit that is reliable and last forever , if the barrel wears just get a one thousandth smaller ring and keep goin

Wild Bill

KainThornn

Here I go about to mess up my whole process. Local sporting store has Glock 22 RTF's on sale for $479. Given the number of glowing reviews on Glocks, I just might grab one.

NGIB

This is a first for me. Trying to choose between 2 very nice 1911s - and getting a Glock instead.

Nothing wrong with Glocks but they are not even in the same book as 1911s, much less on the same page. Anyway, back to your original question. I've owned a Gold Cup as well as Springer Loaded Targets - I prefer Springers simply because they do not have the series 80 firing pin blocks. Both are great examples of quality 1911s...

Sarge405

Joe, I have seen some awfull breachfaces. I like them smoothto allow for the caseback to glide up under the extractor. Just me.
As for Series80 guns, I have no problem with them. I prefer 70 style but have 80 safeties in a couple and get the same trigger smoothness and pulls. I just don't see the argument against them myself.

one eye joe

That makes sense, Sarge. To be honest, I don't notice a helluva lot of difference between my '70 & '80 series Gold Cups. Certainly not enough to get me to shun '80 series 1911's........

KainThornn

Sadly, my budget shrunk up by about $400, my options are even fewer.

mustang400

Just put 500rds thru my new SA Loaded 9mm Target. Ramped & supported match barrel, fully adj. R. sight, SS. Two factory mags and three Mec-Gar 9rd. Two FTF in the first 150rds. Gun has now settled down and have had no issues with any of the mags in the last 350rds. At 15yds it will put a hurting on the cener ring of a 3" target. Slide to frame fit is very tight. No movement.
Gun will require another 1000 rds thru it before i'll see its true grit. It doesn't seem to care what ammo you put in it---goes Bang.

one eye joe

Welcome to the Forum, mustang400..........

flaman

The Springfield has a strong following of fans. I hope to shoot one soon.

Alabaster

Boy oh boy. KainThornn, if you're thinkin' 1911, hold off. If you buy a GLOCK with a 1911 higher on the list, you'll prolly be one saaaaad puppy. I own GLOCKs. I carry either a 19 or a 26 EVERYDAY. 1911s only see carry in the cold days for me. Still, the .45 is an institution unto itself. Nothing compares. No BHP, no CZ, nothing. GLOCKs have a tremendous rep hat is well deserved, for sure. Awesome aftermarket too. They're a million times easier to work on than EVEN a 1911. Still, there is no comparo there, IMO. I think GLOCKs are better for people who are negligent about guncare and cleaning. Better for people who don't want to pay us(Gunsmiths) to do action/trigger work. They'e far more user friendly for all of that. Cleaning to customizing. The 1911 just can't be effed with. I'm in the middle of building a RIA 1911. One of, if not the cheapest 1911 on the market. It feels sooo much better to me than either of my GLOCKs. Nevermind the Fusion(You may wanna look at them too!) I just built. That gun makes a GLOCK seem to be a throwaway pistol. You can buy a GLOCK and not regret it, but not if you REALLY want a 1911. Especially the RTF. I shot a G22 with that frame, and it sucked. I did some work on it for a customer, replaced the recoil assembly with a recoil reducer and heavier spring, and did a trigger job on it that even my Father-In-Law would be proud of. That mickey Flick was so abrasive running Hornady Critical Defense(I think that's what he had me use for testing) that after 4 boxes of ammo I was ready to throw it across the range. It shot tight groups and was dead reliable, but that rtF is some abrasive stuff. I wanted to do a frame texturing for him, but he didn't think it necessary. Sorry to ramble so much, I just would hate to see you drop that hard earned $ on a gun and regret it.

retDAC

"mickey Flick"?