Comtemplating the Springfield Champion for X-Mas

[carolinaman]

Hi there all,

I need some thoughts.

I am comptemplating buying a Springfield Armory Champion from the local gunshop, but I am a little hung up on the recoil system, i.e. sans recoil plug and funny slide and barrel set-up with the bull barrel.

The local gunshop has a Mil Spec Model with this set-up and I am just a little leary as I have owned more traditional 1911's, i.e. both Springfields and Colts.

Any ideas or experiences out there with the new Champion?

Chris

 

[Don of Kalifornia]

I have a champion..it shoots great, accurate for the price...I'd buy another..

 

[bigmike45]

The Champions were correctly named by Springfield designers. I have my second one. The first started out life as a GI WWII parkerized version with a bushingless bull barrel and I bought it as a project gun. After determining that the gun would make clusters of ragged holes consistiently I decided to make some personal changes to the gun. Here is the result:

A friend really fell in love with the gun after shooting it and I sold it to him and even made a little money on the deal.

My newest Champion is a stainless version that is a little different. It has a barrel & bushing instead of the bushingless bull barrel of the other. It also has a Colt like heavy hammer and came with nice 3 dot sights. It came with the traditional short trigger, which I detest, so I replaced it with a long combat style and recently added some neoprene wrap around grips. Here it is:

I love the balance of the 4" 1911's and this newest one is no different. It has gobbled up my favorite ammo like it was made for it. It is shooting great groups and with a little polish of the sear and hammer contact faces and changing the hammer spring, I have brought the trigger pull to crisp 4.75lbs with no creep. This one will not be sold!!! It has taken it's place in my CCW holster. The Champions are great guns and most of the forums you read will have good, if not great things to say about them.

 

[carolinaman]

Hi there bigmike,

Thank you for the pictures and testimonial.

You have a really fine looking Champion. I really also didn't give any consideration to the stainless steel one that you have pictured. I am a traditionalist, i.e. blued steel and walnut grips.

However, since I live close to the ocean, maybe I should give stainless steel more serious thought.

Chris

 

[hube1236]

I have the stainless version and it is a shooter. It is my carry and sometimes a bu gun at IDPA. I have a couple of thousand rounds through it in 2.5 years.

I have a slide stop issue, but dont want to send it away becasue I would miss it.

 

[bigmike45]

carolinaman,

I live 30 minutes and work 5 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico here in what is known as the golden crescent of Texas. This area ranges from Galveston south to Corpus Christi and I am about midway between both. The humidity here is usually around 75-100%, 9-10 months out of the year. I carried the parkerized version for a couple of years and never saw any trace of rust or any surface corrosion for that matter. This gun was even carried when I was fishing from piers pr beaches extending into the bays. Now I will admit that it has never been spashed by saltwater, but even if it had I keep my guns lubricated and parkerizing soaks up and holds the lubricant quite well to protect the gun.

I prefer a dark gun for concealed carry, as was my previous Champion. Unfortunately SA does not offer the Champion in any configuration other than the GI WWII Parkerized model or the Loaded stainless model. The stainless gun in the picture, I just found out, is a pre-loaded model manufactured in 1992, per Deb Else at SA. I found out mine had been purchased new, that year, along with 6-8 other types and brands of guns and then put into the owners safe. The owner became sick and passed away about a year ago and the gun dealer I use bought this gun at an estate sale and I bought it from him. I was not particularly looking for a stainless carry weapon but, it is new in box, never fired......or at least before I got it. I have already put 250 rounds through it and plan on more this weekend.

 

[carolinaman]

Hi there,

I might be adled a little with confusion, but SA web site show the alloy frame version GI with the bull barrel and the steel frame version with the traditional bushing and recoil cap.

The one that I am considering has the bull barrel and the steel frame according to the dealer? I looked at it again yesterday and it is definately a steel framed GI. I guess I need to check the product codes.

bigmike45. I live 3 blocks from the beach and while I don't fish much (although I have thrown a grounded shark or two back into the ocean) salt air exposure is a concern for me. I do notice that parkerized guns will not take on the light surface rust film that blued ones will however.

Chris

 

[Lennyjoe]

Only thing I can add to this thread is that I have been wanting a Champion pistol for a very long time.

 

[carolinaman]

Hi there all,

Well, I was in a position today to buy/trade the Springfield Champion and did so based on the information that I have collected so far.

bigmike45, your testimonial was a great help!

I answered my own earlier question regarding the alloy vs. aluminum frame, bull vs. standard barrel when I went down to pick it up at the range.

I've owned both the Colt 1991 Commander and Colt 1991 Officer's ACP and this pistol reminds me of a hybrid of the two with its commander length slide and bull barrel.



Since I was in a rush today to get back home, I won't be shooting it until next week and look forward to putting it through its paces with a variety of ammunition choices to find out what it likes the best.

I like my 1911's fairly "plain Jane" and this one fits the ticket perfectly.

Chris

 

[tatertot]

I carry a loaded Champion lightweight in OD/black. Great carry gun, lightweight and very accurate.

 

[carolinaman]

Hi tatertot,

Now, all I need to do is find a nice cross draw holster for the SA Champion to wear while driving.

Chris