S&W 1911 Trade in for a Springfield Trophy

[WLE]

Ok, round two with my new purchase of a S&W stn. stl stock model. When I first puchased about 3 months ago I was prepared to shoot several hundred rounds. The first round I shot was a miss fire, light primer strike and did not discharge the round. After several attempts she finally fired but inconsistantly, so I packed it up . At that point I proceed to fire my model 27 and my model 29, can't beat it. I returned the 1911 to the gun shop to send back for repair. The repair was supposed to be done???? I just got it back the other day and I finally had a chance to fire some rounds today. With the Magazine fully charge I fire the first shot and no discharge. After several attempts she finally fired, casings were ejecting some twenty feet away and all over the place and one more no discharge. I took it back to the gun shop and the said that grip safty was very sensitive and must be total depressed all the way or it can experiance a light strike. At this point I wanted something depenable. They gave me credit, I traded for a Springfield Trophy cup $1,240, I am hoping I made the right choice vs 1100. for the smith, I am not braging I just want to get some insight and start enjoying the 1911 world.
Bill

 

[stevemis]

I took it back to the gun shop and the said that grip safty was very sensitive and must be total depressed all the way or it can experiance a light strike.

Either the guy at the shop has no idea how 1911's function or he's making stuff up. The grip safety, even the silly design Smith uses, can't cause a light strike. The problem you're experiencing likely has something to do with the firing pin, firing pin spring, or the channel in which it all rests. My guess is Smith neglected to clean the firing pin hole up after machining it and it's binding up.

Sorry you're having so many problems entering the 1911 world. I personally have owned many 1911's, including multiple Springfields. I can tell you the best quality 1911 in that price range, by far, is from Dan Wesson. Check them out and you will NOT be disappointed.

 

[PsychoGlory]

I did the exact opposite. Bought a brand new Springfield 1911 and it was crap from day one, tried different magazines different ammo nothing worked. I had no choice so I sent it to Springfield for repair and it worked for about three hundred rounds before it crapped out, got rid of it. Like an idiot I bought another new Springfield 1911 different model and it work well for awhile, under thousand rounds, and it just started having all these problems. By that time I was just sick of it so I got rid of it as well. I never had to send a gun in to be fixed ever despite have over a dozen, until these two Springfield’s after these I still haven't. Spent my hard earned money for two Brazilian pieces of crap. It was a real shame if just one of them worked like my other 1911s, 1942 Remington Rand old a bit worn but works. The other a Colt 1991 stainless has been flawless. I did not want this experience with Springfield’s to destroy my faith with 1911s so I took the little money I had left after taking a large loss and saved until I had enough. I ended up buying a S&W 1911 model 108284 and it has been as one to expect from a 1911, reliable and accurate.

 

[LancerMW]

never had bad luck with multiple Springers

 

[shooter1]

Either the guy at the shop has no idea how 1911's function or he's making stuff up. The grip safety, even the silly design Smith uses, can't cause a light strike. The problem you're experiencing likely has something to do with the firing pin, firing pin spring, or the channel in which it all rests. My guess is Smith neglected to clean the firing pin hole up after machining it and it's binding up.

Sorry you're having so many problems entering the 1911 world. I personally have owned many 1911's, including multiple Springfields. I can tell you the best quality 1911 in that price range, by far, is from Dan Wesson. Check them out and you will NOT be disappointed.

Beg to differ. 1911 pistols that have the swartz firing pin safety system have been known to allow the hammer to drop without disengaging the firing pin safety. The result is hammer fall, with no primer strike. Don't know what design the S&W uses but if it's the Swartz system, he could well be correct. Also, some 1911 grip safeties do need to be slightly altered to insure they disengage with a less than perfect grip. I have experienced this myself (At a very bad time!) and witnessed it several times in training. Usually happens when the pistol is fired out of position or weak hand. I tune my grip safeties to disengage at about the halfway down, and remove the Swartz firing pin block on all my Kimbers. I am willing to risk any real or imagined legal complications that might be the result of my actions. The Springfields have been good reliable, solid pistols in my experience.
str1

 

[DFW1911]

I think you did the right thing: all my Springfields are great shooters.

In the future re: SW, don't hesitate to send it to the custom shop for repairs. The smiths seem to take the pistol / revolver on as their own. I've had some come back with better stuff than I wanted at a price less than I expected.

Good move, though, you'll like the SA.