Update again! My 1911 9mm Pro Series is back from getting fixed.

[WC145]

All the black parts are carbon steel. It's been hot and very humid for the last week and a half, I work on the shore and can work up a heck of a sweat slogging through the mud. My right arm brushes my gun all the time and the sweat is causing the rear sight, ambi safety, beaver tail, and mag well to rust. I clean it off and wipe it down with CLP and that takes care of it but you would think that if they're making a stainless steel gun, they'd make ALL exposed parts stainless, especially on a gun they're pricing at almost $1700! One of the reasons I bought it was for the weather resistance of the stainless.

I'm going to call S&W tomorrow and see what they have to say but I'll probably end up taking it apart and sending the parts to Robar and have them coat them with Roguard, their black finish. Then I won't have to worry about it any more and it'll still have the black and stainless contrast.

 

[zenner22]

Shot a match with my Smith 1911 45. Real hot that day, sweating in the sun. My inside of my right arm brushed against or rested against the exposed parts of the gun on and off throughout the day. When I got home, didn't feel like cleaning so I just wiped down the outside and put it away. I was going to clean it the next day.

Three weeks later I pull it out and the right side edge of the Novak sight has rust on it. Nowhere else, but that is the only area that the silicone cloth didn't hit. Until then I never gave particular attention to wiping down the actual sights. I think I was afraid I'd actually dirty up the white dots and make them harder to see.

Anyway, I know it wasn't Smith's fault, it was mine. I make a conscious effort to wipe the sights down now.

 

[WC145]

I spoke to S&W the other day and Art the warranty guy says that all of the black carbon steel parts are after market, purchased from Wilson or Ed Brown, they don't make any of them themselves and do not have them in stainless. He said that if I wanted to send the gun back he'd see that they were all replaced. I've bought some Eezox on the advice of numerous other guys and will give that a try.


Now for the 2nd issue:
I shot in my first match last month, it was a LE only get together and I had a great time. The gun ran good except for one issue when shooting one-handed. We were shooting weak hand (my left) and when I disengaged the ambi safety and tried to fire it wouldn't, I couldn't pull the trigger. I pushed down on the safety again, no joy, did a tap-n-rack and it fired. I assumed it was operator error because I couldn't replicate it, until today. I shot in my first IDPA match today and exactly the same thing happened!! Shot one-handed w/strong hand, got behind cover, engaged safety, switch hands, disengaged safety (left thumb/right lever again) try to shoot one-handed weak hand and no go, did the same drill then tap-n-rack and it fired.

This time I looked more closely at the gun and the right side of the ambi safety moves up and down about 1/8" if you hold the left in place. When I disengage the safety with my left thumb the right lever goes down all the way but the left stays up just enough to lock the trigger. Of course, it doesn't happen every time, only when I need it to shoot.

So.... tomorrow I'm calling Art the warranty guy back and will be returning the gun so that they can replace all of the black parts, including the ambi safety, after all. I'm also going to ask them the same thing I asked Springfield when my Loaded had to go back for slide fit issues - to go through the gun completely, check and double check everything as it is a duty gun, and make any changes, repairs, or adjustments necessary to assure that this gun will run. Springfield basically rebuilt my brand new Loaded with an all new NM trigger group, stainless match barrel and bushing, and hand fitted everything. I expect the same kind of service from S&W if the gun needs it (especially since it cost $400 more than the loaded!!). I'll tell you, if that gun had failed in a fight instead of at the range because of some ill fitting part I'd have been some damn pissed off!!!

In the mean time, I'll be carrying my Loaded, I will not trust this gun with my life until this issue is resolved.

 

[X-RingDistroyer]

I found that I was not satisfied with the accuracy of mine so I had my 1911 guy hand fit a KKM barrel and new bushing. I also had an adjustable rear sight and taller front sight installed. Its a tack driver now. The down side is I probably wont ever get that upgrade cost back if I were to ever sell the gun.

 

[SW CQB 45]

I found that I was not satisfied with the accuracy of mine so I had my 1911 guy hand fit a KKM barrel and new bushing. I also had an adjustable rear sight and taller front sight installed. Its a tack driver now. The down side is I probably wont ever get that upgrade cost back if I were to ever sell the gun.

Xring...are you fixin your NRA Stock Service Auto for the current rule change?

pics and detailed info please

WC145...I have heard several failures like yours were the ambi lever is not fitted correctly or failed due to weak design.

On my duty Springfield MC Operator is the factory ambi. On my two competition Springfield 9mil 1911s is the factory ambis. None have failed but I am seriously considering changing as I ride the thumb safeties and with my big "dont know my own strength" paws...I am afraid I will break or weaken the link.

Since I drive a desk, I cant tell you how how the springfield armory coat will hold up to south texas humidity, but its doing very well in the area of holster wear.

XRing...I want to see your piece. I cant afford a Springfield Loaded with Adjustable sights right now, so I will have to modify my PX9130LP.

 

[WC145]

WC145...I have heard several failures like yours were the ambi lever is not fitted correctly or failed due to weak design.

On my duty Springfield MC Operator is the factory ambi. On my two competition Springfield 9mil 1911s is the factory ambis. None have failed but I am seriously considering changing as I ride the thumb safeties and with my big "dont know my own strength" paws...I am afraid I will break or weaken the link.

Since I drive a desk, I cant tell you how how the springfield armory coat will hold up to south texas humidity, but its doing very well in the area of holster wear.

I spoke to S&W Monday and filled out the warranty return page on their website but as of this afternoon still hadn't rec'd the shipping tag to send it back. I called again and reminded them that this is my duty gun and I need this taken care of ASAP and was told that I'll have the shipping tag by tomorrow afternoon. We'll see.

In the mean time I'm carrying my parkerized Springfield Loaded (PX9109LP) and it is holding up well, though things have finally cooled off a bit around hereso the sweat issue isn't a bad. I checked the ambi safety on it and there is zero play in it from one side to the other and I also shot it in the match Sunday and didn't have any failures. Hopefully S&W will step up to the plate and correct the problem in a reasonable amount of time. When the Springfield had to go back it was gone 2 weeks to the day and came home a new gun, basically a loaded in the outside and a TRP on the inside. I'd like to see that level of service from S&W.

 

[CALREB]

CQB,sent my Springfield loaded back several years ago ,told them it wouldnt hold x ring at 25 yds,they dropped in a Nowlin barrel and a new bushing,came back shooting 1/2" at 25,actually better than my open gun, it has Novaks on it so for the new rule I'm going to try one of the DAS model sights from Kensight, like the novak but fully adjustable,without any milling work,see how it goes, Bob

 

[SW CQB 45]

CQB,sent my Springfield loaded back several years ago ,told them it wouldnt hold x ring at 25 yds,they dropped in a Nowlin barrel and a new bushing,came back shooting 1/2" at 25,actually better than my open gun, it has Novaks on it so for the new rule I'm going to try one of the DAS model sights from Kensight, like the novak but fully adjustable,without any milling work,see how it goes, Bob

Springfield also has an adjustable to fit the novak cut for 49.95. i was hoping for a tighter notch, but its a .125". thinking about ordering it but I will look at the kensight too.

http://stores.homestead.com/KenSight/-strse-110/DAS&#8482-scln---dsh---Serrated/Detail.bok

scroll down to the rear sight. http://www.springfield-armory.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=21_27

WC145, I hope this does not make you angry. A brother officer bought a used Springfield 1911 two weeks ago. 45acp, 2 tone blk stainless (not sure the model #). He wanted me to go through it for him. I immediately noticed the plunger tube was coming off and it had an aftermarket extended slide lock lever. I told him lets try Springfield's warranty. I called Springfield, had a Fed Ex Mailer label on my email in a matter of minutes. I sent it to Springfield last week (tuesday) and it returned on (friday) same week. with a new plunger tube, replaced the slide lock lever with a factory unit, welded the thumb safety stud and did an overall check of the gun. That is what I call SERVICE!!!!!

 

[WC145]

WC145, I hope this does not make you angry. A brother officer bought a used Springfield 1911 two weeks ago. 45acp, 2 tone blk stainless (not sure the model #). He wanted me to go through it for him. I immediately noticed the plunger tube was coming off and it had an aftermarket extended slide lock lever. I told him lets try Springfield's warranty. I called Springfield, had a Fed Ex Mailer label on my email in a matter of minutes. I sent it to Springfield last week (tuesday) and it returned on (friday) same week. with a new plunger tube, replaced the slide lock lever with a factory unit, welded the thumb safety stud and did an overall check of the gun. That is what I call SERVICE!!!!!

No, that doesn't make me angry, in fact it doesn't even surprise me. Like I said, my Springfield warranty/customer service experience was excellent and I've read many other stories from other satisfied owners. I just hope S&W's CS comes close, especially since I spent $400 more on the S&W than the Springfield.

 

[CALREB]

CQB, Im sure the Kensight is the same size notch,I like the springfield one better,more of a target type.It looks like an LPA design, Im going to order 1 and I will let you know, Thanks, had no ideal SPGFLD offered one, THATS why I love this place !!!!! Thanks again, Bob

 

[SW CQB 45]

CQB, Im sure the Kensight is the same size notch,I like the springfield one better,more of a target type.It looks like an LPA design, Im going to order 1 and I will let you know, Thanks, had no ideal SPGFLD offered one, THATS why I love this place !!!!! Thanks again, Bob

what size of front sight do you plan to install with the adjustable rear sight?

.250" or taller?

I think I will order one too.

LPA makes one too, but there is no image and customer service told me it will over hang the rear sight. I too like the S/A adjustable rear over the Kensight for target use, just wished it had a little tighter notch for 50 yds shots.

 

[WC145]

Got my gun back today, it was gone a week so no complaints about promptness. It got a new ambi-safety, which is nice and solid, no play so I'm very happy with that. They also replaced the hammer, beavertail, and mainspring housing/mag well as discussed due to the rust issue. Everything looks and feels good except the trigger makes a little "tick" sound right at the point where you've taken up the slack and start to squeeze, no idea why but the trigger feels good otherwise, clean and crisp (but still floppy, I believe I'll be replacing it sometime in the near future). I ran a mag of FMJ through it and it functions fine.

So, everything seems to be back in shape and it only took a week so I'm happy, though I'll be keeping a close eye on the safety to make sure this one doesn't loosen up like the original. Also, I'll be degreasing it tomorrow and applying Eezox to everything and hopefully that will take care of the rust issue. There was a bonus in the box - a new Wilson ETM mag! I didn't send any with it and apparently after test firing it they tossed the mag in the box with the gun!

 

["JJ"]

Glad it all worked out for you. Like you, I had no doubt in S&W. Is it possible to see a pic? This sounds like the model that is on my wish list! Granted, it is a BIG wish! I love the 1911 model, add the 9mm & that makes it about as user friendly as I can ask for! Congrats again on the warranty work!

 

[TSQUARED]

The last S&W's that I remember having all stainless parts including the sigts were the first issue no dash stainless revolvers. I understand the stainless hammers and triggers did not wear as well as the case hardened carbon steel counterparts and many people disliked the sight picture 9or lack thereof) of the all stainless sights.

 

[WC145]

Glad it all worked out for you. Like you, I had no doubt in S&W. Is it possible to see a pic? This sounds like the model that is on my wish list! Granted, it is a BIG wish! I love the 1911 model, add the 9mm & that makes it about as user friendly as I can ask for! Congrats again on the warranty work!

It's a great gun, helluva shooter and well worth the money.
Here it is -

 

["JJ"]

oohhh!! Aaauugh!! Oh excuse me! I felt the need to look over my sholder to make sure nobody saw me looking at those photos! Man thats a nice looking pistol!! Thanks for sharing!!