Posted: 11/29/2008 5:34:53 PM EDT
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Hey all,
After doing quite a bit of reading and deliberation, I have narrowed my upcoming 1911 purchase down to two choices. Unfortuntely, I don't have access to shoot either one, so I was hoping you all could offer some input. This gun will be my primary range pistol as well as my home-defense weapon. So, here are the choices: 1) Springfield Armory 1911-A1 Professional 2) Custom Nighthawk GRP Recon (complete diamond black finish, aftec extractor upgrade, Schuemann Classic AET barrel, ambi safety, Novak night sights) Note: The GRP was quoted at $3,160 with those options Which gun will be more of a joy to shoot? If it helps, in order of importance I consider accuracy, mechanical smoothness/reliability, fit/finish, and sex appeal to be the primary deciding factors. Any and all serious advice much appreciated. Thanks in advance! |
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When you compare performance versus price, I fail to see how people pay so much money for a 1911.
Personally, I would get a Springfield or Wilson 1911 with the features you want for less. {REMOVED} - SGB http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=5&f=49&t=51489 |
Anyway, I was mighty impressed by SGB's Pro.. Never handled a Nighthawk, however
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Springfields are generally built extremely tight. It might not feel as "smooth" as the Nighthawk, though it will be just as reliable.
Finish will be significantly better on the Nighthawk, seeing as you're going with Diamond Black. Fit should be of similar quality, though they'll be a bit different, as I said Springfield generally fits extremely tight (like Les Baer) while NH/Wilson/Ed Brown build them "right" not "tight" to paraphrase that quote. Sex appeal is subjective, but the Diamond Black GRP is one hell of a looker and you can get it with a naked slide if you want. As for the custom Nighthawk, I'd say forgo the Aftec upgrade. I don't see it as being at all necessary and only adds extra parts to break and replace. I have a Nighthawk Enforcer (left side) that I absolutely love. One of the best things about Nighthawk is that it can be as custom as you want and I'd highly recommend it. However, the Springfield Professional is one hell of a pistol, so you won't be disappointed either way. I debated between the two and went with the Nighthawk since I could get it exactly how I wanted from factory as opposed to having to refinish it, etc. I do, however, absolutely love my Springfield GI that has had the Springer custom shop do work to. |
| I just played with a bunch of expensive 1911's at the store. The NH guns are cosmetically inferior to the PRO and have a slightly looser slide to frame fit. The new PRO's have unmarked barrels (SN: CRG33XX) I wonder if they still use Nowlin. In honor of Obama, I put one on layaway. This will be my third PRO, the best 1911 on the market. |
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The Springfield Professional seems to be the Semi Custom by which all others are judged. You can't go wrong with either.  +1..... In before 918v going off on you calling the pro "semi-custom"
One thing that's a plus about NH is that they will make whatever changes you want. |
Thank you all for the great advice so far. Keep it coming. There seem to be quite a few Springfield PRO fans over here  Does anyone know how much the Professionals go for (the package is $2,085.00 as listed on their custom worksheet...but I am assuming this is without the gun itself)? Furthermore, do you have to buy their G.I spec 1911 and then send it in to them, or can you just order a Pro and they will build one up from one of their 1911s? Thanks again!
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U actually can change a Pro too - it just won't have the Pro serial #. No biggie.
I'm waiting on a Custom, full rail Operator. It's basically like a Pro, but with a FULL rail. I've ordered it hard chromed - instead of Black T. Also, it will be in 9mm, have 25 LPI on the frontstrap (instead of 20 LPI). Also, I ordered WHITE ringed Novaks instead of the ones with silver rings. A few other minor things. My point is that you can order a pistol equal to the Pro - but change it however U want. So, U can order what U want from Springfield. It just won't have Professional on the slide. And, admittedly, the wait is 9 months |
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Thank you all for the great advice so far. Keep it coming. There seem to be quite a few Springfield PRO fans over here Does anyone know how much the Professionals go for (the package is $2,085.00 as listed on their custom worksheet...but I am assuming this is without the gun itself)? Furthermore, do you have to buy their G.I spec 1911 and then send it in to them, or can you just order a Pro and they will build one up from one of their 1911s? Thanks again!The Pro is not a basic Springer with addons. It is built from the ground up to super tight tolerances accomplished by machining oversized parts for near zero clearance fit. Sending in a gun does not give you a Pro. it gives you a poser. |
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LOL. I was just going to say that. Unless the slide says Professional, technically it's not really a Pro.
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Sending in a gun does not give you a Pro. it gives you a poser.Thank you all for the great advice so far. Keep it coming. There seem to be quite a few Springfield PRO fans over here Does anyone know how much the Professionals go for (the package is $2,085.00 as listed on their custom worksheet...but I am assuming this is without the gun itself)? Furthermore, do you have to buy their G.I spec 1911 and then send it in to them, or can you just order a Pro and they will build one up from one of their 1911s? Thanks again! |
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LOL. I was just going to say that. Unless the slide says Professional, technically it's not really a Pro.
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Sending in a gun does not give you a Pro. it gives you a poser.Thank you all for the great advice so far. Keep it coming. There seem to be quite a few Springfield PRO fans over here Does anyone know how much the Professionals go for (the package is $2,085.00 as listed on their custom worksheet...but I am assuming this is without the gun itself)? Furthermore, do you have to buy their G.I spec 1911 and then send it in to them, or can you just order a Pro and they will build one up from one of their 1911s? Thanks again!Not quite. My Pro, Model # PC9111LR, S/N CRG32xxxx, doesn't say Pro anywhere on it. I also understand that the railed model is the only variant currently being produced, although I'd put that in the rumor category. |
get the Nighthawk with DB finish, I have a new Enforcer in DiamondBlack with a bull barrel and a naked slide and the gun is simply awesome. Don't order direct from Nighthawk, contact George at MiGunslingers and have him give you a quote for your custom build.. you won't be disappointed 
I was going to go with a Talon at first but when I saw how much money George was saving me I opted for the Enforcer instead, got it to me in less than 11 weeks 
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Not quite. My Pro, Model # PC9111LR, S/N CRG32xxxx, doesn't say Pro anywhere on it. I also understand that the railed model is the only variant currently being produced, although I'd put that in the rumor category.  I guess I'm saying that a Professional is a specific model and if it didn't leave the factory as one, it's not truly a Pro. You can retro yours to Pro specs or even build your own to the same specs and possibly even better, but you still can't call it a Pro. It will be a clone.
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The following was stolen from a "sticky" on 1911forum.com:
The Professional model cannot be changed in any way. It is only available in the same configuration as authorized by the FBI. However, you can have a pistol built to your exact specs through our custom shop. It would not have the "Professional" markings or "CRG" prefix to the serial number. Deb Custom Shop Coordinator Springfield Custom 420 West Main St. Geneseo, IL 61254 That being said, can anyone comment on my rumor that the railed model is the only one being produced currently by SA. The local shop that sells a lot of SAs, has only had the railed model for the past year or so. |
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Pro for me.
I have never handled a NH and I really dont mind if I never get to. Not that NH is bad just my Pro has me spoiled. ETA: if you dont know which pro to get (rail/no rail) I would get the railed version. I to wasnt sure then though that I dont have to use the rail if I dont need to but it will always be there if need be. With the nonrailed version you dont have a choice. |
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I sure hope not. I have a non rail Pro on order.
That being said, can anyone comment on my rumor that the railed model is the only one being produced currently by SA. The local shop that sells a lot of SAs, has only had the railed model for the past year or so. |
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I sure hope not. I have a non rail Pro on order.
That being said, can anyone comment on my rumor that the railed model is the only one being produced currently by SA. The local shop that sells a lot of SAs, has only had the railed model for the past year or so. I can understand your concern. To fine-tune my rumor a bit, the essense was that the FBI was issuing only the railed models to their agents. I was looking for the non-railed variant also, but the railed vesion showed up at the dealer and that was the end of the story. The same shop had a couple of railed versions last week, but they only lasted a few days––at $2595. |
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Can you buy a Pro and have them do a hi-cut front strap then? As long as you send it back you can have done whatever you want. I am guessing once people have their Pro in hand, it's mighty hard to send it back in  But this is good advice because I assume you could have custom work done while still having the Pro markings on the slide and frame.
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Quoted:I can understand your concern. To fine-tune my rumor a bit, the essense was that the FBI was issuing only the railed models to their agents. I was looking for the non-railed variant also, but the railed vesion showed up at the dealer and that was the end of the story. The same shop had a couple of railed versions last week, but they only lasted a few days––at $2595.
A member on another forum just received his non rail Pro from the same place I ordered mine from. We were both on a waiting list and he was in line before me. Not bad, he only waited a tad over four months. |
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Quoted:I can understand your concern. To fine-tune my rumor a bit, the essense was that the FBI was issuing only the railed models to their agents. I was looking for the non-railed variant also, but the railed vesion showed up at the dealer and that was the end of the story. The same shop had a couple of railed versions last week, but they only lasted a few days––at $2595.
A member on another forum just received his non rail Pro from the same place I ordered mine from. We were both on a waiting list and he was in line before me. Not bad, he only waited a tad over four months. I saw that posting. So much for rumors. On the magazine issue, the six mags included with the pistol sure look identicle to the mags I got with other Springfields. No evidence that they've been in the pistol, and no identifying markings that would imply (to me at least) that they were anything other than stock SA, standard issue mags. |
| I was looking in my local shop tonight at his high end 1911's, Wilson,Ed Brown,NHC,LS,SA Pro. Liked the 4 1/2" Special forces Bobtail, tried the SA pro, the slide was sooooootight you couldn't do a standard chamber check for a round, and could barely pull it back, trigger was a bit heavier than the EB or the NHC I tried, they all were top notch as far as finish. |
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I was looking in my local shop tonight at his high end 1911's, Wilson,Ed Brown,NHC,LS,SA Pro. Liked the 4 1/2" Special forces Bobtail, tried the SA pro, the slide was sooooootight you couldn't do a standard chamber check for a round, and could barely pull it back, trigger was a bit heavier than the EB or the NHC I tried, they all were top notch as far as finish. After a few thousand it loosens up. |
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I was looking in my local shop tonight at his high end 1911's, Wilson,Ed Brown,NHC,LS,SA Pro. Liked the 4 1/2" Special forces Bobtail, tried the SA pro, the slide was sooooootight you couldn't do a standard chamber check for a round, and could barely pull it back, trigger was a bit heavier than the EB or the NHC I tried, they all were top notch as far as finish. After a few thousand it loosens up. so after spending $3gs on the gun, I have to spend another $2gs to get it broken in,lol |
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I was looking in my local shop tonight at his high end 1911's, Wilson,Ed Brown,NHC,LS,SA Pro. Liked the 4 1/2" Special forces Bobtail, tried the SA pro, the slide was sooooootight you couldn't do a standard chamber check for a round, and could barely pull it back, trigger was a bit heavier than the EB or the NHC I tried, they all were top notch as far as finish. After a few thousand it loosens up. so after spending $3gs on the gun, I have to spend another $2gs to get it broken in,lol It doesnt cost 3gs and the gun doesnt need broke in. It will just loosen up. |
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I was looking in my local shop tonight at his high end 1911's, Wilson,Ed Brown,NHC,LS,SA Pro. Liked the 4 1/2" Special forces Bobtail, tried the SA pro, the slide was sooooootight you couldn't do a standard chamber check for a round, and could barely pull it back, trigger was a bit heavier than the EB or the NHC I tried, they all were top notch as far as finish. After a few thousand it loosens up. so after spending $3gs on the gun, I have to spend another $2gs to get it broken in,lol It doesnt cost 3gs and the gun doesnt need broke in. It will just loosen up. lets see, the Pro at my local shop all decked out costs$2794 plus tax, sounds like 3 g's to me. The you said it loosens up after a few thousand rounds, I don't know where you get your ammo from, but mine costs money, so I would say a few thousans rounds of loosening up in .45 acp costs maybe 2g's |
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I was looking in my local shop tonight at his high end 1911's, Wilson,Ed Brown,NHC,LS,SA Pro. Liked the 4 1/2" Special forces Bobtail, tried the SA pro, the slide was sooooootight you couldn't do a standard chamber check for a round, and could barely pull it back, trigger was a bit heavier than the EB or the NHC I tried, they all were top notch as far as finish. After a few thousand it loosens up. so after spending $3gs on the gun, I have to spend another $2gs to get it broken in,lol It doesnt cost 3gs and the gun doesnt need broke in. It will just loosen up. lets see, the Pro at my local shop all decked out costs$2794 plus tax, sounds like 3 g's to me. The you said it loosens up after a few thousand rounds, I don't know where you get your ammo from, but mine costs money, so I would say a few thousans rounds of loosening up in .45 acp costs maybe 2g's The Pro is ready to go out of the box. Neither of mine had a single malfunction since day one. If, on the other hand, you are a poser and like to practice your press-checks all day, a Wilson/NH may be better. |
| I never said you were. It's just that alot of tacticool posers practice press checks like there's no tommorrow. BTW, it takes about 500 rounds to wear in a Pro, not 2000. The gun is serviceable from the getgo. It gets smoother after a few rounds, but you can take it to war right out of the box. |