GI Micro - Semi 1911

[H-Town Shooter]

Lurking for several months; great site with great info.

Anyways, I'm a Springfield fan, XD owner and want to purchase my first 1911 but not wanting to drop $1k and have been looking at the GI models. What's the scoop on these items models. I can see they are lacking the bells and whistles but what's the reason for their much lower pricing? Are they just a basic model?

Thanks in advance!

[H-Town Shooter]

Oh yea; I tried to search this forum but the search didn't like the "GI"; too short???

[seattleducati]

I have a SA GI full size in stainless and love it. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles as the other guns but at least mine goes BANG every time I pull the trigger. I mention this because it seems like the more people mess with their guns (triggers, springs and whathave you) the less reliable they become.

The only real drawback of it are the sites. They are basically pinned in and therefore not easily changed out with better ones.

On the other hand, I'm debating on whether to use my GI or my 9mm XDSC for my CHL class because I actually think I shoot better with the 1911.

[CharlieHo]

3 letters minimum to search IIRC

The GI models are good shooters. They are pretty much are just a bare-boned pistol.

The old style iron sites leave a lot to be desired if you're used to the 3 dots like on the XD, but, once you get used to them they are fine.

The throats are not the same on the barrels as the higher models, and therefore will not feed all HP ammo, but I have fed both of mine several different brands with just a little coaxing.

As a range gun the GI is an EXCELLENT choice.

[M2XD]

I'll second that, I have an XD45 Service but had to have a 1911 as well, so I picked up a GI because of the looks and price. It has been flawless, and a very fun gun to shoot! I don't carry it, but I love to shoot it, and I could look at it forever!

Plus, it's a Springfield so you know they stand behind their products! It was just yet another reason I picked it up over some of the other entry-level 1911s out there.

Bottom line, it's a great gun and you don't need all the bells and whistles to make a 1911 a great shooter!

Cheers! M2

[H-Town Shooter]

Originally Posted by M2XD

I'll second that, I have an XD45 Service but had to have a 1911 as well, so I picked up a GI because of the looks and price. It has been flawless, and a very fun gun to shoot! I don't carry it, but I love to shoot it, and I could look at it forever!

Plus, it's a Springfield so you know they stand behind their products! It was just yet another reason I picked it up over some of the other entry-level 1911s out there.

Bottom line, it's a great gun and you don't need all the bells and whistles to make a 1911 a great shooter!

Cheers! M2

So no problems with Ammo Feed as suggested above?
Is yours the full size or the compact? Why not Carry, weight?

Thanks for the comments!!!

[CharlieHo]

HTS , the only reason I even mentioned the feed issue was so that you realized that the GI was not really designed to feed HP/defensive ammo like their higher-end cousins.

The GI will feed most ammo, but has hiccups on some...

It will definitely run FMJ/LRN all day long and beg for more

[Frostyeyes]

I have the Loaded Lt Wgt Bitone Micro Compact and couldnt be happier with it. Whats not to like it rings the steel plates at 100 yds with ease weights less than the XD ( sorry ) and is very easy to carry it came with the XML light although I never use that it sits on a XD 40 on the nightstand. Mine feeds any and all ammo, Ranger T's Federal HST and DPX but I have a fully ramped barrel where I think the GI style does not.

[M2XD]

Originally Posted by H-Town Shooter

So no problems with Ammo Feed as suggested above?
Is yours the full size or the compact? Why not Carry, weight?

Thanks for the comments!!!

Sorry, I just realized you were talking about the micro! I have a 5" Govt model...

If you have an XD45 than I wouldn't get a 1911 for a carry weapon, only because you already have a great CCW. Whereas most people don't have any problems, I wouldn't trust my GI as much as I would my XD. The non-flared ejector would be my first concern, then the fact that JHP ammo doesn't work as well in it due to the ejector. Plus, why carry 7+1 when you can carry 13+1? Also, I find the 1911 a bit heavier to carry than the XD.

But please don't interpret my comments as anything against the GI, I love mine and if had to carry it I would with confidence, as I would any of Springfield's semi-autos. About the only one I have heard any bad press on has been the EMP. I wouldn't combine the 9mm round with a micro-sized weapon, but that is just me; and I don't have any firsthand experience with that particular weapon.

Cheers! M2

[charlie.45]

while I will say some GI guns are picky about shooting hp ammo I'd say that if you bought a few different brands of hp ammo you could find out pretty quick which ones it likes and doesnt like. that being said I had a rock island armory 5'' GI model basically and once I used quality magazines (in my case kimber pro)I never had another feeding issue and i find it hard to believe as much as i loved that gun that it would feed all the hp ammo i could find and a SA wouldn't. best bet would be to shoot 200-300 rnds of standard ball then try the hp's i know it might be expensive given the price of ammo these days but until the gun is broke in you won't know if any failure to feeds are due to the ammo or the gun itself. as far as capacity goes well thats just up to the individual most gun fights are done in the first few rnds though.(most)