[Shakyshoot]

I finally have my 1911, the Springfield Range Officer in 45 ACP. (after the usual transfer delay by the DOJ) I don't even want to say what I paid for it, but imagine the cheapest price you'd find on a new RO package with case, 2 mags, holster and mag carrier, and it was less than that. Great trigger and nice tight fit. I took it down and lubed it. New experience for me taking down a 1911. Easy to take apart, putting back together not so much. The gun didn't look like it had ever seen a drop of oil. Do ya'll use grease on the slide of a 1911 or just oil? I just used light gun oil. I know it's better than the lube that was in it, which was nothing. Not sure when I'll shoot it but might not be til Friday. Got the .22 league tomorrow, and I've sworn off shooting centerfire beforehand. Thanks to NGC for the advice. That and the recommendation of 2 out of the top 3 shooters in my local combat league, who both shoot Range Officers with red dots.
Also got 600 rounds of 45 ACP from Cabela's with extreme couponing/stacking discounts. Imagine the cheapest (etc) (etc) (Okay, the ammo was $ 10.50 per 50 for new brass .45)

 

[moakes58]

Sir, you did well! Very nice looking 1911& I can't wait for the range report.

I just use oil on mine. I use CLP to clean/wipe down everything & then put just a few drops on the slide & hand cycle it a few times.

With all my weapons, I use very small amount of lube.

 

[SPsix]

Very, very nice ! I've had a chance to shoot one in 9mm. Great feel, sweet gun.

 

[north country gal]

Shaky, you're going to love it. Have owned two ROs in 45 ACP and we now have an RO in 9mm. All have been remarkably accurate. For sure, you can't buy a better dedicated range gun for the money. You just can't.

A good gun oil is all you need to lube the slide and a little goes a long way. On some of my other 1911s, the mfg supplied some actual "slide oil" designed for lubing a slide. Being meaning to find some and buy, because the stuff really does a nice job. Don't think it is necessary, though.

How did your friends mount the red dots on their ROs? Been thinking of buying a Burris Fastfire and mounting in the rear sight dovetail.

 

[Shakyshoot]

How did your friends mount the red dots on their ROs? Been thinking of buying a Burris Fastfire and mounting in the rear sight dovetail.

Not sure exactly what sights they have, but they're the Fastfire type reflex sights and they do mount using the dovetail.

 

[gunjunkie]

Congratulations on your Range Officer.
I've got the same one. Bout as good of a trigger out of the box I've had, and accurate.

 

[RidgeRunner]

Congratulations Shaky. Lookin' forward to your report. One of the sweetest sounds in life is the sound of inserting the magazine and racking the slide.:-D

 

[RetiredSeabee]

It's a beauty for sure. Looking forward to a range report.

 

[Shakyshoot]

Finally got the Range Officer to the range and it's everything I hoped for so far. Shot 80 rounds of 2 different brands of 230 gr ball ammo with no malfunctions. They didn't spend any time sighting it in at the factory. The rear sight was obviously to the left, so I took the bold step of moving it 15 clicks right before shooting it. I wound up going another 5 clicks right, and 5 clicks up to get a 6 o'clock sight picture at 50 ft. The first 20 shots were the challenge from the S&W board, with the goal to keep everything in the 10 ring. I was doing great and missed with the very last shot. The target was upside down, so that "6" is the 9 ring.

I tried some 10 yd shots at a 50 ft target, then moved out to 50 ft. (51 actually, since the computerized carriers at my range use yards)

Best I did was this slow fire 50 ft target (shot at 51 ft) The very center was relatively safe, but I score this target a 98. Nice to have those big bullets to punch out the lines. Even that one that's right in the middle of the 8 ring scores a solid 9. 98 slow fire is pretty respectable even in term of a national indoor match, and this is the first box of ammo from an unmodified gun.

Timed fires were a little trickier as it's not easy to quickly line up the black-on-black sights. I had a rough time getting off 5 straight good shots without lowering my arm. This target was one shot away from a pretty good target. I score it a 96 5-X.

Recoil is very moderate as expected with this full size steel gun. The trigger is great. I find that you don't want to "think long" with this trigger, because it breaks very clean, but is not super light at about 5 ln 10 oz. You want to line up your shot and take it. The gun throws the empties pretty far. They bounced off my lane divider and gathered up along the back wall of the range. I do see some evidence of the cases hitting the bottom of the port, but I don't think that's cause for concern as long as they eject. The primer strikes I looked at were all great.
Very happy indeed with the gun so far and looking forward to the next trip. I think I'll try some 25 yd bench rest shooting next time, to see what she'll really do.

 

[RetiredSeabee]

Great shooting Sir.
Between you and North Country Gal I am convinced that my next 1911 has to be a Springfield.
Thanks for coming back to share this beauty with us.

 

[Dennis H]

Dang shaky, she's a shooter!

 

[gunjunkie]

Nice shootin, Shaky.
I painted my front sight with white appliance touch-up paint.

 

[north country gal]

Great shooting, Shaky. Very much my experience with all SA 1911s and, especially, the RO. Another feature I like about the ROs is that they shoot well with all ammo, even the cheap bulk stuff. Enjoy.

 

[RidgeRunner]

She's a keeper Shaky. Good shootin'.

 

[Shakyshoot]

Shot another 50 rds with the Range Officer today. Didn't do anything great, and my perfect record is gone already, as I had a failure to feed. Must admit I didn't clean the gun after the 80 rds the other day, and I was using the other mag. Somehow I got to the range with only one mag the first day, so I used the other one today. Using Fiocchi, maybe not the worlds best ammo.
Had some unsafe idiots in the lane next to me, which didn't help my shooting. They were shooting with a laser, which spent as much time lighting up the side wall next to me as it did their target. As I was leaving I saw they had uncased a gun at the back bench and walked it up to the lane. That's a no-no. I didn't say anything, since I was on the way out. I got my membership card at the desk, and was heading back to the drinking fountain. As I walked by the window to the range, that same idiot has uncased another gun, which is now pointed RIGHT at my CHEST through the glass. Not sure what kind of glass it is, but I don't want to find out. At that point I did alert the range staff.

 

[billt]

This is my Range Officer in .45 ACP. I liked it so much I bought the Loaded Parkerized, and the Long Slide Stainless as well. I have a hard time making up my mind about 1911's. Which is why I own so many of them.

 

[Shakyshoot]

This is my Range Officer in .45 ACP. I liked it so much I bought the Loaded Parkerized, and the Long Slide Stainless as well. I have a hard time making up my mind about 1911's. Which is why I own so many of them.

Nice guns! I don't imagine I'll be buying another 1911 for awhile. They're not cheap, and I'm spending a lot on ammo these days.

 

[RidgeRunner]

A good 1911 is a blend of history, fit, function, and beauty. Some of us are blessed to have lived long enough to see the 1911 develop into the perfection that it has become. I reckon all of us would love to have a collection of 1911's, but money does become an issue. That is why forums like this one are so appreciated......those of us who don't have a mess of 1911's can enjoy those that do. To those that share, I say thank you....to those that that have a few bucks in their pocket.......go buy one and tell us about it.

 

[north country gal]

Nice collection of 1911s, Bill. Love that long slide. Very cool.

I do understand about 1911s not being cheap, at least compared to some of the polymer guns out there, but I also know you do not have to spend big bucks to get a good 1911. The design is so basic that even some of the inexpensive imported guns actually shoot very well. I know several shooters, locally, who shoot RIs and Taurus and have no complaints at all. In fact, my SA Mil spec is still one of the best shooting 1911s I've ever owned and it cost me under $700. The biggest problem with 1911s is that they are so darn addictive.

 

[bearcatter]

The biggest problem with 1911s is that they are so darn addictive.

I've heard that a lot over the years. Maybe that's why I've never owned one, afraid they could bankrupt me..............I always thought if I did do one, it would be the Colt Double Eagle.

They could never make me happier than Bearcats, at least.