Except for its taller sights, it shares the silhouette of a World War II era 1911-A1.

So, exactly, what does Mil-Spec mean?

In the case of this pistol, it can mean different things from different eras.

Springfield Armory 1911 Mil-Spec pistol

The Mil-Spec is instantly recognizable to any veteran of WWII, Korea or Vietnam.

The lines are sorta blurred…

Surveys ofdoughboys who had used the .45 automatic in the trencheswere conducted.

As a result, several changes were made.

Massad Ayoob holding the Springfield Armory 1911 Mil-Spec pistol

Ayoob checks out the Springfield Armory Mil-Spec .45 prior to testing the gun on the range.

The results of those surveys led to recommended design changes, and the M1911-A1 was on the drawing board.

In fact, that stubby tang itself could draw blood upon recoil.

Those original Lilliputian sights were changed, too.

Cover for The Armory Life Digital Magazine Volume 15: The 1911 Pistol

Rust resistance was also a concern.

The original 1911 had a blued finish, and the 1911-A1 modification included corrosion-resistant Parkerizing.

This gave it a distinctive and businesslike flat gray finish.

Springfield Armory Defender Series 1911 Mil-Spec pistol

The 1911 Mil-Spec shares many of the features of the M1911-A1 pistol issued to American soldiers in the 20th Century.

This jot down of finish is present on the Springfield Armory 1911 Mil-Spec.

It was noted in both combat and on the range alike that bad shots tended to go low.

Ordnance looked for a mechanical fix.

Springfield M1911-A1 pistol

The M1911-A1 served U.S. forces well in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and beyond.

This would remain a standard 1911-A1 feature throughout military production and even on commercial Colts except the target models.

This is present on the Springfield Mil-Spec.

Accordingly, the 1911-A1 redesign incorporated two features intended to correct or at least ameliorate the trigger issue.

Ayoob demonstrates proper hold of M1911-A1

To avoid grip tang pinch, feed the 1911 into the firing hand at this angle, with tight contact to web of hand.

But the other change was simply shortening the trigger.

This was a boon for shorter-fingered soldiers, of course.

But it had two more advantages.

Ammunition used in testing the 1911

Ayoob’s team tested the Springfield 1911 Mil-Spec for accuracy and function with these three loads.

Lets call that modern spec.

The 1911 Mil-Spec has that.

Also from what we might call modern spec are the big, easy-to-see fixed sights.

Shooting a Springfield Armory 1911 on the range

Ayoob found the Mil-Spec as easy as any full-size all-steel 1911 to control with full power .45 ACP.

Springfield was wise to include these on the Mil-Spec.

on a Lyman digital trigger gauge from Brownells.

Of course, the beloved quick trigger reset common to the 1911 design is present here as well.

Ayoob shooting the Springfield 1911 for accuracy test

Ayoob used a Caldwell Matrix rest on a concrete bench to test the Mil-Spec accuracy at 25 yards.

From a 6 male to a 5 female, everyone on our test team liked the gun.

We all found it controllable, just like any properly held and shot 1911 .45.

For accuracy, we tested from a Caldwell Matrix rest on a concrete bench 25 yds.

Accuracy testing the Springfield 1911 Mil-Spec with Remington ammo

At 25 yards, the Springfield Armory Mil-Spec turned in excellent performance with the Remington 185 grain JHP load.

We tested with three brands of ammo in the three most popular .45 ACP bullet weights.

The best three were in a cluster barely more than half that, at 1.40. ammo is the natural food of the .45 ACP, and by far the most popular bullet weight.

The just right Mother Bear load of the day was the middle-ground bullet weight:Black Hills200-gr.

Testing Winchester ammo in the Springfield Armory Mil-Spec 1911 .45

Relatively inexpensive Winchester USA 230 grain JHP ammunition shot a 2.0” group at 25 yards from Mil-Spec. Check out the “best 3” cluster.

For a basic .45 ACP service pistol, that will most assuredly do.

That said, I would expect that to break in with time and dry practice.

We experienced a single malfunction, a 12 oclock misfeed with the lead semi-wadcutter rounds when administratively loading.

Man holstering the 1911 with a thumb hold

The narrow thumb safety tang of Mil-Spec makes it easier for the thumb to hold hammer safely in place when holsteringthe Mil-Spec.

However, neither that load nor anything else ever malfunctioned in any way during the firing cycle.

1911 Mil-Spec

Precision Holsters

Black Hills .45 ACP

Remington High Terminal Performance .45 Auto

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