The latest 4.25 version offers all that classic Garrison sweetness in a handier, more-concealable package.
Hard-Core History
Mankind came from the factory with an irresistible drive to create.
Its buried someplace deep in our DNA.
The new Springfield Armory Garrison 4.25″ pistols are the newest addition to the Springfield Armory line of 1911 pistols.
One persons brilliant idea becomes the foundation for the next great advance in science or engineering.
In so doing, technology invariably builds on itself.
This is the reason you are likely reading this hallowed tome in climate-controlled comfort.
The Springfield Armory 4.25″ Garrison 1911 pistols (shown in stainless and blue) are both attractive and functional, and at a reasonable price.
This is the human way.
Think hydrogen bombs or pressurized cheese in a can.
Setting the Stage
On January 26,1911, Glenn Curtiss flew the first amphibian float plane.
The new Springfield Armory 1911 Garrison 4.25″ pistols are available in both 9mm and .45 ACP.
His idea to meld a boat with an airplane was simply inspired.
Prior to that time, pineapples were laboriously cut by hand.
In addition to being time-consuming, there was a also great deal of wastage.
The philanthropic foundation that bears his name has played an active part in crafting public policy since 1927.
On February 17, 1911, Charles Kettering installed the first electric starter motor on an automobile engine.
Kettering once opined, The world hates change, but it is the only thing that has brought progress.
The Springfield Armory 4.25″ Garrison 1911 pistol carries easily, shoots straight and hits hard.
So, why all this arcane prattling about such antiquated contrivances?
The Phenomenon
John Browning introduced his 1911 pistol three years before the outset of World War I.
A lot has happened since then.
The 1911 pistol has a proven track record for capable performance. The Springfield Armory Garrison 4.25″ pistol will certainly carry on that tradition.
The polymer frame weighs just about nothing, and the gun is infinitely customizable.
However, there is just something primal about the way a 1911 pistol interfaces with the human form.
The single-stack magazine supports a trim architecture that fits my hand like it was built to be there.
These Springfield Armory 4.25″ Garrison 1911 pistols shot extremely well no matter what ammo the author fed them.
Despite more than a century of mechanical evolution, the basic 1911 design remains competitive even today.
Part of that is indeed nostalgia.
Ours is a wealthy society, the richest in all of human history.
In addition to the two chamberings, the Garrison 4.25″ pistols are also available in two different finishes.
As a result, we enjoy the luxury of investing our resources in the finer things.
In the timeless 1911 pistol we find a curious melding of form, refinement, style and function.
Nothing else in the vast pantheon of human contrivances really does all that.
The author tested the new Springfield Armory Garrison 4.25″ 1911 pistols in both .45 and 9mm.
The ultimate iteration of that apparently perfect machine is the Springfield Armory Garrison.
Pertinent Particulars
Just like suits, cars, and watches, there is a definite spectrum.
The Springfield Armory Garrison is the refined 1911 pistol for the common man.
Shown here are three of the loads used in the Springfield Garrison 4.25″ 1911 testing. All ran reliably in the guns and shot very accurately.
I have shot a lot of 1911 pistols, and I do love this one.
The standard Garrison has been out for a while.
[Dont miss Dr. Will Dabbs explanation ofcast vs. forged steel.]
The Garrison 4.25″ 1911 is a steel-framed handgun that weighs just north of two pounds. This helps soak up recoil when shooting.
Many of todays bargain 1911 pistols are made from cast components.
By contrast, the forged steel used in the Garrison is as tough as it gets.
Thin line wood grips offer an attractive double-diamond look with the cool Crossed Cannon logo and skin-grabbing texturing.
Personal tastes will drive your purchasing decisions. If a 1911 is in the cards, the new 4.25” Garrison is a classic defensive handgun that offers unimpeachable quality and exceptional accuracy.
An extended beavertail grip safety with a memory bump keeps you from getting nipped by the lightweight skeletonized hammer.
The extended left-sided thumb safety is easily accessible.
The G.I.-standard magazine release has been proven effective through well over a century of active service.
Great accuracy, easy shooting and excellent reliability are just three of the traits associated with the Garrison 4.25″ 1911 pistols.
If it aint broke…
In the past, Springfield Armory has offered the Garrison line with a standard G.I.
Now it’s possible for you to get all that Garrison awesome in something a bit more packable.
The standard frame maintains the inimitably-reliable classic single-stack magazine.
Thats seven rounds in .45 ACP or nine in 9mm.
The new abbreviated Garrison occupies an interesting niche.
This is a steel-framed handgun that weighs just north of two pounds.
There are lighter concealed carry options in the Springfield Armory line-up.
However, the extra weight mitigates felt recoil and muzzle flip.
Thats not just a good idea, thats the law.
As a result, the steel-framed Garrison is actually pleasant to shoot.
If it is uncomfortable to run a handgun, that becomes a disincentive to train.
Tactical shooting is a perishable skill.
Your primary defensive pistol demands a little regular attention for safe and effective employment.
I have carried a steel-framed 1911 comfortably underneath my surgical scrubs at work countless times.
My daily uniform as a physician is the tactical equivalent of pajamas.
The chopped architecture of the Garrison makes all that even better.
When properly secured, the Garrison is also a superb nightstand or truck gun.
As a home defense tool, the Garrison is precise, reliable, and powerful.
Trigger Time
As regards Garrison 1911 pistols, the first decision is caliber.
9mm and .45 ACP are the menu.
Each has its merits, and the respective acolytes espouse their ballistic dogma with near-religious zeal.
When stoked with modern high-tech expanding ammo, the 9mm is a reliable stopper that is comfortable to run.
By contrast, the .45 ACP is all that only more so.
Physics is physics.Jeff Cooperdidnt refer to the .45 ACP as a flying ashtray for nothing.
The .45 version offers more vigorous recoil, but also projects more downrange authority.
The slide/frame interface on the Garrison is the place where dreams are made.
Right out of the box, the guns manual cycling is unbelievably smooth.
John Brownings single-action trigger set a standard more than a century ago that has yet to be bested.
Of course, the Garrison was completely reliable and shot straight.
Take your time and expect single jagged holes at typical engagement ranges.
At seven yards I literally vaporized him with a single Remington 124-gr.
Personal tastes and available resources flavor that equation.
For the gunman of distinction, it is class at a reasonable cost.
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