Accuracy was all you could hope for as these targets are a representation of what you can expect with good cast handloads.
It seems Springfield Armory (SA) has been taking refresher courses on cool, vintage, battle-proven pistols of late. And the best part? They’re made of good, old-fashioned forged steel, striking a chord with traditionalists of the pistol craft, not that there’s anything wrong with poly-framed guns, mind you. But come on, we can only take so much of a good thing.
First, they released the SA-35, a modern version of John Browning’s Hi-Power. Then they pleasantly surprised us with an affordable, durable, original warhorse of the most recognizable semi-auto in existence.
Here’s Tank’s handload samples (left to right): Lee 230-grain truncated cone, Lyman 452374 and MP Molds 200-grain HP. The Lyman cartridge gauge made sure everything was spec.
SA has released what I consider the “Blue Collar” special of the 1911 world — the Garrison. This 1911 has everything you need to efficiently run it, with none of the extra “fluff” getting in the way. Nothing fancy necessary for hardball handgunners pining for tradition! The Garrison comes in both stainless steel and blued versions.
The blued version, which is shown here, has the vintage looks of a WWII era slab-side, with deep bluing and checkered stocks, complete with double diamond accents. It has the surplus feel traditionalists love and miss so much.
The Garrison provides everything you need, with no extras. The oversized thumb safety is positive, clicking with both an audible and tactile “click.”
However, there are some improvements on the Garrison. There’s an oversized thumb safety on the left side (sorry lefties, no ambidextrous safeties here) having a positive audible and tactile “click” when engaged, as should be. There’s also a skeletonized hammer adding a faster drop time while providing stylish good looks to the gun. The beavertail grip safety is pronounced and free moving.
Sights are 3-dot low profile, snag-free Novak style rear assuring smooth presentation, matching up nicely with the white dot front sight. Rear slide serrations provide positive gripping power during slide manipulation. Both slide and frame are milled from forged carbon steel for toughness. The 5″ forged stainless steel barrel has a 1:16″ twist rate providing top-notch accuracy for such a reasonably priced 1911.
Trigger is serrated and skeletonized, breaking at just over 4 lbs.
A blue collar combination consisting of a solid, affordable forged-steel Springfield Armory Garrison 1911 and cast bullet handloads. Nothing better than the basics!
Rugged 1911s and cast bullets go together better than prime rib and horseradish. A true-blue combination, I have three favorite samples I’ve included in the evaluation of this mighty-fine shooter. Shooting was done at 50 feet with my forearms resting on a 6×6″ carpeted block. Being 28 degrees out, I had the range to myself, a perk for those willing to brave the cold. Ammo was loaded on my Dillon 550C progressive press.
The first load consists of a cast bullet from MP Molds. It’s the second mold I ever bought from the Slovenian master mold maker, Miha. It’s a 200-grain radiused flat-nose HP design. The pentagonal HP design peels back in petal fashion like expensive factory ammunition.
When a good friend stated it looks like it feeds well, I told him, “Like a steak down a Labrador’s gullet.” And it does! My pet load consists of 6 grains of 231. Velocity runs 980 FPS. Accuracy averaged 1.1″ for 3 groups of 5 shots.
The next slug is Lyman’s famous 452374, a classic round-nose bullet design. Loaded over 5.3 grains of 231, it chugs along at 850 FPS. This bullet feeds extremely well and is also quite accurate. Accuracy averaged just under 1.5″, with tight clusters of 3 shots running a confidence boosting 0.5″. Must be operator error here, eh, on the other two rounds?
Lastly, we have Lee’s 230-grain truncated cone design. I have a six-cavity mold and casting with it makes a pile of projectiles in a hurry. It’s one of my favorite bullets for the .45ACP with its large, flat meplat. My favorite load is again 5.3 grains of 231, which pushes this bullet just over 860 FPS. While quite accurate in other guns, this bullet/load combination came in 3rd accuracywise but kept all groups under 2″ for 5-shots — still respectable.
Rob Leahy’s Simply Rugged holster is perfect for the Springfield Armory’s Garrison! The Garrison provides everything you need, with no extras.
The SA Garrison is a wonderful shooter and true bargain for what you get. With an MSRP of $800, realistically we’re talking about $700. Stainless runs about $50 more. The gun fired, fed, extracted and ejected without fail, right from the box. It’s well built with its forged steel slide, frame and barrel. So, if you like classic-looking 1911s like they used to make, at fair, affordable prices, check out SA blued Garrison.
Combined with your own cast bullet handloads, you’re in for some affordable shooting fun as you run your gun the way it was supposed to be run.
Purchase A PDF Download Of The GUNS Magazine October 2022 Issue Now!
(I) Giveaway ends June 30, 2022. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM October 2022, P.O. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. Deployed military should use stateside address. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Employees and agents of Publishers’ Development Corp. are not eligible. No purchase necessary. Contest void where prohibited by law. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Factory warranties may apply in some cases.
(I) Giveaway ends September 30, 2022. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM September 2022, P.O. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. Deployed military should use stateside address. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Employees and agents of Publishers’ Development Corp. are not eligible. No purchase necessary. Contest void where prohibited by law. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (when required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Factory warranties may apply in some cases.
(I) Giveaway ends August 31, 2022. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM August 2022, P.O. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. Deployed military should use stateside address. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Employees and agents of Publishers’ Development Corp. are not eligible. No purchase necessary. Contest void where prohibited by law. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Factory warranties may apply in some cases.
(I) Giveaway ends July 31, 2022. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM Surplus 2022, PO Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. Deployed military should use stateside address. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Employees and agents of Publishers’ Development Corp. are not eligible. No purchase necessary. Contest void where prohibited by law. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Factory warranties may apply in some cases.
(I) Giveaway ends July 31, 2022. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM July 2022, P.O. Box 502795, San Diego, CA 92150-1377. Deployed military should use stateside address. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Employees and agents of Publishers’ Development Corp. are not eligible. No purchase necessary. Contest void where prohibited by law. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Factory warranties may apply in some cases.
(I) Giveaway ends September 30, 2021. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, Altor Pistols, P.O. Box 502795, San Diego, CA 92150-1377. Deployed military should use stateside address. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Employees and agents of Publishers’ Development Corp. are not eligible. No purchase necessary. Contest void where prohibited by law. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (when required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Factory warranties may apply in some cases.
State Agency: Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
State Agency: Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
State Agency: Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife
New Jersey Online Hunter Safety
State Agency: New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife
State Agency: Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
State Agency: Wyoming Game & Fish Department
State Agency: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
West Virginia Online Hunter Safety
State Agency: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
State Agency: Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
State Agency: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
State Agency: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
State Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
State Agency: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
State Agency: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
South Dakota Online Hunter Safety
State Agency: South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks
South Carolina Online Hunter Safety
State Agency: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Rhode Island Online Hunter Safety
State Agency: Rhode Island Department of Fish & Wildlife
State Agency: Pennsylvania Game Commission
State Agency: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
State Agency: Ohio Division of Wildlife
North Dakota Online Hunter Safety
State Agency: North Dakota Game & Fish Department
North Carolina Online Hunter Safety
State Agency: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
New York Online Hunter Safety
State Agency: New York Department of Environmental Conservation
New Mexico Online Hunter Safety
State Agency: New Mexico Department of Game & Fish
New Hampshire Online Hunter Safety
State Agency: New Hampshire Fish & Game Department
State Agency: Nevada Department of Wildlife
State Agency: Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
State Agency: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
State Agency: Mississippi Deptartment of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks
State Agency: Missouri Deptartment of Conservation
State Agency: Minnesota Deptartment of Natural Resources
State Agency: Michigan Deptartment of Natural Resources
State Agency: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
State Agency: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
State Agency: Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries
State Agency: Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources
State Agency: Iowa Department of Natural Resources
State Agency: Indiana Department of Natural Resources
State Agency: Illinois Department of Natural Resources
State Agency: Idaho Department of Fish & Game
State Agency: Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources
State Agency: Georgia Department of Natural Resources
State Agency: Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife
State Agency: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
State Agency: Colorado Parks & Wildlife
State Agency: California Department of Fish & Wildlife
State Agency: Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
State Agency: Arizona Game & Fish Department
State Agency: Alaska Department of Fish & Game
State Agency: Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources