Springfield Armory FBI Professional or Wilson/Nighthawk

[Eurodriver]

I just got bit by the 1911 bug hard. I want an heirloom quality 1911 in 45 ACP (I’ve heard this is now called AARP lol) that shoots great and is reliable.

Springfield Armory just strikes me as not at the same level as Nighthawk and other custom makers, so I’m hesitating despite hearing many good things about their FBI Pro model. $3k feels like a lot of coin for a SA. The association with the FBI means nothing to me - I’m not in the FBI so I don’t care what they use I just want a very good 1911.

Just talking about the gun itself. Any good?

Edit: apparently I was dead wrong! SACS seems very good to go. I made the new guy mistake thinking all SA guns are the same!

[DaBigBR]

Springfield Custom Shop guns are to what regular Springfield's are as the Corvette ZR1 is to the Impala.

The Professional is an expertly hand fitted gun built to a very high standard. The price is roughly "worth" what a comparable gun is from Nighthawk or Wilson or Baer or any other relatively big name, not quite "artisan" level shop (places that are one guy working alone and building $5k or $10k guns).

That said, you might be happier with one of the other doors where you will have some say in the configuration of your gun. The Pro is a custom shop gun built with a specific set of features and standards. All of the build quality and none of the fun of filling out a build sheet. If you're looking for something you can pass down, maybe there's more to be said for it being "your" configuration the way you wanted it than "the same kind of gun FBI tactical team guys carried."

The other thing to consider is that the spec on the Pro was set twenty-ish years ago and may not really reflect the "best choice" for its intended role today. The same way the Mk18 or SOPMOD M4 are somewhat frozen in time. You also have to consider how it's changed over the years. Walt Birdsong died so the Black T finish you get now isn't truly "Birdsong's Black T" and Springfield ditched Nowlin barrels in maybe 2010ish because they apparently can make their own barrels "just as good" but cheaper. The Pro has received renewed interest in the last couple years because there are a lot more of them making it to the retail market. When I got mine in 2007 or 2008, they were tough to find for sale without ordering and waiting. Now, major wholesalers have them available today (even with the shortages on everything else).

[donlapalma]

My 1911 ownership started with TRP. Then I went to a Dan Wesson Specialist in 9mm. Sold them all and tried to be all "Never gonna own a gun that I don't intend to carry." But then got bit by the bug again, like you now.

I waited for a long time but ultimately scored a deal on a used light rail Pro in 45 with a bunch of extra mags for $2,400. It's a great gun. Excellent fitment. A pleasure to shoot. Would recommend for sure.

[Hulkstr8]

Wilson/Nighthawk sure have adopted ugly model engravings into their models. Nothing like the spice of block letters on the slide. I know that doesn't effect performance but, lol, it makes me laugh.

[Nightstalker865]

Euro, are you wanting a railed or non-railed model?


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[CPM]

Professional. Have a cool pedigree instead of lame BBQ bragging rights about how much you spent.

[Sam]

The Professional is a full house custom 1911 that can stand alone and not play second fiddle to any Nighthawk, Wilson, Les Baer, Ed Brown ,etc.

The fact it was spec out and won the FBI contract was an added bonus. One doesn't need to be an FBI agent or some kind of ninja operator to own the gun. The features on this gun is common with all serious defensive 1911, whether by semi custom factories or one man custom pistolsmiths. The features on the gun is not outdated and I'm sure any gun built like it will be around for 50 more years.

Novak high visibility with tritium inserts - many companies offer this popular style and type of sights
Checkered front strap - what custom 1911s don't have them?
Mag well - many 1911s including competition pistols have them, been around for almost 50 years and will be around many more, even fat bottom double stack guns have optional mag well
Great trigger action - A must have for high end guns
Accuracy - those tight fitting match barrels that shoot less than 2" at 25 yards, my words, not theirs. I can't remember what they're guarantee to shoot. But a decent shooter can produce 2" groups at 25 yds with these guns.
Reliability - the gun is tight from the factory but somehow they manage to run
Ambi safety - never outdated as long as we have left handers
Black T finish - protect against rust

If you look hard enough, you can find a used one for around $2000-2200. I bought a used one that the original owner put over a thousand rounds through it and it's still tight as a bank vault. You can't go wrong between the Springfield Pro and a Wilson CQB.

[signal4l]

Professional has some cool history. There are some things about it I don't like. The starboard side thumb safety digs into my knuckle when I shoot. I would also prefer something other than Novak rear sight.

I would take a hard look at the Vickers model if I were the considering a Springfield 1911. Save some coin

[gaijin]

Are you looking at railed/ non rail, .45 ACP/9mm Euro?

[sidewaysil80]

I just got bit by the 1911 bug hard. I want an heirloom quality 1911 in 45 AARP that shoots great and is reliable.

Springfield Armory just strikes me as not at the same level as Nighthawk and other custom makers, so I’m hesitating despite hearing many good things about their FBI Pro model. $3k feels like a lot of coin for a SA. The association with the FBI means nothing to me - I’m not in the FBI so I don’t care what they use.

Just talking about the gun itself. Any good?

The Professional is a helluva gun no doubt about it. The fact it survived the trials and underwent the r&d it did is remarkable and testament to it's quality...it's probably the most tested/scrutinized 1911 to exist. HOWEVER, I would opt for a Nighthawk over the Springfield any day. For the same money you get far more options, better customer service, (subjective) but I prefer the trigger on Nighthawk, and they seem to hold their value better. There is also the mim issue...not that mim is bad in Springfield's by any stretch, but for that kind of money I would expect tool steel throughout and the peace of mind knowing that the manufacturer used the best components money can buy. Will the mim in a pro fail? Probably never, but again, peace of mind and expectations for the price ymmv. The other issues would be more important to me then mim. Plus I like the design of the Nighthawk ambi safety and magazine well. Unsure of what the Pro uses.