Springfield Armory Operator 1911: A 1,000-round Review

[@MartialArtsGamer]

Old Snake’s main handgun in MGS4.

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Yup

[@pandemonikussuperbus4590]

This is the only 1911 Id consider bying.

[@BERETTA9mmUSA]

That’s a great 1911 you have there. 😊😎👍🇺🇸 Beretta Sr.

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Thanks 👍

[@sizzlechest6070]

You don’t have to live with it. I took mine out of the box and went to work with a file. Grip safety/beaver tail and thumb safety all had sharp edges. Now smooth as butter. Its a tool. Treat it like one.

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Did the file destroy the finish?

[@Ghosty_XVI]

Just found your channel, extremely underrated and feels like you should have way more subs! Keep up the fantastic work man!

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

I appreciate that! Stay tuned. Lots more to come!

[@ms.annthrope415]

I have the same pistol mounted with a Streamlight TLR-1 1,000 lumen light, replaced the G10 grips with a Pachmayr Diamond Pro rubber grips with the front finger grooves cut off, a 3.7 pound trigger after a quick trip to my gunsmith, and a piece of Talon Grip Tape on the front strap. Replaced the original 16 pound recoil springs with 17 pound spring. I also use Wilson Combat magazines, especially the 10 rounder when it pulls home defense duty. It pulls night stand duty as it is doing this week. This is now a great pistol for camping or hiking companion pistol, exploring dark, scary woods, or abandoned buildings.

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Very cool! what does the 17lb recoil spring do for you?

[@ms.annthrope415]

A factory recoil spring is 16 pounds. Changing it to a 17-18 pound recoil spring 1) absorbs more recoil and reduces slide to frame.battering if shooting a lot of hardball. 2) on the return forward motion, it has more power to pick up the next round, strip it from the magazine, ram it up the feed ramp, and shove into the chamber, and lock into battery. Some magazine springs are so heavy the top 2 rounds are really tough to strip off the magazine. The heavier spring will do it's job more reliably. Now, don't over do it. Use a 20 pound recoil spring will feel like more recoil as it will push against your hand harder before it compresses. But the main problem is that it won't eject the empties reliably. The spring just soaks up the recoil force and may barely slam to the rear hard enough to eject cleanly out of the chamber area. A quick rule of thumb is to shoot about 10 rounds and see where the empty brass lands. It should be in a pile about 2-4 feet away from you. If the brass is landing closer than 2 feet from you, the recoul spring is too heavy. If it is flinging empties farther than 4 feet, then your recoul spring is too tight or too worn out.

[@Jj-1924]

Good edit, lighting, and angles. Solid vid.

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Glad you liked it!

[@1912rider]

But what do you think about the gun he reviewed?

[@ehcatsfaneric2211]

Bought a new Garrison it had missing finish and had been test fired hundreds of round lots of wear on the slide. Looked 5 years old out of the box

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Sheesh where’d you buy it? Never had that issue.

[@ehcatsfaneric2211]

@@ExplorersWorkbench reputable dealer in n.c. also bought one of their FIRST LINE supposed new ones..had 3000 rounds through it at least in " test firing" returned it to dealer have photos if you want to see them done with SA

[@ehcatsfaneric2211]

@blackout.ghost718 would you like photos? I saved them

[@ehcatsfaneric2211]

@ExplorersWorkbench gunbroker from Carolina it was springfields LE program I have photos if you want them the dealer gave me a full refund

[@evandersantos9070]

Another awesome video, dope stuff

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Appreciate it!

[@elonmusk8667]

Good video.....have you noticed the font changed on "Operator and Springfield Armory"?

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

I haven’t

[@lenholt7419]

Picked up a Garrison in Stainless. It did the same thing. On it I believe its the disconnector dragging. I am almost through a break in on it at about 200 rounds. I don't know what your oil or grease regimen is. Recently switched to Lucas products. I used a small amounts of grease on the rails and a dab on the disconnector with everything else getting oil. It smoothed things up a bit. It is just now beginning to feel right. SA uses some pretty stiff recoil and main springs. Do you find after 1k that it seems smoother in cycling? Out of the box it was very stiff to rack and even cock the hammer. Its improving. Great vid and information.

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Nice! The Garrison is sharp. I honestly haven't used any grease, just lube. I will give that a try. Ya the springs are pretty stiff, you really notice it after racking 9mm along side it. Have never had a cycling issue though, zero malfunctions. The spring has loosened, but not much. It is feeling smoother with time I'll say that!

[@aronbennett4760]

Go ahead and hit those engravings with a file. I work in a machine shop. Files leave a much smoother finish than you think (when held flat). Harbor Freight has a small file set for $2.

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Will do!

[@cukhoaimi7033]

thats a great gun, i just got mine and i love it

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Ya they are great!

[@mitchpeddicord3715]

Operator comes with front strap checkering? I thought the TRP was the one with checkering.

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

No it’s an add on. Wilson combat makes them for 20$

[@3wholepunchjim]

Nice review. I’m not sure if I’m missing something but I see that yours has checkering on the front of the grip. Is this an older feature that is no longer available or is this an updated version. On the SA site the front of the grip is smooth.

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

It’s a slip on piece from Wilson combat. They are like 20$ and great

[@3wholepunchjim]

@@ExplorersWorkbench thank you sir. This will be my first 1911. I’m considering the Operator or the Sig Scorpion. Just a few minor details between the two front strap and rear sights being some. Thanks again for you reply.

[@ligaar0849]

They are supposed to have about a 4.5 pound trigger on those.

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

@@ligaar0849 trigger is good. Its a it heavier than that tho

[@Jacoby4465]

The markings on the stripping block are worker Id so they know who worked on it

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Oh very interesting

[@whiskeyactual.]

Concerning the markings under the slide; I've seen one youtuber report the same problem. Another youtuber did a disassembly and I noticed his didn't have the markings at all. I wonder if Springfield stopped doing the markings OR started at some point. Seems like a terrible idea on their part. Awesome color grading and lighting btw.

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Oh that’s interesting. Hopefully they stopped. I appreciate your comment!

[@aarondesch]

My Loaded Operator is about a decade old, and it has the markings. the markings on mine match the serial number, so I think they do(did) it to marry up frames and receivers I never noticed a rub or grind on mine.

[@adamknapps2860]

What style and color are your grips i bought a operator because of this video

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Awesome! lok ops od green I believe

[@Radvous]

It rubs on the disconnector I think, it's spring loaded

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Gotcha

[@jrf5418]

Thank you for a great video. Your opinion, operator or prodigy? Regardless of the round capacity…thanks.

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Thanks! I don’t have any experience with the prodigy. If you want 45 acp in a true 1911 config go operator.

[@jrf5418]

Thank you !

[@samtagget]

Love the channel and your videos! Clear, concise, and topics people are curious about. In your other videos, you mentioned you've had 1911s in both 9mm and .45, which do you prefer? And if you could buy this gun over again, would you stick with .45?

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Thank you! Great questions… If I were to chose only one caliber it would be 9mm. Cheaper to shoot. Yes if I were to buy this again, it would be 45 because you have to have at least one 45 and it’s a bedside home defense gun, so it makes sense to go with 45. Thank you!

[@randallhill7979]

Great video, I really like that 1911. 👍

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Thanks!

[@AndrewMichaelMusic]

Any concern about life-span? Hoping I can grab one of these and keep it as my main range forever and put a lot of rounds through it throughout years to come.

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Lifespan? The pistol will outlive us both. Just keep it clean. May need to replace springs/ small parts over years.

[@jordansell10]

Been on the fence about this and I’ve seen that some firearms just have a break in period What ammo did you use?

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Mostly all just range 230gr ball ammo federal or remington. Hst for defense.

[@dannyj4743]

whats the magazine with the extension please??

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Wilson combat 10rd 45 ACP.

[@AssassinJan]

What grips you have on the Operator? This not a original grips.

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

No these are lok op grips. Much better

[@AssassinJan]

@@ExplorersWorkbench have you a link on this grips?

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

@@AssassinJan lokgrips.com/1911-gun-grips/lok-ops/1911-lok-ops/

[@roachmotel69]

When you mention that you have 9 rounds at around the 4 minute 32 second mark, did you mean 8+1 or is that a 9 round magazine?

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

8+1 sorry

[@ltx383]

Lmfao was that a serious question?

[@TheRealZJE313]

Nice now send it back to SA for upgrades like magwell sights and front checkering so you can keep your LIFE TIME WARRANT

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

what's the cost and timspan for this process?

[@TheRealZJE313]

​@@ExplorersWorkbench shouldn't be that much give them a call for actual pricing the only thing I can see that will cost is the NIGHT SIGHTS

[@TheAssassinMT07]

SOMEONE PLEASEEEEE HELP. I have the same setup he does and for the life of me cant find a holster. who out there has a AIWB holster for this setup?? thank you

[@samtagget]

Check out Tier 1 Concealed. They should have what you need.

[@N238E]

What did you put on the front strap?

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

amzn.to/3vfK8ST

[@hankmoody2496]

Mine is having failure to feed issues might be selling it

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

What kind of mags?

[@ltx383]

Still for sale Hank? Lol

[@BeingRealSavage]

nice review

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Thank you!

[@N238E]

Is the trigger metal or plastic?

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

metal

[@ltx383]

🤦🏽‍♂️

[@scottydoo330]

but no front strap checkering......come on springfield....i got an older TRP for duty....put a ISMI recoil spring and a Aftac extractor in it....trust me......

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Front checkering would be nice!

[@ThelastWales]

I don’t understand the infatuation with chamber checking using the front …

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

@@ThelastWales easier than the back. More leverage

[@highdesertutah]

It looks like checkering on the front strap. Did you have that done post sale?

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

@@highdesertutah amzn.to/3FLfz90

[@georgec5769]

Is it heavy

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Yes

[@turkeyhunter7617]

Nice 👍

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Thanks!

[@JoyconJames]

I purchased this exact 1911. With the slide hanging up on the disconnect, I have a fix. I clamped my slide into my vice upside down and used a small file to slowly grind a small ramp into the block of the slide where it meets with the disconnect. After doing that, the slide is smooth as butter. Never had that problem again. Here's a detailed video on what I did if you wanna try that for yourself. Thanks for the video! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jae5dp6Jg9WSjKc

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Awesome!

[@practicalplinking6133]

ya guessed wrong with yer guessing I guess!!

[@brandoncannon8832]

Your thumb….

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

What about it?

[@smoothshot8925]

5 minutes of this guy crying about fit n finish and little blem marks lol

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Thanks for tuning in

[@tattoochef]

Ist it catching on the Engraving or dragging on the disconnecter? Ive had 1911s hang up on the disco and have ever so slightly broke the edge of the breech face to help smooth out the engagement.

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

It’s the engraving dragging on the frame before the disconnector.