Springfield Armory Range Officer Elite Champion .45 ACP 1911 (4" Commander)

I've been carrying a Walther PPS for deep concealment the past two years, alternating with a S&W M&P Compact. Both are fine shooting polymer-framed 9mm that have withstood the abuse of true daily carry in all sorts of conditions (including 30-40 mile bicycle rides).

Trusty -- and compact -- Walther PPS 9mm

I considered Kimber, then Dan Wesson (I see a Wilson Combat in my future -- just not immediate).

I decided on a Springfield Armory Champion for daily carry (since I simply can't miss with my SA Range Officer 1911A1 5" )

My excellent experience with the Springfield tipped the balance in favor of the RO Champion.

I ordered from Sportsmans Outdoor Superstore (Heath, OH) on a Friday.  A week later it arrived at local FFL (and bone fide hero) Charlie Smithgall's pharmacy Friday. I dutifully picked it up, cleaned it, function-checked, and replaced the stock greyish grips with more muted black Magpul G10s with the large thumb relief.

I packed up a couple hundred 200 grain LSWC Blue Bullet reloads and headed to my local club indoor range.

First, I was surprised by the force required to rack the slide. This thing is tight -- the recoil spring is serious and I was glad for the serrations (although my winter-dried hand slipped a few times during the range session).

But it was smooth, and tight will loosen up in time. The ambidextrous safety is also tight, with a satisfying click either up or down. The surface is treated and except for the "RO Elite" logo, understated and stealthy (my preference for this gun's ultimate mission). 

After a few shots with my full size 1911, I loaded the RO Champ. It felt considerably lighter than the full size Range Officer. Enough that I wondered if I would enjoy shooting it much.

I drew a clear bead on the 10 yard target, focused on the front sight and squeezed. Hard. A bit harder than I expected, actually. I had done about 50 dry fire trigger presses after the cleanup and function check but the pull-weight difference was still a bit surprising after shooting the standard Range Officer.

The gun finally went blam and I was delighted to see the front sight snap back in view. I aimed low to see if the aimpoint on this was set for 6 o'clock or point of aim and was happy to see it shot spot-on POA. I fired 6 more times then walked downrange to inspect:

Yeah, that'll do.

I blasted a few more index cards at 10 and then 20 yards using a mix of techniques.

It kept shooting just fine:

I had a few FTE, but I chalk those up to fairly light loads and a brand new firearm with a pretty hefty --and new -- recoil spring.

I'll give it 500 rounds before I consider it "broken in." Any FTE after that will warrant a trip to the gunsmith.

I'm also planning on trying some different combinations of projectile and powders as well as powder weight to see what feeds best (I'm guessing a slightly faster burning powder would help).

After a few more magazines through both firearms I called it a night and headed home for field strip and clean. While the FS 1911 was apart in seconds, the RO Champ stumped me. SA had not included either takedown tool in the box. After figuring out I had the type guide rod with a hole I made a tool from a heavy paper clip and finally figured out what to do to disassemble my new pistol for cleaning:

After clearing the firearm, rack the slide to slide lock, find the small hole in the protruding part of the guide rod, place the short end of the tool in the hole, and then gently release the slide, allowing it to go forward. The recoil spring will no longer be compressed. Remove slide from frame, turn slide over, and remove recoil guide rod and spring from the slide.

(I recommend Springfield Armory replace the current instructions in the manual with those words and save new RO Champion owners some wasted time.)

Once disassembled, cleaning was straightforward. Re-Assembly was easy also.

Follow up to initial report:

After a couple more trips to the indoor range and I'm much happier with the function of the RO Champion.

At this point I have about 200 rounds through the gun with no more FTE. But there's a consistent failure to lock the slide to the rear once the magazine is empty. I'm loading some slightly hotter loads to test this function next trip (6.0gr BE-86, 200gr LSWC).

I alternated the Champion and the full-size 1911A1. The weight difference is surprising, and yet the perception of recoil is nearly the same.

The shorter barrel doesn't affect accuracy to 20 yards (50 yard test will need the outdoor range).
The fiber optic front sight really pops out. This particular gun was set up well, as it hits just above point of aim at 20 yards (using the very top edge of the front sight post).

Post-range cleanup was far easier this time, now that I figured out the sequence (hold the slide back at slide lock, insert paper clip tool into guide rod, push slide back, push slide stop out, slowly push slide off the front, remove guide rod assembly, slide barrel out, etc).

I tested IWB carry for a few hours in a low threat environment (no ammo, just empty gun and holster) and found it comfortable to the point it was indistinguishable from my S&W M&P 9c.
Once functional consistency is tested and proven, the SA RO Champion will enter the EDC rotation.

High School Shooting and Police Response

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel newspaper assembled a fairly exhaustive timeline of the events February 14, 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Unfortunately, the headline is misleading: "Unprepared and Overwhelmed" suggested inadequacies in preparation and a disparity of force between the attacker and defender.

A more accurate headline would have been: "The Slow, Uncoordinated, and Futile Response at MSDHS".

There was plenty of firepower -- it was simply useless by the time it was brought to bear.

In related news, on December 12 2018, U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom dismissed a lawsuit filed by 15 students who were present at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida who "sought unspecified damages for the trauma the students experienced as a result of the unchecked attack."

Shocker.

Judge Blom only had to reference the the US Supreme Court in CASTLE ROCK V. GONZALES (04-278) 545 U.S. 748 (2005) 366 F.3d 1093, reversed., which established (again) that police cannot be held liable for harm caused by an assailant.

Bottom line: You are in charge of your safety.

It's a pretty simple question, really: If you are in a building being stalked by a crazed active shooter, who has the greater motivation to stop the attacker: the guy inside trying to get out, or the guy outside, deciding if he wants to go in?

I know where I would bet my money, life, and the lives of my loved ones.

Don't you?

PA Act 235 Process

While the Pennsylvania State Police website is a good start, it leaves out some key details.

Here's a checklist on what to do to acquire an Act 235 certificate in Pennsylvania:

Step	Description	Notes
1	Go to the PA State Police website, follow the steps for Basic Applicant and complete online application.	1. Go to www.psp.pa.gov 2. After the first paragraph, you'll see this - All Act 235 certification actions are available on the Applications Page- Click on Applications Page 3. On this page, scroll down and click on Basic 4. On the basic application page, scroll down and click on TACS System 5. On the training and certification page, fill in the area under the Public/Guest Users section 6. Once the applicant pays and submits their application, they will receive an email with further instructions and a link to set up a fingerprint appointment
2	Schedule Fingerprint appointment	There is one contractor the state accepts. Be sure to follow the instructions in the email from the state.
3	Schedule physical examination at PA licensed provider.	Physical Exam Form
4	Schedule psychological examination at PA licensed provider.	Psychological Exam Form
5	Completed and signed exam report forms must be mailed to the Lethal Weapons Certification Unit.	Strongly recommend Registered mail with receipt tracking.
6	You will receive a letter from the PA State Police officially notifying you whether you have been approved.	Expect minimum 2 weeks before response. If longer, call and track down the holdup.
7	Once approved, you can schedule training at an Act 235 certified school. You have six months to complete the 40-hour training from the date of your Approval Letter.	As soon as you receive your Approval Letter from Lethal Weapons Certification, contact an approved Act 235 to register for Act 235 training.
8	Attend and successfully complete 40 hour training class	Act 235 Schools
9	Qualify on range with planned carry firearm	Act 235 Range Qualification Standards (good luck finding a standard. My experience was 147 points out of 150 on a standard B27 target at ranges from 15 to 25 yards, standing, kneeling, and one handed. Only hits inside the large ring counted).
10	Upon completion of training, you must login to TACS to submit the $30 certification fee to the Commonwealth of PA.	Certification fee to Commonwealth of PA: $30
11	You will receive an ACT 235 Certified Agent ID card in the mail.	Expect 2 weeks after submitting completion status and fee.

Ohio and "Common Sense"

The Ohio state legislature will soon vote to override the Governor's veto of House Bill 228, which would shift the burden of proof on self-defense cases involving firearms to prosecutors from defendants.

So if you defend yourself, you have to prove your innocence, rather than plea self-defense and expect the state to prove you were not acting in Self Defense.

Seems like a minor quibble, until you have to defend yourself twice: once against an assailant, a second time against the full power of the state of Ohio.

Pennsylvanians, take note -- these creeping so-called "common sense" statutes intentionally shift power from the individual to the state.

House Bill 228

Ohio Governor vetoes bill that would remove the "duty to retreat" in Ohio statutes

“If you think I’m going to sign a bill that gives more power to the gun folks, are you kidding me?” opined soon to be out-the-door Ohio Governor Kasich -- perpetual candidate for president (who never knew when it was time to bow out gracefully), and perpetual finger-in-the-wind RINO.

Should I stay or should I go...?

Often called "Stand your ground" by the misinformed, many states have rolled back to antiquated "duty to retreat" requirement for defensive actions. The reason the language needed to be removed is that every case the defender had to prove he/she exhausted every avenue of retreat (even those which he/she may not have been aware at the time of the incident).

Since defensive encounters rarely happen in three-side maze traps, self-defense claimants were in always legal jeopardy, even if he/she could prove that the other conditions that warrant self defense (threat proximity, ability, intent, immediacy) were satisfied.

So in Ohio, make sure you continue to check every possible egress route every time you move from here to there.

Brought to you by Those Who Really Care.*

*They care, just not about you.

Yet Another Case Study: Pittsburgh, October 27 2018

The latest tragedy occurred at the Tree of Life synagogue in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

11 people were killed and six wounded by a man who had no prior interactions with law enforcement or any mental health system, had guns purchased legally, and exhibited no overt signs that would suggest a pending attack.

Investigators will be sifting through evidence and testimony for a while, but a few facts have been established about this incident:

• The assailant walked unimpeded through an unlocked exterior door
• The assailant retreated back into the target area after encountering responding law enforcement
• No one inside could or would counter the force wielded by the assailant
• Evacuations to hide locations kept some out of the line of fire
• The assailant's position inside the facility delayed medical first responders
• Most injuries and fatal wounds happened within five minutes of the assailant's initial attack
• A 911 call was placed two minutes after the first shots fired
• Local LEO responded "immediately," but it's not clear how many, what type, and how long before responding officers engaged the assailant
• The assailant was armed with multiple weapons, including one long gun and three handguns
• The assailant acted alone
• The attack was stopped when the assailant received return fire (e.g was met with equal force)

Some conclusions based on these facts:

• Access control is critical: unlocked, unattended doors permit malefactors immediate access to targets
• Law Enforcement response is after a crime is committed. We are on our own until police and medical responders arrive and take control of the scene. Therefore, a two-minute response time on scene is fast -- but meaningless if it takes 10 minutes to secure the space.
• Hiding can be effective, especially if response is swift. Exiting the facility is usually the best option, but hiding is next best. Any civilian responders inside the building should move in such a way as to prevent the attacker from encountering those in hide positions.
• An attacker with multiple weapons is carrying several because he/she is unable to rapidly reload. The time required to change firearms (especially if they are different) is longer than a magazine change for even experienced shooters. It is also likely that the attacker will need several shots to adjust from a rifle to a handgun. This transition period is likely the best time to engage an attacker.
• Any lethal force response to an attacker will slow or even stop the attack (whether of not the attacker is hit). According to FBI Active Shooter research, the majority of attackers immediately cease when engaged, hit, or succumb to self-inflicted wounds.

Bottom Line: Enange an attacker with lethal force as soon as practicable while maintaining protection of unarmed civilians in hide or escape positions. 

Springfield Armory Range Officer 5" .45 ACP 1911-A1 Review

The last time I fired a 1911-A1 was around 1990, one of the few still in the inventory of the Army National Guard. It rattled like spoons in a bag. When I asked about the rattle I was told "It's worn-out...”

(Of course that's not correct, but I doubt the sergeant issuing the weapons knew any better. I certainly didn't. Plus, tankers lump military sidearms with bayonets and gas masks -- annoying, unnecessary gear that only to adds weight and turn-in cleaning time. So handgun qualification was a required formality that simply got in the way of real training).

US Government Issue M1911A1 and Holster

After a dalliance with .40 caliber Glocks, my civilian carry choice shifted to 9mm due to the availability and price of practice ammo, the capacity of 9mm magazines and the quality and ergonomics of the small, concealable 9mm handguns becoming available (such as the 2006 Smith and Wesson M&P9c, and the 2007 Walther PPS).

While the newer guns are nice, if you're an American interested in handguns you really need a 1911 that fires .45 ACP. John Browning's 1911 is the sine qua non of American handheld firepower. In these times of American resurgence, doesn't it make sense to load and shoot .45 ACP? And shouldn't those .45 230 grain FMJ bullets travel through the barrel of a 1911-A1?

Of course.

John Moses Browning wants you to own a 1911. Listen to John Moses Browning.

It doesn't take long to be overwhelmed by the variety of current 1911 choices: Wilson Combat, Les Baer, Dan Wesson, Colt, Sig Sauer, Smith and Wesson, Kimber, Springfield Armory, and many others.

We are living in the golden age of 1911, with many, many excellent builders.

After many hours viewing various models and eventually adjusting to fiscal realities (superfine quality isn't cheap!), I settled on either a Kimber or Springfield Armory.

Eventually, Springfield Armory (SA) won me over to the Range Officer (RO) with its parkerized finish, standard features, and no-nonsense look.

It helped that each model was the bottom on the cost scale, but I would rather buy a quality foundation and add the custom items I want, rather than paying upfront for items the vendor thinks I might want. The consensus among the more knowledgeable is that a SA RO is a good base from which to build up. The fundamentals are there.

So I plunked down an order with SportsmansOutdoorSuperstore.com on Friday. The following Wednesday the SA Range Officer arrived at my favorite FFL (Charlie Smithgall, former mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, cannon enthusiast, and pharmacist).

I took it home, opened up the very nice case, and was pleased to see a very large, very utilitarian-looking pistol. The RO is no display piece -- the Parkerized finish means business.

According to Calvan, a company that sells parkerizing kits,"Parkerizing or Phosphating is a Metal Finish that really gained in popularity during WW2 when the US Government was looking to replace the typical blued finish on most small arms with a Rust Resistant and Anti Reflective Finish that would be both Durable and Abrasion Resistant and hold up in all weather extremes, for this they chose Parkerizing or Phosphating."

NOTE: It's important to note that Parkerizing is intended to be oiled, but this is not mentioned in the SA Owners Manual. I have been using CLP and it seems to be working fine.

The pistol feels right in the hand. The longer, higher beavertail is welcome over the MIL-SPEC original. The grips are very nice. The sights are -- fine. But I plan to to replace them.

After a few hours getting familiar with the firearm I re-learned how to tear it down (simple, once you get it). I cleaned everything, put it back together, function-checked, and got ready to head to the range.

I'll write up a range report in a follow-up post.