hardball pistol

What would I need to do to a springfield mil spec to make it a competitive pistol

How does it shoot right now?  See if you can hold the black with it at 25 yards.  How's the trigger?

If it's like other Springfields I would say it needs adjustable target sights cut into the slide, a 19lb Mainspring and maybe a little trigger adjusting.  If it doesn't group hardball well maybe a barrel and bushing fitted.

Do all that and it would be ready to go.

Is this pistol a good starting point

If you don't already own it, a Springfield Range Officer already has springfield's "match" barrel and bushing, as well as the target sights.

To be competitive for bullseye it is pretty much "competitive" right out of the box.  The only thing I do for a new shooter is replace the mainspring with a 19lb spring.

Since you were asking about a Springfield Mil Spec, the "range officer" is not legal for shooting "service pistol" matches without replacing the hammer and grip safety with GI style ones, where the Mil-Spec is legal for "service pistol" matches right out of the box.

Is a Mil-Spec a good starting point?
Yes.  There is nothing on a Springfield Mil-Spec that couldn't be upgraded down the road to be shooting "master" class scores.

Cool thanks for the input.  Im new to bullseye.  Just started shooting an indoor rimfire league and am having  good time.  Im awful but its fun.  Hard transition between highpower and idpa to bullseye.  Im looking to put together a pistol to shoot it all with so i figured an eic legal pistol would be the ticket.  Who should i send a pistol to to fit a barrel and install sights

There are many good smiths out there. Many shooters go with someone regional to them. Where are you located?

north east pa.  Got garthwaite right up the road but he specializes in action and carry pistols and hes about 6 months out

You might try John Vincent . He's in Slippery Rock. He built my bullseye pistol
several years ago and it's still shooting great.
http://hallstoncustom.com/4901.html

35 Years ago I started shooting bullseye.  As a military shooter my team coach required expert (90%) scores before he would issue us a wadcutter gun.  From a team prospective my ability to shoot good service pistol scores was the sole basis for my existence.   Early on I thought that  my issue 45 was not the equal of some of the civilian shooters guns.  Even went so far as to buy a Colt Gold Cup and shoot it for a while.  My coach just smiled and went about coaching. Broke 800 with that old Gold Cup.   When I matured enough as a shooter to know what  the AFPG marked 1911 I was issued actually was I traded that Gold Cup off and never looked back.  An 854 was the best service pistol score I ever shot with that AFPG gun.   The only reason it didn't shoot a perfect 900 was that nut behind the trigger!   FWIW it was a colt slde and frame.  Everything else was custom. Yes, Springfield slides and frames make good bullseye guns.  .

If this is for IDPA as well as Bullseye, you need to be aware of what front sight will be used for your match sighting system.  The common high rectangular (or, slanted back) type can cause you holster trouble.  Be sure your gunsmith is aware of the dual purpose.

Definitely not a dual purpose gun.  Have several run and gun guns.  Im looking to build a 1911 for hardball.  Only dual purpose would be to change the springs and shoot wadcutters

The "low mount" rear sight only drives up the cost..   Doesn't buy you anything on the range.  Here is the Bomar sight,  Barsto barrel, Caspian frame, and NM slide based hardball gun I had built when I retired in '95.  Had not fired a round through it until this summer.  Old gun shoots pretty good.  Somewhere between 1000 and 2000  rounds to date.   If my old eyes could just see that front sight better in inside range light I might shoot some decent targets with it.    The Range Officer is nice for an off the shelf gun and a good starter while you wait for your real gun to be built but IMHO it is NOT a real bullseye gun.   Come by the range with a RO and I'll show you the difference. 

aloreman wrote:...  Hard transition between highpower and idpa to bullseye.  Im looking to put together a pistol to shoot it all with so i figured an eic legal pistol would be the ticket...

I just thought I'd bring it up, based on the above post...  Of course, I reasoned out the "highpower" portion.  But, I wasn't sure if "all" was all BE, or included IDPA...

Yea sorry bout that.

I stared with a mil spec.  Replaced trigger, rear site, sear (trigger job required this), front sight, and barrel/bushing.  All done by a top notch gun smith.  It will shoot master scores.

I have seen a RO out of the box shoot 1.5" at 50yds so I would not count them out.

There was a time when best gunsmiths said, "Pre series 80 Colt or Springfield Armory only!"  The concept of the "loaded" Springfield 1911 didn't exist yet..  Picked up my last two in the early 90s.  Had my gunsmith make me a matched set in the late 90s. All that remains of the original is the slide and frame..  Maybe a magazine latch... Here is one.

Debating on what pistol to purchase for hardball.  I took the advice and had a Range Officer setup for BE while I wait for a pistol. 

I was considering some various paths, and this is just what I've researched, so I'm open to any suggestions.

Clark Custom Hardball
Springfield Custom Shop Hardball
Les Baer Premier II w/1.5" guarantee and replace the grip safety to make CMP Service Pistol Legal

Appreciate advice from those who are vastly more experienced and wiser than I am, which is everyone...lol

The clark custom guns ive seen lately are not of the quality of the time when clark sr and even when jr first took over, rumor has it all bullseye related builds are done by the shop apprentices.
out of those three, the Baer would be my choice, ive owned and ordered for customers many and every one was a great shooting and build quality gun.

Would you recommend a Premier II with the 1.5" guarantee and just swap the controls for Service legal components or buy their dedicated hardball pistol?

The reason I ask is the hardball doesn't carry the accuracy guarantee. However I have no idea if that truly matters or not.

Thank you in advance for the advice.

Hello JayhawkNavy02,

Written specifications aside; I have yet to see a Les Baer National Match pistol that did not shoot as good, and in the rare case better, than a Premier II with the 1.5" guarantee.

Jim

Honest question, not having owned a Les Baer, why is the Hardball being as accurate as a Premier II with th e 1.5"

I'm making a guess from what I've read that in general all Les Baer pistols or pretty close to each other in accuracy, but is there something unique about the National Match Hardball Custom?

Les Baer National Match Hardball Custom

The NM hardballer is guaranteed to shoot 3" at 50yds with 230gr ball ammo.  It has the correct hammer, grip safety and trigger weight (4lbs) to qualify for CMP EIC matches. It also has an undercut Patridge front sight to eliminate glare.

The PII with the 1 1/2" guarantee - I'm not sure how it would do with 230gr ball ammo but it should be accurate enough to get EIC points if you do your job.  You would have to change out the beavertail & hammer. Then make sure it makes weight on the trigger.  My PII was under 4lbs.  The front sight will work but the undercut Patridge is better for competition.


Da 3 Baers
Wadcutter, NM Hardballer, PII (CCW) but now doing 22lr bullseye match duty with a Marvel upper, Matchdot II and a nice 2.25lb roll trigger.

Hello JayhawkNavy02,

The specification for the Les Baer National Match pistol is based on "ten" shots with "hardball" (Les uses Federal).  The 1.5" guarantee is based on "five" shots with "selected" ammo (Les uses Federal Match).  I believe that the fitting and componants required to make a good CMP pistol work with hardball yields a even better pistol with match ammo.

Jim

if I was buying one I would buy the hardball over the premier if a hardball gun was what I wanted.

I've got a Les Baer hardball gun.  I really like it.  It took me a while to find the load that the gun and I shot the best.  I'm sure it will have been worth the effort.