Springfield Armory Range Officer CMP Legal ?

by Bullshooter 8/22/2012, 7:39 am

I’ve been asked by a number of people if the Springfield Range Officer can be made CMP legal for hardball matches. The gun as supplied from Springfield has a beavertail grip safety, an extended thumb safety, and a Commander style hammer, any of which will disqualify the stock gun. Replacement of these parts with properly fitted standard 1911-A1 parts would not be difficult, but since the frame tangs are rounded to accommodate the beavertail grip safety, this could be construed as an “external modification” by some range officers.

I looked up the latest CMP regulations at this web site: http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/Rulebook.pdf . On page 38, the regulation concerning beavertail grip safeties states: “A M1911 pistol with a beavertail grip safety may not be used, however a pistol that has been modified for a beavertail safety may be used if the beavertail safety is replaced with an as-issued grip safety.” So by switching out these parts, the Springfield Range Officer becomes a great low-cost alternative for a competitive hardball gun. Note that the replacement grip safety may have to be fitted to the trigger bow and the replacement thumb safety may require fitting to the sear.

Walt Jackson