Springfield Armory 1911 Loaded .45 ACP
Model: PX9109L
Springfield Armory 1911 Loaded .45 ACP
Model: PX9109L
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
Springfield's Loaded is the middle child of their 1911 lineup, sitting between the stripped-down Garrison and the hand-fitted TRP. What separates it from the pack: tritium night sights, an extended ambidextrous thumb safety, and a forged stainless steel match barrel all come from the factory. Most 1911s at this tier ship with plain white-dot sights and a single-side safety, so Springfield packs in upgrades that other makers leave to the aftermarket.
The 5.5 lb trigger pull is on the heavier side for a single-action 1911. The Kimber Custom II breaks at 4.5 lbs, a full pound lighter, and the Garrison below it breaks at 4 lbs. At 40 oz, it sits 2 oz heavier than the Kimber Custom II's 38 oz, though both run forged steel frames. The Parkerized finish is mil-spec and durable but won't win any beauty contests next to the Colt Government's traditional bluing.
Buy the Loaded if you want a 1911 with night sights and ambi controls straight from the box. Skip it if trigger pull weight matters to you more than included accessories. The Garrison gets you a 4 lb trigger for less, and the TRP gets you a hand-fitted gun with Cerakote for more.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Tritium night sights and extended ambidextrous thumb safety included from the factory, features that most competing 1911s in this range require aftermarket additions to match
- Ships with two 7-round magazines, which is practical for a single-stack .45 ACP where spare capacity matters
- The 5.5 lb single-action trigger is the heaviest in Springfield's 1911 lineup. The Garrison breaks at 4 lbs and the TRP at 4.8 lbs.
- No accessory rail, so mounting a weapon light requires a rail adapter or a different gun entirely
Category Rankings
How the Springfield Armory 1911 Loaded .45 ACP ranks among full-size .45 ACP handguns.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Springfield 1911 Loaded and the Garrison?
The Loaded adds tritium night sights, an extended ambidextrous thumb safety, and Cocobolo grips over the Garrison's plain 3-dot sights, standard safety, and thinline wood grips. Both share the same forged stainless match barrel. The Loaded weighs 40 oz versus the Garrison's 37 oz. The Garrison has a lighter 4 lb trigger compared to the Loaded's 5.5 lb pull.
Does the Springfield 1911 Loaded need a break-in period?
Springfield recommends 200-300 rounds to fully break in their 1911s. During this period, some owners report occasional failures to feed, particularly with hollow point ammunition. Using 230-grain FMJ ball ammo for the break-in period is the standard recommendation. After break-in, reliability with defensive ammo improves significantly.
Can I add a red dot to the Springfield 1911 Loaded?
Not without machining. The Loaded's slide has no optic cut or mounting plate system. Adding a red dot requires sending the slide to a machine shop for milling, which is permanent. Springfield does not currently offer an optic-ready version of the Loaded in .45 ACP.