The Apex of Precision: Unveiling the Springfield Armory 1911 Range Officer Elite Target PI9128E

When seeking a firearm that seamlessly blends timeless design with modern performance, the Springfield Armory 1911 Range Officer Elite Target in .45 ACP stands as an unequivocal choice. Crafted by an American-owned and operated company with over 150 years of distinguished heritage, this full-sized 1911 is meticulously engineered to meet the demanding requirements of competitive shooters, precision target enthusiasts, and those who prioritize robust reliability for personal and home defense. This isn't just a handgun; it's a testament to Springfield Armory's commitment to quality, a firearm born from a legacy of battle-proven excellence, now refined for unparalleled accuracy and control.

Who is the Springfield Armory 1911 Range Officer Elite Target For?

This exceptional 1911 is designed for a discerning audience that values precision, durability, and a classic platform refined for contemporary use. If you are:

• A Competitive Shooter: Whether you engage in USPSA, IDPA, Bullseye, or other pistol competitions, the RO Elite Target provides the inherent accuracy, crisp trigger, and adjustable sights necessary to gain a competitive edge. It’s built to deliver repeatable performance under pressure.
• A Dedicated Target Shooter: For those who spend countless hours at the range striving for tighter groups and personal bests, this firearm offers the tools to achieve exceptional precision, helping you refine your marksmanship skills.
• Seeking a High-Performance Defensive Firearm: While primarily optimized for accuracy, its .45 ACP chambering, robust construction, and reliable 1911 platform make it a formidable choice for home defense, offering significant stopping power and ease of use in critical situations.
• A 1911 Aficionado: If you appreciate the legendary Browning design and seek a modern interpretation that upholds the platform's revered attributes while integrating performance-enhancing features, the Range Officer Elite Target will exceed your expectations.
• Investing in Quality and Reliability: For individuals who understand that a firearm is a serious investment in safety and sport, and who demand unwavering quality and reliability from a reputable manufacturer.

This pistol solves the problem of needing a versatile, full-sized handgun that excels in both accuracy-driven scenarios and offers dependable performance when stakes are high. It answers questions like: "What is the best 1911 for competitive shooting?" or "Which .45 ACP pistol offers superior accuracy and control for target practice?"

A Deep Dive into Unrivaled Performance Features

The Springfield Armory 1911 Range Officer Elite Target (PI9128E) is not merely a collection of parts; it's a synergistic system designed for optimal shooter experience and performance. Each component has been thoughtfully selected and integrated to enhance accuracy, control, and durability.

Precision At Its Core: Match Grade Barrel & Advanced Sighting System

At the heart of any accurate firearm is its barrel and sighting system. The Range Officer Elite Target leaves no stone unturned in this regard:

• 5" Stainless Steel Match Grade Barrel: The five-inch length is the classic "Government Model" standard, providing an ideal sight radius for precision shooting while maximizing muzzle velocity. Crafted from stainless steel, this match-grade barrel is meticulously manufactured to exceptionally tight tolerances, ensuring superior bore uniformity and concentricity. This precision directly translates to consistent bullet flight and, ultimately, tighter groups on target. For the competitive shooter, this means every shot has the potential to be a winner.
• Fully Adjustable Rear Target Sight with Fiber Optic Front Sight: This pairing is a hallmark of a true target pistol. The rear sight allows for precise adjustments in both windage and elevation, enabling shooters to fine-tune their point of impact for different ammunition types or shooting distances. The bright fiber optic front sight gathers ambient light, creating a highly visible and crisp aiming point, even in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. This combination promotes faster sight acquisition and a clear sight picture, critical for both rapid engagements and pinpoint accuracy.

Ergonomics & Control: Engineered for the Shooter

The ability to control a firearm effectively is paramount to accuracy and safe handling. The RO Elite Target prioritizes the shooter's experience through thoughtful design:

• Forged Lightweight Aluminum Frame: Unlike many traditional 1911s that feature a heavier steel frame, the Range Officer Elite Target utilizes a forged aluminum alloy frame. Forging compresses the metal, eliminating imperfections and creating a component with superior strength-to-weight ratio. This lightweight construction reduces the overall weight of the pistol to a manageable 40 ounces (unloaded), making it more comfortable for extended range sessions, easier to maneuver quickly in competition, and a more viable option for carry if desired, without compromising the legendary 1911 feel.
• Thin Line G10 Grips: Grips are the primary interface between the shooter and the firearm. These G10 grips are not only incredibly durable and impervious to moisture and solvents but are also designed with a "thin line" profile. This slimmer profile, combined with an aggressive texture, provides an exceptional, non-slip purchase on the pistol, even with wet hands or when wearing gloves. This enhanced traction translates to better recoil management, faster follow-up shots, and improved overall control.
• Gen 2 Trigger: A clean, consistent trigger pull is essential for accuracy, preventing shooter-induced movement at the critical moment of firing. The Springfield Armory Gen 2 trigger system is refined to deliver a crisp break with minimal overtravel and a positive reset. This contributes significantly to precision, allowing the shooter to focus on sight alignment rather than anticipating the break. The single-action-only (SAO) mechanism, inherent to the 1911, ensures a light and predictable pull every time.
• Ambidextrous Thumb Safety: For both right- and left-handed shooters, or those who prefer to engage the safety with either thumb, the ambidextrous thumb safety provides intuitive and accessible operation. This feature enhances the pistol's versatility and safety for a broader range of users, critical for competitive and defensive scenarios where quick, reliable manipulation is key.
• Grip Safety: A hallmark of the 1911 platform, the grip safety ensures that the pistol will not fire unless the shooter has a firm, positive grip on the handle. This adds an important layer of passive safety, preventing accidental discharges without requiring additional manual manipulation beyond simply holding the firearm correctly.

Built to Last: Durability & Finish

A firearm designed for demanding use must be built to withstand the rigors of extensive training and competition.

• Forged Steel Slide with Black-T Finish: The slide, like the frame, is forged from robust steel, ensuring extreme durability and resistance to stress under repeated firing. The entire slide and aluminum frame are coated with Springfield Armory's proprietary Black-T finish. This advanced, low-friction, corrosion-resistant coating provides exceptional protection against wear, abrasion, and environmental elements. It's renowned for its sleek, non-reflective black appearance and its ability to withstand hundreds of thousands of rounds, maintaining the pistol's aesthetic and functional integrity over a lifetime of use. This finish is a significant upgrade, ensuring longevity and consistent performance in any condition.
• Standard GI Recoil System: The inclusion of a standard GI recoil system speaks to the 1911's proven reliability. This system is robust, easy to maintain, and ensures consistent cycling, contributing to the pistol's legendary dependability.

The Enduring Appeal of the 1911 Platform

The 1911, designed by John Moses Browning, remains one of the most iconic and successful pistol designs in history. Its enduring popularity stems from several key attributes:

• Ergonomics: The slender grip profile, natural pointability, and excellent balance of the 1911 make it exceptionally comfortable for most hand sizes, leading to intuitive handling and reduced fatigue during prolonged shooting sessions.
• Trigger Quality: The single-action-only design inherently allows for a shorter, lighter, and crisper trigger pull compared to many double-action or striker-fired systems, which is a significant advantage for accuracy.
• Reliability: Decades of refinement and the robust nature of its design have cemented the 1911's reputation as a supremely reliable firearm, particularly when manufactured to high standards by companies like Springfield Armory.
• Customization: The 1911 platform is one of the most customizable in the firearms world, allowing enthusiasts to tailor their pistol to their exact preferences.

Springfield Armory leverages these inherent strengths of the 1911, then enhances them with modern manufacturing techniques and premium components to create a pistol that honors its heritage while excelling in contemporary applications.

Why Choose the Springfield Armory 1911 Range Officer Elite Target (PI9128E)?

Choosing this specific model from DEGuns means investing in a firearm that offers a compelling blend of features for a wide array of shooting disciplines:

• Uncompromising Accuracy: The match-grade barrel and target-adjustable sights guarantee pinpoint precision, whether you're aiming for a competition win or a tighter group on paper.
• Exceptional Control: The lightweight forged aluminum frame, Thin Line G10 grips, and Gen 2 trigger provide a shooting experience that allows for superior recoil management and rapid, accurate follow-up shots.
• Battle-Proven Durability: Forged steel and aluminum components paired with the advanced Black-T finish ensure this pistol will withstand rigorous use and maintain its performance and appearance for years to come.
• Versatile Performance: Ideal for competitive shooting, dedicated target practice, or as a highly capable defensive firearm.
• Reputation You Can Trust: Backed by Springfield Armory's 150+ years of American manufacturing excellence and a reputation for producing some of the finest firearms available.
• Complete Package: The Range Officer Elite Target comes with two 7-round magazines and a convenient range bag, ensuring you're ready to hit the range as soon as you unbox it.

This firearm isn't just a purchase; it's an investment in a legacy of precision and reliability, optimized for the most demanding shooting activities.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Springfield Armory 1911 Range Officer Elite Target

Q: What caliber does the Springfield Armory 1911 Range Officer Elite Target PI9128E use?
A: This specific model, PI9128E, is chambered in .45 ACP, a powerful and widely respected cartridge known for its effectiveness and manageable recoil in a full-sized 1911.

Q: Is the Springfield Armory 1911 Range Officer Elite Target suitable for competitive shooting?
A: Absolutely. It is designed with competitive shooters in mind. The "Target" designation, combined with features like the match-grade barrel, fully adjustable sights, and crisp Gen 2 trigger, make it an excellent choice for various pistol competitions including USPSA, IDPA, and Bullseye. Its lightweight aluminum frame helps with quick transitions between targets.

Q: What is the benefit of the forged aluminum frame on this 1911?
A: The forged lightweight aluminum alloy frame significantly reduces the overall weight of the pistol compared to traditional all-steel 1911s. This makes it more comfortable for extended shooting sessions, easier to carry (if desired), and quicker to maneuver in competition, all without sacrificing durability thanks to the forging process.

Q: How does the Black-T finish contribute to the pistol's performance?
A: The Black-T finish is a highly durable, low-friction, and corrosion-resistant coating applied to both the slide and frame. It protects the firearm from wear, abrasion, and environmental elements, ensuring long-term reliability and maintaining the pistol's sleek appearance even after extensive use.

Q: What type of safety features does the Springfield Armory 1911 Range Officer Elite Target have?
A: This 1911 includes two primary safety mechanisms: an ambidextrous thumb safety, which allows the user to manually engage or disengage the safety with either hand, and a grip safety, which prevents the pistol from firing unless it is firmly grasped in the shooter's hand.

Q: Does this pistol come with everything I need to get started?
A: Yes, the Springfield Armory 1911 Range Officer Elite Target PI9128E comes with two 7-round magazines and a convenient range bag, providing the essentials for heading directly to the shooting range.

Q: What is the advantage of a "match grade" barrel?
A: A match-grade barrel is manufactured to stricter tolerances and with higher precision than standard barrels. This results in a more consistent bore and rifling, which translates directly to enhanced accuracy and tighter shot groups, making it ideal for precision shooting disciplines.

Specifications of the Springfield Armory 1911 Range Officer Elite Target (PI9128E)

Feature	Specification
Model	1911 Range Officer Elite Target
SKU	PI9128E
UPC	706397914967
Caliber	.45 ACP
Capacity	2x 7-Round Magazines
Barrel Length	5"
Barrel Material	Stainless Steel Match Grade
Frame Material	Forged Aluminum Alloy
Slide Material	Forged Steel
Finish	Black-T (Frame & Slide)
Grips	Thin Line G10
Front Sight	Fiber Optic
Rear Sight	Fully Adjustable Target
Trigger	Gen 2
Safety Features	Ambidextrous Thumb Safety, Grip Safety
Action Type	Single Action Only
Recoil System	Standard GI
Overall Length	8.6"
Overall Height	5.5"
Weight (Unloaded)	40 oz
Included Accessories	Range Bag