We found the Wilson kit at Brownell's. It was worrisome that they mention the slide may need "modification". Not knowing just what may need modifying concerns me.

SA has been disappointingly silent. I would think the chance to sell service parts at multi-hundred percent mark-ups would be a good thing.

My friend is not the sort to mess with his equipment. He wants it to work without hassle or drama. I have offered to putz with it as I have a completely different bent but he is of the opinion that SA should 'man up'. We'll see just where this goes. Maybe I'll end up with another project! (Like I need more...hahahaha)

In the case of the Springfield Champion, the current factory setup is apparently a regular Rube Goldberg affair, so I'd probably look to the aftermaket.

In that case, I'd probably go with Wilson, mainly because that's all I could find. (MGW supposedly has one, but I couldn't even find their website.)

Brownells also sells the Wilson kit (it's listed right under the 5" kit, which is pictured by default).

The kit comes with a fancy flat-wire spring, which I'd also give a whirl, but I'd keep the Wolff springs in mind as a possible backup.

Unless the gun has a bull barrel, that leaves the bushing. The Wilson plug may or may not fit the stock bushing, but I am guessing it will. I'd at least give it a try before buying a new barrel bushing.

ETA: The wilson plug is for bull-barrel guns, which leaves a few options:
• Adapt as needed
• Try Kimber? (direct)
• Default (call Springfield)

HTH