Tweet
Ok folks, the moment we have all been waiting for. Just kidding. This is going to be VERY wordy but well worth the read. (PIC HEAVY)
Guns to be evaluated head to head...
Les Baer Super Tac .45acp (POST1)
Springfield Professional Model PC9111 .45acp (POST 2)
Guncrafter INC No Name .45acp (POST 3)
Prior to the Springfield Price increase at the beginning of this year all three guns MSRP were essentially the same
Baer Super Tac MSRP $2,650
Guncrafter No Name MSRP $2,695
Springfield Professional WAS $2,735..NOW $3,295
So is one better built for the same money? Is one a "Best Buy"? Let's see...
Let me start by stating that ALL three guns are remarkable pistols, they just are. They are all also very tight guns.
MIM/ Cast Parts....the Baer and Springfield have a few MIM parts and I will dive deeper on this later in the internal eval. The Guncrafter has no MIM parts.
So, Lets look at the Les Baer first...
Ok, I love me some Baer pistols! They are accurate, stout, tight guns. Yep they have tool marks and this one is no exception.
Finish and features...
The Baer Super tac is finished in Dupont "S" type finish and it is deep black in color, it is also a pretty slick finish to the touch. I can not comment on the durability as time will tell BUT, It is a little shiny and slick for my taste, but it is a nice looking finish for sure.
The Super tac has front and rear cocking serrations and the typical thin serrations of a Les Baer gun are classy and provide good traction for sure. I like them a lot.
The sights make the Super tac a bit of a Bastard child, in the sense that it feels like a hard use HD gun but adjustable night sights seem off when most think of a HD gun as having fixed sights. I will say that I actually enjoy the utility of adjustables but not on a "fighting" gun. Some ask ..is it a PII with a fancy finish and adjustable night sights or is it an SRP with adjustable night sights....I say, it is just its own animal. Also the front sight is not blended to the radius of the slide.
This is a tight gun for sure. No slide to frame movement, not barrel hood movement, and the bushing requires a wrench even after 1000 rds. The slide action is the least smooth of the three guns being evaluated because you feel the disconnector and hammer drag on the bottom of the slide, partly due to the serial number embossed on the bottom of the raceway. (you will see a demo in the video.)
The AMBI safety is very positive and stiff, it does not agree with Lefties. The strong side digs in the index finger knuckle and causes callouses and sometimes a blister in that location, the weak side (the primary for a lefty) is too thin and is easily missed when trying to place it on safe. The left handed shooter may have a tendency to inadvertently bump the safety ON with the index knuckle if you ride high and shoot fast. Lefties should swap it out. You right handers will be just fine.
Barrel/Bushing fit
Ok. The Baer is tight....I MEAN TIGHT. it snaps out of battery when retracting the slide with authority. The bushing is tight to the slide as well to the barrel, the bushing wear marks on the barrel are telling of a GOOD fit, not great, but certainly good.
Dehorn
There are no sharp edges on the gun, Baer did a nice job of dehorning, even the edges of the sights are broken so they do not slice you up like a ginzu knife.
The Baer came with a serrated steel MSH and as it was the only one in the crew to not sport an S&A Magwell, I installed one of the arched variety.
Checkering
I like Baers 30lpi checkering, this gun is a nice example of good hand checkering. 30lpi does not abrade your hands as bad as other will.
Feed Ramp and Barrel..
The feed ramp is polished as is the throat of the chamber and they are well done.
Final Thoughts on Baer
I think this is a great gun and a detailed range report will come shortly. BUT in my opinion the best value in the Baer line up are the PII if you want adjustable sights and the Custom Carry if you dont.
OK, Here are some pics...
http://i558.photobucket.com/albums/s...pswif6gtn5.jpg (Baer on the right)
http://i558.photobucket.com/albums/s...pslzv8lkja.jpg (Baer on the right)
Guns to be evaluated head to head...
Les Baer Super Tac .45acp (POST1)
Springfield Professional Model PC9111 .45acp (POST 2)
Guncrafter INC No Name .45acp (POST 3)
Prior to the Springfield Price increase at the beginning of this year all three guns MSRP were essentially the same
Baer Super Tac MSRP $2,650
Guncrafter No Name MSRP $2,695
Springfield Professional WAS $2,735..NOW $3,295
So is one better built for the same money? Is one a "Best Buy"? Let's see...
Let me start by stating that ALL three guns are remarkable pistols, they just are. They are all also very tight guns.
MIM/ Cast Parts....the Baer and Springfield have a few MIM parts and I will dive deeper on this later in the internal eval. The Guncrafter has no MIM parts.
So, Lets look at the Les Baer first...
Ok, I love me some Baer pistols! They are accurate, stout, tight guns. Yep they have tool marks and this one is no exception.
Finish and features...
The Baer Super tac is finished in Dupont "S" type finish and it is deep black in color, it is also a pretty slick finish to the touch. I can not comment on the durability as time will tell BUT, It is a little shiny and slick for my taste, but it is a nice looking finish for sure.
The Super tac has front and rear cocking serrations and the typical thin serrations of a Les Baer gun are classy and provide good traction for sure. I like them a lot.
The sights make the Super tac a bit of a Bastard child, in the sense that it feels like a hard use HD gun but adjustable night sights seem off when most think of a HD gun as having fixed sights. I will say that I actually enjoy the utility of adjustables but not on a "fighting" gun. Some ask ..is it a PII with a fancy finish and adjustable night sights or is it an SRP with adjustable night sights....I say, it is just its own animal. Also the front sight is not blended to the radius of the slide.
This is a tight gun for sure. No slide to frame movement, not barrel hood movement, and the bushing requires a wrench even after 1000 rds. The slide action is the least smooth of the three guns being evaluated because you feel the disconnector and hammer drag on the bottom of the slide, partly due to the serial number embossed on the bottom of the raceway. (you will see a demo in the video.)
The AMBI safety is very positive and stiff, it does not agree with Lefties. The strong side digs in the index finger knuckle and causes callouses and sometimes a blister in that location, the weak side (the primary for a lefty) is too thin and is easily missed when trying to place it on safe. The left handed shooter may have a tendency to inadvertently bump the safety ON with the index knuckle if you ride high and shoot fast. Lefties should swap it out. You right handers will be just fine.
Barrel/Bushing fit
Ok. The Baer is tight....I MEAN TIGHT. it snaps out of battery when retracting the slide with authority. The bushing is tight to the slide as well to the barrel, the bushing wear marks on the barrel are telling of a GOOD fit, not great, but certainly good.
Dehorn
There are no sharp edges on the gun, Baer did a nice job of dehorning, even the edges of the sights are broken so they do not slice you up like a ginzu knife.
The Baer came with a serrated steel MSH and as it was the only one in the crew to not sport an S&A Magwell, I installed one of the arched variety.
Checkering
I like Baers 30lpi checkering, this gun is a nice example of good hand checkering. 30lpi does not abrade your hands as bad as other will.
Feed Ramp and Barrel..
The feed ramp is polished as is the throat of the chamber and they are well done.
Final Thoughts on Baer
I think this is a great gun and a detailed range report will come shortly. BUT in my opinion the best value in the Baer line up are the PII if you want adjustable sights and the Custom Carry if you dont.
OK, Here are some pics...
http://i558.photobucket.com/albums/s...pswif6gtn5.jpg (Baer on the right)
http://i558.photobucket.com/albums/s...pslzv8lkja.jpg (Baer on the right)
This one is very positive and not as stiff as the Baer. The grip safety is very well fit at the tangs but not perfectly blended to the grip portion of the frame, it is close to perfect but not like a Wilson. 
Comment