Les Baer...Worth it?

[DArBad]

Dang, this thread drifted so far off course!

Back to the OP's thread.....is the Les Baer worth the 1K difference from a Springfield TRP??

In my opinion...NO.

But OP, if the Les Baer is what YOU like, let no one dissuade you from buying one. Buy new or used. Its 22 years that you've wanted one, get it already. Who knows if you will still be alive next year?????

[Snoopy47]

I'm heavily into Les Baers.

They are a better shooting 1911, and I've just about divested myself of other 1911's that are not Baers with the exception of "collectable" category 1911's.

**********
I will say this........... My first 1911 was a 1970's made Colt. Then I got a Springfield TRP.

My third 1911 was a Les Baer Custom Carry.

Every 1911 I have bought thereafter has been a Les Baer.

Getting a Les Baer for me has saved me from buying other lesser brand 1911's.

There is a $$$ limit we each face, and LB are the upper end of my limit.

I was ONCE an owner of a Wilson, but every time I looked at it I saw a stack of 30 $100 bills, and I never really shot it. When I did, it didn't shoot any better than my LB's so I just up and got rid of the Wilson.

****************

A Honda NSX is still not a Ferrari

Get the LB, discover for yourself, and stop buying lesser 1911's.

[gumby]

I'm heavily into Les Baers.

They are a better shooting 1911, and I've just about divested myself of other 1911's that are not Baers with the exception of "collectable" category 1911's.

**********
I will say this........... My first 1911 was a 1970's made Colt. Then I got a Springfield TRP.

My third 1911 was a Les Baer Custom Carry.

Every 1911 I have bought thereafter has been a Les Baer.

Getting a Les Baer for me has saved me from buying other lesser brand 1911's.

There is a $$$ limit we each face, and LB are the upper end of my limit.

I was ONCE an owner of a Wilson, but every time I looked at it I saw a stack of 30 $100 bills, and I never really shot it. When I did, it didn't shoot any better than my LB's so I just up and got rid of the Wilson.

****************

A Honda NSX is still not a Ferrari

Get the LB, discover for yourself, and stop buying lesser 1911's.

Very similar story here.

[FeuerFrei]

Angry
If you're trying to spin me up you have no idea of the level of indifference I have regarding your ideas/comments. They hold no value for me. I care nothing for you and you are not anything to be angry at.

[Peahi2]

That will be…

LOL! yeah, most def a $1M 1911.


Adding a data point to this thread, My Les Baer is my best shooting 45 ACP 1911. I can shoot better with it than a Springfield custom I have (the other 45 acp is a TRP). For me, my Les Baer trigger is superior, and also the non-standard Les Baer grip size help me shoot great (its larger dimensions, and for whatever reason, it helps a lot, smaller hands).

[hambam105]

Canadary is on a 1911 post bad mouthing Jeff Cooper and Clint Smith in the same sentence? You know there is a limit on genius.

[Snoopy47]

Good lord people.

There are multiple kinds of shooting venues and games.

LB's would be seen at National Matches at Camp Perry in the Bullseye venues. LB's are probably the best dollar value to compete at such matches.

Action Pistol type shooting has been taken over by DA/SA CZ's. An all steel gun still being the preference for competitive shooting.

Open guns, where anything goes are still dominated by double stack 2011's and the 100 year old action of the 1911.

Any 1911 with a 10 round magazine would be competitive in Limited-10, or Single Stack.

**************
Go out, compete, shoot, and enjoy the firearms. One will come to appreciate better built equipment they run a lot.

**************

FWIW.............. Be it my Production Glocks........ my LB's or my Open Gun I always go into a match with newly cleaned guns, and all my reloads are case checked, and primer seat checked.

Why hand a lesser skilled competitor a score advantage or placement over me because I had to tap/rack?


**************

I can understand why folks like showing off the finer things in life.

I can understand why folks who can't afford or can't justify the finer things in life.

At the end of the day the random guy who center punches the "X" at a target at the full lane distance shooting next to the two arguing who made the better gun purchase will have won the argument.

[mlazarus5388]

OP, I have and shoot, several 1911 pattern pistols including several that I built. I have a Les Baer P II. I've used it in competition and for general use. It actually cost less than a Springfield I carried on duty. I'm happy with the Les Baer. In retrospect, I would buy it again or maybe upgrade to the Ultimate Master. Mine gets used.
Here we are, putting in work at the 80 yard line.

https://youtu.be/SD3xMcV0pao

[teflondog]

Of all the semi-custom 1911s, Les Baer gives you the best bang for your buck imo. They're extremely accurate; even their standard guns will shoot 2.5 inch groups at 50 yards. The only downside is that they require a bushing wrench, especially when they're new.

[Litespeeds]

I shoot tighter groups with my Les Baer Ultimate Master than I can with my Wilson Combat CQB Elite. I also shot tighter groups with my Premier II but sold it for the UM.

If you want a semi-custom 1911, the Les Baer Premier II is the best bang for the buck. I never liked the Springfield TRP due to the sharp 25 lpi front strap. Best to go hold a few 1911’s and see which feels best in your hand.

[XDJYo]

I think the OP needs to update us on what he has in jail.

If you DROS it today, you can pickup and take it to the range on Saturday!

[Markito]

Xdjyo I'm hoping to put something in jail soon. I was at a LGS and was told they would have one in store in a few days for me to check out. I waited and no call. So I called today during my lunch break and the guy who ordered it transferred to a different store. So now the original store has no idea if it even came in or it's in the back getting buried by other things. Told them to look for a plain cardboard box and when they see it that would most likely be it. I will be visiting them tomorrow and check the status of the LB

[XDJYo]

Xdjyo I'm hoping to put something in jail soon. I was at a LGS and was told they would have one in store in a few days for me to check out. I waited and no call. So I called today during my lunch break and the guy who ordered it transferred to a different store. So now the original store has no idea if it even came in or it's in the back getting buried by other things. Told them to look for a plain cardboard box and when they see it that would most likely be it. I will be visiting them tomorrow and check the status of the LB

COOL!!! Hopefully the store comes thru for you and isn't jerking you around. If you were nearby, I'd let you shoot my LB and see in person just how good they are. They really make the shooter look good.

Anyways, keep us updated!

[gabe123]

When you buy a LB gun, you buy 2 things:
1. hard fit.
2. a gun that was built all by hands with simple tools like it was done in 1930s and 1940s.

Those 2 traits can be positive or negative, depending on your belief and preferences. They are positive for me.

I am a lousy shooter who shoot minute of pie. I am not a 1911 guy because all 1911s require maintenance beyond what I would want in a life saving tool. But the first time I racked that LB slide I was sold. I did some more research, and the more I read, the more I like it. I don't really care about WC or EB or other fancy 1911 simply because to me, they have no soul.

Now consider this. If Bill Wilson was to leave this world tomorrow, I am sure WC will continue making great pistols. But if it was LB, I am not sure LB 1911s will be made the same way for long before people adopt more modern way of doing it. For a while I wanted to buy a 2nd LB just because of this.

I would never use LB as a life saving tool, simply because it is very difficult to manipulate the slide. The break in wasn't too bad. The first 200 rounds were PMC and there was no jam. Only 1 time the slide didn't go all the way forward and needed a little push. My next 300 rounds were WWB and it would jam every other mags. I haven't tried WWB again.

[Peahi2]

Good lord people.

There are multiple kinds of shooting venues and games.

LB's would be seen at National Matches at Camp Perry in the Bullseye venues. LB's are probably the best dollar value to compete at such matches.

Action Pistol type shooting has been taken over by DA/SA CZ's. An all steel gun still being the preference for competitive shooting.

Open guns, where anything goes are still dominated by double stack 2011's and the 100 year old action of the 1911.

Any 1911 with a 10 round magazine would be competitive in Limited-10, or Single Stack.

**************
Go out, compete, shoot, and enjoy the firearms. One will come to appreciate better built equipment they run a lot.

**************

FWIW.............. Be it my Production Glocks........ my LB's or my Open Gun I always go into a match with newly cleaned guns, and all my reloads are case checked, and primer seat checked.

Why hand a lesser skilled competitor a score advantage or placement over me because I had to tap/rack?


**************

I can understand why folks like showing off the finer things in life.

I can understand why folks who can't afford or can't justify the finer things in life.

At the end of the day the random guy who center punches the "X" at a target at the full lane distance shooting next to the two arguing who made the better gun purchase will have won the argument.

Thanks for bringing perspective and wisdom to the discussion! For a minute I thought I was over at 1911 forums or 1911 addicts from years ago where people would moan and groan about Les Baers being "too tight" or people would quibble with his style of pistol making.

All the whining about breaking in makes me laugh....his pistols shoot very well. If people want a looser pistol, there are many, many makers out there who have different styles of pistol building. They should just move on and not buy the LB.

And for the record, my Springfield custom was so tight, It was practically impossible to rack it at first...now after break in...its a shooter....but not as good as the way cheaper Les Baer