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[skark_burmer]

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[NorCal Einstein]

Reeds Indoor has the TRS for rent @ $25 + range ammo. It looks like it has seen better days, but you can't be too picky when it comes to high end 1911 rentals!

[skark_burmer]

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[Q619]

Honestly, for what you want I'd either get a Wilson CQB, an Ed Brown Executive Elite/Special Forces or a Les Baer TRS. I wouldn't get an aluminum framed gun....not as durable, wears WAAAAY quicker (unless you'd be carrying it concealed more than you'd shoot it).

In regards to Wilson, once you pass up the CQB you get a diminishing return for each additional dollar you spend. For less than the price of a Super Grade I got a brand new CQB and a vg condition used one. I'd rather have two ALMOST perfect high end guns than one PERFECT high end gun just me though. I like Wilson. No, I LOVE Wilson. They arguably make the best 1911 out there and are the uncontested champ in regards to customer service and support. If your gun breaks for some reason, they'll give you a shipping label (paid) and fix it ASAP on their dime. Many get their gun back in a week. You might think that for this amount of money it wouldn't break, but fire 50,000 rounds a year like many folks that compete do and you're bound to have a breakage sooner or later

Ed Brown makes one hell of a gun and has great CS now from what I hear on ALL counts. A fella on the 1911 forums just posted pictures of his SF after having shot 20,000 trouble free rounds with nothing but cleaning/lubing and spring changes. Go check out the Ed Brown forum there to see the many good testimonies.

Les Baer makes the best VALUE and will perform with the other two companies pound for pound and more often than not, be more accurate. SLIGHTLY more accurate. In the realm of these three shops, you're talking minute differences in accuracy.....or anything pertaining to quality or performance. The only thing that really takes a hit on a Baer in comparison to the other two shops is the fact that they have a lesser degree of finishing. The beveling isn't as clean/even, it has a cheap/thin salt blue job and you'll see some tooling marks on and in the gun (including uneven hatching from the front strap checkering just shy of the grip slabs). Apart from that, the quality and fitting is there. The performance is there. You basically save a few bucks on the finishing and get a gun that will run with anything out there.

All three companies have their own build philosophies but Wilson and Brown are very similar. Wilson tends to build their guns with tolerances that are JUST close enough for the gun gun to function smoothly and without any drag/impedement. They run like a well broken in gun out the gate more often than not. Brown is pretty much the same and might have slightly looser fitting by a margin (we're talking MICRONS here ). The difference is in Les Baer, THIS shop fits a gun TIGHT. They basically fit everything so it JUST functions. It will have some drag, it will be hard to manipulate for a little while, but after you break it in...it'll be one of the smoothest guns you've ever had the pleasure of shooting. It will most definitely stay tighter much longer than anything out there.

[nrvnqsrxk]

^^+1

Personally I'd go with the LB TRS. They look real nice with wear.

[Q619]

If you were to make categories for things that are pertinent in the consideration of a 1911 and put one of these fine guns ahead of the others for each category....in MY opinion it would go like this (keep in mind this is all MARGINAL, no one is much ahead in any category):

Accuracy:
Baer
Wilson
Brown

Fitting:
Wilson
Brown
Baer

Finishing:
Brown
Wilson
Baer

Quality of parts:
Wilson
Brown
Baer

Trigger:
Wilson
Brown
Baer

Sights:
Wilson
Brown
Baer

Thumb safety:
Baer
Brown
Wilson

High grip:
Baer
Brown
Wilson

Front strap (if all checkered):
Brown
Wilson
Baer

Effectiveness of front strap checkering:
Brown
Baer
Wilson

Slide serration aggressiveness:
Baer
Wilson
Brown

Magwell beveling (performance, not aesthetics):
Wilson
Baer
Brown

Finish used:
Brown
Wilson
Baer

Finish/coating aesthetics as the gun wears:
Baer
Brown
Wilson

Corrosion resistance of finish/coating:
Brown
Wilson
Baer

Wear resistance of finish/coating:
Wilson
Brown
Baer

Feel in the hand (that unexplained feel):
Baer (feels more substancial than the other two....like a tool)
Wilson
Brown

Reliability:
Crapshoot

Customer support/service:
Wilson
Brown
Baer

Performance to dollar:
Baer
Brown
Wilson

Resale value:
Wilson
Baer
Brown

My overall personal preferance:
Baer
Wilson
Brown

(My favorite gun is the 1911. My three favorite makers are the three being discussed. You really can't go wrong with any of them.)

[Ranger20]

Baer.. would be my choice I think they will "all" outshoot your abilities.. Value consideration...is the Baer at a lower cost will do everthing you will need it to do. Spend the extra money on ammo and training.. Don't worry you won't wear out the Baer in your lifetime. but I hope you try too

Best to you!

Ps. Perhaps BlackMajik will chime in I think he has had a lot of 1911 experience with all three.

[thmpr]

I am too in the same predicament as you are and very confused on which 1911 to purchase.

[BillPear]

I too went through this same exercise just last month, after doing my reaserch I went with the Les Baer Custom Carry, I just felt that there was more value per $ there. I made numerous phone calls and they were always willing to answer my lamist questions. I went with the CC over the TRS simply because the only advertisement I wanted to pay for was Les'. as far as Fit and Finish I pawed samples of all three manufacturers at a LGS and could not see any significant differences with the naked eye, the Baer was as advertised significantly tighter than the other two. When I recieverd my CC I gave it a thorough inspection and I can not see any flaws in the machining or blueing, I was at the Orange County sherriffs range the other day and they want to inspect all new guns and of course I was happy to show of my Baer, the two rangemasters in the booth both commetned on it's finish and while I was shooting a third came just to admire it. That all being said, if I buy another "High end" 1911 it will be an Ed Brown Cobra, I just don't see the value in the Wilsons. "YMMV"

[sm1911]

I ended up with a TRS, simply best bang for the buck.

[Ubermcoupe]

...original Jesus Christ issue 1911...

Where can I get one of these?

For my money, especially since you mentioned "not a safe queen" my $$$ on the LB. It's nice finish and fit, more affordable, and still fun to shoot.

IMHO, Both EB & LB are great, simple function, plain jane design = great shooting experience. Don't get me wrong, I have my eye on a Wilson but due to the price on that one I won't be acquiring it soon, nor shooting it often.

[Steve G]

I love my TRS. Yeah it's tight but it really is a sweet shooter!

[ElvenSoul]

I've fired a Wilson and was ehhhh...fired a Les and have erotic must have dreams...someday it will be mine!

[perpetual otter]

My father's Wilson made me want to get one but then I found my precious Nighthawk GRP. That pretty much made me forget the Wilson. The Les however, is still my 1911 'grail'...

[Cyc Wid It]

You can get a 1.5 in guarantee TRS for less than your listed price. Mine doesn't have the guarantee but as I can't really take advantage of ot at my current skill level. Imo once you hit $2k, you might as well go full custom.