Wilson combat vs Kimber

[Bongos]

I will agree with you, to an extent. I do know, mine is truly a one off Custom, now! Built to my specs with what I wanted and how I want it to feel. Be it a Kimber frame or not. You won't get that with what I will call, a Production Custom! Good thing is, I personally don't have the $$ tied up into it that it really cost to do that project. I do know, I will likely retrieve in resale, what I actually have vested and or more. Receipts or not. Don't get me wrong, I understand what you are saying.. A true Custom is going to always have the owners input, as to parts, feel and anything else you want the flavor to be. But I gotta tell ya, this "PIMP" gun, is a keeper and shooter!! I also know, "brand" names are important to some people.

Sometimes, you can overpay for what you get too!!!

What I do at times is buy a Wilson Combat and then add on to it any personal features I like.. in this case, a WC CQB upgrade by Yost with his rear sights, internals and hammer.... since all the other features I wanted came with the CQB specs

[4D5auto]

This is what I mean. You buy a Wilson and continue to add on. If you build a Race gun from the ground up and put the choice parts on you like and want, that weapon wil out perform that high $$ Wilson, Baer or what have you, at a much reduced cost.. Look at a Tussey, nice gun??? Oh Yeah! Pricey?? Hellll yeah!! Worth it?????? To some, but not me! If I just wanted to collect and never shoot, just to say you have one, sure, if I had that kind of $$ to throw away..

I see him and talk to him often at the Reno Gun Show, he always has a table there.


Oh yeah, been to his shop too, in Carson, just a few steps away from the Bunny Ranch!!

http://www.tusseycustom.com/

[Morales]

Its all the shooter, I've seen guys out shoot 2,000 dollar Wilsons using HK's, and Kimbers. Its a tricky ground to ask advice on expensive guns... nobody that spent 3 grand on a pistol is going to say that a 700-900 dollar gun shoots just as well as what he spent all that money on. I've noticed that with guns, just like any other hobby, an elitism appears based on what the individual can afford, and pretty soon, skill becomes less important than arousing envy at the range and in your social circle. Real life shooting applications are more forgiving than the benchrest boys clubs. With a good deal of tax payer money at their disposal what does LA S.W.A.T carry, Wilsons or Kimbers?

[Bongos]

[QUOTE=4D5auto;881444]This is what I mean. You buy a Wilson and continue to add on. If you build a Race gun from the ground up and put the choice parts on you like and want, that weapon wil out perform that high $$ Wilson, Baer or what have you, at a much reduced cost..[QUOTE]

I disagree, just look at the following and the prices reflects a reputable gun smith, these features are already in the WC and no parts are MIM:
Base gun (Kimber, SA) : $600
Gunsmithing labor only:
Trigger Job: $250
Checkering 30lpi/high cut: $200
Frame to slide fit: $300
install sights: $150
Beavertail: $250
Extended Safety fit: $50
Match Barrel fit: $200
Fit MSH: $50
Parts:
Sights: $100
Match Barrel/bushing: $200
Beavertail:$60
Slide stop:$50
Match Trigger assembly:$150
Quality MSH: $100
Misc upgraded components: $100

So far totalling: $2810 + refinish ($300) = est $3110


Granted all parts in WC are WC, but if you buy a used WC for about $1600, and add on paarts that fits you, you'll have one for less than $2,000

[4D5auto]

All I'm saying is, a GOOD Smith, who really knows what he's doing, can, IMO, build a better, tighter gun than WC! For less $$!

Its all the shooter, I've seen guys out shoot 2,000 dollar Wilsons using HK's, and Kimbers. Its a tricky ground to ask advice on expensive guns... nobody that spent 3 grand on a pistol is going to say that a 700-900 dollar gun shoots just as well as what he spent all that money on. I've noticed that with guns, just like any other hobby, an elitism appears based on what the individual can afford, and pretty soon, skill becomes less important than arousing envy at the range and in your social circle. Real life shooting applications are more forgiving than the benchrest boys clubs. With a good deal of tax payer money at their disposal what does LA S.W.A.T carry, Wilsons or Kimbers?

I totally agree!!! The gun is useless if the shooter doesn't know how to use it!!

[Paradiddle]

I just got to fondle a Wilson, Baer, Brown, and a top line Kimber.

There is absolutely no comparison between the "custom" pistols and a manufactured pistol. Yes - the Wilson, Baer, Brown was that much nicer, tighter, more solid, more attention to detail, etc. then the Kimber, or my Colt, or the Springfield Loaded I played with as well.

Big bucks, but the quality and attention to detail is far superior. Does that translate into wins in IDPA - I'm not sure, but you'd look good with your Sparks 55BN doing it!

[Max-the-Silent]

My .02

I own a Kimber TLE RLII, and just bought a Baer TRS for myself for Christmas, and own many 1911 types, including some built for me by noted 'smiths - F. Bob Chow being predominate (3 examples) I do not own a true Wilson pistol at this time, but do own a Combat Commander that I had them redo for me back in the early 90's. I plan on buying a Wilson Tactical Elite sometime next year.

If we're talking about newer shooters, or shooters that haven't been through professional training, they're better off going for a off-the-shelf GM type with decent sights, a few thousand rounds of ammo and a trip to a training facility rather than dropping 1K-3K $ on a "built" pistol.

If carrying a pistol is part of your day to day life, and you're serious about it, you need a pistol that will stand up to constant use, and be 100% reliable under every condition. In cases like this, when you are allowed an individual choice rather than departmental issue, a higher level of manufacturing quality is needed and you have to step up to a higher priced product - Kimber imo being the lower end of this class of pistol.

Pieces like Glocks and HK USP's fill the bill for OTS pistols, but neither will measure up to a properly built 1991 variation in the trigger department, and to me the trigger feel is the key to good consistent accuracy.

Lets face it, most people that buy higher end custom pistols are buying for "want" not "need," and aren't using them as daily carry pieces. All the money in the world spent on a pistol won't do you any good unless you are serious about practice and maintaining your skill level.