Time for a high end 1911... Help

[Gress]

Interesting read with balanced observations on SAPro

http://1911enthusiast.com/showthread.php/1233-Hype-vs-Reality-The-Springfield-Professional-PC9111

[Gress]

I bought that Wilson because I wanted something I could play with and have fun with... I ha a few browns, Baers, etc... I also bought a Joe Chambers pistol that I am going to be waiting 5 years for. As most folks know, I'll probably go through several pistols until I find the one that works best for me! At this point I am leaning toward Wilson and Brown the most but, I have not had a NH or Crafter yet... I'll get around to it!!

Now I have way better idea where are you coming from
You sure will be fine whatever move you make. Chambers will make you happy and you have enough time to figure out what you want from his custom build. Continue on your path and report back. 1911s are all different and the only thing we all benefit from is our love for them.

[Brave Sir Robin]

I would save up the extra pennies, or dollars, and bypass the Springfield's and Kimber's and get yourself an Ed Brown. Him and his family have been producing the finest 1911s on the planet and his manufacturing techniques and tools have been copied by some of the other high dollar 1911 manufacturers. Les Baer would be my second runner up. Wouldn't even consider Nighthawk but that's just me. Some people love their Nighthawks, but I feel like nothing can touch an Ed Brown or Les Baer custom.

An old friend of mine collects all sorts of firearms new and old, but has a special place for 1911s. He owned about 15 ranging from GI models all the way up to Ed Browns. He had an executive target (think thats the model...not sure) full size, and a Cobra carry and the cobra carry could and would hang with the full size out to 25 yds. I had a chance to get a feel for a lot of nice guns back then, but that Cobra Carry really left a mark with me. Such a nice balanced and sweet shooting gun.

P.S. I just reserved a Springfield 1911 Range Officer, so i'm not against them or Kimbers or Colts for that matter, but if you have the funds the Brown and Baer 1911s are really the way to go.

[The Mad Mule]

Give a stock Colt 1911 a try first. Everything you need---nothing you don't need.

This. Definitely this. The barebones Colt 1991 model I have has continued to impress me and my friends w/ its accuracy, regardless of the added safety mechanism.

[RUSSIAN]

Are some of the people responding in this thread even reading the OP and his responses???

[Paperchasin]

Are some of the people responding in this thread even reading the OP and his responses???

This is CG...of course not.

[LocalsOnly]

This thread is making me have 1911 jealousy issues.

[lucan001]

I enjoyed this thread, thank you. Based on the discussion I'm now looking at SVI for myself.

The only remaining question for the OP is now: Frog Lube or not?

[skosh69]

I dont know man, when I saw them up close in person, I really was not impressed at all by the pistols they are offering... Thats just one mans opinion

No need to get bent about it... They just were not my thing...

It's all good brother, not bent here. I fully understand your thinking, you want to get what appeals to you!

I ordered a Les Baer Monolith H/W back in Dec of last year. Is that gun for everyone? NO. But, I don't care what others think of it, I like it and that's all that matters.

I got your back.

[chronixskm]

I would save up the extra pennies, or dollars, and bypass the Springfield's and Kimber's and get yourself an Ed Brown. Him and his family have been producing the finest 1911s on the planet and his manufacturing techniques and tools have been copied by some of the other high dollar 1911 manufacturers. Les Baer would be my second runner up. Wouldn't even consider Nighthawk but that's just me. Some people love their Nighthawks, but I feel like nothing can touch an Ed Brown or Les Baer custom.

An old friend of mine collects all sorts of firearms new and old, but has a special place for 1911s. He owned about 15 ranging from GI models all the way up to Ed Browns. He had an executive target (think thats the model...not sure) full size, and a Cobra carry and the cobra carry could and would hang with the full size out to 25 yds. I had a chance to get a feel for a lot of nice guns back then, but that Cobra Carry really left a mark with me. Such a nice balanced and sweet shooting gun.

P.S. I just reserved a Springfield 1911 Range Officer, so i'm not against them or Kimbers or Colts for that matter, but if you have the funds the Brown and Baer 1911s are really the way to go.

Lol.

Sounds like you have never shot anything but Brown or Baer.

Brown 1911's are nice but I wouldn't go as far as to say Brown or Baers are "really the only way to go". I don't even put Baer in the same semi-custom level with Hawk, Wilson, Brown, or Crafter. I've owned 4 Baers all 4 handsome sort of minor issue and all 4 had horrible machine marks and lack of fitting on small part. They did shoot but for the amount they go for I shouldn't see machine marks on the slide or frame. Springfield Custom shop makes a lot nicer 1911's than Baer. I'll put any of my Springfields against any Baer ANY day.

[Brave Sir Robin]

Lol.

Sounds like you have never shot anything but Brown or Baer.

Brown 1911's are nice but I wouldn't go as far as to say Brown or Baers are "really the only way to go". I don't even put Baer in the same semi-custom level with Hawk, Wilson, Brown, or Crafter. I've owned 4 Baers all 4 handsome sort of minor issue and all 4 had horrible machine marks and lack of fitting on small part. They did shoot but for the amount they go for I shouldn't see machine marks on the slide or frame. Springfield Custom shop makes a lot nicer 1911's than Baer. I'll put any of my Springfields against any Baer ANY day.

Ive borrowed Brown and Bear. I have always owned Springfield because I don't have $2k plus to be throwing around on a handgun. Never shot a Wilson Combat and probably should have listed them in the mix, but I have shot a couple Les Baer (rented), and a few Browns, and a few Kimbers, Sigs, and Colts. I had a Springfield Trophy Match that was stolen and I'm hoping the Range Officer will fill its gap. Springfield is definitely the way to go nowadays (on a budget) but only with their USA assembled guns like the TRP, Trophy Match, Operator, and Range Officer. I read high end in the original post and when your talking high end 1911 your talking at least $2k. Springfield doesn't really apply to him in my honest opinion, it is not a full custom gun as a high end 1911 should be.

[hcbr]

I say keep the full rail TRP and the custom TM and sell everything else and get the 1911 you think feels right to you!

[bulletblood]

Lol.

Sounds like you have never shot anything but Brown or Baer.

Brown 1911's are nice but I wouldn't go as far as to say Brown or Baers are "really the only way to go". I don't even put Baer in the same semi-custom level with Hawk, Wilson, Brown, or Crafter. I've owned 4 Baers all 4 handsome sort of minor issue and all 4 had horrible machine marks and lack of fitting on small part. They did shoot but for the amount they go for I shouldn't see machine marks on the slide or frame. Springfield Custom shop makes a lot nicer 1911's than Baer. I'll put any of my Springfields against any Baer ANY day.

You sure the machine marks you seeing aren't marks from hand fitting? Out of all my semis, baers show the most signs of hand fitting and probably do have the most hand fitting. Interesting enough, my Wilson Combat shows the least.

[nahpungnome]

Lol.

Sounds like you have never shot anything but Brown or Baer.

Brown 1911's are nice but I wouldn't go as far as to say Brown or Baers are "really the only way to go". I don't even put Baer in the same semi-custom level with Hawk, Wilson, Brown, or Crafter. I've owned 4 Baers all 4 handsome sort of minor issue and all 4 had horrible machine marks and lack of fitting on small part. They did shoot but for the amount they go for I shouldn't see machine marks on the slide or frame. Springfield Custom shop makes a lot nicer 1911's than Baer. I'll put any of my Springfields against any Baer ANY day.

Baer's aren't finished as well as the others you've mentioned, that's true. However, the entry price is considerably lower and the shoot just as well as the others that you've mentioned. I got my PII locally for $1700 new, before tax and DROS. If I wanted a Nighthawk or Wilson, I'd have to pay around 2x that. I'm not saying that the Nighthawks or Wilsons aren't worth the price as I have no experience with them, but for the entry price into the semi-custom world, I think Baer's are a good value. My PII is very accurate, I let my RO shoot it and he was pretty impressed.

[nahpungnome]

You sure the machine marks you seeing aren't marks from hand fitting? Out of all my semis, baers show the most signs of hand fitting and probably do have the most hand fitting. Interesting enough, my Wilson Combat shows the least.

My Sig Stainless Rail has no machining marks, it's perfect, but still, my Baer's better