Off the shelf, I would have to say Colt, Dan Wesson, Springfield (maybe in that order, maybe not). If the sky is the limit and you don't care if you have to hand-fit any and all replacement parts, then Les B or Wilson Combat.
Best 1911 at any price?
- Thread starter spellbound
- Start date
okcorral1881
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East of Toronto
Baer necessity....................
I recently took delivery of my Les Baer Custom Carry and I think they are nice guns for the money, but I would lean more towards Wilson Combat if price was no object. The Pistol Dynamics reproduction of the old Pachmayr Combat Special would be another option I would consider.
Yep. I shoot a Baer myself; if I could justify the cost of a Wilson I'd shoot one of those instead. The Baer is a good way to get into semi-customs for a reasonable price and they're nice guns, very accurate. No WC but good pistols, no doubt about it.
A few years ago I had the opprtunity to try some cool 1911's owned by some of the guys at my range that seem to have almost everything.
They had a lot of nice stuff from different gun makers, but there was this one pistol that I tried... and it was immediately just "WOW! WOW! WOW! This thing is amazing. What is this... and how much?"
The answer was Valtro, and how much is... a lot. Way too much for most of us. North of $5K is what most of them go for apparantly.
But if you want something that feels like a million bucks in your hands, and shoots so well it convinces you that you are twice the shooter you actually are... definiately look at Valtro. I wish I had one, but I put my "crazy time" money into other things (like Accuracy International) and I can't do it all.
They had a lot of nice stuff from different gun makers, but there was this one pistol that I tried... and it was immediately just "WOW! WOW! WOW! This thing is amazing. What is this... and how much?"
The answer was Valtro, and how much is... a lot. Way too much for most of us. North of $5K is what most of them go for apparantly.
But if you want something that feels like a million bucks in your hands, and shoots so well it convinces you that you are twice the shooter you actually are... definiately look at Valtro. I wish I had one, but I put my "crazy time" money into other things (like Accuracy International) and I can't do it all.
- Location
- West Quebec
This is the one i have and this pistol is a laser big time... JP.
[/URL][/IMG]
A nice shooter for sure..
Ghillie Man
CGN frequent flyer
Would have to go with either a Wilson Combat, a Nighthawk Custom, or a Les Baer.
Here are a few pics of my favs.
Wilson Combat Tactical Supergrade Professional $5,045.00
Wilson Combat Pinnacle $7,995.00
Nighthawk Custom Falcon $3,295.00
Here are a few pics of my favs.
Wilson Combat Tactical Supergrade Professional $5,045.00
Wilson Combat Pinnacle $7,995.00
Nighthawk Custom Falcon $3,295.00
If money is no object, then Wilson Combat w/o even thinking about it twice.
I cannot say enough great things about Les Baer. There's a monolith in the EE if I recall correctly. Would be a very nice addition to my Thunder Ranch Special which for the money, is the best bang for your buck you can get IMO.
I cannot say enough great things about Les Baer. There's a monolith in the EE if I recall correctly. Would be a very nice addition to my Thunder Ranch Special which for the money, is the best bang for your buck you can get IMO.
With your intended use, the Wilson Combat Classic Supergrade would fit the bill perfectly. I had the pleasure of owning some great 1911's through the years. Rating them from best to "worst" would go like this: Springfield Custom Shop Professionnal Operator, Ed Brown Stainless Executive Target, Valtro 1998A1, Dan Wesson Black Duty Valor, Dan Wesson Black Duty VBOB, STI Sentry & Trojan and lot's of Colt Gold Cups from pre 70's series to 80's series.
But this one, with about 1.5k rounds fired in the 7 months I've owned it, is the best 1911 I've had so far. My Les Baer Prowler III with factory custom options (1.5 @ 50 yards, complete Baer coated pistol, rear adj. & front night sights, round complete pistol for tactical carry and a 3.5# trigger job).
Last edited:
smokeater40
CGN Regular
- Location
- Southern, Ontario
Yah, they really are something remarkable. Not to take anything away from the other makers... some of them are amazing too. I haven't tried everything of course, but I have had the opportunity to try a Wilson Combat, a Springfield Operator TRP (which is one that I think is an excellent pistol that you can actually just order-up and buy, unlike some of these other exotic ones), some Colts and others, but that Valtro... I just remember holding it and thinking..."what the hell did they do to this thing, what is the secret??" The trigger and the action are just the definition of smooth, and it feels just fantastic to hold and to shoot. Doesn't translate into words or videos, or course, but it is quite the pistol to be sure.
One of Roger's Valtro videos might translate the beauty of that trigger a little better. Look how he is just using the slightest pressure, and then a tiny reset. Man, those are nice guns.
Last edited:
okcorral1881
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East of Toronto
It's not blue it's called Baercoat, it's black, very durable, it is a protective all-weather firearm finish that uses tough TEFLON-S. It's the same finish as the SRP on post 22.
