What started out to be a project to trick-up my "old" stainless Colt .45 ended up being the addition of a Wilson Combat CQB Elite .45 to my collection...and I'm glad it did.
I get to blame all of you for this because after asking fellow CGN'ers whether to keep the Colt in its original condition or to customize it up, I was encouraged to leave it as it was. Well, you know what that meant; I had to research and buy a new 1911 (things could be worse
). Several very nice guns made the short list...and they may yet be added to the collection, but the Wilson Combat CQB ended up at the top of the list. The toughest part was finding one. Our CGN friends at P&D have some Wilson’s on the way so all I had to do was wait and hope they had one I liked that was available for purchase. But you all know what it’s like when you want a new gun; waiting is not the preferred strategy. While counting the days for the Wilsons to arrive I found myself spending most of my free time on Equipment Exchange.
As if someone was playing a joke on me, up popped a CQB Elite for sale...I thought I was seeing things. Yes it was a silly price, but less than “new” and no tax. As an additional bonus, this gun had a few extra tricked-up parts on it right from Mr. Wilson’s factory. I swallowed hard and within 24 hours it was mine.
What arrived in the mail was a brand new, absolutely perfect, very recently produced CQB Elite...black on black, ambi safety, bushing-less bull barrel, along with all the factory goodies that they include and a new black Galco Avenger holster thrown in to close the deal.
I’ve been around pistols for over 24 years and only recently started to admire the products from the premium manufacturers. I have to say this gun is well put together (this may be a bit of an understatement). The slide to frame fit is amazing (especially to an old Colt owner), yet the slide action is like it is on roller bearings. The trigger is another wild experience...crisp, clean, and 4 pounds...as per the gunsmith’s very long inspection report that came with the gun. The sights are very good...and my first gun with night sights...cool. The grips and extensive checkering are beautiful and exceptionally functional. I could go on at length about how “trick” this pistol is (every part of it actually), but let’s just say it fit my need for a “tricked-up” 1911. Here are a couple pictures of the guns. Some range results follow below.
Now, off to the range. I’ve never done a range report before, but to make it interesting I thought I would compare the CQB to my Colt. Both guns got some extra lubrication in the critical spots and off I went with targets and ammo in hand. I had the range to myself, so I set up the camera and got to work seeing if my new pistol actually worked and to see how it compared to the Colt. Some of the groups are good, some not so, but they are just the way they ended up...no re-do's.
First up...Freestyle from 5 meters. I don’t reload anymore, so the ammo was the basic American Eagle 230gr FMJ. Both guns love this stuff, and the results were pretty good.
Next up was off the bench from 5 meters. Good results again, but the Colt’s group loosened up a bit...couldn’t be the operator!
Now 10 meters Freestyle. The Wilson kept things tight, but the Colt expanded its group. I soon realised it was my eyes and the Colt’s less than sharp sights against a large black bullseye that contributed to the poor grouping.
Still at 10 meters, but off the bench.
To see if the Colt’s sights and the black target were affecting my accuracy, I dropped my aim to below the black bullseye and was much happier with the results. Blame the middle-aged eyes. I also switched up the ammo to my last few rounds of Winchester 185gr flat nose. Both pistols failed to feed this round reliably, but the results were pretty good at 10 meters.
In conclusion, both guns shoot better than I can and the targets prove I need more time at the range! But doing this silly range report gave me a reason to go shooting and to pay more attention to what I was doing, so it was worth it.
The Colt is a great gun...I think I appreciate it more now. A little rough around the edges and rather loose compared to the Wilson. All it really needs is a decent trigger and some good sights...but I'm not changing anything. The Wilson is very good in all the areas that I know where to look and touch. It should be for the price. It's a joy to hold, point, and pull the trigger. Even the recoil feels different...more controlled. Maybe the heavy barrel plays a part in that.
I like my new trick-out 1911...I think I’ll keep it. I also think the ownership experience is going to be as much fun as the shooting experience...if you know what I mean. I know I shouldn't do it, but I'm still going to check out the shipment of Wilsons at P&D...I kind of like the black and green two-tone CQB too!
I get to blame all of you for this because after asking fellow CGN'ers whether to keep the Colt in its original condition or to customize it up, I was encouraged to leave it as it was. Well, you know what that meant; I had to research and buy a new 1911 (things could be worse
). Several very nice guns made the short list...and they may yet be added to the collection, but the Wilson Combat CQB ended up at the top of the list. The toughest part was finding one. Our CGN friends at P&D have some Wilson’s on the way so all I had to do was wait and hope they had one I liked that was available for purchase. But you all know what it’s like when you want a new gun; waiting is not the preferred strategy. While counting the days for the Wilsons to arrive I found myself spending most of my free time on Equipment Exchange. As if someone was playing a joke on me, up popped a CQB Elite for sale...I thought I was seeing things. Yes it was a silly price, but less than “new” and no tax. As an additional bonus, this gun had a few extra tricked-up parts on it right from Mr. Wilson’s factory. I swallowed hard and within 24 hours it was mine.
What arrived in the mail was a brand new, absolutely perfect, very recently produced CQB Elite...black on black, ambi safety, bushing-less bull barrel, along with all the factory goodies that they include and a new black Galco Avenger holster thrown in to close the deal.
I’ve been around pistols for over 24 years and only recently started to admire the products from the premium manufacturers. I have to say this gun is well put together (this may be a bit of an understatement). The slide to frame fit is amazing (especially to an old Colt owner), yet the slide action is like it is on roller bearings. The trigger is another wild experience...crisp, clean, and 4 pounds...as per the gunsmith’s very long inspection report that came with the gun. The sights are very good...and my first gun with night sights...cool. The grips and extensive checkering are beautiful and exceptionally functional. I could go on at length about how “trick” this pistol is (every part of it actually), but let’s just say it fit my need for a “tricked-up” 1911. Here are a couple pictures of the guns. Some range results follow below.
Now, off to the range. I’ve never done a range report before, but to make it interesting I thought I would compare the CQB to my Colt. Both guns got some extra lubrication in the critical spots and off I went with targets and ammo in hand. I had the range to myself, so I set up the camera and got to work seeing if my new pistol actually worked and to see how it compared to the Colt. Some of the groups are good, some not so, but they are just the way they ended up...no re-do's.
First up...Freestyle from 5 meters. I don’t reload anymore, so the ammo was the basic American Eagle 230gr FMJ. Both guns love this stuff, and the results were pretty good.
Next up was off the bench from 5 meters. Good results again, but the Colt’s group loosened up a bit...couldn’t be the operator!
Now 10 meters Freestyle. The Wilson kept things tight, but the Colt expanded its group. I soon realised it was my eyes and the Colt’s less than sharp sights against a large black bullseye that contributed to the poor grouping.
Still at 10 meters, but off the bench.
To see if the Colt’s sights and the black target were affecting my accuracy, I dropped my aim to below the black bullseye and was much happier with the results. Blame the middle-aged eyes. I also switched up the ammo to my last few rounds of Winchester 185gr flat nose. Both pistols failed to feed this round reliably, but the results were pretty good at 10 meters.
In conclusion, both guns shoot better than I can and the targets prove I need more time at the range! But doing this silly range report gave me a reason to go shooting and to pay more attention to what I was doing, so it was worth it.
The Colt is a great gun...I think I appreciate it more now. A little rough around the edges and rather loose compared to the Wilson. All it really needs is a decent trigger and some good sights...but I'm not changing anything. The Wilson is very good in all the areas that I know where to look and touch. It should be for the price. It's a joy to hold, point, and pull the trigger. Even the recoil feels different...more controlled. Maybe the heavy barrel plays a part in that.
I like my new trick-out 1911...I think I’ll keep it. I also think the ownership experience is going to be as much fun as the shooting experience...if you know what I mean. I know I shouldn't do it, but I'm still going to check out the shipment of Wilsons at P&D...I kind of like the black and green two-tone CQB too!
