Wilson Combat - opinions?

UncleWalther

UncleWalther

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I am 1911 noob, and I will openly admit it. But, I am coming to really appreciate the platform, and want to aquire a couple of high-end units.

I'm thinking about buying a Wilson Combat Professional. Can you 1911 gurus please tell me about Wilson Combat products. Would like to hear the good and the bad (if anything).

Thanks!
 
Wilson Combat is one of the top, premier brands in what is known as the "production custom" 1911 market segmenet. The only higher class is "custom".

Wilson is a premium gun and comes with a premium price. They are in direct competition with Ed Brown who seems to be one of their closest competitors.

Wilson guns, in Canada, are priced well over $2,000 for starters. I handled a Wilson commander length 1911 with bull barrel yesterday at a gun store and the gun, with taxes (and even some haggling) will run over $3,000.

If you really have your heart set on Wilson, and plan on keeping the gun for the long term, I would support a move to buy one, even if it's a bit pricy.

A nice gun is worth it. Pay more, buy it once...and enjoy! That's my motto.

And if money means nothing to you, then definitely buy a Wilson (or two) and buy me one as well (hell, it's only money) - consider it a fair quid pro quo for consulting services rendered...I'll even give you a receipt! :)
 
I don't mean to open a can of worms here, but Wilson Combat is not worth the money IMO. While they are undoubtedly nice guns, Wilsons (and Nighthawks, which are very similar) do not have that magical handmade quality feel of guns like Les Baer and Ed Brown. Wilson and Nighthawk feel like high-end mass produced guns (i.e. top of the line Kimber and Springfield), while Baer and Brown are more akin to true custom guns like Yost Bonitz and Novak.

In my opinion, Ed Brown makes the nicest semi-custom 1911 in the $2000-3000 range. I've never seen greater attention to detail on a production 1911.
 
Wilson's are one of the best 1911's you can own. I have a CQB and I really like it....I'm planning on ordering a CQB Elite sometimes this summer. I have probably 3000+ rounds throught it without any issues at all. The only thing that I don't care for are the fixed combat night sights. They're dimmer than the meprolights on my Kimber and I find them harder to acquire because of the size of the dots (they're much smaller). If you are ordering this pistol you might want to consider having Wilson install their fiber optic front sight for you.

My CQB hasn't choked once yet. That's not saying that it never will but I'm very happy with it in that respect so far. It's very accurate.....not when I shot it though...I need more practice!

Wilson offers a lifetime warranty and, from what I hear, their customer service is second to none.

Your going to have all sorts of people telling you that a Baer is better or a Nighthawk is better or a Brown is better. They're all semi-custom pistols with a big price tag. They all shoot just as good and are just as reliable as one another. You be the judge for yourself....do the research....handle each one if you can and base your purchase on that.....They're alot of money so don't go into it blindly!!!
 
How about the higher-end STI pistols? How would they stack up against a Wilson Combat? I ordered an STI Tactical with a chromed slide, in .45Auto. Price was about $2250, if I remember correctly. Don't have it yet. Should be here soon I think.
 
Congratulation Uncle Walther you started off with the right brand!!! STI
Just my opinion. I have seen people shoot $3000 Wilson CQB’s; I have shot 2 of them myself. So So accurate. I find them too light, sharper recoil.
If you want accurate, try shooting a STI Target Master in 45ACP. Right Armorman. Ha Ha
Most STI are 2” at 20 yards with a bench rest. You will love your new STI tactical. Just ordered a STI Trojan SS, be here in 13 weeks, but who’s counting.
 
Be carefull Tigrr.........

IMG_0738.jpg
 
I have to add my little bit and say my Wilson doesn't just shoot "so so". It's shoots fantastic. They can only shoot so so, if the user is so so. I know that will sound like a jab, but my target is like the one above. Holes in holes.

As for nighthawk, they look pretty but it's not the same attention to detail as Wilson. Lots of frills and fancy.

That said, opinions are like a$$holes......everyone has one right?
 
Not knocking Wilson 1911's at all, I think they are fine pistols. And if I was so inclined to part with $3,000'ish I'd have one too.

But I wonder, looking at the above 'test target' if when it says it was fired 'bench rest' if the pistol was mounted in a fixed rest like a 'Ransom' for the test or was it hand held and shot from the bench............. :confused:
 
And I also tend to agree with the comment above... the accuracy potential of most pistols is generally greater than most pistol shooters can 'hold'.... ;)
 
So many nice 1911's

That other guy beat me to it but the STI TargetMaster in 45acp with the 6 inch barrel is a terrific value.
Along the same lines is the SigSauer P226 X6. Truly a beauty too.
Rock River arms has a high end target version 1911 with a 6 inch barrel too, that I saw and loved. And want.
The above guns are production guns not custom either, but obtaining one might be difficult as they sell so well.
Narrowing it down to one is the difficult part.
Or you could buy 4 Glocks......
 
i've got a colt mk 4 series 70- had it for about 20 years, and while it's not a race gun( no comp) it's been highly wilsonized- all that's left that is colt is the frame, slide and barrel- everything else is wilson, and i'm highly satisfied with it- the only thing i've done is replace the hex screw in the rear sight with a larger one and dimple the slide so the hex won't move
 
NAA said:
Not knocking Wilson 1911's at all, I think they are fine pistols. And if I was so inclined to part with $3,000'ish I'd have one too.

But I wonder, looking at the above 'test target' if when it says it was fired 'bench rest' if the pistol was mounted in a fixed rest like a 'Ransom' for the test or was it hand held and shot from the bench............. :confused:
Click to expand...
Ransom rest, no doubt.
 
Is there a dealer in Canada that would take care of warranty issues with Wilson Combat pistols? I know P&D Enterprises sells Wilson here in Alberta, but do they do the warranty stuff too?

armorman said:
Wilson's are one of the best 1911's you can own. I have a CQB and I really like it....I'm planning on ordering a CQB Elite sometimes this summer. I have probably 3000+ rounds throught it without any issues at all. The only thing that I don't care for are the fixed combat night sights. They're dimmer than the meprolights on my Kimber and I find them harder to acquire because of the size of the dots (they're much smaller). If you are ordering this pistol you might want to consider having Wilson install their fiber optic front sight for you.

My CQB hasn't choked once yet. That's not saying that it never will but I'm very happy with it in that respect so far. It's very accurate.....not when I shot it though...I need more practice!

Wilson offers a lifetime warranty and, from what I hear, their customer service is second to none.

Your going to have all sorts of people telling you that a Baer is better or a Nighthawk is better or a Brown is better. They're all semi-custom pistols with a big price tag. They all shoot just as good and are just as reliable as one another. You be the judge for yourself....do the research....handle each one if you can and base your purchase on that.....They're alot of money so don't go into it blindly!!!
Click to expand...
 
NAA said:
And I also tend to agree with the comment above... the accuracy potential of most pistols is generally greater than most pistol shooters can 'hold'.... ;)
Click to expand...

That may be true, but an inaccurate shooter with a slightly more accurate pistol will have a better chance than an inaccurate shooter with a less accurate pistol.
 
I would rate Nighthawk a lot higher than Wilson. Ed Brown, Baer, Novak's and Nighthawk would be my top end of the semi-custom guns. Wilson is good - but not quite as good -- they are primarily making parts for 1911 market.
 
UncleWalther said:
Is there a dealer in Canada that would take care of warranty issues with Wilson Combat pistols? I know P&D Enterprises sells Wilson here in Alberta, but do they do the warranty stuff too?
Click to expand...

If you were to have any problems P&D will take care of you. Whether it's shipping the pistol back to Wilson or ordering parts for you. I suppose if it's something simple they'll take care of it here. Ask Chris at P&D.
 
KevinB said:
I would rate Nighthawk a lot higher than Wilson. Ed Brown, Baer, Novak's and Nighthawk would be my top end of the semi-custom guns. Wilson is good - but not quite as good -- they are primarily making parts for 1911 market.
Click to expand...


I suppose you're basing that on the fact that Wilson's are less reliable and less accurate than the rest...right? Or maybe it's because they're less flashy and they have hordes of dissatisfied owners? I'm interested in hearing your explanation as to why they're good but not quite as good.

I'm glad that you like NightHawk....damn fine pistols. But, are they any better than a Wilson? To me that's a very subjective question. My opinion has always been that when it comes to choosing a pistol in the semi-custom market....flip a coin and don't be brand loyal.
 
I'm basing it on the fact that from the guns I have seen the Wilsons had a slight bit worse fit and finish -- and a steeper price tag, coupled with the fact several well known people down South tell me they prefer the other 4 above Wilson as well. I am not knocking Wilson -- P&D is bringing in a good gun -- just when I look at sticker price -- I beleive I can get a better gun for less -- how much is debatable.
 
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