Posted: 9/29/2013 8:45:00 AM EDT
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I am relatively new to firearms. 14 months ago, I didn't own any weapons and was only familiar with the ancient M16 I was carrying around Afghanistan. Then I came home and decided I wanted to buy a gun. My first gun was a Rem 700 chambered in .243 which my father in law recommended cuz '243 dont ruin meat like bigger rounds do.' Knowing not a damn thing about shooting I just did as i was told. Two weeks later I bought my first handgun a Glock 21 gen 4 at GT Distributors. Now I've bought about a gun a month and lately I had begun to fantasize about 1911's. I read probably 10,000 reviews about which ones 'best'. Although there are as many haters of every gun as fans, the general consensus I found was that getting a factory 1911 can be iffy so I decided I would go with a 'semi custom' 1911. Of all those, Les Baer looked like the best bang for buck, since I couldn't find any Wilsons or Browns for less than $2500.
I just got a Les Baer Custom Carry from CJ at 1911 Heaven. It would have been Around $1800 and upgrading to stainless was about $1900 so i upped it to stainless and it was still below the regular guns MSRP. Plus that also includes shipping fees and alot of help/advice from Crazy John. As this was my first 1911, I had more than a few questions and concerns. I had a bunch of ruger mags I had bought for the SR1911 that I was on a waiting list for but that I got tired of waiting for and I had 2 CMC powermags I picked up at Quantico Tactical. So far Ive put about 150 rounds through it and it runs great. I totally made myself look like an idiot while I attempted to disassemble it but whatever, I dont use that range much lol. So, I ran my boresnake through the bore, put it back together and walked out to the range. I brought 50 rounds of Federal AE 230 gr, 50 rounds of Herters TNJ (blue) 230 gr 50 rounds of Tula FMJ 230 gr and I brought two 100 rd cases of PMC 185 gr HP on accident thinking it was FMJ. And I brought 10 rounds of Speer GDHP 230 gr +P which is my SD/CCW round of choice. (well in 45 anyway) Had some hiccups with that evil spawn of satan that I now know as Tula. Will never ever buy that crap again. Everything else ran fine. I only shot about 20 rounds of the PMC because I hate to waste HP's for plinking, even PMC HP's. So I didn't shoot enough to break the gun in yet as I didnt shoot over half the ammo I brought with me. My next trip I will fire only AE 230 gr FMJs and Herters 230 gr TNJ's as I now am comfortable with this guns ability to go through HP's. I will admit Im still going through a 1911 learning curve. The gun is supposed to shoot 3 inch groups at 50 yards. That is WAY better than I can do so Ill have to take their word for it. Still, I loved the trigger and just how the gun feels. Ive trained myself with glocks so it does point a little differently for me but I dont mind. Hopefully after a few more trips to the range, itll be more natural for me. I just ordered a Ultimate Deep Concealment holster from Zero Concealment Systems which I hope makes the gun at least somewhat concealable. I dont know much about Zero Concealment but the few reviews i found were positive and their prices were great so I figured I would try them out. But I digress. So far, I like this beautiful gun. None of my coworkers are gun people and I SOO needed somewhere to talk about it that I finally decided to join AR15.com in the first place. IF this gun betrays me though I will probably be extra hateful because of that though 
Oh I forgot to talk about mags. I have decided to sell all my Ruger mags and the 2 Les Baer mags as well. They MAY be as good as the CMCs but I contacted CMC directly as I didnt see anything about LEO/MIL discount and let me just say... they beat the crap out of Wilson's 10% off. Its GREAT 
For any who qualify and can prove it, i REALLY think you will appreciate it. |
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Welcome to the site.
That was a well thought out and written first post. Unfortunately I have to call shenanigans until a picture of your LB is posted. 
I too wouldn't dump the mags you have unless you needed the money. The Ruger mags are made by checkmate. Good reputation. I'm not sure who makes LB mags. |
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I'd recommend watching a few you-tube videos on how to take down and reassembly your gun. It is way too easy to get an "idiot" scratch if you are not familiar with the 1911.
Not sure how most here start the take down process, but I like to remove the recoil spring plug and spring first. Also, when inserting the slide stop / release don't be afraid to put tape around the slide and frame incase you do slip. The more you reassemble the gun, the easier it becomes. |
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Congrats on a great purchase, welcome to the site, and thank you for your service!
Welcome home. The LB is a great carry gun--in the right hands (which applies to all 1911s)--and you're headed in the right direction, thinking through the mag choices, ammo and a carry rig. My only comment would be in response to you saying Speer GDHP 230 gr +P is your "SD/CCW round of choice." I'd recommend holding off on that decision until you've run at least a few hundred rounds of it through your pistol. A lot of people hesitate to do this because, let's face it, good defensive ammo is expensive! But it's critical to know that your carry ammo is going to work 100% in your carry gun. I'm sure you understand that 10 rounds with no problems is not enough to bet your life on, and other people's reports of reliability through their guns don't mean it'll be the same in yours. Mags are the same way. I love Tripp Cobras and Wilson ETMs, but I've also found cheaper options that have worked very well in certain 1911s. The only way to be sure what you can trust is to test, test, and test some more. Then, when you find a mag that you really trust in that pistol, mark it somehow so you'll know which mags go with which pistol (I'm assuming you'll end up with multiple 1911s...most of us do!). And finally, of course, don't start carrying that sweet beast until you're absolutely comfortable with it. (I pray you never need to use it.) As others have suggested--please post photos! We know they all look pretty much the same, but we never tire of looking! One more thing--if that "ancient M16" was based on an A1 or earlier receiver, stop by the retro forum and post some details (especially if you have any photos)! We're always interested to learn what old rifles are still chugging along in service! |
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actually I watched a Hickok45 video where he takes a 1911 apart just before I drove over to pick it up. However, i didnt know it was going to be tighter than.... well really tight. After fighting for like 5 minutes I started looking for instructions and found the tool that reminds me of a can opener that rotates the barrel bushing. even with that, it took me a few minutes to get it all apart cuz the slide stop wasnt budging. luckily the lady at the counter stopped giggling and offered me a hammer (not a real hammer the brass/rubber one that i dont know the name of). Another minute later i had it all apart.
and roger i guess i understand about not wanting to use GDHP without more extensive testing. ive had several hundred rounds on order with Streichers for months now but so far still haven't heard anything. im not in a rush, at the prices streichers offers i totally understand why they must take forever to fill orders. I will try to get some pictures up tomorrow. And as far as my M16 from downrange, i dont remember the serial number or anything so im not much help with that. i just remember walking around feeling like the kid with the hand-me-downs while everybody else had M4s or M9s. Oh well, I got myself a Colt 6940 and an M&P 10 now (which MIGHT be me compensating for that M16 lol). |
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Host them on photobucket or the like and use the image URL. Quoted:
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how do i upload pictures. I have them saved on my PC now but its saying on the button it needs a url. How do i get them online? Host them on photobucket or the like and use the image URL. Thanks man! Ok heres my Custom Carry next to the macbook i had to buy my wife to get her on board with this 
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a521/georgeprout1911/19112_zps27a5eb31.jpg and closeup of the beast all by itself http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a521/georgeprout1911/19111_zps8d3cb487.jpg ok got the pics to work finally! |
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Thanks man! Ok heres my Custom Carry next to the macbook i had to buy my wife to get her on board with this
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a521/georgeprout1911/19112_zps27a5eb31.jpg and closeup of the beast all by itself http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a521/georgeprout1911/19111_zps8d3cb487.jpg ok got the pics to work finally! Quoted:
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how do i upload pictures. I have them saved on my PC now but its saying on the button it needs a url. How do i get them online? Host them on photobucket or the like and use the image URL. Thanks man! Ok heres my Custom Carry next to the macbook i had to buy my wife to get her on board with this
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a521/georgeprout1911/19112_zps27a5eb31.jpg and closeup of the beast all by itself http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a521/georgeprout1911/19111_zps8d3cb487.jpg ok got the pics to work finally! Looks good. Sounds like your wife knows my wife. 
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lol they probably do MrHiggs.
I went out again today with a ton of new CMC mags but I stupidly ordered the wrong ones. I wanted 4 of the 8 rd promags and 10 of the 10 rd promags but i filled the wrong box on my order sheet and I ordered 10 of the 8 rd Promag +'s. What a pain in the ass. Oh well, too much work to return em so I took em all with me to the range and all but one of them ran fine. One of them kept giving me issues. I didnt have a sharpie so i left an empty brass casing in it to remind myself which one is a 'problem child' next time. Anyways, I hadn't cleaned it after the first 150 rounds on saturday, and I shot 250 today. Also didn't apply any lube sat or today til post cleaning. Anwyays, I Had a few FTF's but Im attributing that to the cheap herters TNJ ammo I was using. used 3 50 rd boxes of that and it had my arm covered in carbon and gunk. then 2 boxes of federal AE which ran mostly fine but had to press the trigger a few times extra on 2 or 3 rounds. Guessing thats due to the extreme amount of crap in my gun at that point. Anyways, I took her home and about an hour later she was good as new. Now my real concern is if I get the FTF's next time cuz shes not gonna be all kinda of nasty like she was today. I will def post a scathing review if she has that trouble next time. |
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Well I guess its time to update this. Ive fired a few hundred rounds through this and although I love it, I can't justify how expensive it is. I listed it on armslist and I have an offer for a FNX 45 tactical with RMR and I am seriously considering it. If the trade doesn't go through I am listing it for $1700. I will have taken about $280 of a hit but I just think I will be better off with a cheaper 1911. Not as in I have a better gun but as in I don't make it a safe queen.
Anyways, does anyone think this is a good deal? I may post this in the FNH forums if it seems one sided
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Quoted:
Well I guess its time to update this. Ive fired a few hundred rounds through this and although I love it, I can't justify how expensive it is. I listed it on armslist and I have an offer for a FNX 45 tactical with RMR and I am seriously considering it. If the trade doesn't go through I am listing it for $1700. I will have taken about $280 of a hit but I just think I will be better off with a cheaper 1911. Not as in I have a better gun but as in I don't make it a safe queen. Anyways, does anyone think this is a good deal? I may post this in the FNH forums if it seems one sided Not to spoil anybody else's deal , but if I had your LB I would not make that trade unless I was really sure. The trade is a little lopsided in the amount you mentioned . I would shoot , clean and lube the LB up to 1000 rounds before I let that beauty slip from my grasp. Fine custom 1911s are really tight and require a little break in before they settle in . In the end if you truly don't like it , make the trade , better to lose a few bucks and have something you like |
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Quoted: Well I guess its time to update this. Ive fired a few hundred rounds through this and although I love it, I can't justify how expensive it is. I listed it on armslist and I have an offer for a FNX 45 tactical with RMR and I am seriously considering it. If the trade doesn't go through I am listing it for $1700. I will have taken about $280 of a hit but I just think I will be better off with a cheaper 1911. Not as in I have a better gun but as in I don't make it a safe queen. Anyways, does anyone think this is a good deal? I may post this in the FNH forums if it seems one sided |
| Gonna tell you right now, wait until you get 3000 rounds through it before you trade... she will get all loosy goosy and shoot real nice. I am a big fan of 1911 types and I typically like wilson combat 8 rounder mags and I usually buy them used. Now be careful about entering the retro forum, it really becomes addictive on the old m16 type rifles and then you will realize how lucky you were to have and carry an old m16 |
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Not to spoil anybody else's deal , but if I had your LB I would not make that trade unless I was really sure. The trade is a little lopsided in the amount you mentioned . I would shoot , clean and lube the LB up to 1000 rounds before I let that beauty slip from my grasp. Fine custom 1911s are really tight and require a little break in before they settle in . In the end if you truly don't like it , make the trade , better to lose a few bucks and have something you like Quoted:
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Well I guess its time to update this. Ive fired a few hundred rounds through this and although I love it, I can't justify how expensive it is. I listed it on armslist and I have an offer for a FNX 45 tactical with RMR and I am seriously considering it. If the trade doesn't go through I am listing it for $1700. I will have taken about $280 of a hit but I just think I will be better off with a cheaper 1911. Not as in I have a better gun but as in I don't make it a safe queen. Anyways, does anyone think this is a good deal? I may post this in the FNH forums if it seems one sided Not to spoil anybody else's deal , but if I had your LB I would not make that trade unless I was really sure. The trade is a little lopsided in the amount you mentioned . I would shoot , clean and lube the LB up to 1000 rounds before I let that beauty slip from my grasp. Fine custom 1911s are really tight and require a little break in before they settle in . In the end if you truly don't like it , make the trade , better to lose a few bucks and have something you like Ok Ill ask the guy to give me another few weeks to think about it. Ill see if this beauty grows on me. My holster just arrived and maybe that will help me make my decision. I also might try some thin grips. Dunno why but I just feel like the grips right now are funny to my hands. |
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Are you crazy? "I will be better off with a cheaper 1911" you may be the first person in history to say that after owning a Baer. Quoted:
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Well I guess its time to update this. Ive fired a few hundred rounds through this and although I love it, I can't justify how expensive it is. I listed it on armslist and I have an offer for a FNX 45 tactical with RMR and I am seriously considering it. If the trade doesn't go through I am listing it for $1700. I will have taken about $280 of a hit but I just think I will be better off with a cheaper 1911. Not as in I have a better gun but as in I don't make it a safe queen. Anyways, does anyone think this is a good deal? I may post this in the FNH forums if it seems one sided I started out with a baer and maybe that was/is my problem. Have no other 1911's to compare it to |