Do you know if any old 1911 style grips would work or does Baer have some proprietary style?

Oh the drama.....

I'm an old fat fuck with barely the finger strength to tie my shoelaces and I somehow managed to rack all the Baers I've had just fine. I put bullets in the handle bit and go shoot it...

Nice gun OP, nothing to not like about that.

  I knew Baers were tight,  my comment was more directed at him suggesting to replacing the spring.  

Any Government-sized grips will work.

Thanks!

I’m actually glad to have purchased new even with the depreciation. Per Baer, the manufacturers warranty only applies to the original owner (at least that’s what the lady who answered the phone told me).

The guys at the LGS said that Baer is amazing at taking care of his customers to the point that at times he has done cosmetic repairs no questions asked. They had a blue Concept III on display that someone tried to rack with his ring hand. His hand slipped and he left a slide length scratch on it which they refinished no questions asked.

I know some people have expressed concern about the blue fading on it’s own so it’s nice to know that if it bothers me I’ll be taken care of.

That being said, I have no intention of babying her. I’m going to the range this weekend with 500 rounds of Wally World WWB, and hopefully my slide will feel like it’s on “bearings” after that.

I find when they are nice and tight it's helpful to cock the hammer by hand before you pop it open. Takes some of the MS spring out of the equation.

3" and 1.5" guns are built about the same. They just pull the ones that end up being tighter or shoot a bit better to be called the 1.5 and charge more. FWIW there was a big thread on 1911forum where someone bought a 1.5" gun, ransom rest, and the same ammo Baer uses to test. They couldn't get it to hit 1.5 and if I remember correctly just annoyed les so much he said shut up.

They do wear in nicely. you are lapping with build up and lube, which mates the parts well. You could arguably do that with any brand of 1911 (and I have with jewelers paste) and get a similar feel.

To be fair, even with a vise 1.5 at 50 is hard to get. Think about the fact that it’s about 3 MOA, and some rifles struggle to do that. Especially with the sights you are getting you are probably painting more than 1.5 inches at 50 yards.

Not making excuses, just being realistic about what to expect. Now if I had a shooting stand that was grounded, and I could ensure repeat placement within that stand every single time while controlling flip to be similar, perhaps I’d be upset about 1.5”. That’s basically why I decided to save the $300. I cannot shoot that well. On my best days I am 1” at 15 yards. Will still have a couple of outliers.

I had a Les Baer, the Custom Carry Commanche. It was very very accurate and and it did not have any accuracy guarantee.



This was 8 rounds shot at 100 yards.



As I received it, it had a not insignificant chip missing from the left slide rail on the frame. It did not affect accuracy, but it made me question the quality of a Les Baer pistol when I found out others had a chip missing in the same spot.

After owning a custom Dan Wesson and a GI Hellcat, I got an Alchemy Custom Weaponry Prime Elite with the accuracy guarantee and a high polish DLC finish.



It would be hard to find a more beautiful well made pistol. If you have not bought anything yet, take a look at ACW.

I'm lean, fit, exercise six days a week, eat properly (lean protein, raw organic vegetables, and lots of leafy greens), don't consume alcohol / tobacco / caffeine and prefer a gun that is easy to operate with sweaty (or heaven forbid bloody) hands and stressful situations.   A gun that is for range use only doesn't really matter but any gun that I'm going to carry for defense needs to be easy to operate in less-than-optimal situations.  However, my opinion is just based upon my personal experiences (peaked at shooting 5k rounds a month through 1911s and try to take at least one professional multi-day training class a year but average three ... and have been using 1911s since 1984).

OP, I find it productive to weigh a person's opinion against their choices.

How's that for drama

When I carried a TRS, I admit to modifying my slidestop to make racking easier.

I'm pretty sure they ship with oversized grips, but any will fit.

I vote Les Baer American Handgunner. (Poor quality photo)
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Man that looks good, but I don’t have that kind of money.

You’ve given me some solid and useful advice as have many others in this thread.

Still pretty impressed that you carry a 1911. If you don’t mind me asking do you open or conceal? Deep down inside I desperately want to open carry one as well, but don’t want the problems that come with. Also was that a Milt I saw in your pocket dump? Are those easier on the blue?

Another 1911 carrier! I guess I am not crazy. My tacticool acquaintances made fun of me wanting a 1911, probably be a pariah if I started carrying one. I want to though, pretty bad...

Hard chrome and blue?

The more I look at these two tones the happier I am that I chose blue with SS.

curious- what did you do to the sidestep that made racking easier ?

Reduced the diameter of the middle of the slidestop pin where the lower lugs bear.  This is the spot that makes the lockup so tight.   Mine's still tight but not ridiculously so.

My license allows either open or concealed, but in the 29 years I've been licensed to carry I have never once open carried.

I've owned 3 or 4 Milt Sparks VMII for 1911s but the pictured holster is a DeSantis MadMax.  At $65 and immediately available I recommend you check them out.  Nothing is going to protect Baer bluing from wear past never holstering your gun.  Baer's blue is thin and will wear, but the upside is ... they actually looks nice with some HONEST finish wear.  I'm in the group that thinks a hand-and-holster-worn 1911 looks just as good as a safe queen but in a different way and for different reasons.

I'm not carrying a Baer today, but pulled my MadMax off my belt to help illustrate the coverage / build concept ...






The picture below shows the leather shaved from holster (look in the FCS).  This is on a properly broken in and well worn holster ...



When new, I'd recommend coating your Baer in oil, sticking it in a 1 gallon ZipLock FREEZER (not the cheaper kind because it'll break) bag and leaving the gun in the new holster for 24-48 hours.  It'll help "stretch" the holster to your gun.  The holster will loosen up a little more with use, but not to a point of being "loose".  It won't retain your 46-48oz (loaded) 1911 if inverted but it also won't just 'drop out' .. it'll slowly slide out which is the amount of retention I want.  I'm not conducting any inverted fast ropes with my 1911 so having it clear my holster with "just enough drag" is where I want it.  All of the MadMax's I've owned have functioned this way over time.

Regarding your tacticool friends ...

1) Sound advice will ring true but some people have a talent for selling bunk.  Judge the advice based upon the entire picture (is the advise giver: intelligent; effective communicator; have demonstrable experience; make good life choices; etc).
2) When I was younger I had a strong penchant for redheaded women.  All of these years later I still admire the exceedingly rare "freckless" ivory-skinned green eyed redheaded lady.  Why?  She's rare. She's beautiful.  She's special.  The 1911 is no different.
3) Given the same shooting skill level you're going to be able to put rounds on paper more accurately with your Baer than they are with their polymer striker fired pistols.  

At the end of the day, its not the noise and smoke we make but the hits we deliver.  Whether its a fun day at the range or when you're fighting for your life ... only hits count.  The more accurate the better.  Simply hitting a paper plate at 7 yards is absolute garbage and anyone that shoots to these "defensive standards" are a risk to society if they carry their guns.  You want to be able to "thread the needle" easily.  Think of it this way ... if some crazed man is hiding behind your daughter with a knife to her throat ... you have about 2" of kill zone.  Use it wisely.  

Also, research defensive shooting statistics.  You're going to be under 7 yards and shoot less than 3 rounds.  Too many people watch John Wick and envision themselves in that fantasy world.  The real world is much different.  The VAST majority of those who aren't SWAT officers simply don't need 18rds in their guns.  I'd take 2 or 3 perfectly landed 230gr .451" rounds over 3 or 4 115gr .355" rounds every single time.

4) Most advise is bollocks.

For what is worth ... I find a "Government Model 1911" (5" barrel, full sized steel frame) more comfortable to carry than a Glock.  



Just look at that Glock.  It has NEVER been to a class.  That's 25 years of carry wear ... I have tried to enjoy them ... but they are simply the AK of the handgun world.

ETA: That is a Glock 26 ... 10rd 9mm (the so-called "Baby Glock" *gag*).  You can see its not a "tiny" gun compared to a full sized 5" 45ACP 1911.

For daily carry I'll take one of these every time ...

NOTE:

If society completely and utterly collapsed or if I were living in an extremely remote place with horrible weather I would probably choose this as my "daily carry" ...




Alas, I'm a normal citizen with an ordinary life and the pride of ownership, craftsmanship, confidence of accurate fire, effective cartridge, and ease of concealment (with a proper belt, holster and cover garment) means I prefer the 1911 over plastic uber-high-capacity 9mms with the ergonomics of a bar of soap and trigger feel of a 1980's toy.

I can't speak to the 1911s themselves, but I have an Armalloyed (hard chromed) Smith Model 28 decades ago.  Best finish ever.  You could shoot it damn near black and it would almost wipe clean.  I had it for a decade and never put a scratch on it.  Contrary to what has been said above mine never flaked or degraded in any way.  I'd buy a hard chromed gun in a heartbeat.

My first Hard Chromed gun was a Browning Hi Power.  At the time I was disappointed because it wasn't stainless.  It didn't take long for me to see the error of my ways.  HC is an outstanding finish if applied by someone like Accurate Plating or Metaloy.

Nickel and Electroless Nickel (e.g. ROBAR NP3) are a completely different story.  I've had nickel plated guns start flaking, etc.  NEVER any issues with a non-Baer Hard Chrome gun.  The only "issue" with Baer HC is it is very soft, and WILL scratch easily.

One thing that I get to hear quite often is the concern about going off if dropped. Is that unfounded, or is there any truth behind that?

BTW, my choice for such a circumstance would be similar :)

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The so-called "Series 80" safety was introduced to address inertia ND concerns.  Other companies have used titanium firing pins (no mass for inertia driven primer ignition). I can't say I've dropped enough chambered 1911s to have an inertia ND.

If you're worried about drop safety just buy a Wilson titanium FP.   Be sure to order the correct diameter.  I don't know what diameter Baer uses and I'm too busy to swap LB and Wilson pins ATM.  Wilson currently uses the 9mm/38Super diameter (.065") FPs on their 45ACP  but standard 1911 was (.093").   Wilson sells both (or they use to sell both).

Oh, and nice Mark 23. I bought my first USP 45 back in late 1995 (shortly after they were released).  I've had lots of USP, USP Compact, P2000, P2000SK, P30, P30SK, P30L and HK45, HK45C, HK45CT in the years since.  As far as polymer guns go ... they are my absolute choice.   I only have the HK45 now but frankly I don't think a person can wear these out so you don't need a lot of redundancy.

Saw your hard chrome on the EE :((

Wish I had the funds, would jump on it right away.

15 yards, 100 rounds in groups of 8. About 5 mins between each group, 20 seconds to shoot the 8 rounds. This includes the first rounds ever fired. Fairly windy day, but it was only 15 yards.

All I can say is that I went back to LGS to look for another one. They are awaiting a special Aggie edition with 1.5” that’s unique to the store. I am hooked. I am glad I went the way of the Baer.

BTW, I noticed that the POI shifted. I was getting
the holes, but they seemed to move somewhat every 3-4 groups. May be I was getting tired!?
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Nice looking gun. I was going to get a Baer but cheaped out and got a DW. I really like the DW but if the ammo situation ever improves in going to add a second 1911 and will give LB another look.

Its an awesome handgun.  I just don't use it enough to justify keeping it.

Nice shooting.  Regarding the POI shift ....

At the end of my range sessions I usually do a little drill. I’ll place 4 three inch targets at max distance (27 yards). Each target has a 1 inch bullseye. I will try to hit within the circle (1.5” distance of the bullseye) for each target with not more than 4 rounds. I usually never manage to get more than 1-2 with the 16 rounds. Today, after getting new sights on the Concept IV, I tried this drill. For the first time in my life I was able to get all 4 in only 14 rounds. The first 3 took me only 5 rounds! I have never shot anything that makes it so easy before. I have tried this drill with far more expensive pistols, but never been able to get 4 with 16 rounds total. I can only imagine how accurate the 1.5” models are.

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