Posted: 4/24/2006 8:30:36 PM EDT
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Looking to buy a frame, I am thinking Caspian or Wilson Combat? Wilson Combat costs more, though I am wondering which one is better? I have seen some great guns on Caspian frames, even ones with custom serial numbers. |
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Caspian for the most part builds a really nice frame. You can get it with all sorts of options, and they stand behind their stuff really well. I haven't heard anything about Wilson, but I would imagine they're nice. You might want to consider Rock River Arms, as they sell nice frames too. I don't know how hard they are to finish tho. |
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Caspian uses cast frames (they claim for strength purposes... I am not so sure I buy that) 410 grade steel; 25 on the RH scale. The response Caspian sent me were answers cut and pasted onto my initial inquiry email, so I produed the answers seperately instead of posting the (confusing) original response. Larry L's response (From WC) to my inquiry a few months back: "We use Wilson forged CNC machined frames and slides made from heat treated 4140 gun steel forgings (no castings). We are very picky on the quality of all materials that go into a Wilson and only use the best, all metals are hardness tested, and hardness tested again when the frame and slide are inspected prior to building the gun. All specs and tolerances are checked before the actual gun is kitted and sent back to the shop to be fit and built. Our frames and slides will not fit together before this process, they are truely custom fit." Caspian: (classic which should be the same class as WC) Carbon or SS - $225 (checkering + $80) WC: In the white - $250 (w. checkering $335) Stainless - $275 (w. checkering $360) Caspian makes good products, but I am not a fan of anything cast. I would go with the Wilson myself. |
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I always thought caspin frames were machined from forgings, excpet for there high capacty model and there recon line. I know at one time they offered both a cast and machined classic frame. I cant find any info on there web site that states there frames are either cast or machined from barstock. |
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Caspian Frames are NOT forged. They very well MAY HAVE BEEN in the past. The information I posted was from an email response of a tech/rep. Moreover their current catalog has printed the following on the FAQ list (pg 7) Q: Why do you prefer to machine your frames from cast blanks? A: we are pledged to provide you with the strongest part at the best price. By using pre-heat treated blanks supplied by Ruger's Pine Tree Casting Division, we can offer a "forever" guarantee on our frames against cracking. It does indeed good to give back (factual info) to the boards when at all possible.  I still have some catching up to do nevertheless, as I've learned far more from all who have contributed than I have taught.
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| Usually I don't like cast parts either, but then it really depends on the casting process, as well as the metal you're talking about. Cast stuff can be just fine if it's done right, and I see alot of barstock and toolsteel come through our shop that is basically crap. Situation will dictate. |
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Every time I read one of the cast vs. forged threads, I always think about aircraft engine turbine blades. Strangely, no one seems to mind using cast turbine blades. Funny, isn't it? The knee-jerk response against cast, or mim, or anything else on gun boards is kind of amusing to me. The simple fact that one process is used versus another tells you nothing about the quality of the part. As MadRyan points out, you can make crap from a forging just like you can make crap from a casting. It all depends on the manufacturer and their commitment to quality. Me? I'd buy the Caspian. You can get it any way you want it, and they have a good rep with everybody I know. YMMV. |
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Caspian has one of the best reps in the business for quality control and customer support. A number of top 'smiths build on Caspian parts. Some of the top USPSA shooters use Caspian slides. Caspian is not a fly-by-night parts builder. They have been around for years and stand behind everything they make and sell. If you are concerned about quality, call Caspian and talk to Gary. He'll answer all your questions. |
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+1 to the previous three posters. People love to bitch about cast vs. forged frames on a 1911. The 1911 is a pretty "gentle" shooter. I don't hear people bitching about the "inferior" Ruger revolvers being "weak". Nor do I think guys like Bowen, Reeder, etc would use a Ruger as a base for some of their ass-kicking magnum conversions if they were "inferior". R |
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Is this fight week or something? First of all, it is knee-jerk and (hypocritical to boot) to assume my dislike of cast is in fact "knee-jerk" Second, the "Cast quality v. Forged crap" may prove some academic argument but it is entirely irrelevent here. --> Cast Caspian, v. Forged Wilson. As I said before... both are good companies, and I prefer forged. |