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Posted: 4/10/2017 9:48:50 AM EDT
I'm looking to get a nice 1911 for mostly range use. I would consider shooting a casual bullseye match or the handgun section of a precision rifle match (not very demanding). I do not plan to shoot idpa or uspsa with it.
Accuracy is important to me. I have other handguns for HD/carry/etc. so this is mostly a range toy. My price range is 1000-1500 but I care more about bang for buck vs hitting a specific price point. A friend has a TRP that I really like so a TRP half rail operator is what I have in mind. I'm also considering a les Baer premier although that may be a little above my price range, especially if I want one with the 1.5" accuracy guarantee. So my question is: What other 1911s in this price range should I consider? Is the les Baer worth the price over the TRP? |
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Yes the les Baer is worth the money over the TRP IMO especially for what you are looking to do with its you may also want to check out the Trophy match from Springfield and the Dan Wesson Silverback
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Not a "custom" gun but still nice... Look at the Remington R1 1911 Enhanced. Well within your price range at around 610.00 from grabagun.com
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Les Baer's customer service is so abysmally poor that if they were giving guns away I wouldn't have one. Springfield makes quality guns but if you don't intend to mount a light then the rail isn't necessary, makes finding a holster much more difficult and is damn ugly. My choice would be a Colt Gold Cup.
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I do not like the trigger in Gold cup if going that route the trophy match would be the way I went just as or more accurate then Gold cup fitted better and better CS and uses a standard trigger and no series 80 nonsense if doing a trigger job. Also has front strap Checkering. Les Baer CS is pretty bad IMO but chances of having to use it are pretty slim. The LB will be the most accurate of the bunch and be fitted the tightest but at an added expense. The DW will be in between the trophy match and LB as far as fitment but will be around LB price but have a much better finish and better trigger. It's a give and take on any of them. What's the most important to you. If accuracy I would go LB personally if price I would go trophy match if want a mix the DW is an excellent gun.
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Dan Wesson Valor is what you want!!! In your (specified) price range. Take it out of the box and shoot it. No gunsmithing required. Supremely accurate.
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Quoted:
I do not like the trigger in Gold cup if going that route the trophy match would be the way I went just as or more accurate then Gold cup fitted better and better CS and uses a standard trigger and no series 80 nonsense if doing a trigger job. Also has front strap Checkering. Les Baer CS is pretty bad IMO but chances of having to use it are pretty slim. The LB will be the most accurate of the bunch and be fitted the tightest but at an added expense. The DW will be in between the trophy match and LB as far as fitment but will be around LB price but have a much better finish and better trigger. It's a give and take on any of them. What's the most important to you. If accuracy I would go LB personally if price I would go trophy match if want a mix the DW is an excellent gun. View Quote Les Baer pistols are not as good as many believe them to be. Being tightly fitted in no way equates to being correctly fitted. In my experience you will need their customer service and Les himself is the king of all assholes. Spend a few minutes on the phone to anyone in his employ and it will become apparent that all who work there have taken lessons in customer service directly from Les himself. |
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Have owned many LB I have yet to have to send one back and shoot then a lot. LB are well fitted and are extremely accurate as well as reliable IMO. Can't really say all the same for the Colt they are reliable but not as accurate and CS isnt that fantastic either. If you send a colt back it literally takes 3-6 months for it to return from service. The Springfield is fitted better then the colt is I prefer a 1911 that doesn't rattle personally and SA has them all beat in CS department and warranty. I just don't see the value in a Colt they are decent guns but not worth the price of admission IMO. Your paying for History that I could really care less about more then the product. Not saying they aren't good guns but there are better guns out there. LB Or DW is a better built gun end of the day for not a whole lot more money.
And the model you are specifying doesn't even have a beavertail, no front strap Checkering ECT for more then a trophy match which has both. |
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I actually handled a gold cup recently and was thoroughly unimpressed. The salesman wasn't either and let me handle a CZ 1911 side by side with it. Even the CZ felt better put together than the gold cup. He brought a second gold cup and it felt the same.
I don't know remember what model CZ it was but i think it was a higher end model. I meant to add: I want to avoid having to do any work to it, just want to take it out and shoot. |
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If it was a CZ it had to be a CZ1911A1 which is the only 1911 that has the CZ name. If want it how you want out of box no work needed for what you want to do then I would say buy a Dan Wesson or a Les Baer. The others will need some kind of work IMO mostly trigger work for Colt or Springfield. A Les Baer or a Dan Wesson will have a great trigger out of box. And be very accurate out of box as well. Dan Wesson is owned by CZ by the way but they aren't labeled CZ they say Dan Wesson.
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Take a look at the Colt Competition Pistol. A lot of bang for the buck.
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Smith & Wesson E-series. A solid, accurate, and cosmetically pleasing pistol that is underpriced in the $850 range (or aptly priced at $1200 with a rail).
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Have a les Baer utc with standard 3" accuracy garuntee. Worth every penny!!! 6,000rds and not a single malfunction! Most of his guns will shoot better than 3" at 50yds anyway so that's why I didn't go with the 1.5".
With that said my next 1911 will be a Roberts defense. Check them out. you can get a standard model or a full custom. Lifetime warranty. Etc. all hand fit no mim parts. Great guns from what I've handled/shot. |
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That price range, Dan Wesson, STI, and the Springfield TRPs.
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I've had a TRP Operator with a half rail for a little over a year and have put about 1200 - 1500 rounds through it. IMO it's a great gun, but FYI, the ejector is glued rather than pinned. If I had known that when I was deciding on a 1911 I might have gone with something else. No problems with it at all and its my favorite pistol, but I wish I had known about the ejector when making the decision. A Google search will bring up a lot of forums discussing the glued vs pinned ejectors and SA's rationale for gluing if you're interested.
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Dan Wesson in whatever flavor you like.
I say that owning many 1911s to include a Wilson, MC Operator and a bunch of Colts and being a Colt collector. |
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Quoted:
Dan Wesson in whatever flavor you like. I say that owning many 1911s to include a Wilson, MC Operator and a bunch of Colts and being a Colt collector. View Quote |
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Colt and DW are basically non comparable IMO DW blows away anything Colt has made.
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If you can swing a little more or are willing to buy one with a few miles on it already the Les Baer is absolutely worth it. Otherwise a TRP or DW Valor would be my choice.
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I may get laughed out of here because ARfcom hates Kimber... But, Kimbers Gold Match II Shoots pretty damn nice out of the box and is only $1,200. Or double the Money for their Custom Shop version, the Super Match II that guarantee's 5 shots within 1" at 25 yards
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Springfield's stainless Range Officer would be a solid choice. I gave $700 for mine. I sent the slide to Harrison Design and had John install his superb fixed rear sight and a Dawson tritium front sight on it. It is a very accurate pistol.
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Hello,
If you are looking for a new gun for range use, I would check out the Dan Wesson Silverback. It is available in 9mm, 45 acp and 10mm. Since you didn't mention which caliper you are looking for (I assume 45), that is an excellent choice. Be careful with some of the guns that have very aggressive grips and checkering. After repeated use, if you do not have strong calluses on your hands, they can cause painful irritation. One gun that comes to mind is the TRP as you mentioned. I've seen a price match of under 1400.00 for a 45: https://gun.deals/product/dan-wesson-1911-silverback-45-acp-5-8-rd-two-tone-1417-price-match . That is a bargain. Dan Wesson is as close as it gets to a semi-custom like a Baer, but at a lower street price point (retail, not much though depending on the model). When new, they require up to 500 rounds of break-in with a very stringent recommended procedure. But, the guns are great. If you don't like the silverback, and are looking for a 9mm, check out the PM-9 model.. It has most of the same features, but is all stainless and uses a fiber optic front sight and an adjustable black bomar rear. Good luck. |
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Have prices on les baer guns gone up? I remember seeing used ones in the 1200-1500 range.
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Baer would get my vote. I've seen barely used Baers go for considerably under new price recently. Very nice guns.
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Quoted:
Les Baer's customer service is so abysmally poor that if they were giving guns away I wouldn't have one. Springfield makes quality guns but if you don't intend to mount a light then the rail isn't necessary, makes finding a holster much more difficult and is damn ugly. My choice would be a Colt Gold Cup. View Quote |
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Take a look at the Colt Competition Pistol. A lot of bang for the buck. View Quote |
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Before Dan Wesson came along I would have said Springfield TRP hands down. But the Dan Wesson Valor is so much better for the same price. Les Baer is good also but is going to be closer to the $2K mark. I personally went with the Dan Wesson Valor for $1500 and couldn't be happier.
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I'm taking a good look at this one right now. $920 OTD for me and I'd be months away from a purchase at least, but the match barrel and Novak sights add a lot of value. I handled one and the trigger is very nice, too. View Quote I have a kimber that was supposed to have a match barrel but it's the same as their other models and is a drop in not gunsmith fit. Not comparing kimber to colt lol just an example. |
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Attached File
I used 2 TRPs as base guns and had some extra work done... Outstanding guns. Best is my Nighthawk Predator |
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I own a TRP Operator and a Les Baer UTC, both are great guns. The bear gets the nod for accuracy but not by much. I prefer the 30 LPI checkering on the Baer to the 20LPI on the TRP. I'm gonna have to pick up a Dan Wesson to see what the fuss is all about
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