Les Baer, Wilson, Ed Brown help me decide...

[sparky32]

I have been in the market for one of these for a month or so. I have several 1911 pistols just looking to add to the collection and have something new to shoot. Owners of these three, can you give me some feed back on what made you purchase one over
the other, whether it was fit and finish or accuracy etc. I have only shot one of these three pistols, and I know some of the
selling points of each. Wilsons customer service, Baers accuracy, and Browns finshes. Help me pick one lol..........

Thanks

 

[drillsgt]

I've owned two Wilson's and a Baer. You're going to pay a lot more for the Wilson but the other two won't stack up for any of your criteria, fit and finish, customer service, or finish. The Wilson's they are putting out now are the best I have seen in that market category.

 

[churchmouse]

I've owned two Wilson's and a Baer. You're going to pay a lot more for the Wilson but the other two won't stack up for any of your criteria, fit and finish, customer service, or finish. The Wilson's they are putting out now are the best I have seen in that market category.

I agree with the Sarge on this.
The Bare and Brown will be very fine guns in their own rite but not up to the finished product that Wilson is delivering.

 

[IndyDave1776]

I recommend the easy solution: One of each!

 

[usmcdjb]

When I looked to move up from my Kimbers, I had pretty much decided on a Les Baer. My decision was largely because they were a little cheaper that other options in the semi-custom category. Took a trip to Indiana Gun Club, which has lots of quality 1911s to look at, and noticed a Dan Wesson Valor with the duty treat. That's the one I ended up taking home. I've since added a DW Specialist, and also a Wilson CQB Elite. Just my 1911 journey - YMMV.

I'd suggest taking a look around 1911addicts.com as well. There are some nice guns over there, and this will open up a whole new world.

 

[Expat]

I have two Les Baers and am very happy with them.They are amazingly tight when you get them and have to be shot a lot to break them in before you even want to try to take them down. They have a 3 inch or 1.5 (for a bit more money) accuracy guarantee at 50 yards. The finish on them isn't as durable as some of the others. They come in an ugly cheap cardboard box. My understanding is that Les thinks guns should be carried. They should have the **** shot out of them. They should look like it too. They are quite a bit cheaper than the other two. So to me, they are a good choice at their price point.

 

[sparky32]

I have two Les Baers and am very happy with them.They are amazingly tight when you get them and have to be shot a lot to break them in before you even want to try to take them down. They have a 3 inch or 1.5 (for a bit more money) accuracy guarantee at 50 yards. The finish on them isn't as durable as some of the others. They come in an ugly cheap cardboard box. My understanding is that Les thinks guns should be carried. They should have the **** shot out of them. They should look like it too. They are quite a bit cheaper than the other two. So to me, they are a good choice at their price point.

Yeah i was curious on the baers because I've heard how accurate and the shooters these guns are. I have heard the finish like you have said is not as durable but they make up for that with amazing accuracy.

I have only shot wilson but handled all three. I do really like that classic look of the baers. I also think Wilson makes a beauty.

 

[Thegeek]

I looked at all of the above. If you're just wanting a nameplate, the Wilson carries the most recognition I think. When I did my research (I just wanted a high quality 1911 out of the box), I looked long and hard at all the major brands. I ended up with a DW Valor.

 

[BJones]

I bought a Wilson CQB and after shooting it, I was amazed how much better, smoother and accurate it was over any other 1911 that I own. I have since bought a Wilson professional which is just as excellent as the CQB. I always hate to hear you get what you pay for, but in this instance the Wilsons are worth the money.

 

[hvacrguy]

Or you could go this route. HOME - heirloomprecision.com I would love to have the coin to send something off to Jason.

 

[Vigilant]

I've had all 3 in some form or another, and hands down, the WC was my personal favorite. 2 Wilson CQB's, Ed Brown Kobra Carry, and Baer SRP. The CQB's were just better guns in my opinion. The Baer was damn near too tight to operate, and the Brown wasn't as nicely fit or finished. They are all great pistols, but I think the Wilson's win out every time. The only other 1911 that I felt was near the CQB was the NightHawk GRP, but that's probably because it was a Wilson also(for all intents and purposes)

 

[natdscott]

What if...

...you called Heirloom Precision?

-Nate

 

[Expatriated]

James Yeager says Wilson is one of the few .45's he'd buy if he had to own one.

Thats enough for me.

 

[Expat]

Nighthawk does make some pretty guns.

I also hear a lot of good on some of the 1911 forums about Guncrafters pistols.

 

[Cowboy1629]

Tough choice... Here are the ones I own.

3rd from the top (Wilson Ultralight Carry Compact) is my daily carry with over 3000 rounds through it. The Supergrade (second from the top) hasn't been carried that much but still has close to 3000 rounds through it. Both the Baer and Brown have also been carried daily but not as much as the ULCC. The Baer has also been used in USPSA a few times.

Out of these 3 manufactures I would say the Wilson's are the top of the line. The Baer is probably the best bang for the buck. The TRS I have also carries the 1.5" guarantee but to tell the truth the others shoot just as well, at least in my hands.

 

[Mustang1911]

Only one of the 3 that I have is a Baer, and I've actually been kind of disappointed with it. I haven't had the legendary accuracy that everybody says Baers have and I've had a few random failure to feed malfunctions that I haven't been able to diagnose. I have probably 900-1000 rounds though my Baer, so I don't know if I just need more "break in" or if something isn't fit quite right. I actually shoot Kimbers more accurately than my Baer for some reason. I was actually wondering if it was me not shooting 1911s well, but then I got a chance to shoot a Nighthawk and the accuracy on that (not to mention the trigger ) was incredible. What I do love about my Baer though is when the slide is in battery, the whole gun feels like one solid piece of steel and not several pieces put together. And the thumb safety is the stiffest I've ever felt but I actually like it. My expierance seems to be the exception not the rule though. And just yesterday I saw a used Wilson at a gun store for $100 more that my Baer was new and unless you're a billionaire that is always a huge factor.

 

[cjacobs]

my Baer TRS is every bit as accurate as my Wilson CQB in my hands. its not quite as refined in the finish department but still a fine 1911.
as for reliability and accuracy, for me its more a limit of my capability than the gun. For Fit and Finish, the Wilson is hands down the winner of the three mentioned.

I have been impressed with the valor and Gardians DW is putting out. i would rate them even with Les Baer IMHO.

Guncrafters are nice, but never did anything for me.

What ever you end up choosing, it will be a lot of fun I'm sure.

now for Pics, just because.

 

[cjacobs]

Tough choice... Here are the ones I own.

3rd from the top (Wilson Ultralight Carry Compact) is my daily carry with over 3000 rounds through it. The Supergrade (second from the top) hasn't been carried that much but still has close to 3000 rounds through it. Both the Baer and Brown have also been carried daily but not as much as the ULCC. The Baer has also been used in USPSA a few times.

Out of these 3 manufactures I would say the Wilson's are the top of the line. The Baer is probably the best bang for the buck. The TRS I have also carries the 1.5" guarantee but to tell the truth the others shoot just as well, at least in my hands.

That ULCC is SWEET.........................

 

[Cowboy1629]

That ULCC is SWEET.........................

Yeah I would have to say it's my favorite carry gun. The Supergrade is SUPER but it spends more time at the range than it does in the holster.

 

[Hoosier45]

You won't be disappointed in any of them. I don't have any experience with Ed Brown, but I do own a Les Baer TRS, a WC Stealth, and a WC Protector. They are all great guns. Find one that catches your eye, then watch Gunbroker for one to fall into your price range.