Les Baer 1911 Perfection

[birch]

I have had nine 1911s over the years. I have always been a Colt *****, and have held them in the highest regard. However, I recently got my paws on a Les Baer Monolith Heavyweight, and I can say that I see no way the 1911 can be improved upon over his perfect tolerances and accuracy.

The first time I racked the slide, It took two tries. It is tight. In fact, I thought that it would only take 10 shots to foul it up before it stopped cycling. Well, I am 350 rounds in, and I haven't experienced on failure of any sort.

Also, this is the first 1911 I have shot that I can be certain that if I miss, I know it is my fault. A feller can really learn form when he knows the error is on his end and not the firearm.

I would love to hear from some more Les Baer owners. Do these things ever loosen up? Thoughts in general?

Also, I would love to see some grips. I like the cocobolo's, but am trying to decide on grip material and texture.

[bluelund79]

I have had my Prowler III for about 5 years now. I put over 500 rounds through it before I cleaned it. Round count now is 3150, give or take a load development or 2 outing. Had two hick ups that were swc oal related (FTF). It is still a hard rack, but it feels a tick less than when it was new. Wish I had some dirty pictures to post, but work has me 2700 miles away from it. It's the one gun that my boys will have to flip a coin over on my inheritance, unless I purchase one as a retirement present to myself. It's carried on Sunday's at church, and occasionally at the farm, however, I have better tools for that. It remains a well used favorite, especially when my Dad goes to the range with us on visits. It's his favorite to shoot from my safe.

[birch]

195305

I am already thinking of a commander size just so I can have another to carry! I seem to have gotten fat enough that it is nearly impossible to carry something heavy without my belt slipping off my belly--picture two steps and pulling up pants on the third. I am almost willing to buy two sets of suspenders just to carry one around!

Yours is a real beauty as well. Did you have your hiccups with ball, hollow point or lead? I have yet to try hollow point see just a bunch of cast and ball.

[birch]

Just seen your problem was with oal. I have a Hensley and Gibbs 130bb that I am going to get hot after work tomorrow. Can't wait to report!

[bluelund79]

The one thing I have been very lucky with are the mags. 4 factory Les Baer mags, 10 47d WC mags, and 10 CMC PowerMags have been flawless in the 8 rd variety, as well both CMC and WC 10rd mags. It had zero issues with Hornady XTP and Federal HST and Hydra Shocks, so those see carry duty. Practice loads are Commercial cast 200gr swc. As soon as I retire and have my forever home, I'll start casting, until then, housing has enough issues with me cleaning guns, reloading ammo and butchering deer there.....MP's visited twice during deer season about quartering deer in my garage.

[clum553946]

I have a Les Premier II that's over 20 years old, thousands of rounds through it, still compete with it, still extremely accurate! Had to pay extra for the 50yd guarantee back in those days. Love this gun!

[birch]

Have you had to replace your barrel bushing? I took mine down and am lightly concerned with taking out the barrel bushing many times.

[NSB]

I had Claudio Salasa at Briley build me a custom gun using a Les Baer 1911. He built it in 38Super and my requirements were less than two inches at 50 yards, a two pound trigger, and complete reliability. I got everything I paid for and more. I shot that gun for four years at Team Challenge matches and it never failed me in the precision speed event. Claudio Salasa is a master gunsmith and Les Baer was his recommendation for using the best gun for a custom. Not cheap, but money well spent.

[osteodoc08]

What a timely thread. I've been looking to pick up my first Baer. I've recently been enjoying and shooting my Dan Wesson Specialist and was looking at picking up a Valor. But for a bit more, I can get a Baer. Always wondered what I've been "missing" with the higher end 1911's. Probably gonwith a 5" with target sights and either all blues or possible 2 tone. Suggestions?

[birch]

If there is any weakness, I would say the trigger could be lighter. I do love a fine and crisp 2-3 pound trigger. I would say this Baer is about 4 pounds.

I am only a target 1911 shooter. I can shoot this 1911 better than any of my previous light trigger 1911s, so I don't plan on getting a trigger job as of yet. I do wonder what it would do with a lighter one.

Like you, I have been contemplating jumping to a custom gun as well. I wish I would have done this years ago--but I have never had the extra cash to lay down. This one fell in my lap.

I am hooked. If anyone is interested, there is a very cool "factory tour" given by Baer and someone from a gun mag. The guy just seems like a no nonsense person. I admire that.

I am going to cast a different type of boolit this evening and will post accuracy\reliability results.

[Love Life]

I have several Les Baer guns. They are worth every penny. My last one had an issue that Baer corrected in very short order. Don't be surprised if Les himself calls you if you have an issue. It's pretty neat to talk to the man himself.

Two of my guns are still very tight even with over 4,000 rds apiece through them. My 3rd Baer, a UTC, is the loosest of the bunch, but still way tighter than any factory gun I have bought or played with.

The accuracy with them is top notch I would sweat bushing wear from removal. I actually refitted the bushing on my UTC so I can remove it without a wrench because I want that gun to be able to be stripped and cleaned without the need of a tool.

Les Baer guns are worth the money. They are just good, solid guns. They also have a feel to them that all the other cookie cutter guns lack. Every Baer has a different feel.

[birch]

Well--I put another 200 rounds through it tonight--125 200gr rn and bullseye and another 75 with the same boolit and unique. I experienced 2 failure to feed. I am thinking it might be a good time to clean and start another recount.

I would never accept this in a self defense gun. But, I don't consider this a self defense gun.

I do have to say that I am a little bummed out about the ftf. I have sent many fine guns down the road for ejection/feed problems. As of now, I am going to attribute this to a super tight 200,000 round gun that needs the recommended 500-1000 round break in.

I agree with your thoughts on the "feel" of this gun Lovelife. It certainly has a feel all of its own. I have been walking around the house with this for a week now. It is always within arms reach.

I am already thinking about the .38 super commanche. I think I might have a little problem! Another gun problem--damn!

Out of curiosity--what was the issue that you worked out with Les?

[Plate plinker]

FTF I wouldn't worry about that yet you have not even run it enough yet.
Also keep track of the magazine that the gun does this with. Thats the first and maybe easiest thing to spot. We know its not your first 1911 so I am sure your not lost but don't get bewildered.

Good luck

[birch]

That is exactly what I was thinking. I'm going to check my OAL tomorrow morning to see if my seater might have backed off a little. After that, I am going to run a clean gun with one mag to rule out mag issues.

I just finished a detail strip and clean of the entire pistol, and i could tell a major difference in how the slide felt immediately. It was filled with Unique soot--almost a paste. Now that I have it cleaned, the slide feels like it is on ball bearings.

I wish I could explain the feel of this gun now that it is clean and semi broken-in to you folks. Simply unbelievable.

I will give another report tomorrow afternoon. I did up a nice batch of Hensley and Gibbs 130's tonight. If they run--I have a feeling I will be a Les Baer advocate for life.

......to be continued.

[Loudenboomer]

Yes this is a timely thread. My buddy has an unfired Thunder Ranch morfing in his gun safe. I think we'll be striking a deal on it soon. It is the tightest yet slipperiest 1911 I've ever fondled.

[Love Life]

Les recommends CLP for lube. I use CLP on all of my guns because I buy it by the gallon, lol. Check your crimp. I use a .469 crimp on all of my 45 acp ammo and don't have issues with my ammo in any 1911.

As stated above, keep track of which magazines the FTF happen in. I use the Baer magazines, Wilson Combat, and a whole mess of Colt factory 7 round magazines. I have no issues with them. Something else to keep track of is round count when the FTF happen. You have to run it wet for awhile. I apply CLP throughout a long range session regardless of the gun I am using. Helps push all the gunk and **** out.

As for grips, I made some ivory grips for 2 of my Baers and had a man make me a set of blaze orange, checkered micarta grips for my UTC. I've gotten into the habit now of putting blaze orange on all of my heavy use items like guns, knives, etc. Makes them easy to find, lol.

Enjoy the gun. 550 rds with 2 FTF wouldn't bother me at all and dang sure wouldn't stop me from depending on the gun in hard place. Did you clean it all during that 550 rd count period? That's only a .03% failure rate and Id stake my life on 99.97%, lol.

Also, I had a typo with what I said above IRT the bushing. What I meant was don't worry about it loosening up. You will more than likely never be able to remove it without a bushing wrench unless you fit the bushing like I did.

[fivegunner]

I have a Les Baer Super -Tac , That I bought about 8 years ago. never had a FTF in it . I bought it as a carry gun , but lately it stays in the safe , I Like this hand gun . Its a piece of Art, shoots better than I ever will, And that bear coat finish is amazing after a few years of use, it Look`s brand New! :lovebooli

[35remington]

When assessing a ftf, make sure you look at just how it ftf and the location of the round when it did, as well as the number of rounds remaining. This tells you what caused it. "It didn't feed" does not give you or anyone trying to diagnose it information needed to fix the problem.

The type of magazine used also affects feeding. Some are better at feeding different OAL's. The 1911 tends to prefer longer OAL's and bullets with rounded ogives. If it does not like short stubby cartridges with sharper angles, that is not a gun defect. Rather, it is an defect in understanding the gun's ammunition feeding preferences by the guy attempting to feed unsuitable ammunition to the gun.

The shorter the ammo, the later the feedramp strike and the steeper the cartridge must climb to get in the chamber. This nudges the gun toward jamming. The idea is to stack the odds in your favor by feeding the gun ammo it feeds better, not what you feel like giving it. The gun always wins in a head butting contest over feeding.

[tazman]

When assessing a ftf, make sure you look at just how it ftf and the location of the round when it did, as well as the number of rounds remaining. This tells you what caused it. "It didn't feed" does not give you or anyone trying to diagnose it information needed to fix the problem.

The type of magazine used also affects feeding. Some are better at feeding different OAL's. The 1911 tends to prefer longer OAL's and bullets with rounded ogives. If it does not like short stubby cartridges with sharper angles, that is not a gun defect. Rather, it is an defect in understanding the gun's ammunition feeding preferences by the guy attempting to feed unsuitable ammunition to the gun.

The shorter the ammo, the later the feedramp strike and the steeper the cartridge must climb to get in the chamber. This nudges the gun toward jamming. The idea is to stack the odds in your favor by feeding the gun ammo it feeds better, not what you feel like giving it. The gun always wins in a head butting contest over feeding.

That is so true.
I recently got back into 1911 pistols after decades away. One of the first things I found was it likes longer ammo. I had a couple of FTF with shorter, flatter nosed ammo. When using longer and more rounded ammo, I have had zero failures of any kind except with one bad magazine.
The magazine was old, rusted, and had a bad spring. It is now in the scrap bucket.

[birch]

I put 150 hand g 130bb through last night. I had zero hickups and accuracy was superb.

I am all-in on les baer products. All of the big three semi-custom makers me great guns, but baer makes a masterpiece--in my opinion.

I am still on the prowl for some ivory, if anyone has a set of blanks in their workshop.

[Love Life]

Problem with the ivory is no shipping across state lines.

[dragon813gt]

Problem with the ivory is no shipping across state lines.

I'm wondering if this will be changed under the current administration. Effecting what currently exists is quite stupid. The bans in general have done nothing but fuel the black market due to increased profits.

[birch]

My family is planning a trip out west for this summer. I would be willing to make a great detour to bring home a pair.

[Blackwater]

I've never been blessed to own or even shoot one, but a friend has TWO, and he got both at estate sales. I believe he paid $400 for one and about $450 for the other! And of course he just HAD to call his ol' buddy BW so I could be green with envy! I need better friends!!!

[birch]

I have never had the opportunity before this either BW.

I seen one for sale at the Birch Run gun show in Michigan a few years ago--but with a price tag like that you just look and hope your eyes don't accidentally put a finish flaw on the gun. I truly feel like a fortunate and lucky soul. I know there are folks who have firearms that make mine nothing more than a sneaze on a windy day, but I never thought I would own one in a million.

On a side note:

I just broke the 650 mark. There is an ever so slight yaw to the slide if I really try to wiggle it when soaked with g96. I think it is officially broken in.

I may revive this thread periodically with observations. I have taken a very scientific approach to this one. ...can't say as I have ever kept track of rounds sent on any gun.

[birch]

OK,

I got home tonight and put 100 more rounds through the pistol. ......and I noticed that the finish around the mainspring housing is starting to wear thin.

I didn't notice this in artificial light, but it was very apparent in the direct 5:00 sunlight. I have a feeling that after my next 1000 rounds, I will be able to see very nearly bare metal on the mainspring. Granted--i have done a bunch of late night coddling and snuggling--dry firing and admiring, but I want to do a truly accurate review of this gun over a period of time.

I don't know why, but this blueing loss does not affect me the same as it might if this were a Colt Gold Cup from he seventies. I treated all of my high end "factory" guns like they would spring a scratch if I looked a them wrong.

I am using this gun like a tool. As such, the blueing loss is not that big of deal. Baer will always take his guns in for a refinish (relatively inexpensive) so I am not worried.

I just thought I would let people know about the shallow blueing so they might not be startled if he or she buys a Baer. I know the hard chrome last forever and he all does a cerokote like finish that is tough as nails.

However, the factory blueing will not take abuse like a fine sixties royal blue from colt. It is very thin. Just a heads up.

No idiot mark yet!!!!!!

[birch]

Report:

After fussing over 195 lswc, I have come to the conclusion that I need to stick with lrn for this gun.

I bought a chip McCormick mag and that helped, but I still get hung up every other mag. I loaded up 200 lrn and didn't have a failure of any.

The Baer is coming up on 900 rounds and is becoming my favorite gun in the safe.

If anyone has been thinking about pulling the trigger on a semi custom 1911, I would recommend it. I should have done this 9-1911s ago.

[dhenry132]

Baer's is as good as it gets

[Love Life]

Les Baer guns are known for their bluing, lol. After you shoot a couple thousand rounds, send it in for a hard chrome job.

What is concerning is the issue with the 195 LSWC bullet. Any correctly dimensioned 1911 pistol should eat the H&G 68 and real clones without issue.

For mags, I buy wilsons if they are cheap but Colt 7 rd factory magazines are still my favorite.

[35remington]

A 195 LSWC may not be HG 68 pattern. It could be shortnosed SWC as I have a few moulds of that weight that are just that.

[Any Cal.]

Used to shoot with a cop that couldn't shoot. His targets always looked pretty sad, and you wondered why he carried a gun. One night everybody was talking about what sounded like his "bear" gun. Well, it was a Baer gun alright, and his targets looked great. Not a big 1911 fan, but that was one of two events that has me wanting to give them a chance.

[birch]

Yup--not the 68 pattern. This one is the really short nosed mould that almost looks like a wadcutter. I talked to Baer, and they will rework the gun to function with wadcutter loads if I send it in, but I am just going to stick to the 68 HandG and LRN. I know it eats LRN 230 with the lightest of loads--almost like my Smith .38 wadcutter 52--that thing ate a primer and bullet with no powder.--it cycled the next round.

[Mackay Sagebrush]

I have a PII with the 1.5" @ 50 yard guarantee.

I had a very good smith do some things to make it "Just right" for me, and I really enjoy it.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/IV_Troop/Handguns/P1000744_zps6ilvodbf_1.jpg (http://s18.photobucket.com/user/IV_Troop/media/Handguns/P1000744_zps6ilvodbf_1.jpg.html)

It now has a fiber optic front sight. I ditched the giant boat paddle ambi safety in favor of a small tab safety reminiscent of old school Colts (I prefer for a carry gun), and an S&A magwell.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/IV_Troop/Handguns/Baer8jackssept2012.jpg (http://s18.photobucket.com/user/IV_Troop/media/Handguns/Baer8jackssept2012.jpg.html)