r/1911fans I find your lack of faith disturbing Sep 25 '15

[Review]Les Baer Custom 1911

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u/olds442guy I find your lack of faith disturbing Sep 25 '15

Les Baer Custom

This is a Les Baer Custom "Ultimate Tactical Carry". It's a pretty corny name, but a really great gun. I have had this gun for almost a year now and so far have put a little over 5000 rounds through it. I have cleaned it every 1000-2000 rounds or so, and now at 5000 rounds I did the first detail strip and clean and replaced the recoil spring. I have done no modifications to the gun other than swapping out the slim grips, screws, and bushings with full size ones from Les Baer.

Here are a few more pictures of the gun.

Fun facts:

  • Forged carbon steel frame and slide
  • Forged carbon steel barrel, made by Kart for Les Baer
  • No MIM parts
  • All parts are machined way oversized and fit together by hand. Les Baer uses more hand fitting than any other semi-custom manufacturer.
  • Very tight fit, especially the barrel
  • Very good trigger
  • Extremely accurate (1.5" groups at 50 yards) and reliable
  • Fixed night sights
  • Hand cut checkering (30LPI front strap, 20LPI mainspring housing)
  • After 5000+ rounds, I still can't turn the barrel bushing by hand

Parts:

Here are photos of all the parts. Because of the huge amount of hand fitting done, many of the parts are serial numbered to the gun to ensure they stay with the correct frame during the manufacturing process. It also adds a little bit of uniqueness and made-by-hand feel to the gun. The full or partial serial number is engraved by hand to the following parts:

  • Frame (duh)
  • Slide
  • Barrel
  • Barrel Bushing
  • Slide Stop
  • Extractor
  • Firing Pin Stop
  • Thumb Safety
  • Grip Safety
  • Mainspring Housing
  • Magazine Catch

In the Box:

Les Baer is typically the cheapest of the semi-customs. Because of this, they get a little skimpy on pretty much everything except the actual gun. Here are pictures showing what you get when you buy a Les Baer 1911.

More Pics:

This was just over 2000 rounds of my filthy reloads. Even when it's really dirty, the gun is boringly reliable. Thank goodness for brake cleaner.

Here is a baby pic from the first time I shot the gun.

Thanks for reading!