Les Baer Wad Guns

First topic message reminder :

Tell me if I have made a mistake.

I have a Les Baer wad gun on order. Some folks in my pistol club tell me these are not accurate guns.

This thread is one example why, I am not posting, nor will I.. I did not make a comment regarding Baer. I mentioned that I was restricting my comments.. I will now state that KC and Jon mirror my position on the subject.
Two of the best bullseye smiths in the game, and their comments are challenged and criticized.. ???
I have plenty of stories, but it's a waste of time here..The best bullseye gunsmith on the planet, once stated to me.." The average shooter hasn't got a clue"..  He's right..

Well this went south fast  First I don't think anyone criticized anyone but if something I posted came across that way then my apologies as that was not my intention.. Lets just put this in perspective. Jerry, Jon and KC are top quality gunsmiths in this sport and I whole heartily agree their opinions carry a lot of weight. They don't like Les Baer guns based on their experience with ones they have seen. I am not a gunsmith, just a shooter and not a top level one at that ( but still trying hard to advance). I was a FFL dealer for 27 years (1989-2016) and sold many Les Baer pistols and have owned and still do own several, and have several friends who own and shoot them as well, all have been great shooters and I have not had any of the bad experience's talked about in this topic. So my apologies to any one I offended by stating my opinion's based on my experiences.

Well, I for one do not like not having an opinion. I have two RO's, two Kimbers, two Smiths and a Gold Cup. I guess I am going to have to buy a Baer so I can compare and decry or extol it's virtues. My wife thinks that is a pretty poor reason to buy another 1911. I don't need much of a reason.

OldMaster66 wrote:Well, I for one do not like not having an opinion. I have two RO's, two Kimbers, two Smiths and a Gold Cup. I guess I am going to have to buy a Baer so I can compare and decry or extol it's virtues. My wife thinks that is a pretty poor reason to buy another 1911. I don't need much of a reason.

My wife has given up on reasoning with me about 45s...but she has seen the correlation between the black stuff that I get for me and the sparkly stuff I get for her.

LenV wrote:Well, I for one do not like not having an opinion. I have two RO's, two Kimbers, two Smiths and a Gold Cup. I guess I am going to have to buy a Baer so I can compare and decry or extol it's virtues. My wife thinks that is a pretty poor reason to buy another 1911. I don't need much of a reason.

A man can never have too many 1911's, nor too many knives.

AllAces wrote:

LenV wrote:Well, I for one do not like not having an opinion. I have two RO's, two Kimbers, two Smiths and a Gold Cup. I guess I am going to have to buy a Baer so I can compare and decry or extol it's virtues. My wife thinks that is a pretty poor reason to buy another 1911. I don't need much of a reason.

A man can never have too many 1911's, nor too many knives.

1911's can be addicting, for the first time in my life I've actually thought about selling one of my rifles so I could buy another 1911, but I quickly decided against it, and bought the 1911 anyway.

Don't get me started on knives, I've only just barely dipped my toe in that water

- Dave

STEVE SAMELAK wrote:

OldMaster66 wrote:Well, I for one do not like not having an opinion. I have two RO's, two Kimbers, two Smiths and a Gold Cup. I guess I am going to have to buy a Baer so I can compare and decry or extol it's virtues. My wife thinks that is a pretty poor reason to buy another 1911. I don't need much of a reason.

My wife has given up on reasoning with me about 45s...but she has seen the correlation between the black stuff that I get for me and the sparkly stuff I get for her.

a wise man

you comments are never wasted here Jerry.. at least not with me.

STEVE SAMELAK wrote:

OldMaster66 wrote:Well, I for one do not like not having an opinion. I have two RO's, two Kimbers, two Smiths and a Gold Cup. I guess I am going to have to buy a Baer so I can compare and decry or extol it's virtues. My wife thinks that is a pretty poor reason to buy another 1911. I don't need much of a reason.

My wife has given up on reasoning with me about 45s...but she has seen the correlation between the black stuff that I get for me and the sparkly stuff I get for her.

++1
Save

AllAces wrote:

LenV wrote:... My wife thinks that is a pretty poor reason to buy another 1911. I don't need much of a reason.

A man can never have too many 1911's, nor too many knives.

For a split second, I thought you were going to say A man can never have too many 1911's, nor too many wives.

AllAces wrote:

LenV wrote:Well, I for one do not like not having an opinion. I have two RO's, two Kimbers, two Smiths and a Gold Cup. I guess I am going to have to buy a Baer so I can compare and decry or extol it's virtues. My wife thinks that is a pretty poor reason to buy another 1911. I don't need much of a reason.

A man can never have too many 1911's, nor too many knives.

I forgot my glasses, did he say WIVES???

Jim,

true story (I WAS THERE!),

A guy walks into a gunstore and says, "I would like to get a pistol for my wife."
The clerk calmly replied, "bring her in and lets take a look to see what kind of trade in value she might have."

No, kidding.....but they both knew one another and so the joke was on everyone standing around.

-Ron

I had one and sold it and regretted the decision. If you are ordering direct from Les Baer then make sure you have decided on what type of scope mount you want. 

If you are fine with a frame mount then go with the Champions Choice. 

If you have a mind to explore options also consider Rock River their guns look beautiful.

I'm glad you mentioned Rock River, Rich Tullo

Are Rock River 1911's any good ?

Let the bashing begin.

I have four wad guns. My Rock River Is the most accurate. It has never given me an alibi. If you can get a better wad gun, I'd like to know where.

Bill

I'm currently building a from scratch Rock River 45 wadgun. From what I was told it is early frame/slide. Dimensions are much different than Caspian/JEM/SA; had to fit parts different than typical.
When all is said and done will be outstanding pistol. I have never indpected a new pistol built by them.
Jon

messenger wrote:I have four wad guns. My Rock River Is the most accurate. It has never given me an alibi. If you can get a better wad gun, I'd like to know where.

Bill

John Eulette, KC Crawford, or David Sams and that is about it. 
Be prepared to spend $1000 or more than RRA  if you are starting from the ground up if you want all the features a Baer or RRA provides for the price. 

+300 for a Caspian frame, forged will be more. 
+/- 350 for a Caspian slide (the features add up)
+/- 100 for upper parts 
+/- 400 for lower parts (pins, hammers, ect you will be surprised how it adds up and you really want premium parts, C&S, EGW, ect....)
+/- for 250 for a Kart Barrel and Bushing 
+/_ 70 for magazines
+/- 50 grips 

Finishing +/-300

Labor +/- 1500

Total before sights and or scope $3300 to $3500

So yeah Baer or RRA is a good deal if you need a good gun with good parts and want to save some $. 

The one thing I found with the Baer is was starting to loosen up. It still held about 3 inches up from the 1 5/8 test target but it needed to be redone after 4 years and about 15,000 rounds. My Guess the above smiths will make a gun that will last 50,000 rounds not a problem before the need for an update so in the long run they are better and will back up their product better. 

The only alternative is to get a wad gun from a local shooter and shot it, see if it prints and works for you. It may look horrendous but that does not matter if its solid, I sometimes think masters take delight in beating up their guns . 

Look at the slide stop hole, the lock up, the bushing, the breach face, the barrel for pitting, and function test. Chances are for about $1000 you can get a wadgun that will take you to the master level. 

Rich Tullo

at the risk of Jinxing the deal I am working on......


If you could get an older LB with frame mount and dot, for about $300 more than a new RO, would you?


A few thoughts.
Yes, I need to learn things for myself.   I never have followed the crowd.
This is my first BE .45, so it can still be sent to a gunsmith for work later when I improve (same as an RO could).
Since the highly-skilled gunsmiths on this site, whom I greatly respect, mostly see guns with problems, is it possible the majority of the others are good/OK - or am I just trying to rationalize my decision?

Aprilian wrote:at the risk of Jinxing the deal I am working on......


If you could get an older LB with frame mount and dot, for about $300 more than a new RO, would you?


A few thoughts.
Yes, I need to learn things for myself.   I never have followed the crowd.
This is my first BE .45, so it can still be sent to a gunsmith for work later when I improve (same as an RO could).
Since the highly-skilled gunsmiths on this site, whom I greatly respect, mostly see guns with problems, is it possible the majority of the others are good/OK - or am I just trying to rationalize my decision?

Rebarrel right away

Aprilian wrote:at the risk of Jinxing the deal I am working on......


If you could get an older LB with frame mount and dot, for about $300 more than a new RO, would you?


A few thoughts.
Yes, I need to learn things for myself.   I never have followed the crowd.
This is my first BE .45, so it can still be sent to a gunsmith for work later when I improve (same as an RO could).
Since the highly-skilled gunsmiths on this site, whom I greatly respect, mostly see guns with problems, is it possible the majority of the others are good/OK - or am I just trying to rationalize my decision?

I would without hesitation.  I shoot one that I got a good deal on.  It shoots really well.  If/when I need a built gun, I'll gladly talk to one of the smiths mentioned in this thread.  I'll shoot the Baer while waiting for the new gun to be built.

My Les Baer wad gun came in. 

Very, very tight. It really likes 4.6gr Bullseye with a Zero brand 185 JHP.

I will shoot this combo in a indoor 50' match tonight.

That's pretty hot for short line. Try 3.3-3.7 at 50' and 25 yds. Mine eats it up. Nice and soft.

Lightfoot wrote:That's pretty hot for short line.  Try 3.3-3.7 at 50' and 25 yds.  Mine eats it up.  Nice and soft.  

It needs this "hot" load to break it in, anything lighter at this point is not reliable yet.

JHPs need the extra powder. Awful nice pistol to blow up because a bullet didn't make it down the barrel. Just saying that he should save the light loads for lead bullets.

LenV

4.5 bE and a zero 185 fmj-hp is a x ring load in many match grade guns