Les Baer 1911 Bullseye OR Rock River Arms 1911 Bullseye

I need some help in choosing between a Les Baer 1911 bullseye and  Rock River Arms 1911 bullseye.   Both are same price.  Both carry a slide mounted C More.  Both are near new condition and tight as the proverbial tick.  I can afford to choose one.  I need your help.  Rock River carries a Kart barrel and Baer his own.  Also, can you explain your answer instead of answering Baer or Rock River.

Are they both new? and if your buying them from dealers will either dealer or seller help you if there is a problem.  I know a lot of people have different opinions about Les Bear products, I have only shot one and it seemed nice.  My Salyer built Springfield 1911 has a Kart barrel and bushing and it shoots well.  This post and 5 bucks will usually get you a draft beer and less reputable bars.

Having bought a used LB - which turned out to have a bulged barrel, my advice would be to field strip both and look carefully at the barrel for any signs of damage.   Jon Eulette put in a Kart barrel for me, and he did not object to working on a LB.  Perhaps he can best contrast the two options.   I think I heard that the stock LB barrels were Karts made to Les' spec with his name on them.  Based on all the internet knowledge I have gained    I would think that the list price new on the RRA was higher and therefore represented a better "value".

If they are both at the same gun shop, arrange with them to "buy" both  Take them to the range, select the one you shoot best and return the other.

Having a hardball Les Baer 1911 in 38 super and a Rock River wadgun in 45acp, I'd go with the Rock River. Every single thing inside that gun is hand numbered, and it looks to my untrained eye that there was more hand tooling that went into that RRA. Its smooth as butter.

No doubt the one Baer barrel I installed on my Nephews 45 was a Kart.. I saw no difference myself other than the stamp.

Personally I'd get the RRA, but that's just me

Aprilian wrote:
If they are both at the same gun shop, arrange with them to "buy" both  Take them to the range, select the one you shoot best and return the other.

You know you can't return a gun to a gun shop once purchased, right?

The few RRA pistols I've seen were better built than a Baer. I'd choose the RRA.
Jon

daflorc wrote:

Aprilian wrote:
If they are both at the same gun shop, arrange with them to "buy" both  Take them to the range, select the one you shoot best and return the other.

You know you can't return a gun to a gun shop once purchased, right?

You can make an agreement that they will buy either one back for the same price    After all they are both used so therefore they already buy used guns - nothing to prevent that type of "gentleman's agreement", right?

I have met some gun owners who would never sell anything they have bought - perhaps they were told that once you buy a gun, it's yours for life (sarcastic humor, not a dig).

LOOK AT THE SUPPORT FROM THE COMPANY'S IN QUESTION. ROCK RIVER IS AT CAMP PERRY EVERY YEAR. SUPPORTING THE SPORT. WORKING ON ALL BRANDS OF 1911'S . FROM SMALL ADJUSTMENTS ON UP. TO ME IT'S A NO BRAINER. ROCK RIVER WOULD BE WHAT I BUY. JP

Both are good guns. I would get the Rock River. They have always given me excellent customer support. I own 2 and am very happy with them both.

I have heard 2 different people say that when the called Les Baer they were told the problem was their ammo, or too loose a grip or almost anything except the gun.

Rock River donates to the sport and is at Camp Perry every year. When I went through my "roll trigger" phase they re-did the trigger on one of my guns a couple of times before I finally told them to go back to crisp. No charge for labor, just parts if any were needed. I've seen Les walking around at Perry, but never working on guns.

daflorc wrote:Having a hardball Les Baer 1911 in 38 super and a Rock River wadgun in 45acp, I'd go with the Rock River. Every single thing inside that gun is hand numbered, and it looks to my untrained eye that there was more hand tooling that went into that RRA. Its smooth as butter.

I purchased a new ball gun directly from LB and it too has EVERY piece inside numbered. The warranty information contained in the paperwork stated that if you have someone other than LB staff work on your gun, do not return it to LB for warranty work. Thus I suspect that LB numbering EVERY part is a warranty control procedure on their part; i.e., if the part numbers do not all match, someone else raised the hood and turned some wrenches, not LB.
I've had the LB three years, put tons of rounds through it and it still holds better than the 10 ring at 50 yards and functions flawlessly and smooth as silk. If a Rock River is equal to LB as several posters claim then, it too is a great investment.

October of 2015 shot a 98 slow fire with my sixteen year old Rock River wad gun.  The two nines were out by less than 1/4". 

With my best quality hand loads it will still shoot 1.7" after many thousands of rounds.

Though I build my own 1911 and just picked-up three 80% frames I'll add me 2 cents. Hands down I'd get a Rock River. If it's used then I would be sure it hasn't been worked on by someone that don't know what they are doing. I've had a chance to look at both that were owned by friends and a few that had the LB would have rather purchased a RR.

I've got a RRA wad gun and had an LB USPSA open gun. The RRA had better fit and finish. The LB had a grip safety that wasn't contoured properly. I never shot the LB for groups to test ultimate accuracy, but it was pretty good. I'd still rather have the RRA, especially if the price is the same.

I owned a Les Baer NM Hardball gun.  It was a very good "out of the box" 1911 target gun.  

I don't know about the Rock River gun but them being at Camp Perry every year communicates commitment to Bullseye shooting,  the guns they make for it, and to their customers.

Anyway, three years ago at Perry I handled an Accuracy X.   In my hand it felt so much better than the Les Baer.  I ordered one then and there. Since then I've shot some good scores with the AXI, took a gold to finish my Distinguished (no points earned with the Baer), and make the President's Hundred.  Confidence is so important.

Does the Rock River gun inspire confidence in you?  Does it feel better in your hand?  If so buy it!

One final thought, call both companies.  See which one will take time to tell you how they build their bullseye guns and answer your questions.  I'll bet it will be Rock River.

Rock river have great reputation,1.5 guarantee at 50 yards with federal gold medal match ammo. other 1.5 is FCW custom.

RRA and FCW are in different leagues. RRA is far better pistol.
Jon

Jon Eulette wrote:RRA and FCW are in different leagues. RRA is far better pistol.
Jon

very interesting opinion. i will buy in a future one RRA wadcutter.

1998 or 1999 Rock River wad gun on Gunbroker.  $1,399 start.  NO RESERVE. Oldie, maybe a goodie.  Mine is.

A far as the part numbering goes it most likely is only there to make sure the parts when fitted to that gun go back to that gun when assembled.  Most places work on more than one gun at a time especially the bluing process when everything is in pieces.

I just received a new gun I purchased from David Sams a little over a year ago.  Not because I can do it justice but I wanted one from the Best!

I think that this says it all.

I just received a new gun I purchased from David Sams a little over a year ago.  Not because I can do it justice but I wanted one from the Best!

I think that this says it all.

Blsi2600 wrote:1998 or 1999 Rock River wad gun on Gunbroker.  $1,399 start.  NO RESERVE. Oldie, maybe a goodie.  Mine is.

I've got a good bid on it. You guys could be some pals by not bidding against me

Now you tell us!!

Lol, just kidding