High $ 1911's

[drj3828]

I just got thru lookin at one of my newest gun magazines, and there was two articles about custom 1911's. What really get's me is that the price is always over 2grand! My question is who buy's these things I for one could not afford a 2K pistol. My $800 dollar kimber shoots better than me. So what could one get out of owning one of these.
They claim tight fitting slide to frame and all the other bells and whistles, but back in the days everybody want a sloppy fit 1911 for reliablilty purposes, my kimber jams if not cleaned on a regular basis, but my RIA works no matter what. And as far as accuracy I can hit a man size target at fifty yards with both. So what is the big deal with these high dollar pistols is it just a status thing or what?
just my 2 cents worth so flame away!

drj

 

[Okierifleman]

This subject has been gone over many times in this section. Its really pretty simple. If you can afford a Wilson, buy one, but you dont NEED one. 90% of all shooters would not be able to tell the difference between a Nighthawk and a Kimber. Its the same thing with rifles. If you can buy an out of the box Remington 700 and shoot 1" groups at 100 yards or buy a $4000 Dakota that will shoot 1/2" groups at 100 yards, what have you accomplished? Nothing unless you are punching paper for money. That deer at 200 yards is going to be just as dead with either one of them.

 

[Flight954]

I owned a slightly used Les Baer and it was a noticeably different shooter, more accurate and less problematic than the Kimbers I had. The only 1911 that has come close to the Baer at a decent price is my Colt Gold Cup Trophy

 

[Mate]

For some people, the value just isnt there.

For a civilian that shoots once or twice a year, a high dollar gun might not seem worth it.

For a competition shooter who needs to eek out the most accuracy he can, then the tightly fitted gun will be worth it.

For the HSLD dudes, a more reliable, but still accurate enough gun will be worth the money.

And then there's the guys that just want nice things. Or the guys that want what noone else has.

The people that need it, will have it, regardless of cost.

 

[TexasRedneck]

I admit ah don't need it....but then again I don't need the other 19 .45's ah have, either....but I love 'em!! Then again, I figger Barack ain't got 'em neither....life is good!

 

[TSU45]

I just got thru lookin at one of my newest gun magazines, and there was two articles about custom 1911's. What really get's me is that the price is always over 2grand! My question is who buy's these things I for one could not afford a 2K pistol. My $800 dollar kimber shoots better than me. So what could one get out of owning one of these.
They claim tight fitting slide to frame and all the other bells and whistles, but back in the days everybody want a sloppy fit 1911 for reliablilty purposes, my kimber jams if not cleaned on a regular basis, but my RIA works no matter what. And as far as accuracy I can hit a man size target at fifty yards with both. So what is the big deal with these high dollar pistols is it just a status thing or what?
just my 2 cents worth so flame away!

drj

My 1911 is in the Springfield Loaded demographic. I am not capable of out-shooting that gun, let alone an all out custom. If I had the means would I buy a Wilson/Baer/NH/whatever? Hell yeah!

What I see in those guns in craftsmanship. Would you rather have a Holland Holland single shot or a Ruger No.1? Both will kill game the same.

 

[TexasRedneck]

20 1911's.....
man, where do you work...?

Let's just say that ah'm kinda known fer bein' the type to look at 50 things before buying one......I'm always on the lookout for a decent deal, keep my "toy money" on a very tight leash! You'd be amazed at how little I've got in that Wilson - it was a "horse trade".

 

[htxred]

pride of ownership.

everyone has their own money pit. for some its cars, others its clothes or shoes.. hookers and drugs, and for the rest its guns.

 

[DCortez]

pride of ownership.

everyone has their own money pit. for some its cars, others its clothes or shoes.. hookers and drugs, and for the rest its guns.

Win the lottery and you won't have to choose!

 

[TexasRedneck]

Win the lottery and you won't have to choose!

What's to choose? My wife shoots - "hookers" is NOT an option!

 

[Okierifleman]

pride of ownership.

everyone has their own money pit. for some its cars, others its clothes or shoes.. hookers and drugs, and for the rest its guns.

Which one is it for you??????

 

[Okierifleman]

What's to choose? My wife shoots - "hookers" is NOT an option!

Hey G, maybe you could start on shoes next....

 

[TexasRedneck]

Which one is it for you??????

We know YOUR achilles heal....trash cans that'll fit over yer head!

 

[TexasRedneck]

Hey G, maybe you could start on shoes next....

Tell us the truth....yer a yankee, ain't ya????

 

[Bullseye Shooter]

And as far as accuracy I can hit a man size target at fifty yards with both. So what is the big deal with these high dollar pistols is it just a status thing or what?

NRA Conventional Pistol (Bullseye) matches require you to shoot off-hand at 50 yards in the slow fire stage. This requires a .45 caliber pistol that will shoot under 2 inches at that range. Granted, when I started shooting Bullseye in the 1970s, you could get a pistol worked on pretty cheap, but times have changed. The pistol that I used to shoot the target I have posted on my user ID was shot with a Clark Custom Guns Series 70 Colt that I had converted from .38 Super to .38 Special. When I had the work done, it cost me $400 which included two Colt magazines. Today, that same pistol would run close to $3,000. Would I have to think about having one built today, you bet. But shooting a clean at 25 yards (more than just once) in timed fire is worth it. :-)

 

[TexasRedneck]

One thing ya gotta keep in mind is inflation, Bullseye. Back in the 70's, what did a new Caddy run - mebbe 12k? Today it's 60k (easily). Ain't no goin' back - do what ya wanna do, and worry 'bout the costs way down the line. Not to say spend foolishly - if the money ain't in my mad money account it don't git spent, but otherwise.....MINE!<G>

 

[Bullseye Shooter]

I wish it were as simple as inflation, but that's not the case in some instances. When I had that .38 Series 70 built in 1983, I got the pistol for $200 and the work cost $400 including the mags which ran about $35 each at the time. A Clark conversion now runs $1695 if you provide the pistol and $2695 if you have them provide the pistol. A .45 Heavy Slide, in contrast runs $865 with your gun and $1695 with theirs. The reason for the $1000 difference is simple, Clark Jr. does not like to build the .38 Wad gun, so he priced them so people would not be inclined to want one. His Dad built mine back when, but since his passing, the firm has changed.

The same thing happened with Star Machine Works reloaders. Back in the 1980s, early 90s, Star was not able to keep up with the demand on their machines, so to cut orders they almost doubled the price of the machine. Did orders slow down; no, in fact they got worse, since people figured if it cost that much, it must be really really good.

Clark doesn't sell as many .38 conversions as he does .45s, but I'm sure there are guys out there still buying the pistol even at the higher price. Is the gun worth it? Like I said before, if you want the best, go for it. Would I have one built again, you bet.

This thread started talking about why someone would buy an expensive 1911. My example was to point out the need for under 2 inch groups at 50 yards for Bullseye matches. There are other disciplines that need the same kind of accuracy and reliability that comes with a custom or semi-custom pistol. I hope I was able to convey that aspect of the shooting sports.

 

[Texas42]

sorry to mess with the thread, but what kind of sites do you use? I have a hard time at 25 yards. My eyes aren't perfect, but I'm still 24 years old. I can do pretty well at aiming in the middle of the blur. . . . but no way in hades that I'm making even close to that kind of groups.

 

[drj3828]

I can understand if some uses a high dollar pistol for competion shooting, I have seen on more than one instance where some shooter produced the custom 1911 and could not shoot a 4" group with a ransom rest! But then there where others shooting 2" with a mid priced pistol.
The thing with expensive tools or toys is some times just a status thing I guess, kind of like folks hanging all the gagets on the AR. Kind of like we use to say in the Hot Rodding business " If it don't run chrome it".
I am a mechanic by trade I own and USE some very expensive tools, but I use them every day also. I have friends who ask why do I buy Snap-On when I could go down to Sears and get Craftsman! Yes they have the same warranty but they just don't last like the others. So I guess if you are going to use a 1911 every day it is worth the high cost.
But in the long run I still think it is more of a status thing for the average shooter.

 

[htxred]

Which one is it for you??????

i am not at liberty to say being this is a public forum....