Best overall pistol for my scenario?

The snubby with 357 mag written on the muzzle looks like a SW 327 from the performance center. His grips are aftermarket. It's an 8 shot double action revolver with a scandium frame and titanium cylinder. The 45 is a SW 325 Airlite PD also with a scandium frame and titanium cylinder. I think the slightly longer snubby 357 is a SW 360 Airlite PD. Again scandium and ti cylinder. Don't know what the black 357 SW is.
 
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paltak said:
I was set on the Les Baer TRS. I just returned from a local gunshop to get a feel for it before actually purchasing it. They didn't have the TRS but they had 3 other similar models. I really liked them a lot, but then the gentleman helping me says "oh I didn't know we had an Ed Brown" and proceeded to show me. Holy Smokes that felt like a glove in my medium-sized hand! It felt so comfortable and perfect, and all of a sudden the Les Baer felt bulky to me, arghhhh!!!!

I believe it was a Kobra. And the finishing was top notch.
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Finally... Someone else who didn't care for the feel of the Baer guns. Not saying there is anything wrong with them, just different. The Wilson's, and Ed Browns are much more to my liking.

kamagong said:
Your experience is a perfect illustration of why it is important to do your research on a purchase like this. There are many manufacturers making 1911s these days, and each one makes their guns a little different. Not immediately apparent in pictures, but quite noticeable when you pick them up. What appeals to you might not to me and vice versa. You found the Baer bulky; I enjoy their solidity and tank-like feel. I really like how the slide and frame feel like a single piece of steel when the gun is in battery. Different strokes...

It's a great time to be a 1911 fan.
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I've only been around a couple Baers, but both were rediculously tight out of the box. One was so tight, it was almost impossible to rack the slide.
Maybe the ones I saw were not the norm. Other than that, I've never heard any complaints about them
 
harkamus said:
The snubby with 357 mag written on the muzzle looks like a SW 327 from the performance center. His grips are aftermarket. It's an 8 shot double action revolver with a scandium frame and titanium cylinder. The 45 is a SW 325 Airlite PD also with a scandium frame and titanium cylinder. I think the slightly longer snubby 357 is a SW 360 Airlite PD. Again scandium and ti cylinder. Don't know what the black 357 SW is.
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Its a steel 586 L Comp
 
paltak said:
Ed Brown, at least to my novice eyes, feels a little more refined in the finishing.
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Ed Browns are finished better than Baers, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. That's the reason they cost more. Finishing takes time and costs money.

338375 said:
I've only been around a couple Baers, but both were rediculously tight out of the box. One was so tight, it was almost impossible to rack the slide. Maybe the ones I saw were not the norm. Other than that, I've never heard any complaints about them
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That's normal, Baers are built tight. Some don't like that. I've never had a problem with it, but then again I have no difficulties racking the slide on my .40 BHP.
 
Kinda more leaning towards EB, maybe the Kobra Carry in steel. IL may allow concealed carry in the foreseeable future.
Are EB Kobra Carry in steel difficult to find? Any suggestions/leads on reputable dealers? Thanks!
 
I suggest getting a full sized (5") model for your first. They are more durable, reliable, and easier to shoot.
 
kamagong said:
I suggest getting a full sized (5") model for your first. They are more durable, reliable, and easier to shoot.
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Thanks, that was my initial choice and probably still will get a 5". Even if I had a carry permit down the line I really don't see myself or have the need to carry it a lot.
 
I would recommend the Sig 229 in .357. The Wilson Combat and Les Baer guns are very nice, but are training intensive. You will not be shooting and training often enough to become proficient with a 1911, and therefore it will not be a good self-defense choice.
 
Mooseyard said:
I would recommend the Sig 229 in .357. The Wilson Combat and Les Baer guns are very nice, but are training intensive. You will not be shooting and training often enough to become proficient with a 1911, and therefore it will not be a good self-defense choice.
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The problem with .357 Sig ammo is that it's difficult to find. You're probably better off with a .45, .40, or even a 9mm (as a first-time shooter). I'm not a fan of the 1911 design, so I prefer the HK45c.
 
I think he'll be fine training on the 1911 even if he only goes once a month, provided he does a lot of dry fire practice. Half the stuff you're supposed to practice anyway could be done safer with dry fire practice. Stuff like holster draws and magazine changes. Practice those with snap caps until you get proficient. If the range allows you to draw from holster, he can extend training to the range for those types of things. Trigger pull, firearm manipulation, etc can all be trained with snap caps.

The 1911 isn't that difficult to master...grip the damn thing hard enough so you disengage the grip safety, pop the safety lever and go. I don't know of anyone that shoots 1911 that doesn't ride the safety lever anyway. If you practice riding the safety lever, your thumb should automatically fall on it and disengage on the draw.

He'll be fine. As difficult as a gun may be to use, it ain't rocket science.
 
I realize many of you are avid shooters or competitors and that's great and I really value all the feedback. I'll never be either of those but instead I would like to learn the proper basic safety, maintenance, storage, etiquette, and along with some training I can effectively use the gun. I will do plenty of dry fire and go to the range about once a month. I would imagine many gun owners fall under this category, but I want to be a responsible owner above all else.

With that in mind, I know this may sound impractical to some, I want a gun that I will enjoy shooting and take pride in owning.
 
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People are mount trying to discourage you on a 1911 but shooting once a month is not often and in. Any people's opinion a 1911 while wonderful is sometimes not the best choice for a beginner

I have carried custom 1911 for almost 30 years and to carry a locked and loaded single action pistol does not suffer fools

Over the years of training hard and shooting I have committed the nuisances of the 1911 to muscle memory but know I do not get to shoot as often only maybe once a month so I carry slicked out revolvers that are a bit more dependable

If you are committed to a 1911 format than seek out training learn your malfunction drills and practice
 
Once a month is more than many gun owners shoot.

I used to go once a week and some people even consider that as not enough range time. I reload. I still don't have the disposable income to go so much. I go twice a month now, but get a healthy dose of dry fire practice off the range. Muscle memory is a big part of it. I still get several thousand rounds down range a year (which for many folks is still not considered a lot, but it's enough for me to keep skills in tune).

Shooting is one of those things that is a perishable skill, so OP should go at least enough to keep his skills honed should he ever need to use them in a situation.

About the gun pride in ownership, I'd hazard a guess OP is not gonna be mighty proud owning a plastic fantastic. If the 1911 is what he wants, people should respect that. It's like when a person says he wants a knife for 500 bucks that's not a Sebenza and some person ends up posting, "Get a Sebenza." If I had a nickel for every post I've read like that I'd be rich.
 
Allen R. said:
when shooting when you do purchase a firearm, shoot at least a couple if not a full clip of ammo , or if you get a wheel gun shoot maybe 6-12 shoots without ear protection, because if you haft to use the gun in a SD situation I doubt youll be able to have time to put ear protection on, and you need to know how loud the weapon actually is, so you can be used to that and still remained focused
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This is EXCELLENT advice....

....if you want to do permanent damage to your hearing.

You do not, and CANNOT, prepare for every single thing that could ever happen to you; so a good rule of thumb is to prepare by doing those things that don't actually damage your body. Focus is a matter of mental and physical discipline; and it will apply no matter what the distraction. You don't HAVE to know how loud a firearm is to the unprotected ear, any more than you'll HAVE to know how to function with a stab or gunshot wound....which is also a possibility, no?
 
I've reached a decision :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: It will be a custom order with all the options that I want and will take about 9 months. I'm confident I will be very happy with the outcome and I promise to bump this thread with the unboxing.

This thread has been a great journey and learning experience for me. I'm sincerely grateful for sharing your time and knowledge and ultimately leading me to what I feel is the right decision for me. I hope others have also learned a thing or two from this post as well. You guys are a great bunch! Thank you! thank you! thank you!
 
paltak said:
I've reached a decision :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: It will be a custom order with all the options that I want and will take about 9 months. I'm confident I will be very happy with the outcome and I promise to bump this thread with the unboxing.

This thread has been a great journey and learning experience for me. I'm sincerely grateful for sharing your time and knowledge and ultimately leading me to what I feel is the right decision for me. I hope others have also learned a thing or two from this post as well. You guys are a great bunch! Thank you! thank you! thank you!
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Spill the beans! EB Kobra Carry? What are you getting in the mean time?
 
harkamus said:
Spill the beans! EB Kobra Carry? What are you getting in the mean time?
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I've decided I'll tag along with friends to the range for now, buy ammo, get training, and spend time on other hobbies. I'm willing to wait for quality and adding personal touch to it. I spoke at length with Jerry Hammond and he will be sending me a quote tomorrow to start the process.

My fear in sharing my choice is that it will inevitably draw some positive as well as negative feedback, LOL... :(
 
Jerry Hammond...I guess you decided to go with an Ed Brown huh?

Don't worry about negative feedback. It's your gun, your opinion and satisfaction is the only one that matters.
 
paltak said:
My fear in sharing my choice is that it will inevitably draw some positive as well as negative feedback, LOL... :(
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You already outted yourself by giving Jerry's name. Nice choice though.

What you should fear more than some people's personal tastes and thus opinions on guns/gun makers, is the caliber war that will come up at one point or another. :p There is an endless debate on the merits of the 9 versus the 45 or the merits of the 45 versus the 9. All kidding aside though, mighty fine choice.

You will need a holster. A great holster will let you wear even a full size steel 1911 relatively comfortably. We say relatively, because carrying any firearm is not comfortable, but you make do. Anyone that tells you otherwise is lying or carrying a pocket gun. Milt Sparks Versa Max II is great for inside waist band. I have no outside waist band recommendations. That's something else you need to decide at some point. IWB or OWB. I assumed you'd be carrying at some point since you said "self defense" purpose, unless you meant strictly home defense or car defense.

Also, don't be afraid to change grips. Grips are like shoes. Some work okay, some don't work at all, some work better than others. Just because you're getting a custom gun doesn't mean the grips will be awesome the first time around. Climate will dictate what grips work better than others in my experience. If you're in the dirty armpit capital of the USA where things get sweaty and humid, I'd suggest something textured aggressively like VZ g10 grips. If you want something more traditional in wood, there are tons of choices too. There are so many grip options out there for 1911s. Don't be afraid to experiment.
 
Just remember, anyone can buy a fancy gun. Be the guy who knows how to use that fancy gun.

EdBrown15kpics052.jpg

Image by Emerson
 
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