A Les Baer is like a Rolex - you pay for the name and for the material quality, craftmanship and hand fitting of the whole thing. I have both and I will own them for my lifetime!!!!
I met Les Baer in 2016. He's a tee shirt and jeans regular guy. Super nice and cool. Doesn't brag or say anything negative about other companies or push you to buy his firearms. He does truly believe he has the best 1911 for the money you can buy.
Your friend from Murfreesboro had me perform the trigger job on that gun. I remember I set it at exactly 3lbs. It came from Less at 4 1/2 lbs and had some creep to it. He didn't want it too light so 3 lbs is where I left it. I did change the sear to a C&S and recut the primary and secondary angles to get it to the desired poundage. The fellow that owns it is a great guy and a good friend of mine as well.
I have 2 LES Baers and a Wilson combat love all of them but believe the Baer is a better deal. Had an issue once and called next thing I knew LES was on the phone talking to me about it. Doesn't get better than that.
Your lucky then. My ex and I bought 2 Baer's 38 super on STI high cap frames and her's would double. He told his people to have me ship hers back at my cost and they would take care of it. This was after spending $5400.... This was in 92 and never forgot it.
My wife got me a Custom Carry in .45 for my 30th birthday. Best gift ever. In terms of cost, I don't know many people that would bat an eye when buying jewelry at that price for a special occasion. It's the same thing for dudes.
I own a Les Baer Premier II and I love it. In the hand it's the best feeling 1911 I've ever shot, and I've shot most of them. Nothing wrong with Springfield, Kimber, Colt, Sig, Dan Wesson & other 1911's., but I can definitely feel the difference from a hand fitted 1911 and a production one.
@@unknowntosociety01 ive had an iver Johnson eagle 45 for many years. Its a good gun. On par with rock island. Mine looks a little more refined than most rock islands I've handled. The slide is tightly fitted to the frame and mines ran flawlessly with chip Mccormick power mags for thousands of rounds.
My friends were shooting my Les Baer Premier II last week and they couldn't believe how much better they could shoot with it than a sig sauer. There's something about the grab of the gun that translates into a more accurate shot, I can't explain it but it just sets up more stable in your hands.
My Les Baer Monolith, in .45, came with a 50 yd proof of accuracy target. Eight rounds grouped at 15/16", and two rounds opened it up to 1 1/8". Since it would take a second magazine to run ten rounds, I think the "fliers" (LOL fliers) may have been the first round of each magazine. Either way, I'm impressed! It's one of the few jewels in my collection. That LB 1911 Hickock was using had to of had a few thousand rounds shot from it to cycle so easily. After 1600 rounds through mine it still takes a bit of effort to pull the slide back at first.
Alchemy is a sub shop of Les Baer with former employees that call the “BAER repair shop” I’ve been there and talked to the guys! I worked at Baer for 10 years
I have a Springfield M 1911 which I’ve owned for 15 years. I don’t remember what I paid for it but it was well under $1000. I have never had a failure with it.
I finally have a Colt 1911 (Classic 1960’s Government style & roll marked) back in my collection after nearly 15yrs. It’s an excellent gun. Functions 100% so far. I’d like to own a really high dollar 1911 some day.
I had a les Baer identical to that one from the mid 90s. It was unbelievably good. It's my greatest firearm regret was getting rid of it. What an incredible handgun.
Huh, I finally found the comments page... I enjoy your videos, been watching for years, but this one was great so I searched for the comments section. I think Rock River should be included as a maker of premier 1911's. I own a couple Les Baer 1911 Bullseye guns. Very, very nice guns. I believe I have 8 1911s all in .45 ACP but I am thinking I should add a 9mm. Oh, I have a Clark Longslide in .38 Special too. Way back when I lived in Illinois I visited the Les Baer factory to pick up a purchase. Les showed me around personally... very nice guy. I also met his shooting team at Camp Perry.
Ok, I'm going to speak heresy here. I shot a Les Baer a few weeks ago. It was everything i expected. absolutely fantastic. A few weeks after I shot a Ruger SR1911, completely stock out of the box.I have to say the Baer was MUCH better, but the Ruger really impressed me. Great shooter, nice trigger, good sights. All around a great gun. Plus I can have three Rugers for one Baer, and still have enough $ to tune it.
I've never shot a Les Baer, but have handled them in gun shops (along with Wilson, Nighthawk, Ed Brown, Dan Wesson). All of those guns were noticeably better than the "usual suspects" in terms of fit and finish. One day I hope to own one, but for now I'm happy with my Sig. I've also been impressed with the Ruger and Springfield 1911's, especially considering the price point. Remington and Kimber, not so much.
In all honesty, except nicer rear sight , this gun does not look any better than my RIA 1911 in 9mm- a $450 gun. if i was going to pay double than mine, I would go with a Kimber , at least they have some nice looks Under no circumstances i could justify spending a$2600 on handgun.
I own the same gun in 45 ACP. I love it. The trigger is fantastic. The gun very very accurate. The feeling in hand is superb. It feels more filling than a Wilson or an sti. I definitely prefer shooting it over my Wilson or Sti. It oozes quality and is stunning beautiful.
In South Africa they asked me why I shot the intruder 15 times. And I told them because that's all my firearm could hold. More is more. Great video thanks.
@@abc-wv4init seems to me people have more issues with there 38 super 1911's than any other caliber I've seen. Just in these comments section along I've already seen 2 people with serious negatives. This is far from the 1st time I've heard this through word of mouth amoung others. Is it a legit issue? Idk. That said it sure seems as if it might be when considering all the things I've heard. In the name of transparency, I cannot speak on it with experience as I've never owned a .38 super although I have shoot one once. Seemed like a stronger 38 special to me.
I love my Les Baer Custom Carry 45!! I trust it with my life! I know it doesnt hold a lot of rounds. But the trigger is amazing and I know where my rounds are going!
Man...I got the same gun but in .45acp and I just love it !!! It is really worth the money! It´s like to own a Rolex - you have always in mind that this piece is completely hand fitted and no mass product.
Les Baer's are the best...and unlike the reps from the other big three...Les is a good guy and will take the time to talk with you...the best...hands down...
I love Les Baer custom, I have a Les Baer AR-15 patrol rifle and it is top notch. I wish that i had a Les Baer 1911 but I don't have that kind of money anymore. My favorite review hickok45 thanks
For those talking about it being in 9mm you should go read about the M1900 which was the grandfather of the 1911 platform. It was chambered in .38 ACP (not .380). So, it's perfectly fine to shoot thirty caliber out of a 1911 because that's how Mr. Browning designed the first platform :)
@@stijnvandamme76 no it sold well enough in the civilian market that it was designed for. The Army then opened a trial for a new service pistol but they had to be at least .4 caliber so Browning simply made a new cartridge and tooled up the 1900 to take it and thus we got the 1911. The thirty cals do just fine man, look up FBI or police records of yearly fatal shootings some time, anything that can damage organs and cause a loss of blood pressure is perfectly fine. The thirty cals (.38, .380, 9mm etc), are all very controllable, typically have good magazine size, are more affordable, and modern bullet designs means that most calibers are actually about equally effective.
I love me a 1911!!! Even better a Les Baer!!! Wahoo! I've got a Premier II in 45 (of course!) and it's my favorite gun. I call it Smokey the Baer. :) Thank you Hickok!
I bought one, the Premier 2 in 2007. In 10 years of of use I have put 8000+ rounds through it including a couple of three day classes. The slide feels like it rides on ball bearings and I still need a bushing wrench to brake it down. Like all pistols it shoots way better then I can. By the way, mine cost $ 1500 and is in 45acp. I would recommend a Baer to anyone who wants to pass down a pistol to your kin and it has been one of my concealed carry weapons since I put the first thousand rounds through it. Yea, they do need to be broken in as tight as they are put together. God Bless!
Les Bear 1911 maybe expensive but you got to respect the craftsmanship that Les Bear puts into his handguns. Keep in mine the material they use is high quality.
I loved my stinger in 45, any of the four would work just fine. All my handguns share the 1911 platform, it was my first carry weapon in Korea. It's just my preference.
LBC is my primary gun for USPSA single stack division and DW is my secondary back up, My concept III is just a right tool for the job I need it for, talking about level III competition match which need consistency and on demand reliability, yes I agree that LBC is pricy but I started with SR1911 to ParaOrdinance to DW, and finally to LBC and its like night and day. As my skill level improve I need a tool that can also deliver what I need.
Got a 38 super stinger at a good price, boy they are tight, took around 700 rounds to loosen up, after that no snags, and better accuracy than I, a lot of fun and great carry gun.Like you need some color on the front sight.
Have an EB, Kobra Carry, 45ACP since 2012. It's the cat's meow in every respect, just such a sweet shooter that's a piece of extreme craftsmanship. It's my fav of all hand guns!
Excellent to see a 9mm 1911, kudos to your friend that lent it to you! Double points if you can get a hold of Wilson Combat's recent EDC X9 double stack :) I have a Premier II in .45 and yes, its everything I expected it to be. Lovely trigger, far more accurate that I am. I got good service from Baer when I sent the pistol in for a new front fiber optic sight too, about 2 weeks turn around and cost was reasonable. Folks need to be made aware that Baer's come bank vault tight when new, they very much do need to have about 500 rounds run through them before the slide and action achieves that buttery smooth feeling Hickok mentions repeatedly. FTE/FTB's are to be expected in the break in period. Don't panic when that happens, just keep shooting the bluing off it. I also agree with Hickok as to the top four large custom shops, Baer, Brown, Nighthawk and Wilson Combat. There's also a number of other smaller outfits out there worthy of folks wanting a custom 1911 like Evolution Armory and Cabot.
Springfield EMP contour is just as comfortable and reliable, plus a little shrink for for the 9mm. I love it. The size is a better fit/ weight / thickness for me to carry.
I have owned a Les Baer Premier II for over 15 years. Mine is in 45 acp & is the 1.5 inch gun. (guaranteed 1.5 group At 50 yards) It has been flawless & a joy to shoot. I have 15 other 1911's & IMO the Baer is a cut above. Of course it cost accordingly. As Mr. Hickok45 stated it is in the top 3 or 4 !911;s made. It took about 1.500 rounds to "break in" as gun was very tight. That said I had no issues with the gun through that period it was just tight. ie slide was hard to work. After 500 rds it started to smooth out. Some view this as a negative but it wasn't really an issue for me. Believe me just take it to the range with a big box of ammo & I promise you will get plenty of volunteers to help break it in:-) Mr. Hickok excellent video as always! Frank0301
I'm blessed to own a premier II as well as a monolith. big grin every time I shoot them. if you desire a 1911, I recommend you save up for one of these. well worth the money. note their break in period is quite unique but part of the charm!
I'm sure someone has told you by now; Nighthawk Custom does offer customized Remington 870's. As always, thanks for the 1911 and revolver videos; for us older guys. I own polymer guns; but I LOVE guns made from steel.
I owned that exact gun. Mine also had issues with holding the slide open after the last round with magazines other than the ones that came with the gun. I called the Les Baer company and explained the issue. I was told that magazines have to be tuned for the gun. I sent the gun back because it was also having some issues with cycling (very tight gun even after 1200 rounds) and they tuned a few more magazines for me while they had it. I also have a .45 Les Baer which does not have any issues and never had a hiccup. 9mm seems to be a bit too weak for tight 1911s.
They are still great guns though. Due to the significant weight, they are very easy to shoot accurately in 9mm. After the manufacturer tuned a a few more magazines and performed some additional slide to frame and slide to barrel fitting, it ran fine. They also paid return shipping.
I think the issue is that LB does not know how to build a 9mm. I've got the P2 9mm and have also owned a Springfield r.o. and STI Trojan in 9mm 1911, the other two guns were as reliable as any 45 I have owned. My LB has a couple issues that seemed to also be apparent on this video, the rear sight has to be cranked way up to achieve correct elevation and the magazine follower can wedge on the slide stop (at about 12:38 you can see the slide release pulled down and the slide go forward as the mag was pulled out of the gun). I think the wedging issue is as simple and as the 9mm guns being built with 45 slide releases, not that hard to fix but it is frustrating to be fighting magazines that won't drop on a very expensive competition gun. I'm not anti LB, I had great luck with a P2 45, it just seems like their 9 has not been well developed.
I finally bought my first Baer and now I'm mad at myself for waiting so long. I've now ordered the same Premier II in 9mm to teach my grandkids about the 1911 platform.
I have a Wilson EDC X9 and I'm going to choose a 1911 from Wilson or Baer . I like the Wilson Classic but I'll do a good review of both. I think both are just friggin cool 😎 .
I own a Les Baer Premier II in 45acp and love it. Was it expensive yep, was it worth the money? It sure was if you are looking for a Great Custom 1911 look no further then a Les Baer.
I have the premier 2 with tactical meld and 1.5 guarantee, it's a great gun and no problems ever. I also have Wilson Combat CQB. Both are beautiful pistols, in 45 app. I like the finish on the Wilson a little better. My LB has already got the purple coloring on the blued flats, like all older Baker's get.
you are correct about the grip safety of course. I like the Doug Koenig low mass hammer, which is milled, but use STI nylon glass filled triggers, which is ironic, because plastic triggers coming stock on the Government Model is why I started doing custom builds to begin with lol.
0:45 Best “Custom” Guns According to Hickock45 1.Nighthawk 1. Ed Brown 2.Wilson Combat 3.Les Baer 4. Dan Wesson - Honorable mentions, production gun but up there with these top performer customs- 5.Springfield Armory 1911 TRP
As always - Fantastic review and amazing shooting. Thank you. I have this gun in 45. Love it. If you want to see an easy way to break this tight gun down without harming it I have a review about that posted here on TH-cam. I bought mine, in large part, because of this Hickok45 review.
Les Baer makes an outstanding gun, as do Nighthawk Custom, Ed Brown, and Wilson Combat. Any of these guns will easily exceed any expectations you might have for a quality gun. Les Baer makes one of the less expensive of the four, I just bought a Nighthawk for $3,700 and it was not one of their more expensive models. They're all amazing guns, and Les Baer is "a bargain", although a little "plainer" than the others. I buy less guns than others, I just save a little longer to buy one of these four, and when a good bargain comes across for a used gun I try to buy it. I can almost guarantee you'll own the gun for life, it's not one you'll sell. And I've never had any problems w/ any of them. Three .45ACP and one 9mm, did I say amazing guns???
Good point. I like your approach, buying fewer guns and saving up for better quality firearms. Not everybody can afford THESE types of expensive firearms even if they save up for a long time, but the concept makes a lot of sense. It was the point I was trying to make in the Hi-Point video we did. I was not trying to insult people, but I think I have made the point in that video or elsewhere that I have to wonder about the guy who has four or five Hi-Points and then talks about other people being "gun snobs," that some people can only afford a Hi-Point. We'll, I'd much rather have one used S&W / Glock / Sig / M&P / HK / Walther / Ruger / etc. than four Hi-Points. Not to pick on Hi-Point again. They do work fairly well most of the time.
About half my guns were bought used, and sometimes it makes a lot of sense. I bought a used S&W 500 Magnum w/ 4 ½ barrel. I can guarantee the previous owner didn't put 500 rounds thru it, probably closer to a single box (or less),and it was almost half price. I don't see a lot of people abusing their guns and as long as it doesn't have major scratches you're OK. I also bought a used .44 Magnum Desert Eagle for $700 ($1,500 MSRP). It was a little scratched up but it was all I could afford. And it's still great fun to shoot...
@@philapop5269 I shot my friends 50 AE desert eagle and it was not fun to shoot. I suppose the 44 magnum might be a little different but there was nothing pleasant about that 50 AE desert eagle.
It's a buyers market right now for the High End 1911s. You can find new Les Baer's on Gun Broker for less than 2k. Les Baer's are real cool 1911's. If you find a used one you can usually get a real good deal and they are worth it. No MIM in a Baer either.
A Les Baer is like a Rolex - you pay for the name and for the material quality, craftmanship and hand fitting of the whole thing. I have both and I will own them for my lifetime!!!!
I met Les Baer in 2016. He's a tee shirt and jeans regular guy. Super nice and cool. Doesn't brag or say anything negative about other companies or push you to buy his firearms. He does truly believe he has the best 1911 for the money you can buy.
mike livingston has a sweet car collection, too!
Yep. Seen interviews with him. Seems like an awesome guy. Cool guns Cool cars
mike livingston Sounds like a true Iowan to me!
Iowegian
His shop was originally in IL.
Your friend from Murfreesboro had me perform the trigger job on that gun. I remember I set it at exactly 3lbs. It came from Less at 4 1/2 lbs and had some creep to it. He didn't want it too light so 3 lbs is where I left it. I did change the sear to a C&S and recut the primary and secondary angles to get it to the desired poundage. The fellow that owns it is a great guy and a good friend of mine as well.
Nice
"It's 1911 day at the compound"... God, do I love to hear those words
I have 2 LES Baers and a Wilson combat love all of them but believe the Baer is a better deal. Had an issue once and called next thing I knew LES was on the phone talking to me about it. Doesn't get better than that.
Your lucky then. My ex and I bought 2 Baer's 38 super on STI high cap frames and her's would double. He told his people to have me ship hers back at my cost and they would take care of it. This was after spending $5400.... This was in 92 and never forgot it.
@@oldgoat50 mmm mmm
Best bang for buck u say….
My wife got me a Custom Carry in .45 for my 30th birthday. Best gift ever.
In terms of cost, I don't know many people that would bat an eye when buying jewelry at that price for a special occasion. It's the same thing for dudes.
@2dclxvi Maybe so, but I like them both. (I'm a female.)
thats crazy my wife bought me the same model fore my 32nd b-day
I got a Baer for my wife......best trade i ever did !
Maybe I need to get me a different wife 😎 jk Mine keeps me from buying too many Les Baers...... all in moderation I guess
I’m single. Guess how many guns I bought last year lol
I own a Les Baer Premier II and I love it. In the hand it's the best feeling 1911 I've ever shot, and I've shot most of them. Nothing wrong with Springfield, Kimber, Colt, Sig, Dan Wesson & other 1911's., but I can definitely feel the difference from a hand fitted 1911 and a production one.
are iver johnson any good?
@@unknowntosociety01 ive had an iver Johnson eagle 45 for many years. Its a good gun. On par with rock island. Mine looks a little more refined than most rock islands I've handled. The slide is tightly fitted to the frame and mines ran flawlessly with chip Mccormick power mags for thousands of rounds.
My friends were shooting my Les Baer Premier II last week and they couldn't believe how much better they could shoot with it than a sig sauer. There's something about the grab of the gun that translates into a more accurate shot, I can't explain it but it just sets up more stable in your hands.
My Les Baer Monolith, in .45, came with a 50 yd proof of accuracy target. Eight rounds grouped at 15/16", and two rounds opened it up to 1 1/8". Since it would take a second magazine to run ten rounds, I think the "fliers" (LOL fliers) may have been the first round of each magazine. Either way, I'm impressed! It's one of the few jewels in my collection.
That LB 1911 Hickock was using had to of had a few thousand rounds shot from it to cycle so easily. After 1600 rounds through mine it still takes a bit of effort to pull the slide back at first.
Best gun channel on TH-cam. Love the vids.
Tyler Livesay hands down
Yup!
Another top-tier custom 1911 maker is Alchemy Custom Weaponry. Rob and his gunsmiths are able to blend modern with classic. Superb craftsmanship.
Alchemy is a sub shop of Les Baer with former employees that call the “BAER repair shop” I’ve been there and talked to the guys! I worked at Baer for 10 years
I have a Springfield M 1911 which I’ve owned for 15 years. I don’t remember what I paid for it but it was well under $1000. I have never had a failure with it.
This day has been good. First I get a new knife to collection and then Hickok uploads a 1911 video of my favourite manufacturer. Life's good.
I finally have a Colt 1911 (Classic 1960’s Government style & roll marked) back in my collection after nearly 15yrs. It’s an excellent gun. Functions 100% so far. I’d like to own a really high dollar 1911 some day.
Sooo glad you finally did a Baer video... ive been watching you for years... glad to see you shoot a gun i helped build!!!
Just ordered my first LB, hope you guys do me right!
Hope to get one soon
I had a les Baer identical to that one from the mid 90s. It was unbelievably good. It's my greatest firearm regret was getting rid of it. What an incredible handgun.
Ohhh my God!!! I have been waiting for you to review a Les Baer for years!!!! I am so excited for this video!!!
William Reese where are you from William? My family is originally from the Baltimore area.
Robert Reese Indiana
William Reese the place to be
I’ve got the.Les Baer Custom Carry in 45. It’s hands down the best handling pistol I’ve ever owned.
Huh, I finally found the comments page... I enjoy your videos, been watching for years, but this one was great so I searched for the comments section. I think Rock River should be included as a maker of premier 1911's. I own a couple Les Baer 1911 Bullseye guns. Very, very nice guns. I believe I have 8 1911s all in .45 ACP but I am thinking I should add a 9mm. Oh, I have a Clark Longslide in .38 Special too. Way back when I lived in Illinois I visited the Les Baer factory to pick up a purchase. Les showed me around personally... very nice guy. I also met his shooting team at Camp Perry.
Hickok showing in the first few secs of every vid how fast accurate he is with guns, always satisfying.
The man’s shooting talent is exceptional
I own two Les Baer in 45 acp and 9 mm. Finest pistols I've ever shot. Other 1911's I've owned were Springfield and Para-Ordinance.
Which one is better in your opinion the 45 or the 9
I lean towards the .45acp @@anthonycardenas5556
Ok, I'm going to speak heresy here. I shot a Les Baer a few weeks ago. It was everything i expected. absolutely fantastic. A few weeks after I shot a Ruger SR1911, completely stock out of the box.I have to say the Baer was MUCH better, but the Ruger really impressed me. Great shooter, nice trigger, good sights. All around a great gun. Plus I can have three Rugers for one Baer, and still have enough $ to tune it.
I've never shot a Les Baer, but have handled them in gun shops (along with Wilson, Nighthawk, Ed Brown, Dan Wesson). All of those guns were noticeably better than the "usual suspects" in terms of fit and finish. One day I hope to own one, but for now I'm happy with my Sig. I've also been impressed with the Ruger and Springfield 1911's, especially considering the price point. Remington and Kimber, not so much.
Brian W, I regret selling my Sig 1911, it was a solid shooter. I thought that I "needed" a series 70 at the time or I I'd have never sold it.
jt354 I've always wanted Springfield operator.
I heard the same thing from a guy who used to work for Wilson Combat. He told me to buy Ruger. Best value for the money.
In all honesty, except nicer rear sight , this gun does not look any better than my RIA 1911 in 9mm- a $450 gun.
if i was going to pay double than mine, I would go with a Kimber , at least they have some nice looks
Under no circumstances i could justify spending a$2600 on handgun.
Another great video, thanks. I carry the "custom carry " from Les Baer in 45, by far my favorite gun.
Nice Steve. I'm considering the CC in 38 Super myself. Finding one is the hard part. ;o)
I too have the "Custom Carry" .45 Les and I absolutely love it. Definitely shoots better than I can but I'm working on that! Great video!!!
I own the same gun in 45 ACP. I love it. The trigger is fantastic. The gun very very accurate. The feeling in hand is superb. It feels more filling than a Wilson or an sti. I definitely prefer shooting it over my Wilson or Sti. It oozes quality and is stunning beautiful.
Hickok45, hand fitted, tight tolerances, one of a kind 🤙🏼❤️🇺🇸🤠
In South Africa they asked me why I shot the intruder 15 times. And I told them because that's all my firearm could hold. More is more. Great video thanks.
Hickok, it's time to do a video on the top four custom 1911 makers. I could watch 1911 videos all day. Great review
I'd like to see that too. Also some in .38 Super.
Definitely !
I like Hickock’s reviews over any others.
He’s the real deal.
@@abc-wv4init seems to me people have more issues with there 38 super 1911's than any other caliber I've seen. Just in these comments section along I've already seen 2 people with serious negatives. This is far from the 1st time I've heard this through word of mouth amoung others. Is it a legit issue? Idk. That said it sure seems as if it might be when considering all the things I've heard. In the name of transparency, I cannot speak on it with experience as I've never owned a .38 super although I have shoot one once. Seemed like a stronger 38 special to me.
I love my Les Baer Custom Carry 45!! I trust it with my life! I know it doesnt hold a lot of rounds. But the trigger is amazing and I know where my rounds are going!
Right, the extended mag kept hanging up while in transition so i traded it for the tandem rig with 3 extra mags bahaha
Brother your video's are far above anyone else.....best information on the web on guns and shooting .....
Thanks hickok for all your vidéo.
You are à very great shooter and youtuber. God bless you and bless the usa.
Boy oh boy, 1911, near and dear to my heart! I only have three! Of course one is a Les Baer Prem II 1 1/2”! Sweet shooter!!!
Filmed on my birthday!
Thank You, Hickok45. A present I'll always enjoy.
Man...I got the same gun but in .45acp and I just love it !!! It is really worth the money!
It´s like to own a Rolex - you have always in mind that this piece is completely hand fitted and no mass product.
Les Baer's are the best...and unlike the reps from the other big three...Les is a good guy and will take the time to talk with you...the best...hands down...
The only TH-cam channel you can trust for real unbiased, unedited T&E
I love Les Baer custom, I have a Les Baer AR-15 patrol rifle and it is top notch. I wish that i had a Les Baer 1911 but I don't have that kind of money anymore. My favorite review hickok45 thanks
For those talking about it being in 9mm you should go read about the M1900 which was the grandfather of the 1911 platform. It was chambered in .38 ACP (not .380). So, it's perfectly fine to shoot thirty caliber out of a 1911 because that's how Mr. Browning designed the first platform :)
yeah, but because the 1900 did not get the job done, the 1911 was made..
@@stijnvandamme76 no it sold well enough in the civilian market that it was designed for. The Army then opened a trial for a new service pistol but they had to be at least .4 caliber so Browning simply made a new cartridge and tooled up the 1900 to take it and thus we got the 1911. The thirty cals do just fine man, look up FBI or police records of yearly fatal shootings some time, anything that can damage organs and cause a loss of blood pressure is perfectly fine. The thirty cals (.38, .380, 9mm etc), are all very controllable, typically have good magazine size, are more affordable, and modern bullet designs means that most calibers are actually about equally effective.
My Les Baer Custom Carry is definitely one of my favorites.
I would add Springfield custom shop. A Springfield Professional stack up against the big 4
I love me a 1911!!! Even better a Les Baer!!! Wahoo! I've got a Premier II in 45 (of course!) and it's my favorite gun. I call it Smokey the Baer. :)
Thank you Hickok!
I bought one, the Premier 2 in 2007. In 10 years of of use I have put 8000+ rounds through it including a couple of three day classes. The slide feels like it rides on ball bearings and I still need a bushing wrench to brake it down. Like all pistols it shoots way better then I can. By the way, mine cost $ 1500 and is in 45acp. I would recommend a Baer to anyone who wants to pass down a pistol to your kin and it has been one of my concealed carry weapons since I put the first thousand rounds through it. Yea, they do need to be broken in as tight as they are put together. God Bless!
Hickok, your sense of humour is getting more as time goes on. Well done!
I know it's been said alot but this old guys aim is absolutely incredible
Thanks to John for putting that info at the end with the other related sites - good to know.
Had my Les custom carry for 8 yrs... absolutely love it...very accurate and reliable...
Clay Evans had?
Still have....
@@randyreviewsit still have it, it's 45acp
Les Bear 1911 maybe expensive but you got to respect the craftsmanship that Les Bear puts into his handguns. Keep in mine the material they use is high quality.
I loved my stinger in 45, any of the four would work just fine.
All my handguns share the 1911 platform, it was my first carry weapon in Korea. It's just my preference.
Finally! A Les Baer in Hickok's hands!!
I own the LB Boss 45. its an awesome gun, i love it.
I have the Philippine American Tactical 1911 45 has not failed me yet. I love it. Especially for 460 bucks.
Visually this one's slide is as slick as glass.
Have the Mama Baer by Les Baer in 45acp. An amazing gun. More accurate than I am. Quickly became my favorite gun.
1911! Love from Russia!
LBC is my primary gun for USPSA single stack division and DW is my secondary back up, My concept III is just a right tool for the job I need it for, talking about level III competition match which need consistency and on demand reliability, yes I agree that LBC is pricy but I started with SR1911 to ParaOrdinance to DW, and finally to LBC and its like night and day. As my skill level improve I need a tool that can also deliver what I need.
I own a 5” Custom Carry .45ACP and 4-1/4” Custom Carry 38 Super Auto. Both of these guns are exceptionally great pieces!
Dan Wesson 9mm Guardian. One of favorite guns to shoot.
Got a 38 super stinger at a good price, boy they are tight, took around 700 rounds to loosen up, after that no snags, and better accuracy than I, a lot of fun and great carry gun.Like you need some color on the front sight.
Have an EB, Kobra Carry, 45ACP since 2012. It's the cat's meow in every respect, just such a sweet shooter that's a piece of extreme craftsmanship. It's my fav of all hand guns!
I love how smooth this gun is!
YESSSS. I've been waiting so long for you to review a Les Baer
Excellent to see a 9mm 1911, kudos to your friend that lent it to you! Double points if you can get a hold of Wilson Combat's recent EDC X9 double stack :)
I have a Premier II in .45 and yes, its everything I expected it to be. Lovely trigger, far more accurate that I am. I got good service from Baer when I sent the pistol in for a new front fiber optic sight too, about 2 weeks turn around and cost was reasonable.
Folks need to be made aware that Baer's come bank vault tight when new, they very much do need to have about 500 rounds run through them before the slide and action achieves that buttery smooth feeling Hickok mentions repeatedly. FTE/FTB's are to be expected in the break in period. Don't panic when that happens, just keep shooting the bluing off it.
I also agree with Hickok as to the top four large custom shops, Baer, Brown, Nighthawk and Wilson Combat. There's also a number of other smaller outfits out there worthy of folks wanting a custom 1911 like Evolution Armory and Cabot.
I have a Bill Wilson (Wilson Combat), it's a .45. I bought it in 2000 and shoots sweet. Yep, custom made in Berryville, AR.
Springfield EMP contour is just as comfortable and reliable, plus a little shrink for for the 9mm. I love it. The size is a better fit/ weight / thickness for me to carry.
I have owned a Les Baer Premier II for over 15 years. Mine is in 45 acp & is the 1.5 inch gun. (guaranteed 1.5 group At 50 yards) It has been flawless & a joy to shoot. I have 15 other 1911's & IMO the Baer is a cut above. Of course it cost accordingly.
As Mr. Hickok45 stated it is in the top 3 or 4 !911;s made.
It took about 1.500 rounds to "break in" as gun was very tight. That said I had no issues with the gun through that period it was just tight. ie slide was hard to work. After 500 rds it started to smooth out. Some view this as a negative but it wasn't really an issue for me. Believe me just take it to the range with a big box of ammo & I promise you will get plenty of volunteers to help break it in:-)
Mr. Hickok excellent video as always!
Frank0301
I'm blessed to own a premier II as well as a monolith. big grin every time I shoot them. if you desire a 1911, I recommend you save up for one of these. well worth the money. note their break in period is quite unique but part of the charm!
Love my Premier II in 45ACP. never any issues and very accurate.
I'm sure someone has told you by now; Nighthawk Custom does offer customized Remington 870's. As always, thanks for the 1911 and revolver videos; for us older guys. I own polymer guns; but I LOVE guns made from steel.
I owned that exact gun. Mine also had issues with holding the slide open after the last round with magazines other than the ones that came with the gun. I called the Les Baer company and explained the issue. I was told that magazines have to be tuned for the gun. I sent the gun back because it was also having some issues with cycling (very tight gun even after 1200 rounds) and they tuned a few more magazines for me while they had it. I also have a .45 Les Baer which does not have any issues and never had a hiccup. 9mm seems to be a bit too weak for tight 1911s.
That makes sense, I could see that.
They are still great guns though. Due to the significant weight, they are very easy to shoot accurately in 9mm. After the manufacturer tuned a a few more magazines and performed some additional slide to frame and slide to barrel fitting, it ran fine. They also paid return shipping.
I think the issue is that LB does not know how to build a 9mm. I've got the P2 9mm and have also owned a Springfield r.o. and STI Trojan in 9mm 1911, the other two guns were as reliable as any 45 I have owned. My LB has a couple issues that seemed to also be apparent on this video, the rear sight has to be cranked way up to achieve correct elevation and the magazine follower can wedge on the slide stop (at about 12:38 you can see the slide release pulled down and the slide go forward as the mag was pulled out of the gun). I think the wedging issue is as simple and as the 9mm guns being built with 45 slide releases, not that hard to fix but it is frustrating to be fighting magazines that won't drop on a very expensive competition gun. I'm not anti LB, I had great luck with a P2 45, it just seems like their 9 has not been well developed.
I finally bought my first Baer and now I'm mad at myself for waiting so long. I've now ordered the same Premier II in 9mm to teach my grandkids about the 1911 platform.
I have a Wilson EDC X9 and I'm going to choose a 1911 from Wilson or Baer . I like the Wilson Classic but I'll do a good review of both. I think both are just friggin cool 😎
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By far my favorite 1911 is the LBCC in 45.
I own a Les Baer Premier II in 45acp and love it. Was it expensive yep, was it worth the money? It sure was if you are looking for a Great Custom 1911 look no further then a Les Baer.
Man that gun is so accurate. 😱
The four 1911's you mentioned are great but add Cabot and Infinity to that list !
What do I like about Les Baer pistols? Everything!
Paul Sawitsky except the price
Paul Sawitsky g
I cant afford any of those at the moment but I will have one of each one day. Love a good Baer
I have three firearms that I'd like to add to my collection, a great 22lr semi auto, a sweet .357 magnum, and either a Les Baer or Dan Wesson 1911.
I have the premier 2 with tactical meld and 1.5 guarantee, it's a great gun and no problems ever. I also have Wilson Combat CQB. Both are beautiful pistols, in 45 app. I like the finish on the Wilson a little better. My LB has already got the purple coloring on the blued flats, like all older Baker's get.
Baer's get. Love auto correct
Went to the range today and shot my first 1911. A Kimber 9mm, one of my new favorites.
"I think I know where it hits" nails little spinners at 60 yards! Lol! Great review again! Nice pistol! Just above my budget, but nice.
you are correct about the grip safety of course. I like the Doug Koenig low mass hammer, which is milled, but use STI nylon glass filled triggers, which is ironic, because plastic triggers coming stock on the Government Model is why I started doing custom builds to begin with lol.
Damn I thought it was a 45. The way it was kicking and knocking those targets hard it shows how 9mm is no joke its a wonderful caliber
I've always wanted to see a Les Baer on the show. I wish it was a .45; but I'm happy, nonetheless.
0:45 Best “Custom” Guns According to Hickock45
1.Nighthawk
1. Ed Brown
2.Wilson Combat
3.Les Baer
4. Dan Wesson
- Honorable mentions, production gun but up there with these top performer customs-
5.Springfield Armory 1911 TRP
I have the Les Baer Thunder Ranch and it’s a great gun!
I would love to get my hands on one of these beautiful 1911s!
I own 3. Very fine pistols. Super accurate.
Some people don't like a 1911?? What's wrong with them?!
nothing.
Tex. Let them hate.....more for those who love the old girl.
Tex. There as patriotic as the national anthem
they use the gun for a living......
bighunterman77 chime, carry something else. 1911 are so cool.
As always - Fantastic review and amazing shooting. Thank you. I have this gun in 45. Love it. If you want to see an easy way to break this tight gun down without harming it I have a review about that posted here on TH-cam. I bought mine, in large part, because of this Hickok45 review.
Have the same Premier II in .45ACP. Great pistol. I suggest the Tactical Package if Les still offers it as mine has several sharp edges.
Hickok45! You should do videos on the following:
Browning Buckmark
M1 Carbine chapter 2
MAS-36
MAS-49
Enjoy y'alls work!
I really enjoy the shooting with you Hickok45. Thank you.
Les Baer makes an outstanding gun, as do Nighthawk Custom, Ed Brown, and Wilson Combat. Any of these guns will easily exceed any expectations you might have for a quality gun. Les Baer makes one of the less expensive of the four, I just bought a Nighthawk for $3,700 and it was not one of their more expensive models. They're all amazing guns, and Les Baer is "a bargain", although a little "plainer" than the others. I buy less guns than others, I just save a little longer to buy one of these four, and when a good bargain comes across for a used gun I try to buy it. I can almost guarantee you'll own the gun for life, it's not one you'll sell. And I've never had any problems w/ any of them. Three .45ACP and one 9mm, did I say amazing guns???
Good point. I like your approach, buying fewer guns and saving up for better quality firearms. Not everybody can afford THESE types of expensive firearms even if they save up for a long time, but the concept makes a lot of sense. It was the point I was trying to make in the Hi-Point video we did. I was not trying to insult people, but I think I have made the point in that video or elsewhere that I have to wonder about the guy who has four or five Hi-Points and then talks about other people being "gun snobs," that some people can only afford a Hi-Point. We'll, I'd much rather have one used S&W / Glock / Sig / M&P / HK / Walther / Ruger / etc. than four Hi-Points. Not to pick on Hi-Point again. They do work fairly well most of the time.
About half my guns were bought used, and sometimes it makes a lot of sense. I bought a used S&W 500 Magnum w/ 4 ½ barrel. I can guarantee the previous owner didn't put 500 rounds thru it, probably closer to a single box (or less),and it was almost half price. I don't see a lot of people abusing their guns and as long as it doesn't have major scratches you're OK. I also bought a used .44 Magnum Desert Eagle for $700 ($1,500 MSRP). It was a little scratched up but it was all I could afford. And it's still great fun to shoot...
@@philapop5269 I shot my friends 50 AE desert eagle and it was not fun to shoot. I suppose the 44 magnum might be a little different but there was nothing pleasant about that 50 AE desert eagle.
Murfreesboro :D I love how close to home this channel is
There is one thing better than a 1911, Single Action Revolver and cowboy repeater: watching them on this channel
It's a buyers market right now for the High End 1911s. You can find new Les Baer's on Gun Broker for less than 2k.
Les Baer's are real cool 1911's. If you find a used one you can usually get a real good deal and they are worth it.
No MIM in a Baer either.
That is a Bucket of SOLID GOLD ON YOUR TABLE!!!
Love to see you with a les Baer monolith
That slide sounds as smooth as glass. I could hear it the first time you racked it.
Sure wish I could afford one. You and John still have great show.
I absolutely love your channel :) guns = happiness
Best channel ever.