Finally finished shopping for my gun.

[naaman]

So, I've been researching for quite sometime now (over a year, I think) and have settled on a Wilson Combat 1911 CQB. I won't be able to buy it until I get home, so that's still a few months out. Though I'm still a little torn between buying the gun and putting a down payment on a loan for an NSX

http://www.wilsoncombat.com/p_cqb_tlr.asp

Wilson also offers customized shotguns based on the Remington 870, which I'm tempted to pick up, as well...

http://www.wilsoncombat.com/s_standard.asp

 

[KooLaid]

1911, very nice. I would still like to get one of those.

 

[Hasdrubal]

Wilson Combat makes awesome 1911s, but think about this- are you a good enough shot to really take advantage of the performance?

What I mean is, most pistol shooters aren't good enough that a mil-spec Colt 1911 would hold them back in terms of accuracy. Some of them are. It took me a long time and a lot of practice to get to this level, so I bought a Kimber.

Where a mil-spec Colt would give me maybe 3" groups at ten meters, I've gotten 1.5" groups out of the Kimber on good days. I'm not good enough to take advantage of the accuracy the Wilson has, though.

The Wilson could give you that same 1.5" group at 25 meters, if you are either really good, or clamp the gun in a vise. If you're good enough to see the difference, then you're a great shot (and better than me, not that I'm that great), but if not, you might be wasting money.

Kimber is 90% of the performance and quality of Wilson at 50% the price. And, I've never had a jam that wasn't from bad ammo.

Nick

 

[naaman]

I've actually shot a few different 1911's now, and the only one that grouped well for me was a custom one that Zanardi 50 let me shoot. Granted, the other two 1911s (a Kimber and a Springfield) were range guns using range ammo so it may not be a truly controlled comparison.

I can group 3 shots overlapping at 21 feet with a decent pistol. At this point, though, it's hard to test my accuracy at 25 yards since I don't have much opportunity to shoot recreationally. In any case, I'm buying the gun to have as my "lifetime" piece, so the cost is (almost) irrelevant to me.

Also, I've adopted the philosophy that if your weapon is not as accurate as possible, then you don't truly know how good of a shot you are, not that it matters if your firing the same gun all the time, since you will "adjust" to it's tendancies...

I demonstrated this a few weeks ago while I was home on leave. I fired a Kimber 1911, a .357 magnum revolver, a Ruger 9mm and a Glock 21. The Revolver and the Glock had the most consitant groups, with most of the Glock's shots overlapping (21 feet). The Ruger was all over the place. It was the first weapon I fired that day, so I was a little concerned that my skill had dwindelled until I fired the rest.

I do still have a long way to go before I'm as good as I'd like to be at shooting, but I intend to spend a significant amount of my time actually developing this skill, so I don't really mind forking over the extra cash for a top quality pistol.

As for how tightly I can group: I'm not sure what I can group at 10m, but at 21 feet, I can group 10 shots in about an inch (maybe 1.5"), given a consitant, accurate weapon.

 

[Hasdrubal]

I just now noticed your tag says Ft. Lewis. What unit are you with? I'm with 2-23... you say you'll be going home soon- are we on the same FOB?

Anyway, it looks like you are as serious about guns as I am, and if the Wilson will be the keeper, then it's an excellent choice. Looks like we are pretty close on marksmanship, too. At least, before this last year of being away from my own guns.

As far as I'm concerned, Ruger makes great revolvers and terrible semis. My philosophy is that once you master the fundamentals of anything, you will be able to extract the maximum performance out of whatever equipment you use. Of course, if that maximum is closer to minumum (ruger), I wouldn't be satisfied either.

Nick

 

[jagtiger]

Good Choice! Wilson Combat pistols are one of best out there. I have the TRP model as well.

 

[SWIFTVISION]

Glock or nothing!:biggrin:

 

[Hasdrubal]

Those ugly, dead feeling plastic bricks? If you can make one of those work well for you, you must have plenty of determination...

But no taste.

Nick

 

[Hothonda]

Sig P226R, 9mm, DA/SA,Truglow Nightsites + Crimson Trace Laser Grips ; 18 shot magazine, in the nightstand just in case.

 

[lrsudog]

Sig P226R, 9mm, DA/SA,Truglow Nightsites + Crimson Trace Laser Grips ; 18 shot magazine, in the nightstand just in case.

Jeez, whenever my wife snores, I just nudge her until she stops.

 

[Hothonda]

If I can't get to one of my Sigs this is the back-up.........

Browning XT Trap Combo 12 ga 34" Un-single + 30" Over Under

 

[naaman]

Glock or nothing!:biggrin:

I've shot one Glock before. It handled pretty nice, but the polymer bugs me... not functionally, just aestetically. I also prefer the presence of a manual safety.

 

[DRIFTER]

Those ugly, dead feeling plastic bricks? If you can make one of those work well for you, you must have plenty of determination...

But no taste.

Nick

I LOVE my plastic brick. its all about trigger control and sight alignment:wink:

 

[Hasdrubal]

Well, I have to agree there. Once you master the fundamentals, no matter what the tools at hand are, you will be able to get the most out of them. Even a Glock, but no matter how tight my groups are, I don't enjoy the experience.

Nick

 

[davidf]

Glocks are well built guns and shoot very well but are not everyones taste. Wilson Combat is a great gun to own but I'd rather spend a $1000.00 bucks on a 1911 Springfield or Colt and keep the rest of my money in the bank. It's all personal choice.

 

[DocL]

I just bought a Sig Sauer P228 yesterday. It is in mint condition and has only been fired 50 times. I'm getting ready for the mayhem.

 

[JeffShoots]

So, I've been researching for quite sometime now (over a year, I think) and have settled on a Wilson Combat 1911 CQB. I won't be able to buy it until I get home, so that's still a few months out. Though I'm still a little torn between buying the gun and putting a down payment on a loan for an NSX

Wilson also offers customized shotguns based on the Remington 870, which I'm tempted to pick up, as well...

Wilson does a good job and all warranty work / relationship with fixing or replacing under-performing firearms has been great.

Check out Remingtons site for the NEW tactical (I hate that word) line for the 870 and save some $$$ :smile:

Wilson Combat makes awesome 1911s, but think about this- are you a good enough shot to really take advantage of the performance?

Kimber is 90% of the performance and quality of Wilson at 50% the price. And, I've never had a jam that wasn't from bad ammo.

Nick

I think what Nick is trying to say is that maintenance and performance go hand in hand (just like a race car) so do you want the inherent reliability woos from cleaning to cleaning with a tightly fitted firearm? Or cost to maintain that 1.5" group?

Also I don't think the NEW type 2 (or II) Kimbers are all that and only carry a one year warranty. I have found the "Loaded" or "TRP" from Springfield to be a great pistol for the money.

 

[Sarge]

just get a regular ol shot gun with buck shot and sleep closer to the bedroom door than your wife, gf......and dont have kids who's room is in front of the door or next to you. If your thinking home/family/nsx protection, nothing will be as forgiving as a Good shot gun, where accuracy is not an issue, you will definitly get the task done and still have enough for that NSX loan. Trust me I rolled in Iraq w/a shot gun on my back, felt pretty safe too! why choose when you can have both. hope that helps:biggrin:

 

[naaman]

Wilson does a good job and all warranty work / relationship with fixing or replacing under-performing firearms has been great.

Check out Remingtons site for the NEW tactical (I hate that word) line for the 870 and save some $$$ :smile:

I think what Nick is trying to say is that maintenance and performance go hand in hand (just like a race car) so do you want the inherent reliability woos from cleaning to cleaning with a tightly fitted firearm? Or cost to maintain that 1.5" group?

Also I don't think the NEW type 2 (or II) Kimbers are all that and only carry a one year warranty. I have found the "Loaded" or "TRP" from Springfield to be a great pistol for the money.

I have seen Remington's offerings for the "tactical" shotguns. And honestly, they look the same as the Wilson. That is one of the things that I'm still looking into: whether to get the Remingon, or if the Wilson actually offers something that is worth the extra cash.

As for the pistol, I intend for it (as well as the shotgun) to be a lifetime piece, which I intend to put tons and tons of rounds through. Most important to me is the reliability/consistancy of the gun. Maintaining a tight shot group is ESPECIALLY what I am trying to do, so I need a gun that can "tell" me exactly how good a shooter I am. I am choosing the Wilson for the same reason I'd choose an NSX. It's not just about "having a gun."

just get a regular ol shot gun with buck shot and sleep closer to the bedroom door than your wife, gf......and dont have kids who's room is in front of the door or next to you. If your thinking home/family/nsx protection, nothing will be as forgiving as a Good shot gun, where accuracy is not an issue, you will definitly get the task done and still have enough for that NSX loan. Trust me I rolled in Iraq w/a shot gun on my back, felt pretty safe too! why choose when you can have both. hope that helps:biggrin:

"NSX protection" LOL:biggrin:

I actually carried a shotgun in Iraq myself. I believe the Marines use an 870, don't they? The army uses the Mossberg 590. I thought it was garbage... the action was WAY too sloppy. I never had to fire it, but sometimes when I would functions check it, I couldn't charge it unless the rails were PERFECTLY aligned (it was just too loosely constrcted). Pissed me off

I want something high quality. I don't doubt the Remington is excellent. I'm just trying to find out how much (if at all) better the Wilson is.