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BLR
11-29-2012, 12:27 PM
No one here should be surprised that I'm an easy mark for "matched sets." In fact, I'll be as crass as to say Wilson and Colt should offer a similar set - with matching numbers just like this.

A Les Baer Thunder Ranch Set: If one were to believe the marketing stuff (and I have no reason not to), the Thunder Ranch rifles and pistols are built by Baer to Smith's standards/specifications. That's all well and good. However, what they represent to me is a nearly ideal (if a little crude) matched pair of personal defense weapons.

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo345/blriehl/1911s/IMG-20121129-01982.jpg

The Rifle: I love LB ARs. They are one of my favorites, mostly because in an AR I hold accuracy above all else (except reliability)....mostly because I evaluate all ARs as potential coyote hunting rifles first, then as defensive guns second. Read whatever you like into that. And Les makes some of the best cut rifled barrels out there IMO. The test target supplied with this one was shot with 77g FGM, and has two impossibly small 5 shot groups that I measured in the 2s. Maybe I'm just cynical, but I don't believe much without seeing it first hand. I could do without the fluting on the bbl too. That said, Baer ARs have consistently been the most accurate ARs I've personally owned/shot. And I've gotten my grubby hands on more than a couple.

The Pistol: Really, this is a great example of a Baer, except for one part: the grip safety. I'm really disappointed with the fitting of that. Really. The gap there is unacceptable for a "hand fit" gun. However, the checkering is above the standard for Baers, as can be seen below. I would much prefer 20lpi, but they wouldn't do that on the TRS. I'd also prefer real Novaks, but hey, what the heck. Overall, it's a really good looking pistol to my eyes.

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo345/blriehl/1911s/IMG-20121129-01981.jpg

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo345/blriehl/1911s/IMG-20121129-01979.jpg

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo345/blriehl/1911s/IMG-20121129-01978.jpg

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo345/blriehl/1911s/IMG-20121129-01977.jpg

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo345/blriehl/1911s/IMG-20121129-01967.jpg

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo345/blriehl/1911s/IMG-20121129-01968.jpg

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo345/blriehl/1911s/IMG-20121129-01969.jpg

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo345/blriehl/1911s/IMG-20121129-01972.jpg

The TR set is, all considered, a really nice pair of firearms. The furniture on the AR is basic, but functional. The 1911 is basic, but very accurate and functional and especially suited for CHL use.

Now a CQB-SPR combo would really rock. As would a S70-6290 set IMO.

WDW
11-29-2012, 01:18 PM
You have so many cool toys

bofe954
11-29-2012, 02:28 PM
I've never seen a front sight block like that. Does it have a quick release sight or something?

NETim
11-29-2012, 10:20 PM
Iwegians are notoriously poor grip safety fitters. :)

I'm waiting for you to post pics of one of the Wilson 1911 "TR Specials" built way back when. They're something of a rarity from what I understand.

Tamara
11-30-2012, 05:48 AM
Have you ever taken a TRS to Thunder Ranch?

BLR
11-30-2012, 06:51 AM
Nope, never had a TRS at TR. I've only been twice to TR and three times to Gunsite. Gunsite has seen my beloved CQB and two different custom Colts. TR saw a SRP and my beloved CQB. Actually, that CQB has been to them all, just not the "primary" gun. I always go w/ at least one spare 1911, and often two. You know, cause they are unreliable and break all the time....:rolleyes:

I hate to say it, but this is my first TRS.

Tamara
11-30-2012, 07:52 AM
I always go w/ at least one spare 1911, and often two. You know, cause they are unreliable and break all the time....:rolleyes:

Only lonely guns break. That's why I always bring a spare gun to gun skool.

I, too, prefer 20lpi checkering in the real world, but having gone to gun school with both 20- and 30lpi, now, I'll note that I definitely needed fewer bandaids with the latter. :o

BLR
11-30-2012, 08:59 AM
Only lonely guns break.

QFT.

There is 20lpi and there is 20lpi. SACS is the latter. That said, when I started taking competition seriously (at that time, I thought the sun rose and set over bowling pins), a good grip exerciser with sharp knurling took my hands from pasty office engineer to respectably calloused "gentleman farmer" level. No more band aides...:cool:

Off topic, and FWIW - In my distorted reality, that is the single best thing you can do to improve your pistol shooting. A good knuckle busting, rock crushing manly grip.

NETim
11-30-2012, 09:09 AM
QFT.

There is 20lpi and there is 20lpi. SACS is the latter. That said, when I started taking competition seriously (at that time, I thought the sun rose and set over bowling pins), a good grip exerciser with sharp knurling took my hands from pasty office engineer to respectably calloused "gentleman farmer" level. No more band aides...:cool:

Off topic, and FWIW - In my distorted reality, that is the single best thing you can do to improve your pistol shooting. A good knuckle busting, rock crushing manly grip.

Skinny lil' geek me used to win "Vise Grip" competitions quite regularly in shop class, even agin' the big football boys. Mainly 'cause I milked cows. :)

But still, even with a crushing grip (which in my case, ain't what it used to be), if the trigger finger ain't educated, you're spinnin' your tires. And I'm finding that about the time I think my trigger control is where it needs to be, I learn that no, it isn't. :)

MDS
11-30-2012, 09:18 AM
about the time I think my trigger control is where it needs to be, I learn that no, it isn't

FML, all the money, time, blood and sweat I've sunk into shooting fits inside that sentence, with some wiggle room left over...