I think I can get one for a good price, used. They’re purdy.
Here’s a pic from LB’s website
oooOOOOOOooooo
UPDATE: I went to the store (the Cabelas in Dundee MI) and hefted the SRP and it was very nice, buttery smooth, but it had more wear on it than the pics showed (as is often the case with a well-taken series of photos; the imperfections don’t show)… So when they said they had an Ed Brown Special Forces … I grabbed that and didn’t let go I bought it new. I can’t wait to get it to the range now.
Upon returning home I compared the EBSF to my Kimber Classic Gold Match… well, there is no comparison. What was my favorite 1911 is now my second favorite 1911. The SF is tighter and feels more solid in my hand. The chain link grip texture feels great, but it doesn’t have the purchase that aggressive checkering does. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, if you accidentally mis-grip it slightly. All in all I’m very pleased with the purchase.
The SRP is a great 1911 and you will not find a more accurate and reliable pistol on the market. I own many 1911’s but for some reason when it is time to train or go to the range there is always a Baer or two making the trip with me. The SRP with a 10-8 rear is a great setup. The Bear coat is also a nice finish, I will say it is not as durable as one would think. But then again honest wear on a pistol is a good thing.
In my experience, Baer pistols are too tight out of the box. In speaking with Gunsite instructors, who see a lot of such things, they concur and the tightness of a pistol that someone shows up to school with having never (or not much) fired it before can be a major issue. That said, if the example you’re looking at is well used, then you may avoid this issue.
$2500 NIB? I can think of quite a few others I’d be interested in at that price. Including stepping down a bit and going with Baer’s own TR (the only Baer I’m interested in) for $700 less.
My SRP was part of the original FBI HRT build and I never found it to feed 100% as it was just too tight (even after 1,500 rounds).
I personally think Ed Brown builds a great (IMHO better) alternative in the Special Forces for $500 less ($2k retail).
Here is a pic of my Kobra - 5k rounds and NO malfunctions, 1" groups all day long:
Also, do yourself a favor and look at Wilson CQB and Nighthawk GRP for the $2100 range.
[QUOTE=rob_s;221828]In my experience, Baer pistols are too tight out of the box. In speaking with Gunsite instructors, who see a lot of such things, they concur and the tightness of a pistol that someone shows up to school with having never (or not much) fired it before can be a major issue.
That is a very fair critique Baer’s are to tight out of the box. The Bear coat pistols are easier than the blued ones to break in. The Bear coat pistols seem to be perfect after around 1200-1500 rounds the blued, HC, and SS sometimes take 2k until they are easily manipulated during training. That said they are dead nuts accurate and very reliable after you get them heated up and broken in.
I will also add if you go with the SRP when you get it take the buff out and get it wet, then put 500-800 rounds through it without taking apart and cleaning. If you follow that you can reduce your break in time considerably.
My Baer was also extremely tight out of the box…it took two people to open the action the first time.
The only malfunction it has ever suffered was a stovepipe on round 3 of the initial 500 round break-in period…and that was probably my fault. Sample of 1 and all that, but after a lot of rounds she’s still running just fine.
If I had it to do over I’d have no problem buying another Baer, but I’d get one without the checkered frontstrap.
All that said:
I’d listen very carefully to what the guys with blue names say if you’re looking for a 1911 for serious social purposes.
I have far more experience with the Springfield Pro than I do with the Baers, but that’s because I also think the Springfield Pro is the better pistol.
$2500 NIB? I can think of quite a few others I’d be interested in at that price. Including stepping down a bit and going with Baer’s own TR (the only Baer I’m interested in) for $700 less.
Agreed. I have (2) LB TRS and they RUN. Very good value for the money. I got (1) NIB for $1.4K and an excellent used one for $1.3K
i had a couple of fail-to-feeds in the first 600 rounds of my Baer (not SRP) but it’s proven to be reliable since, with minimal cleaning. this particular model is over priced IMO. for this category, the SA pro and the Wilson Protector/CQB would fit the bill well, as would the TRP.
TRUE…I should have been more clear, mine was not one of the FBI destined HRT batch, but the single stack version Les did to the same spec, following delivery of the HRT build (mid/end ~1998). Mine had BaerCoat and even after 1,500 round, still had a few FTF’s per hundred rounds fired - using Wilson, CMC and ACT mags.
It never made it to my daily carry rotation as I never trusted it 100%. Sold it and bought an early chromed Nighthawk Talon w/ light rail in 1994 - a real tack driver (but heavy)
FWIW, I put many thousands of rounds through an LE agency’s brand new Springfield custom shop 1911’s last year. The guns were extremely tight out of the box and many had multiple problems during the initial 1,000-round break-in period. The FI for the team was not worried because the guns don’t see field use until they’ve seen at least that many rounds in training.
I don’t know why people say the SA is a better pistol without saying why they think that. It would be more helpful if they were more specific. I have quite a few Les Baers (5), none of them a SRP though. Baers are no longer as tight out of the box as they used to be at least the last few Thunder Ranch’s I have seen weren’t. Anyway all mine were extremely tight out of the box but I have never had any issues with any of them and that includes during the rather long break in period. I find them quite well made with quality materials and very accurate. I think the TRS model is the best deal in a high end 1911 available right now. Mine are all blued so i can’t comment on Bear Coat. The poster would be well advised to also check out the 1911 forums for comments on this pistol. If it was me, $1800 for an SRP would be hard to pass up.
