Wilson Spec-Op 9

General Firearms Handguns - Semi Auto
1

Besides the awful name (which was actually the winning submission in a contest they had BTW…) anyone play with one of these? It’s essentially a 16+1 9mm polymer framed 1911 with focus on a higher end market with higher end (hopefully) custom 1911 quality…Conceptually, I like it. Price tag…not so much…but Wilson is not a budget gun… Here’s the 411 on it:

The SPEC_OPS 9 Concept

A polymer framed carry pistol with a proven 16 round metal magazine, 1911 style fire control system, completely new barrel lockup and reengineered recoil system scaled for the 9x19 cartridge-all under 30 ounces unloaded. Add Wilson Combat’s legendary heritage for steadfast quality and you get the perfect high capacity 9mm for range or street with the following cutting edge features:

• The unique, mid-length, reduced mass slide design generates minimal muzzle flip with any 9mm loading and is trimmer in every dimension than a standard 1911 slide. Angled front carry cuts enable easy reholstering and press checking while adding a distinctive custom profile.

• The all new, premium grade 416 stainless steel barrel with enhanced lockup geometry is ideally matched to the recoil impulse and pressure of even the hottest 9mm loading. The SPEC-OPS 9 chamber area has been likewise strengthened and the muzzle smoothly interfaces directly into the precision bored slide without the need for a separate bushing.

• The stainless steel frame rail assembly is CNC machined from solid billet steel to exacting dimensions and permanently fused to the polymer grip for unfailing, precise rigidity. Unlike other polymer 1911 style guns, this grip is guaranteed to never come loose when you least expect it.

• The SPEC-OPS 9’s Kevlar and Zytel reinforced polymer grip has Wilson Combat’s popular Starburst pattern molded in for the perfect amount of traction in varied conditions and enhanced concealed carry comfort over traditional grip designs.

• A reduced profile grip safety tang and unique, matching hammer reduce the concealment footprint profile of the SPEC-OPS 9 over a traditional 1911.

• The SPEC-OPS 9 retains the extensively tested Wilson KZ-9 16 round double column magazine for ultimate in 9mm feed reliability. The tapered magazine ensures rapid reloading under stress.

• The new low-profile sighting system is perfectly scaled to the SPEC-OPS 9 slide’s reduced width and height. The front sight is easily end-user removable from its longitudinal dovetail.

If you have always wanted the ergonomic controls and exceptional trigger action of a true 1911 in a low profile, high capacity design this may be the perfect new everyday carry pistol for you.

Wilson quality, extensive testing and uncompromising engineering have taken the polymer 1911 to the next level.

End O Marketing spiel…

Reviews? Opinions? Experiences?

Obviously, if one just wants a production polymer framed gun in the DAO/Glock/XD/MnP mold, this is not the gun for you. If you want the 1911 platform, the weight of the polymer, 16+1 rnds of 9mm, and the QC and higher end attention to detail one gets from the Wilson, Brown, (ego higher end semi custom production 1911s) guns, and are willing/able to pay for it, this could be a very interesting gun “on paper.”

“On paper” has been the famous last words of a lot of guns and people, so until I, or someone I know and trust, really tests out one of these guns, it’s an unknown.

It’s my understand this gun was designed and built from the ground up to be chambered in 9mm and be a double stack gun, and I hope that’s true.

9mm chambered 1911s tend to have reliability issues (although I have noticed that has improved greatly in recent years) and double stacks are famous jam O matics…

2

I have had one for about a month
I got a chance to shoot one last September while hog hunting with Bill Wilson
I love 1911s and have owned and still own other less expensive polymer framed pistols

Don’t really understand why some people can mentally justify spending big money on a steel 1911 but a polymer framed one is somehow “less” valuable
It’s still a handbuilt gun and backed by Wilson Combat for life…

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=43458&highlight=wilson+combat+spec

I posted a video of Karl Rehn of KRtraining shooting it

my buddy does training with Karl and he took it down recently

I am sure he would give you his no BS take on it

3

You said we can offer opinions, right?

My opinion is that a $2,000 pistol shooting 9mm out of magazines that are only made by a small custom shop is a hard turn away from the idea of the weapon as a tool and comfortably bedding down in the voodoo and/or fetish side of the gun world.

M_P

4

Odd, I did a search and nothing came up. How many rnds have you put through it? Any malfunctions at all? Thanx for the info.

5

Seems like valid comments, that would apply to a given person, depending on their requirements/needs/interests in such a gun.

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so it’s the propreitary magazines?
I can certainly see that for LE or MIL as an issue

7

no issues with varying rounds, neither did Karl with his reloads

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True, but many guns have proprietary mags from all brands. Short of 1911s (and that’s iffy too…) what brands can really be swapped? Gonna swap a Glock mag with a Sig or an MnP? Nope. So in truth, they are all proprietary in one form or another. However, in the larger reality, if you are the only guy on your dept/unit with this gun, and thus the only guy with those mags, that would be a bad ju ju for you no doubt. I don’t think this gun has any intentions of making major strides into mil or LEO in quantity. Like any of the high end expensive offerings, they tend to stay niche no?

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Good to know, thanx. :wink:

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yep, I doubt sincerely Bill has any intentions of trying to appeal to the mass market

I owned a custom mountain bike shop, my cheapest bikes started about 4K and went up from there

you can’t convince someone they need to spend the money
either they have a true “need” for it or they just want it

with bike’s the cheaper ones just flat out wouldn’t hold up

that’s not true with today’s good guns like Glocks, M&Ps, etc…

I play guitar too, the better stuff just flat out plays and sounds better

so, the whole cost justification thing is something everyone has to figure out for themselves…

11

I offered an opinion. For all I know, Delta could be boxing them up by the truckload for the GWOT.

As for the magazines, my point is that there will never be millions (whatever) in circulation (as there are with SIGs, S&W, Glocks, AKs, etc.) because only Wilson will make them and they are a small shop - nothing in comparison to the scale of other makers. It did occur to me that other weapons use single-source magazines. It is a consideration.

M_P

12

yep, that’s valid
you won’t be able to find them just at any shop in town or LE/MIL supply.

I have a friend who will only own guns in calibers that are LE/MIL, same concerns
I get that and own numerous for the same reasons but also have stuff that isn’t because it fits a purpose

13

Agreed, and well said. A quartz movement Timex will tell time more accurately then any high end mechanical watch, etc.

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And it’s a consideration that is very valid, depending on the needs/goals of the end user. I wouldn’t go off to Iraq with one being the only guy for thousands miles with those mags, but I wouldn’t hesitate to carry it CCW knowing I had say 5 more of them at home.

15

agreed 100%

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Am I missing something, or is it simply a double stack 9mm plastic 1911? Baer did a steel, double stack in .40… I am not a big .40 guy but if I was looking for capacity thats the direction I would go.

I find nothing other than capacity interesting about it, especially the name! If I want a 1911, its made of a slab ole steel and chambered in .45 or 38 Super… YMMV

If I want a high capacity plastic 9mm, it will be another P30 or a M&P.

Sorry, but I don’t really see the appeal or the market it is intended to fill, and I’m a 1911 guy.

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I owned a KZ45 once, it was a disaster. Between the crappy expensive mag issues and EE it wouldnt run worth a damn. And the flip on that light frame with the big ol heavy slide was monster. Nice trigger though.

For the money, in 9mm? STI Tactical 4.15 hands down.

what the appeal say some?

well, you can get GLOCK cappacity and a 1911 trigger, similar ergonomics, and familiar controls. In 9mm they are a dream to shoot. Softer than the G19, simliar size, and that triggggggggeeerrr…

I had a STI 4.15 in 40SW, it was a beast with that obnoxious round in the smaller gun. And the grip was too fat, fatter than a GLOCK. But you can have them reduced and fit to your hand even.

STI mags are abundant, even if pricey.

good STI review here from a guy I know:
http://forum.pafoa.org/pistols-41/19347-sti-2011-tactical-4-15-review.html
Ive shot that gun, its an amazing pistol

I still prefer an all steel 45ACP though.

18

mine’s not going anywhere :slight_smile:

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my buddies thoughts on it

http://hsoiblog.wordpress.com/2010/01/10/wilson-combat-spec-ops-9/

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A hidden gem from that article:

is this gun worth $1000-$1500 more than my customized Springfield XD?

M_P