Les Baer or Valtro?

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Lt. G

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I want to purchase either a Les Baer or a Valtro (45 cal. of course). I wanted to get ya'lls opinion on both weapons. Those who own them sound off with the good points as well as the bad.
On a side note, I own Kimber, Colt , Glock, Sig, Para - Ords all in 45 cal. Fine weapons all, but I'm looking to spend hard earned cash on one of these two weapons and I value our members comments.
Thanx, Lt. G
 
This is just my personal take on it. These are just impressions based on limited experience with either gun.

The Valtro is a killer value, and the personal attention Jardine gives each gun is a big plus in my book. The newest ones have more tasteful markings, which is just icing on the cake.

If you are an accuracy fanatic, the Baer with the 1.5" @ 50 yard accuracy guarantee may be the best choice. Baer makes pretty much the tightest and (arguably) most accurate limited production 1911s out there. However, the Valtro is no slacker in that regard, and unless you are truly awesome the odds you will see the difference (and gun-to-gun, that difference may not exist at all) are small.

You will find more complaints about Baers on 1911forum.com than you will about Valtros. On the other hand, that is probably in large part due to the fact that Baer is making more guns than Valtro is, and in more varieties. Baer inspires fanatical (borderline crazy, actually) loyalty, which says alot, and not just for their marketing.

My personal preference would tend towards the Valtro right now instead of, say, a Baer Premier II. All in all, I find them cosmetically more appealing, and the fact that Jardine massages each one prior to shipment means alot in my book. However, if you were leaning more towards a "practical weapon," a TR Special would be a better choice.
 
Wellll....

"Les Baer" encompasses a lot of guns, from the National Match Hardball pistol, with a $1,335 MSRP to the personalized Limited Edition Les Baer Presentation Grade 1911 with a $6,186 MSRP.

Valtros come in pretty much one flavor.

Which one are you talking about? ;)
 
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I'd go with the Les Baer. I don't care for the corny "1998A1" model name, nor do I like polishing so heavy the gun looks like it's got ten coats of polyurethane on it.
 
Thanks for all the replies/pics and info. I should have been more specific. My price range is $2000.00. The weapon should be sturdy/depenable enough for daily carry,(don't just want a safe queen). It should have great accuracy right out the box. And I want it to be different, with the ability to brag on it at the range or conversations. A little vain, I admit, but thats my story and I'm strickin' to it.
 
Most people (me included) would consider fixed sights better than adjustables for daily carry. With that and your budget in mind I'd suggest the following:

Ed Brown Kobra
Wilson CQB
Les Baer TR Special
STI Eagle 5.0 w/ single stack grip option
 
I have a Premier II - which I bought very slightly used. The pistol hasn't jammed in several thousand rounds, is very accurate, and has a good trigger and good sights. What more can one ask for?

Personally, if you're looking for a shooter, you ought to be able to get something really nice, semi-custom, for about $1500, give or take a bit.

For some of the other pistols mentioned, My impressions are:

Ed Brown Kobra: Very nice. But you pay about $500 just for the Ed Brown name. A quibble - one Kobra I handled needed a little mild dehorning on the right side about where the trigger guard met the frame, just in front of the mag release. I think if I fired several boxes through it, it would rub my middle finger raw.

Wilson: Generally well made, but the ones I've handled had too many sharp edges all over. Normally you won't notice, but this is a problem if you're shooting in, say, a class and burn up 1000+ rounds in a weekend. I've seen more than one Wilson shooter with tape on his thumb or the web of his hand by the 2nd day of a class! Note that Wilson has some "upscale" models with $100 more in features which he sells for >$500 extra. (Price Rule: If it says "Tactical" or "CQB" it carries a premium price.)

Les Baer TR Special: Nice gun, but you pay about $100 extra for the TR logo.

STI: heard good and bad, no 1st-hand experience.

Colt: Very spotty quality. Some are reputedly nice, but I've seen - and had! - some real dogs. (And their warranty "service" is terrible.)

Valtro: Can't say, no 1st hand experience.
 
I own several Les Baers, all the TRSs. I am very happy with them.

I went the route Wild mentioned and have had custom guns built by gun rag smiths. Not happy at all with any of them!:fire:

Les Baer strong points: strengths of 1911 design, Les Baer build, excellent customer service, ready out of box, multiple copies can be purchased off the shelf.

Les Baer weak points: weaknesses of 1911 design, I prefer different coloured night sights (YMMV), silly, inane overtravel screw (I do not understand how this silly thing is on the weapon as Clint Smith had a lot of say in it).
 
I love this thread...Im considering buying a highend gun but dont know what or which one currently.
Ive shot a couple but not all of them.
I have the STI and shoot a LB Conc 7 on a regular basis. Ive shot Wilsons and prefer the Baer to those that Ive shot. My STI Ranger is too damn short in the grip to really give a "gun to gun" comparison with anything else, but helps conceal more easily than the larger versions.
Theres an STI Trojan with a 45/40 Super barrels locally...and would be a hell of a fun gun to shoot, but carry the with the gun the 45 barrel.

The Valtro looks/reads/is alledgedly a very very good deal. If they offered an "off the shelf version" with fixed carry sights, it would be an easier decision. Should be cheaper too.....typically anyway.

Good luck and shoot well
 
Ive shot Wilsons and prefer the Baer to those that Ive shot
Click to expand...

Could you tell me why? I'm looking for a higher end gun now but have not been able to try a Bear (or an STI) The Wilson fits great because it seems as though its cut up higher under the trigger guard - is the Bear the same? Trojan?
 
The current model Wilson's (I think) and Baer's have the high cut frame as do the pistols by John Jardine. The removel of the metel under the trigger guard does let your hand get just a bit higher grip.

I have pistols with this (Baer TR Specials) and without and I prefer the ones with the metal removed, but I am not sure that it makes that much difference.
 
Wild Alaska has it right

Get a Colt and have a guy like Ted Yost build it for you.
Or if you dont want to wait buy an Ed Brown.
I have handled and shot all of the semi custom guns and I find Brown to be of the best quality.
I am troubled by Les Baer's extreme barrel hood tightnes(I think its a gimmick that adds nothing but a pain in the @#$ to the user). Brown has consistently been the nicest of these type of guns.
BUT YOU CANNOT BEAT A FULLHOUSE CUSTOM!
 
Man, you guys are hurtin' me with the pics of the two-tone Baer, and the Custome Jardine Valtro!!! Two of the most awesome pistols I have ever laid eyes on!

Can anybody convince me that there is a BAD choice to be made here?
 
Hard to believe you could pick a bad one from the choices listed.

If I was picking, I would want to, at least, handle it. There are slight differences in beavertails, high grip, etc. May not make a difference, but at that price range, small differences may be the deciding factor.

And, for me, looks would be a deciding factor in that price range.

At, $700-1000, appearance is not a factor, but at $1500-2000?
 
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