The prodigal Nighthawk .45 returns

[vanfunk]

100 rounds, 25 yards as fast as I could load and fire. The mirage off the barrel was making the target wavy at the last magazine. Nighthawk replaced the barrel and extractor and test-fired it with mixed ball and target wadcutters. Yeah, it works now.

 

[Mark_Mark]

View attachment 1196603

100 rounds, 25 yards as fast as I could load and fire. The mirage off the barrel was making the target wavy at the last magazine. Nighthawk replaced the barrel and extractor and test-fired it with mixed ball and target wadcutters. Yeah, it works now.

25 yards standing? how do you guys see that far??

 

[vanfunk]

VERY thick glasses!

 

[ontarget]

Hey, you lost one there in the 8 ring.
Keep practicing, you'll get better. LoL

 

[Mark_Mark]

VERY thick glasses!

It’s just hard to think that can be done with any gun @ 75 feet. that’s a 10 yarder for me if I have a STi Cabot Nighthawk

 

[vanfunk]

I was NEVER a good shot until this year. I decided to semi-mostly retire and shoot a lot, which has helped immensely. I also discovered the joy of a really good trigger and sights. I can barely keep a Glock, any Glock, on paper at 25 yards it seems, even with a red dot (and I envy people who can shoot Glocks, I just can’t, really). But a high quality 1911, or a CZ, or one of my Pythons, man, I can lay them in there now and it’s very satisfying. I still struggle with total consistency and always pull a few, which is why I typically shoot groups of 10, 20, 50, even 100 rounds so the flyers don’t look so bad when the center is chewed out, lol. I also do a lot of handgun shooting at 50 yards (8” plate”) and that challenge really seems to have helped at shorter distances as well. Honestly I never thought I’d be a good shot; who knew that if I just shot 10k rounds a month, I’d get better?!

Rifles are another matter and now I really need a 25x scope to hit anything over 100 yards!

 

[Mark_Mark]

I was NEVER a good shot until this year. I decided to semi-mostly retire and shoot a lot, which has helped immensely. I also discovered the joy of a really good trigger and sights. I can barely keep a Glock, any Glock, on paper at 25 yards it seems, even with a red dot (and I envy people who can shoot Glocks, I just can’t, really). But a high quality 1911, or a CZ, or one of my Pythons, man, I can lay them in there now and it’s very satisfying. I still struggle with total consistency and always pull a few, which is why I typically shoot groups of 10, 20, 50, even 100 rounds so the flyers don’t look so bad when the center is chewed out, lol. I also do a lot of handgun shooting at 50 yards (8” plate”) and that challenge really seems to have helped at shorter distances as well. Honestly I never thought I’d be a good shot; who knew that if I just shot 10k rounds a month, I’d get better?!

Rifles are another matter and now I really need a 25x scope to hit anything over 100 yards!

Same here man! I’m a Trophy husband but it’s really hard work looking good and rising kids. But, I have 2-3 range seasons a week now. And I finally became a decent shot. At 5-10 yards BULLEYE. 12 yards plus is where my eyes are like Naw Bro! but I do love iron sights

 

[tarosean]

25 yards standing? how do you guys see that far??

tri-focals. You will get there one day.

 

[TomJ]

One of our LGS' has this gun chambered in 9mm for sale that's used, but looks like it's never been shot. They had it on sale for $3000 over the weekend. I made the mistake of stopping by to take a look at it as it's a thing of beauty and it's hard to resist the urge to go back and buy it. It has the smoothest slide I've seen with a trigger that's perfect. They still have it, but I decided to pay off my truck instead of buying this gun. Sometimes being responsible stinks.

 

[lightman]

They still have it, but I decided to pay off my truck instead of buying this gun. Sometimes being responsible stinks.

Yes it does!!!

Would love to have a Nighthawk! Someday I'll bite the bullet and make it happen. I would want a 45 but I don't know which model I would want.

 

[Mark_Mark]

One of our LGS' has this gun chambered in 9mm for sale that's used, but looks like it's never been shot. They had it on sale for $3000 over the weekend. I made the mistake of stopping by to take a look at it as it's a thing of beauty and it's hard to resist the urge to go back and buy it. It has the smoothest slide I've seen with a trigger that's perfect. They still have it, but I decided to pay off my truck instead of buying this gun. Sometimes being responsible stinks.

$3,000 is getting expensive but Night Hawk cost like $4000 to $100,000+

I personally LOVE used guns! and remember, there’s always a bill to pay

 

[TomJ]

$3,000 is getting expensive but Night Hawk cost like $4000 to $100,000+

I personally LOVE used guns! and remember, there’s always a bill to pay

It is a great deal for a Nighthawk. The LGS tends to run these sales on the weekends. I have quite a few guns, some of which I haven't shot in a while. If it's still there this weekend and it's on sale again I may take a look at trading in some safe queens to offset the price of this one.

 

[Mark_Mark]

It is a great deal for a Nighthawk. The LGS tends to run these sales on the weekends. I have quite a few guns, some of which I haven't shot in a while. If it's still there this weekend and it's on sale again I may take a look at trading in some safe queens to offset the price of this one.

at $3,000 and if it was the busy Summer Uber season in Seattle. I would do it! they shoot really good too, feeds everything. And it’s in 9mm, 1911’s eat 9mm like Candy

 

[tarosean]

$3,000 is getting expensive but Night Hawk cost like $4000 to $100,000+

Show me that 6 figure + Nighthawk.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Show me that 6 figure + Nighthawk.

was a Joke!

 

[Mark_Mark]

View attachment 1196603

100 rounds, 25 yards as fast as I could load and fire. The mirage off the barrel was making the target wavy at the last magazine. Nighthawk replaced the barrel and extractor and test-fired it with mixed ball and target wadcutters. Yeah, it works now.

all seriousness… is this one if those gun shop or fish tales?!?!! a little stretched, no judgment! you are making the goal pos longer now. I’m starting to feel like a 49er kicker.

 

[vanfunk]

All seriousness. I don’t post the targets that DON’T look good! Ha! Wait, here’s one. I thought I deleted this but here it is:



That’s my beloved Colt SAA .45. Sometimes I shoot it well, sometimes I don’t. This looks more like a pattern from my Mossberg Shockwave.

Here’s why I think I shoot the Nighthawk so well:

1) it’s intrinsically accurate so all mistakes are mine. This gun will shoot 1” or less groups off a bench at 25 yards.
2) it fits my hand very well so I am very consistent shot to shot.
3) It’s an inherently accurate caliber.
4) the sights (Heinie) are perfect and present a very clear sight picture.
5) the trigger has about 1/32” of takeup then breaks effortlessly at 2-2.5 lbs with a teeeeeeeeny bit of overtravel, and the reset is miniscule.

When all of the above elements come together, I shoot well. When they don’t, I don’t. My CZ competition pistols, my Nighthawk, my Pythons and my Anaconda (Colts all have custom grips) all meet the criteria. Pretty much everything else doesn’t, so I am a mediocre shot. Everything literally needs to be perfect, and when it is, I shine. When it isn’t, I suck.

 

[Mark_Mark]

All seriousness. I don’t post the targets that DON’T look good! Ha! Wait, here’s one. I thought I deleted this but here it is:

View attachment 1196712

That’s my beloved Colt SAA .45. Sometimes I shoot it well, sometimes I don’t. This looks more like a pattern from my Mossberg Shockwave.

Here’s why I think I shoot the Nighthawk so well:

1) it’s intrinsically accurate so all mistakes are mine. This gun will shoot 1” or less groups off a bench at 25 yards.
2) it fits my hand very well so I am very consistent shot to shot.
3) It’s an inherently accurate caliber.
4) the sights (Heinie) are perfect and present a very clear sight picture.
5) the trigger has about 1/32” of takeup then breaks effortlessly at 2-2.5 lbs with a teeeeeeeeny bit of overtravel, and the reset is miniscule.

When all of the above elements come together, I shoot well. When they don’t, I don’t. My CZ competition pistols, my Nighthawk, my Pythons and my Anaconda (Colts all have custom grips) all meet the criteria. Pretty much everything else doesn’t, so I am a mediocre shot. Everything literally needs to be perfect, and when it is, I shine. When it isn’t, I suck.

Now We Talking!!! that grouping makes me feel better!

I’m going to try my NH at longer distances too

 

[vanfunk]

Haha! I knew it would, lol.

The Nighthawk Combat Special currently retails for $3,899, which I think makes it the “cheapest” of the lineup. I like it because it’s no frills - I don’t like a lot of crap on a 1911. The smoked nitride finish is very pleasing to my eye and reminds me of my old Remington Rand, polished by three wars.

Finding a LNIB example for $3k is very good and I imagine it’s super accurate. Mine was a catastrophe out of the box but NHC made it right quickly. Bob Reeves, the Custom Shop manager, is extremely responsive and helpful in resolving issues.

I am currently thinking about a Sandhawk or a Firehawk for a double stack 9mm. Or an Atlas. Hmmmm. It’s getting harder to make decisions. I wish I had a better sampling of used guns near me; but around here, people hold on to their guns!

 

[kidneyboy]

One of our LGS' has this gun chambered in 9mm for sale that's used, but looks like it's never been shot. They had it on sale for $3000 over the weekend. I made the mistake of stopping by to take a look at it as it's a thing of beauty and it's hard to resist the urge to go back and buy it. It has the smoothest slide I've seen with a trigger that's perfect. They still have it, but I decided to pay off my truck instead of buying this gun. Sometimes being responsible stinks.

Which gun shop?

 

[TomJ]

Which gun shop?

Elkhorn Gun Barrel. That was their sale price over the weekend. Right now it’s listed for $3800. I don’t know if they would honor the sale price or if it’ll go back on sale next weekend.