Thunder Ranch 1911

[Agent Smith]

Does anyone own, handled or fired a Les Baer Thunder Ranch 1911 pistol? What are your opinions of the TR 1911s and Les Baer in general?

Here is a link to the Les Baer Website:

http://www.lesbaer.com/thundr.html



Thanks.

 

[Frank Ettin]

I've been very pleased with Les Baer guns. My first 1911 was a Premier II. It was my IPSC gun (shooting in the Limited and later in the Limited 10 Divisions). I've had it about 12 years, and it has on the order of 40,000 trouble free, major power factor rounds through it. It remains tight, smooth, accurate and reliable.

I also have had a Concept IV for about 10 years. I've used it some for IPSC competition as well, and I used it at Gunsite when I took the five day handgun class (250) in 2001. It's had about 12,000 to 15,000 rounds through it.

I also have an SRP and a TRS. The TRS has been a fine gun (as they all have been) Here it is:



This is the SRP:

 

[Butter]

Have one. Like it. I believer there are some other threads on this same gun. Good price for what you get when comparing Wilsons, Browns, and Nighthawks.

Tightest barrel bushing I have ever met on a 1911 though. I would encourage you to get a bore snake if you don't have one yet and you do pick up a Les Baer.

As far the gun goes, accuracte, well fitted, good trigger, night sights, reliable and feels good in the hand. Finish? So-so. Grips? I don't like the slick, laser logoed TRS grips that came with it. But I usually replace the grips on my 1911s anyway.

Great gun!

 

[me2]

Les Baer TRS is a great choice.

It is widely regarded as a good value when buying a higher end production 1911.

I have found it to be a step above other 1911's I have or have owned, 2 Kimbers, S&W PD tuned by the performance center, and a pre-CZ Dan Wesson PTE.

Mine is very accurate and reliable, I have a few thousand rounds through it and just started to use it in IDPA and IPSC this year. It is easy to shoot well.

Since I have started using it, I will get two rounds through the same hole on a couple of targets during matches (just had two touching on one target, and three touching on the next in an IDPA match). Rarely happens with my other pistols, though the Dan Wesson is in the running.

I also removed the slim logo grips.

 

[Jimfern]

TRS

I have a Norinco, Colt Commander and a LB TRS. You can tell the difference in the craftmanship and the trigger is amazing. If you have the funds and have an appreciation for high quality work, it's a good buy. If not, they all go bang.

 

[John Parker]

This complete choad had one at my CCW class, talking about how he'd taken some classes there. Well, his shooting certainly didn't reflect that! It was great when the instructor asked to shoot his gun and destroyed the x-ring.

It was a very nice gun, too nice to be wasted on a tool like that.

 

[rellascout]

The Les Baer TRS is the perfect entry point to the world that is semi-custom and custom 1911s.

It does everything well. Some people do not like the thin grips but that is easily correctable. It simply has a different feel to it.

I own Colts, Owed a Sig, Owned Yost Gunsite pistol (from before he was Ted Yost), own a Nork you get the picture.

The Les Baer is sweet. It is my go to 1911. My only complaint is that the blue is pretty thin.

 

[Huesman]

For the money you can not go wrong with a Baer. IMOP it's a bargain for what you get!

 

[surjimmy]

Only have a PII in 45 and 38 Super, been wanting a Thunder Ranch. If it's a Baer it's got to be good.

 

[phanderson]

The Thunder Ranch Special was my first Baer and still my favorite. I have fired several thousand rounds of all kinds through it and it never misses a beat. Great value for the price and a pistol that I would trust in any situation requiring its use. VZ grips in place of the TRS grips. I get a better hold with these.


The TRS is way more capable than I am. This is a 10 shot group, slow fire, standing at 30 feet. This is great for me.

 

[FMF]

dang good choice. My TRS has been a wonderful shooter and eats anything I feed it. It's the tightest slide to frame fit I've ever felt and glides smooth on them, too. You can't go wrong with any Les Baer, really.

I almost feel bad carrying this thing in a Supertuck every time I go out....almost

 

[Clarence]

I had one and it shot great. The quality is outstanding, but it was a pain to disassemble. The bushing was incredibly tight.

I wish I still had it, but I prefer my Ed Brown.

 

[bryanZ06]

I'm SERIOUSLY considering buying one in the next few weeks.

 

[phanderson]

I'm SERIOUSLY considering buying one in the next few weeks.

Give Crazy John at Pro Load a call for what is probably the lowest prices and quickest delivery you can find.

http://www.proload.com/

 

[Rexster]

I am very pleased with mine. It has been reliable from round one; no mythical 1500-round break-in needed. Les Baer frames fit my hand better than standard 1911 frames, with the way the junction of the trigger guard and front strap is relieved, or as some say, high-cut. I plan to replace the two-dot rear sight with a wider-notch plain black Novak.