Les Baer Thunder Ranch .45ACP

M

michaelg

Retired Screen Name
I just purchased a Les Baer Thunder Ranch, and was wondering if anyone out there had any input/opinion on performance? How do you like yours, any performance issues I should be aware of with my first Les Baer, etc.?

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"I love to do things that scare me, for without fear there is no courage."
 
Fire at the very least, 500 rounds through it before you make judgement. It'll take that amount just to break it in. I have a concept III which is a tack driver.

If you plan on using it as your carry gun, I suggest sending it to Steve Clark Custom for reliability work. He worked on 12 or so Thunder Ranches this past year due to several problems. I wasn't paying attention when he was blabbing away but if you give him a shout, he'll be more than happy to answer you questions concerning the TR.

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Son
1911 Addiction
"Rangers Lead the Way!"
 
I've shot one extensively and it ranks way up there on my list of accurate gun. It worked from the getgo with everything including wadcutter but they are usually so tight that a breakin of several hundred rounds is a good idea.
 
You need to read Les's warranty before you let anyone else touch the gun. If anyone but Les works on the gun it will void your warranty. If it needs some work, send it back to Les. He'll make it right. :cool:
 
Geez, Son! A Thunder Ranch, as a pricey customized "combat" 1911, shouldn't need any work. What broke? One or two failures can be expected, but 12?
 
Hi, new member here. I bought a couple of the early issues (TR0037, TR0038)for myself and my wife. They are extremely tight (i.e. a press check is impossible), but loosen up after about 1000 rounds. The rear sight on both have come loose, easily fixed with locktite but annoying on such an expensive weapon. That aside I like them well enough to have ordered two more. To quote Clint Smith "when you find a reliable gun you like, buy another one".
 
The early TR's are great. They were what Clint Smith had in mind. The later TR's are a different story. As for the problems with the 12 TR's Steve Clark worked on, I sent him an email and when I get a reply, I'll post it. I think it had something to do with the barrel and feed ramp.
 
This is from Steve Clark:

The main problems that I have come across have been;
1) reliability - this is the main reason that they are sent to me.
2) barrel not fit properly/barrel throat over cut
3) bushing not fit to barrel properly- too tight
4) trigger tracks in frame off- trigger has unsightly gap at bottom cosmetic only)
5) poor trigger job
6) extractor tension too tight, and not tuned properly
7) ejector not tuned properly-cases hitting shooter in face
8) slide stop not fit properly-ball rnds hit pad causing premature slide lock/or too stiff a detent not allowing slide stop to lock up completely

These are the main problems that I have encountered on the TR, Steve Clark
 
These points present a dilemma. The gun is brand new, no problems at present. A great piece. I've been in touch with Steve about the items he would do to improve performance and was planning to send it out at the end of next week. However, if that voids the warrantee, should I do that? Or should I send it to Les and have him do all the stuff? Or should I hang loose and fight the urge for perfection? This is a tough call. What do you guys think?

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"I love to do things that scare me, for without fear there is no courage."
 
In firing the TR, since the grip is thin, do you handle it any differently? I found in the beginning that I was grouping to the left, and I thought it might be because the thin grip was rotating the barrel slightly to the left. Has this happened to anyone, or am I imagining it?

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"I love to do things that scare me, for without fear there is no courage."
 
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