What's the deal with the custom .45?

C

Cullen

New member
I am seriously boggling on the length of several recent threads on "ultimate" .45 carry guns. I mean, what in the world does a .45 give you that you don't get with a .40? Are they THAT different in stopping power, reliability, penetration, etc. that you could justify spending usually TWICE what an expensive .40 costs to get a custom .45? I've seen .45s for $2500 and more - or 4 TIMES the cost of a Sig P229. How did a gun that has to be tuned, screwed with, modified, and altered 6 ways to Sunday just to be reliable become so popular? I read people slamming Kimber left and right or talking about their wonderful customer service, on the other hand. I would think the mark of a good gun is never having to find out how good the service is! Yet dozens of Kimber owners know people by name at the factory! Shouldn't a gun costing that much shoot well without help?

Someone, please tell me why a $2500 Wilson, Les Baer, or whatever is worth it! My main beef with the .45 is that the platform for launching this venerated bullet is far more expensive than would SEEM to be warranted. But I'm a know-nothing so far - I'm prepared to be convinced if someone is convincing.

Cullen

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Those who say Science disproves the existence of God understand neither Science nor God.

We scoff at honor and then are surprised to discover traitors in our midst - Edmund Burke
 
Some people enjoy torture.

Buy a Glock 30.

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BOYCOTT SLICK & WESSON

"To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it."
Confucius
 
Cullen---

Bingo! You win!

Same reason guys like old cars,old movies,and memorbilia, nostalga.

Like I keep saying here---they are a lot of fun,keep it at that.

Take care-
 
You make a good point Cullen. Its hard to improve on a good Sig. However, I don't think that it is so much an issue with people about improving on an already good platform. I guess everyone who owns a custom 1911 has there own reasons, but I think there are two big reasons why most who opt for that choice do.

1. A custom pistol is personal. It is a highly personalized machine that reflects an intimate part of what someone considers to be very important to them. I am not saying that a production gun is any less important to its owner. I am just saying that some like the little nuances and options that are available. Which brings me to my next point.

2. The 1911 style 45 (with 40S&W option) is the only handgun with more options and variety of parts than a man can count in one afternoon. It is the most marketed handgun in all of history. People change them because THEY CAN. If Sig had so many options, manufacturers, and parts to improve its performance, etc., there would be many of us doing the same with Sigs I think. I happen to shoot a very customized Sig and plan to make some further changes. Does it really NEED it to be an awesome firearm? No. I just like to tinker and customize Sigs thats all.

Again, some like to sink a lot of money into baseball cards, cars, pick ups, etc. I think its the same when it comes down to 1911s. They've had plenty of advertising exposure the past 90 years and have been in the hands of many a soldier. You make a good point Cullen. It got the gears in my brain to start turning. BTW, I like your Sig. Yeah, the 229 is great, but I'm talking about your other sig. ;)

robert



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"But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." -Jesus Christ (Luke 22:36, see John 3:15-18)
 
In terms of effectiveness you're absolutely right. I own a Glock 34 and a SA loaded 1911. Even though the 1911 is 14 oz. heavier and has half the capacity (with a pre-ban magazine in the Glock) it is my favorite gun. I havn't customized it yet, but may at some point. The cost of the SA was about $35 more. It just feels great and I shoot it better than my other guns. If you havn't already - shoot one! Wouldn't mind getting a SIG 229 in the future!
 
One can get great pleasure out of beating the $2500 guns with a $535 Kimber. Saw a shooter at one of the local matches that had a "race" gun and holster costing over $3000. Could not hit his fanny with both hands. World is full of people who have more money than sense and also people who are glad to relieve them of it.
 
You ever shot a good custom 1911? That would answer most of your questions if you had. :)

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For 1911 fans and all firearms enthusiasts
www.1911forum.com
 
Why do people buy a $900 AR that fouls up after one magazine? Why would they buy a rifle that is torture to clean? Because it's:

A. "cool" looking
B. HIGHLY customizable
C. Says a lot about the owner
D. Accuarate

Although you can get a much more accurate bolt action varmint rifle, the AR has a mystique to it. The same as a 1911.

Any Joe can go buy an out of the box Sig, Beretta, Glock etc but a customized 1911 is one of a kind. You can buy an out of the box Springfield and it'll function great as a carry gun. You don't have to customized. The same applies to many other 1911's.

Hell, look at the Browning Hi-Power! Look at the many customized Glocks. Do any of them need all the bells and whistles? No.

Yeah it's completely worthless to have an expensive firearm if the shooter can't hit the broad side of a barn. It wouldn't matter if he owned a 1911, Sig, H&K whatever. However, if the shooter does his part, the 1911 is VERY accurate.

I can at times get sub 1" groupings with my Les Baer. It's a dream to shoot as are my Wilsons. FOR ME, I own plenty of off the shelf pistols. I shoot them every so often but to be honest, I'm bored with them. None of my "out of the box" pistols are nearly as accurate as my "over-priced" 1911's. Including my Sig P229.

Just my .02
 
I must be having a "senior moment" here. I have shot several Wilsons and Les Baers in the $1500 - $2500 price range. They don't have better trigger pulls nor are they any more accurate than my Kimbers.They function the same and are no more reliable. I must admit most of them are prettier than my much used Kimbers. Most of the owners seem really concerned about holster wear or scratches. Money is not an issue, just does not make sense to throw it away though. Just my .02.
 
Kinda' felt the same way, until (after picking up a Caspian 45 slide of a prize table) I built a totally custom gunsmith-part 1911 that I understood the attraction.

This was not my first custom gun, just my first (and still only) 1911.

I often beat my hi-cap custom 9mm Witness with my 8-round custom 1911. Maybe it's because I've installed a ghost-ring rear/optic-fiber front sight arrangement, or maybe it's the under-2lb trigger, or maybe the bore axis and angle as it sits in my hand.

I like it; good gun.

All my guns have been altered; perhaps it's just me.

Oh, and the 1911 is going to Robar this week; new finish (NP3), maybe some tweaking, too.
NOTHING is EVER good enough...

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
Cullen,
Does a pickup with new rims, a color-keyed bug shield and bed cover, chrome brush guard, etc. make sense to you? How about a GT Mustang over an LX? Or a Harley over a Honda? If your answer to these questions is no, then I think it's a matter of "If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand."
My $.02
Eric


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Teach a kid to shoot. It annoys the antis.
 
The "ultimate" .45 carry gun, in my opinion, would be either a Glock G21 or G30 with a ramp & chamber polish job. I could have two each of these for what a "custom" 1911 costs. Just my preference. That's what makes the 1911 desireable and worth the $$$ to some...personal preference. :)


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Cover your six...

R6
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>I mean, what in the world does a .45 give you that you don't get with a .40? Are they THAT different in stopping power, reliability, penetration, etc. that you could justify spending usually TWICE what an expensive .40 costs to get a custom .45?[/quote]

Some folks wonder why anyone would buy a SIG .40 instead of a Ruger 9mm. ;)
 
Puddle Pirate, good answer. However, I bought the LX coupe over the GT and the Buick T-Type instead of the Grand National. I like function before flash.
 
Without getting into a Kimber argument, lemme just add that in no way shape or form do my Kimbers perform as well as my custom jobbies. ALL THREE KIMBERS I bought came with sh!t triggers. I took each one to my local gunsmith to get the creep out. One was a Gold Match, other a Super Match and last was an Ultra Elite. They function flawlessly but each "high-priced" 1911 I bought came with CRISP trigger pulls.

You also get NM quality barrels and parts, adjustable sights, etc. You get MIM parts with the Kimber. You get great customer service and a lifetime warranty. Kimber? HA.

Kimbers are nice but you're brainwashed. I own 3 and can tell a drastic difference between the them and my customs. Don't knock a custom 1911 until you own one and put a 1000 rounds through it.
 
Comparing a $600 Kimber to a $2000 Les Baer is like comparing a Ruger to a Sig. I don't think so.

Joe, you have in your profile corvettes and turbo buicks for your hobby. Fast cars are a joy, but then you make the statement
"I like function before flash."

Gimmie a break.

[This message has been edited by Svt (edited March 29, 2000).]
 
Some people, like myself, cannot be completely satisfied by a non-1911. For me, no other gun fits my hand better, and I'm faster and more accurate with a customized 1911 than anything else I've ever shot. Sure, I love Glocks too, as they are reliable, rugged, and accurate enough, while being not too expensive. However, I will never shoot a Glock as well as a customized 1911. Now, note that I said customized? Why spend a lot of money on a customized 1911? Because for me, that's what it takes to get a handgun to become ideal for me. For instance, I must have an extended ambi safety, and a high grip beavertail. This aids in speed and comfort for me. A crisp trigger job, good sights, and some other things also contribute to a better pistol for me.
"Why spend over $1000-2000 on a flashy unreliable 1911?" First, who said they are unreliable? If I spend a good amount on a customized 1911, I guarantee you it will be completely reliable, probably more so than other pistols (even my Glocks have choked on me before, with good ammo). Second, I do agree that function comes before looks. However, if you can have a nice looking pistol that instills pride of ownership without sacrificing reliability, then why not?
I'm picky about which handguns I shoot. And this pickiness often comes with a higher price tag. Many people feel that Glocks, SIGS, HK's, etc are ideal for them, and so be it then. For me, it's a 1911 customized to my specs, and if I have to pay a higher price to get what suits me the best, so be it.
The same analogy can be made with shoes. I also have a fascination with nice shoes. Sure, I can get cheaper shoes that may last well. But for me, only certain kinds of shoes provide the level of comfort, quality, and looks that I like. And often, it is the small details that make all the difference to me. Of course, the shoes I like also carry a higher price tag. But if I find the right shoe, I am willing to shell out a little more for it
 
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