steviesterno

fair enough. if it was in perfect condition I think it might be worth it, just since inflation has hit nice 1911s so much in the last decade. But if it's used and abused, pass it on...

$800 would be a steal. I would take it at that, sight unseen. Their frames and slides with a decent barrel sell for that much, so if you get the gun cheap and have to put some work into it, it's still a decent deal. One problem though, you will stop shooting your kimber and the colt will rattle like crazy after you shoot a used but not abused Baer... I prefer to get them used since someone else buttered them up with the first few thousand rounds!

I'm a die hard les baer guy... Only because there was a used one on GunBroker listed as "Silver color, fiber optic sights, scratched but not damaged, $875" I bought it in an instant after hearing about the quality. It turned out to be a concept V stainless, made in 2000 I have to say it was someone's USPSA/IDPA pistol because it was scuffed from holster wear, but mechanically perfect. I have put thousands and thousands of rounds through it since I got it 2 years ago, and I still need the bushing wrench to take it apart. I ended up bragging about it and finding the original owner on 1911forums.com (which is great for gear talk, btw) and he told me about it, how it was only powder puff loads, etc. It's an amazing gun, they are known for being perfectly fit but not overly well finished. Personally, that's what I care about. All I did to make it fully competition ready was a Dawson magwell and my preferred grips, but it has been flawless for me. I went from U, to D, to high C all last year, and should make A or higher with it this year. I won a SS match with it this weekend, and plan on doing that the rest of the season. I know that you will not be disappointed. All Les's guns are guarenteed to make a 3" group or better at 50 yards, and the blued ones can come with a 1.5 inch at 50 yards guarantee. Call Les with the Serial number and find out which it is. I can regularly hit a clay pigeon at 75-100 yards with mine. my only problem is I can't ever blame the gun if I don't hit that A zone

the other is the lower-end Lee progressive press. I forget the name of it, but a few buddies load on it and it seems to make sense. I would want to probably do a whole powder drop, too, since I don't feel like re-adjusting that every time I switch loads. Or is that not really worth it to do? I would be fine loading a few K rounds of one caliber before switching, and have a perfect 45 recipe. Once I find a 9mm that runs, I will just use that. I'm also thinking about using clays for 9mm, since I hear it's really soft and I already get it by the 8 pound Jug. I'm also realizing I'm broke, and thinking about shooting lead in both 230 gn 45 and 160 gn 9mm, but I think the "is that a good idea" question is for another thread.

um, I hate that I don't compete at your range!

I took a series 80 1911 apart. On my kitchen table. Without internet access.... 3 days later the damn thing was still in pieces!

hey all, I've been loading large primer 45 for my SS gun for over a year now. I shoot SS for steel challenge, USPSA, IDPA, etc. I have been using a Hornady LnL and I'm pretty happy with it, now that it's running right. I will be running an M&P pro in 3 gun this season, and I'm debating loading for it. I want to shoot soft 9mm in 3 gun, steel, and general matches to save some money and not reload every 8 damn shots. What I'm wondering, is do I buy a LnL conversion set or a new Lee press just set up in 9mm? Please don't say "switch to whatever other brand" I don't want to really mess it up. I was looking, and it seems I could get a conversion set of bushings, dies, shell plates, etc for the LNL for maybe $150, but could get a lee press that a few buddies already load on for $180. I am a bit tight on space, and just want the best for what I will be doing this year. Honestly, Next year I plan on switching to Limited major, and will run that one gun in every event. Should I just shut up and buy light 9mm for the year, or is it worth it if I know I won't really be loading much 9mm after this year, anyway? Thanks for the help, Steve

wow, I printed the app out already.... Is saturday already completely full??? I had a BLAST last year, and can't want to try it with a gun and a load I know work together.

I used to think people that Jog in the rain were crazy. Then I realized I got up on a sunday before I do for work, drove an hour to a match, picking up buddies who's truck broke down. Stood outside in 10 degree weather wearing all the clothes I own around a burning pile of wood in a drum. Shot more than 130 steel targets using ammo that cost god knows how much per round (16 cents not including the press or my time). Made a gun that costs more than my car is worth all dirty. Paid a fee to do all this, along with food and gas all day. then drove all the way back, where I proceeded to brag on Facebook how I beat my other SS buddies by all of a few seconds. Spent all day, way too much money, and was pissed I pulled the trigger for almost 160 seconds. (too many SS reloads). I am not mad about any of that. I loved it! I'm mad I don't get to do it again today...

If you're trying to get them to do a mag dump in one target, why not say "engage T1 until the gun runs dry" and then abandon it? We had a host of samples to use after a loose indoor range a while back. we shot the USPSA stage with a FA 9mm AR, in 22lr, and then I ran the stage with a glock 18 with 33 round mag. Really fun way to burn up rounds. I giggle pretty much the whole time in the videos..

as soon as I can figure out how to post pics, I will. In the mean time, send me your email or phone number and I'll get one out to you. It will be easy for me to do a comp since the barrel is already threaded. All I need is the adapter which I have on order, and whatever comp I make will thread right on... Will also use my can for fun shoots and generally plinking. The slide was aluminum (and pretty soft, we will be milling some speed holes soon) but polished up pretty well. Also sanding got the pock marks out of the metal. The frame seems to be steel and it's solid. The internals seem to be of decent quality, but the trigger is polymer. I'll replace those as needed.

good, because after spending that much time on the belt sander, all the info is long gone! Plus it's shinyyyyyy!!!!! oh yeah, and I pulled out the 80 series junk, lightened the trigger, ripped out the sights and made a dovetail racker for it. Also made 5 mag bumpers to go with the new magwell (and removed mag safety) Just have to machine the 90* cmore mount, as well as make a comp from stock and we'll be in good shape!

nevermind... the answer turns out to be hit the pin with a bigger hammer Popped that out, and was able to get the upper totally apart, pull the BS, and I should be good to go. Who needs professional gunsmithing?

Hey all, Thanks for the earlier help with the gsg/sig 1911. I'm looking forward to making this puppy a gamer. So I was tinkering around with it already to put in a new MSH with magwell and stuff, and noticed it was totally full of grease. I took the lower completely apart and found out it has the series 80 junk on it. I want to get rid of that, since I hate it and think it's not needed. I know how to pull the parts from the lower, but what I don't know is how to pull the plunger out of the upper? I have done this to a taurus with good success and want to do it here, but I can't seem to find out how to take the gsg/sig upper apart further than it shows for field stripping. Any suggestions? Thanks, Steve

hey all, not sure where to ask this question (or really how without sounding totally shady). Ok, so I know you can't legally remove a gun's serial number. However, I picked up a sig 1911 22 and it has god-awful writing all over the slide. I was hoping to bead blast and refinish it, and wanted to clean up the slide. But the serial number is copied up there. My thought is you can't alter a serial number on a gun, but legally, the slide is a part, and the frame is the actual gun. At least that's the only part that needs to transfer through an FFL. My thought is if I ordered just a slide, it wouldn't have any numbers on it. So if in the process of working on or lightening the slide, this serial number goes away but the ones on the frame remains, am I a felon? I'd really rather not be BTW, this is going to be a full custom 1911 22 for steel challenge. Have a C more, mag well, all sorts of stuff ready to make this puppy blast! Thanks, Steve

I was in the same boat and decided to slowly upgrade the rifle I had (16" stag). First I did a comp, then free float the tube, then real optics, and then a real trigger. I did it as the money allows and it took a while, but now I have a very functional, sub MOA rifle with good ammo that I didn't have to plunk down all at once. My only thought is if I had to set that comp off inside the house, I would be deaf forever, so I have a different rifle for that now...

I might set my 9 pro up like this and start trying to beat your ass in limited minor! we'll see how that goes, though...

wait wait wait... What's a 4 gun match? I've done 3 guns, but want to try whatever this 4th one is!!!

I have a couple of older Marvel metal mags that hold and reliably feed 15 rounds, but I haven't seen any hold more than 10 in a while... Sorry, didn't see the EAA caveat. I was thinking you meant a 45 1911 and 22 conversion kit.

Have any buddies going to the match? Have them take the gun home to their safe afterwards. Not sure the legality of that by you, but here anyone with a LTCF/CCW can "lend" another person a handgun. Or you could take it to a shop, put it on consignment for 4x what it's worth, then pick it up after. Just kidding

Sounds like a good start for sure. I can't tell you how your 3 gun matches are, but I've had to reload on a course of fire maybe 1 time for rifle. More often than not it's pick up and go, and I don't run dry. I would, however, practice getting into and out of rifle positions, dropping to prone, getting up, taking a knee, roll over prone, that kind of stuff. I would also put more emphasis on pistol reloads than draws, since I've almost never had to do a steel-challenge-esque stand and draw. You are usually running, picking the gun off a table, etc to start. Maybe practice running draws and transitions. I would set up mini rifle targets (if you can safely) and work on target to target transitions, finding small targets with the zoom up on your scope, and that kind of stuff. Good luck with the addiction!

Hey everybody, I run a TR 24 in a PEPR mount on my 3 gun rifle and have a 22 rifle built up as a trainer and for the prevalent 22-only events around here. I wanted to get a cheaper version of the tr24 for the 22 since my Fun Budget is not unlimited. However, everyone said there is pretty much no substitute and the Millet I had on there before had such a different reticule. The best suggestion was to set up the scope for the 3 gun rifle, then just plop it on my 22 and dial it in to practice, then reset it back for my 3 gun stuff. My question is if the pepr mount is quality enough to do this and hold zero? I see everyone's favorite brand mounts selling for a PILE of money, and didn't know if it really mattered for me to get one or not. I'm fine with the fact the pepr isn't a quick disconnect, I'll always have a screw driver to get it locked down easily enough. So should I spend the $200 whatever dollars and get something that comes with a dillo or just stick with what I have and spend that money on match fees and ammo?

I picked up a Springer LW loaded after carrying a full size Baer and a light weight but govt size springfield loaded. I LOVE the champion with the rail. Its a full size grip, so I can actually handle it, but the barrel doesn't poke me in the thigh when I'm driving. I would love to have it bob tailed at some point, but we shall see about that. Currently, it's 8+1 +p 45 when I'm carrying it, 10+1 of the same ammo with a nice tac light on it at home. The rail is unconventional, but between the crimson trace grips it's rocking and the light it wears at night, it's pretty formidable!

I think I'm going to shoot VA/MD on that Friday, and leave that night, since I'm helping to set up at Topton... Man, my shooting weekends are busier (but way more fun) than my work weeks!!!

that's actually a good idea. I do have good vision, so at 40 yards it shouldn't be too bad. I do like the idea of magnification, but it probably doesn't outweigh the practice benefit of getting better. I like winning local 22 competitions, and with the magnification on a good scope, I feel like I'm cheating. I might have to get one of those 1x reflex sights. where can I find a cheap one with the green chevron?