Should I expect a Les Baer Custom Carry to run out of the box?
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Ed from Maine
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It will run out of the box, but with Baers, they say (and I did) just lube it up and shoot 500 rounds, and then clean it, just to settle in and loosen up a tad.
I talked to Mr. Baer, he told me not to clean until around 500 plus even until the slide won't go back anymore. He said what happens is the gunpowder and the solvent act's as sandpaper and marries the slide to frame. The 4 Baers that I have had did run right out of the box. Don't know where your buying from, but talk to John at proload.com he has the best prices and you won't meet a nicer guy.
I expected mine to and it didn't. For what you will spend in ammo breaking the gun in you could just go ahead and buy a Wilson or Brown. Many have had great experiences with LB. Some have not. In terms of accuracy LB is hard to beat. However, I believe that LB's accuracy comes at a cost - reliability.
Ed from Maine
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like my LB
I have had a Wilson, and two Browns, and I still have my Les Baer...
I have had a Wilson, and two Browns, and I still have my Les Baer...
Fleetman
Member
Generally, they will run just fine out of the box but only a fool would carry one for SD without a proper break-in....one glitch is all it takes to ruin your day.
ANY pistol requires a certain amount of ammo be run through it before you can deem it "reliable"....I trust 500 rounds. I carry an auto every day but you can be sure it has been 100% reliable for me.
If you want reliability right out of the box go with a revolver.....and then only a good maybe! I've never had a malfunction with a revolver but I have witnessed locked cylinders and such.
You wouldn't race your new car without a break-in period would you? Same difference except one will cost you money in repairs and the other could cost you your life!
ANY pistol requires a certain amount of ammo be run through it before you can deem it "reliable"....I trust 500 rounds. I carry an auto every day but you can be sure it has been 100% reliable for me.
If you want reliability right out of the box go with a revolver.....and then only a good maybe! I've never had a malfunction with a revolver but I have witnessed locked cylinders and such.
You wouldn't race your new car without a break-in period would you? Same difference except one will cost you money in repairs and the other could cost you your life!
Hangingrock
Member
I’m of the opinion that a weapon should run right out of the box.
But then that’s just me. If you are into status symbols or being a masochist then why not own a pistol that requires 500rds fired to function properly.
There are several analogies used to justify the break in period which sound like excuses.
But then that’s just me. If you are into status symbols or being a masochist then why not own a pistol that requires 500rds fired to function properly. There are several analogies used to justify the break in period which sound like excuses.ColtPythonElite
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I agree with Hangingrock 100%...If I ever buy a gun that doesn't run right out of the box, it will be going back to the manufacturer for repair on their dime or that will be the last time I buy any of their products and I'll be sure to devote plenty of my time spreading the word about the problems I had.
Maybe this is just a 1911 thing because generally when the topic comes up it's usually about them. I've been around duty weapons of other makes for half of my adult life. I've never seen a LE agency hand out new guns and tell they guy they gave it to they need to burn 500 rounds to break it in and make sure it is reliable enough for service.
Maybe this is just a 1911 thing because generally when the topic comes up it's usually about them. I've been around duty weapons of other makes for half of my adult life. I've never seen a LE agency hand out new guns and tell they guy they gave it to they need to burn 500 rounds to break it in and make sure it is reliable enough for service.
Kimber is the only make I'm aware of that suggests a break-in to solve malfunctions; hardly a status symbol. Bear, Wilson, etc, recommend X rounds to mate the parts, not solve problems.
I wouldn't carry any pistol, regardless of the reputation, without firing a minimum of 500 rounds...trouble free.
Fleetman
Member
I'm not saying a firearm should not work as intended right out of the box.
However, I apparently went to the same school as EddieNFL and several others....a metal burr or tight fit won't cost me my life....I trust 500 trouble-free rounds.
It's not just a 1911 thing....can happen to ANY firearm....that's why products have warranties. Automobiles, firearms, toasters, tv's, etc.
Would I send a brand new truck cross country right off the showroom floor? No way....I'll keep it closer to home for awhile.
However, I apparently went to the same school as EddieNFL and several others....a metal burr or tight fit won't cost me my life....I trust 500 trouble-free rounds.
It's not just a 1911 thing....can happen to ANY firearm....that's why products have warranties. Automobiles, firearms, toasters, tv's, etc.
Would I send a brand new truck cross country right off the showroom floor? No way....I'll keep it closer to home for awhile.
critter
Member
I bought a Les Baer. It was SO TIGHT that I was SURE it couldn't possibly work at all. I was wrong! It worked first time every time.
I do have to qualify that a bit. I reload and tried several different bullets, powders, etc. as well as factory. Each and every one worked perfectly---except one. The LB did NOT like one load. That load worked fine in other 1911's I own but not the LB. Never did figure out why.
It took about 800 rounds for the LB to get REALLY SLICK and 'feel' like it was really broken in, but other than the one load it didn't like, it ran anyway.
Really great guns made to shoot a lot. And shoot they do!
I do have to qualify that a bit. I reload and tried several different bullets, powders, etc. as well as factory. Each and every one worked perfectly---except one. The LB did NOT like one load. That load worked fine in other 1911's I own but not the LB. Never did figure out why.
It took about 800 rounds for the LB to get REALLY SLICK and 'feel' like it was really broken in, but other than the one load it didn't like, it ran anyway.
Really great guns made to shoot a lot. And shoot they do!
Ed from Maine
Member
another Baer fan
I felt ill at ease with Ed Browns, like they were just a tad too far on the status symbol side, and I wasn't that good...my Baer PII, it is like an old pair of boots that are broken in and fit me to a tee, just a real comfortable feeling. I can't imagine ever letting go of it. And it was a lot less expensive than the Browns or the Wilson. Kimbers, I have some friends who swear by them, some who swear at them. Never had one myself.
I was fond of my Dan Wesson, but it did require some trips back to get it where I wanted it, but they got it there. I kind of miss that CCO, it was a good looking nice shooting pistol. But for just picking it up and shooting without a second thought, gotta go with my PII. It is at the point now where it has that patina of use, nothing pretentious about it. It runs and runs , and runs...
I felt ill at ease with Ed Browns, like they were just a tad too far on the status symbol side, and I wasn't that good...my Baer PII, it is like an old pair of boots that are broken in and fit me to a tee, just a real comfortable feeling. I can't imagine ever letting go of it. And it was a lot less expensive than the Browns or the Wilson. Kimbers, I have some friends who swear by them, some who swear at them. Never had one myself.
I was fond of my Dan Wesson, but it did require some trips back to get it where I wanted it, but they got it there. I kind of miss that CCO, it was a good looking nice shooting pistol. But for just picking it up and shooting without a second thought, gotta go with my PII. It is at the point now where it has that patina of use, nothing pretentious about it. It runs and runs , and runs...
rellascout
member
Les Baers are one of the best values in 1911s. Most will run without a hitch right out of the box. Running 500 rounds is like bedding your brakes before you put your car on the track. It makes mechincal sense. This is not just for 1911s. Kahr says run 200 rounds out of their guns to break them in and they say be prepared for a malfunction. My guess is that those who are bad mouthing. LBs have never owned or maybe even shot one.
Art Eatman
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Doesn't matter what brand or model: It will take a couple of hundred rounds or so for the various moving parts to wear in a bit. Generally, no more than that. It's just sort of an internal polishing thing. No difference from the first miles on a new car engine; gotta get the rings seated properly, and that takes some miles.
I have a Les Baer PII that I bought new around 1995. It came dripping wet with Breakfree CLP in a plastic bag. I wiped the gun down on the outside. I dry patched the barrel and ran about 100 WW 230gr FMJ through it and then I took it to a class that involved shooting about 500 rds in a week. I used CCI 200gr SWC aluminum cased ammo for the class. I patched the barrel with a couple of drops of CLP at the end of each day.
The gun didn't miss a beat. It still doesn't. The only FTF I have had is when experimenting with odd shaped cast lead bullets.
I also have a PII 1.5" guarantee Les Baer gun coated in Black T that I used for several classes following the same protocol as described, it has been 100% for at least 1500 rounds.
The gun didn't miss a beat. It still doesn't. The only FTF I have had is when experimenting with odd shaped cast lead bullets.
I also have a PII 1.5" guarantee Les Baer gun coated in Black T that I used for several classes following the same protocol as described, it has been 100% for at least 1500 rounds.
Hangingrock
Member
Statistically 500 round counts are not required. I believe that 200-300round counts are statistically valid. None the less if you are happy with 500round counts bang away.:banghead:
My point is it’s a weapon and a prerequisite is functionality. Its incumbent on the manufacture to provide that it functions as a weapon and not a paper weight. Of course you may fling the paperweight at the object of your affections thus it becomes a weapon.
In The Marine Corps I was issued a WW2 vintage 1911A1, 3-magazines, magazine pouch, holster, 50-rounds in a brown box, and a K-bar thus told go get them “Tiger”.
MaterDei
Member
I don't know why people are complaining. Frankly, I would love the opportunity to put 500 rounds through any one of these high end 1911s.
Heck, I thoroughly enjoy shooting my plain jane, non-status symbol Kimber Stainless. Shooting a Baer or a Wilson or a Brown would be a thrill.
Heck, I thoroughly enjoy shooting my plain jane, non-status symbol Kimber Stainless. Shooting a Baer or a Wilson or a Brown would be a thrill.
ColtPythonElite
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500 rounds would be fun unless the gun turned out to be a jam-o-matic.
76shuvlinoff
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I think I'll frame that, I thought I was the only guy here with a Kimber that has ran well.
MICHAEL T
Member
I would miss my FIE Titan. Before I will ever miss that long gone Kimber Eclipse I will step up to a Baer. Dan Wesson My top 1911 at present.It replaced the Kimber But always looking to moving on up .
38 Super Fan
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No kidding.
To the OP, a new Baer will probably run great right out of the box, mine did. If you're going to carry it, at least get a couple hundred rounds through it first, you can also loosen up the gun a little more by manually cycling the slide repeatedly.
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