Les Baer Premier II Range report

[Peter M. Eick]

My Baer PII is approaching 9000 rounds fired and I have not shot it in now 2 years so I figured today was a good day to shoot it a bit.

All targets are 15 yrds, 50 shots, offhand.



This load was pretty good but I noted I was stringing across the target. I could feel I was pulling the shots up and down at a diagonal.



I got the healing problem under control but I found that I was scattering after the mag changes. I needed to work on a consistent grip after a mag change.



This target the paper ripped so it seems like I chewed up more than I did. I am still having a bit of mag change scatter but it is coming together.



Finally I was starting to get tired. Several of the fliers are called. I blew the high shot, left low and hard right. I knew it when I pulled the trigger.

So, I put 800 rounds down 2 45's today at the range and I learned 2 things for sure. First off I need to work on my upper body strength. I was pretty worn out after that and 2 I need to focus on my grip of the gun. Too variable all in all.

As to the Baer, it sucked up all of the loads. No errors or problems. Shot well and was very reliable. A few more range sessions like this and I will get the gun up to 10,000 rounds which is my goal for this year. It is sure a fun 1911 to shoot and I really enjoy it because it was my first 1911 I bought and I still enjoy shooting it.

The other learning is I need to shoot autooaders more. My skills with the autoloaders are way down when compared to say 5 years ago. I think I spent too much time trying to master the revolver lately! Back to Auto's for a while!

 

[JTQ]

So after shooting the Baer PII back to back with the 1918 issue 1911 pistol, how do the modern "improvements" such as high cut under the trigger guard and a beavertail affect comfort of shooting lots of rounds, or does it?

 

[LTR shooter]

First off I need to work on my upper body strength. I was pretty worn out after that and 2 I need to focus on my grip of the gun.

Firing 800 rds and 50 shots groups is enough to wear out anyone! Was the top target shot with semi-wadcutters? The holes are cleanly cut compared to the other targets but the box of ammo states LRN.

The Les Baer Premier II is one I would like to own one day. Saw one at a gun show a few years back and should have just gone for it.

 

[Ex]

All I can say is "very sweet shooting, Peter!".

 

[BYJO4]

Great shooting. I also have a Baer PII and it is an excellent pistol for accuracy and reliability.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

The top target was really shot with LRN's. I just had it really tight on a fresh backer board and it cut cleanly. I was quite surprised about it myself that is why I took the picture of it. I would have sworn it was wrong but sometimes you get surprised.

I now have 2 PII's. One in 38 super and this one in 45acp. I bought this one many years ago and it was my first 1911. Good choice. I would recommend the PII's highly!

Now the difference in the guns comparing a 1918 to a modern 1911. My observation was that the triggers where nearly identical. Both were clean and crisp. I did not expect that out of the 1918 but it was sure there. The sights of the PII were dramatically better and easier to grab a quick picture of. Even though I have not shot this gun for 2.5 years it was easy to pick up and shoot well. It was just plain fun to shoot. The original 1911 frame and long trigger were easier to shoot than the PII with the scallops in the frame making it an A1 style frame. I actually liked it better. The serrations and checking on the PII give you a lot better purchase on the gun if your hands are sweaty, but otherwise I preferred the 1918. It just felt better in the hand. The big beavertail did not add anything for me and no I did not get any hammer bite so I saw no advantage there either.

Basically, when push comes to shove, if you could take the sights off the PII, the barrel from the PII and put them on the 1918 frame, you would have had nearly the perfect 1911 in my opinion. I would not have guessed it would end up that way, but that is what I am thinking.

 

[tuj]

Good shooting! I have a PII 1.5G and I love it, but it won't feed SWC reliably however.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Thanks. This is just a standard 3" PII. My 38 super PII is a 1.5" gun and I love it.

I now have a 1.5" 38 Super Heavyweight Monolith on order. Maybe another few months and it will "come good".