Help me decide Wilson CQB vs Sig GSR

[Alaskapopo]

I was planning on purchasing a GSR when the black finish models come out. But one of our officers purchased a Wilson CQB Light rail gun the other day and its a nice shooter. I am torn. I have heard early sigs had problems but it is about half the cost of the CQB. If I buy the Wilson I know I am getting a good gun but I am paying a lot for the name, with the sig I am taking a chance. What do you all think.
Pat

[johnniekirk]

Pat- Some time a while back, Ron Phillips and other gunsmiths left Wilson and started their own company, called Nighthawk Custom. I believe I would by from them before Wilson. The bad thing about it is I do not know If their pistols have light rails on them or not.

[KB@NHCustom]

JK:
Yes, we offer Recon Rail Frames in the Enforcer, Talon and Predator Series pistols...in both steel and titanium frames.

[MrMurphy]

Between the two, I'd go with the CQB... Wilson's been building 1911s and parts for as long as I've been around. Sig is on their very first 1911. Which would you prefer?



Haven't seen any Nighthawk Custom pieces yet, but if they worked for Wilson, they're not shade-tree gunsmiths.

[stepper]

I have never shot a Wilson, but I will say this: I went to the range Tuesday with my GSR and put some rounds downrange. I have about 1,100 rounds through it so far and I'm very,very happy with mine. It is built like a tank and very accurate. It is my favorite and most accurate range gun I've ever shot. It has shot every ammo I've fed it with no problems.

Good luck!

[eljay45]

You're comparing a production gun to a semi-custom gun. Not really fair. If you have the cash buy the Wilson.

[CANAVAR]

I had an opportunity to shoot a GSR this past weekend, it felt balanced and sturdy. It pointed well but funtion was not 100%. The gun itself, has had 1000+ rounds through it and still felt tight. Not something that I would even consider as a defensive pistol given the reliability. If you have the means, I would go with the Wilson. I have a Wilson CQB and a Tactical Elite. Both great guns and 100% reliable. I have at least 5000 rounds through each with no function or failure issues. You may also want to consider the NightHawk Custom. The quality and build are comparable to the Wilson and may in fact have been built by the same person. I have a Talon on order from them. If you're interested in a Talon rail, I know of a dealer in Michigan that has a great deal on one.

[swatbwana]

Go with the Kimber TLE RL or if you have to have the gee whiz cool gun the Warrior it will be out in a month or so.

The Kimbers work well and have good barrels, you can replace the MIM stuff as your budget allows. and buy a few thousand practice rounds with the difference in price.

[Alaskapopo]

Sorry I own a series 1 kimber but I don't fully trust the series 2 guns. Too many problems early on. I will give them time before I buy again.
Pat

[quantico]

Originally posted by MrMurphy
Between the two, I'd go with the CQB... Wilson's been building 1911s and parts for as long as I've been around. Sig is on their very first 1911. Which would you prefer?



Haven't seen any Nighthawk Custom pieces yet, but if they worked for Wilson, they're not shade-tree gunsmiths.

Mr Murphy and I often have the same or similar opinions.. and this case is not the one to change that. I would consider to sig a good choice... and sig has made lots of fantastic guns ... but when it comes to 1911's I would go for a known builder that stands behind their pistols... that would include wilson combat / Ed Brown / and les baer... the springfield custom shop also builds a really nice pistol for the FBI that we can buy as the professional model... that I also recommend. I have fired maybe 10-12 of them and they also are very excellent pistols.

The wilson CQB or their protector model are very good well fitted guns... I highly recommned them. I also like the Ed brown kobra or executive models...

[quantico]

Originally posted by johnniekirk
Pat- Some time a while back, Ron Phillips and other gunsmiths left Wilson and started their own company, called Nighthawk Custom. I believe I would by from them before Wilson. The bad thing about it is I do not know If their pistols have light rails on them or not.

I don't know a lot about these guys... The pictures of their guns are very nice... I look to them to be up and comers very soon.

[swatbwana]

Originally posted by 355sigfan
Sorry I own a series 1 kimber but I don't fully trust the series 2 guns. Too many problems early on. I will give them time before I buy again.
Pat

What problems, I see a bunch of "stories" but the gunsmiths I know don't have problems with them, and I have not had one nut up in any of the classes I have taught since the new safety and extractor came out. I have seen a GSR blow out an extractor that was not pinned in correctly, so you'd better take that off your list.

I have a CQB, a Springfield Professional, and a TLE.
The TLE has had the bushing replaced, the saftey replaced with a Kings ambi, and the fire control parts replaced with C&S pieces, the extractor and FP stop were also new and fitted. None of these needed repalcememt but I wanted to.

I have about 1200 in it. It shoots better than my professional that cost twice as much, and just as good as the Wilson CQB.

Point is if you have to have the name buy the Wilson, many weapons are just as good out of the box at a fraction of the cost.
I would sell my CQB today if it was not a gift.

The GSR while cool is still unproven and the ones I have seen were not fitted all that well.

My Kimber has very even wear marks on the frame rails , this indicated proper fitting.

I have looked at two GSR's that had lopsided wear which indicated one side of the slide was fitted tighter than the other, not very good attention to detail, and it was evident when cycling the slides.

Thes are opinions only i will eventually buy a GSR because
1. It's a SiG
2. It looks cool.
But then again I'm weird.

[quantico]

Originally posted by swatbwana
What problems, I see a bunch of "stories" but the gunsmiths I know don't have problems with them, and I have not had one nut up in any of the classes I have taught since the new safety and extractor came out. I have seen a GSR blow out an extractor that was not pinned in correctly, so you'd better take that off your list.



I have heard of many of the new kimbers with the external extractors that do not have enough tension... I don't own any... but the stories I have read I believe.

Any pistol can have issues... but when the basics of slide to frame fit are bad... is is hard to make that stuff right... fixing trigger overtravel or pull weight... or a loose internal extactor is pretty easy stuff...

I have also seen kimbers with out of spec chambers... in one case a friends kimber was back to the custom shop several times.. and never figured it out... in another case they replaced the barrel and the pistol shoots and works great now... depends on who fixes the gun when it goes back to kimber if you have a problem.

[Rinspeed]

If you are going to spend the money on the CQB I would consider a Baer. I was all set to put a deposit on a GSR but like you wanted the black. Now I'm glad it wasn't available because I have a TRS and I'm very happy with it.

Rinspeed

[quantico]

Originally posted by Rinspeed
If you are going to spend the money on the CQB I would consider a Baer. I was all set to put a deposit on a GSR but like you wanted the black. Now I'm glad it wasn't available because I have a TRS and I'm very happy with it.

Rinspeed

Excellent choice... it's in the running to be my next 1911.... in fact. ;)

[Rob96]

I have experience with two different Series II Kimbers and will not try a third. As far as the listed guns Pat, I would go with the Wilson. Outside of what you listed, I would go with a Ed Brown, or do some serious talking and question asking with the guys at Nighthawk Customs.

[Fuzzysoxs]

I live close to Impact guns, they have a few of the nighthawk custom guns in stock. I looked at them compared to a les Baer and can attest to their build quality. metal to metal fit was perfect. trigger was great. They werent giving them away, but the quality seemed to be on par with the price. As good a custom 1911 as i have seen.

[GlockX35]

Wilsons are overrated and wayyyyy overpriced. I've had four of them. A CQB is not worth $1000 more than a GSR. No way. I would personally recommend a Les Baer Thunder Ranch. Priced halfway between the GSR and CQB and a better pistol than either. If I had to choose between a GSR or a CQB I would have no problem getting the GSR. The Wilson just isn't worth the extra money. In my opinion Wilson has spotty quality control.

[THELimey]

You should also consider 'any' 1911 out there and add a Dawson rail really opens up your choices the Dawson rail still allows most regular 1911 holsters to fit your gun lots of these out in the sandbox now with our brightest and best.

[Alaskapopo]

Tell me more about the rail please. I have a series 1 kimber I like a lot. I was getting the wilson because of the rail.
Pat

[THELimey]

Pat the Dawson rail is used by DET 1 on their Kimber pistols
the new 'warrior' is not the same gun the Marines use at all they are issued a series 1 kimber custom with amongst other things the dawson rail not an integrated frame rail like the TLE/2 though that is what kimber is using on the 'warrior'.
The Dawson rail has seen service with lots of 'high speed units' so it durability is not in question lots of great gunsmiths can install it for you my recomendation would be Chuck Rogers the rail plus installation is probebly less than 200 dollars and its low profile so it will still fit your duty holsters or concealed carry holsters which is more than can besaid forthe intergrated rail frame guns.

heres a pic of a dawson rail moded gun by Chuck at "Louder than words"


http://www.louderthanwords.us/forum/viewtopic.php?t=953

http://www.dawsonprecision.com/customparts/

http://www3.mailordercentral.com/shootingstore/prodinfo.asp?number=023-012&variation=&aitem=12&mitem=18

[Alaskapopo]

thanks for the info.
Pat

[walangkatapat]

How about the Trojan 1911 (http://www.stiguns.com/guns/Trojan5/Trojan5.html) ?

[breiss13]

Another vote for the les baer trs, priced in the middle but better than both and reliable and tight even after 50,000 rounds. Just look at all the reviews of any of the les baer pistols lately in all of the magazines. If you want a trs with a light rail they now make one called trs home defense.