Seeking 1911 Opinions.

[RAM]

It's been over a year since my last gun purchase! :eek:

I need a FIX.

Have a heard of Glocks and even a couple Springfield 1911's, but this Nighthawk Custom caught my eye at the gun shop the other day. I was wondering if any of you guys had an opinion on NHC products. I know a guy that has one and he would marry it if he could.

The one I'm looking at is a Predator... It's just calling my name! The Fit and finish is over the top quality.

[AZ Husker]

Nighthawk makes some great guns. They are an offshoot of a bunch of previous Wilson Combat guys.

[DocH]

Just go get it. You know resistance is futile,don't you now? Well...don't you?;)

[Brownie]

It's just calling my name!

Those voices in your head talking to you, I know how you feel RAM ;)

I don't have any word on the NHC, but I think you'll be unhappy till you listen to those voices:D

edited to add: $2,875.00 suggested retail, that's a good amount of money for a 1911 indeed. I see from the link that it comes with a bobtail on the Ca. model, you thinking of going that route RAM?

[RAM]

Doc, I know I will be assimilated eventually (or come to my senses) but it's a big price to chew/choke on!

http://www.nighthawkcustom.com/detail.aspx?ID=10

[sgtlogan]

Save some $$$$$ and go with a Dan Wesson in any style, shape or color. You could even buy 2 DW for that much money. Or just get one and alot of ammo. DW service dept is maybe one of the best going nowdays. I guess I have been bitten by the DW bug. As far as the voices in your head, you better listen to them or you will loose sleep and any number of other bad things will happen to you.....plus they just won't go away.

[DocH]

Ditto the Dan Wesson for the money.

Just want to add RAM,that 1911's are a great passion for me and always have been,but they have not cured Glockitis.
These are really the only two auto pistols that I even care to posess anymore in my current status. They both work extremely well for me and given a parts supply I can fix about any anything on either one of them. If Pop was still living I wouldn't even need that. He could make 'em from scratch. Best tool and die maker ever.I'll stick with what works for me.
Too old to change my stripes now,plus I just ain't willing.

[SwampRat]

Doc, you and I think alike. Although I dont own a Glock...YET..Geeezz I might be forced into it just because the G26 looks like a can do for my wife..of course we all know how that story will end..then comes the G17, a G19 then a G34 just to cmplete the collection..As SgtLogan knows I'm also a huge fan of the Dan Wesson 1911's..I'm torn between getting my wife the G26 and me a CBOB..I'm sure she will win out...
RAM..man, I know Nighthawk has got a great reputation but damn it man, thats alot of money for a 1911. I can get a DW Valor + CBOB and might have some left over for a box of ammo for that price and still have all the bells and whistles.

[RAM]

I've looked at the DW Bobtail and it looks real sweet, but I need to get my hands on one, pictures alone don't cut it. It would sure be a lot cheaper than buying a Nighty... Until I pick up another Predator II, They are a work of art.

B, I wasn't thinking about the NHC bobtail, most likely the Predator II at this point. Just stopped at the gun shop for another look. saved some money for the time being... It was sold:(

[DocH]

Stole these from the 1911 forum. VALOR Bay-bee! The Valor has the Ultra thin grips.Havn't "felt" those yet.I'd probably change to a set of ultra thin double diamond checkered ones. More to my liking. Old school,you know?

[DocH]

SwampRat,you kniow what they say about great minds!:D

My wife will not give up her G26.Period. It's a good pistol for a male or a female. Hers has had a little of the Robar treatment and since then I think she'd rather sleep with it than me!:eek:
She can seriously shoot this little beasty,too.It's a 2.5 generation with finger grooves but no checkering on the front strap.Very comfortable.

Whew! It's hot here.Just got in from the second round of wetpack shooting from the Kimber Pro carry.Gave the dog a bath(or rather,she gave me one.) trying to cool off so I can get things logged in.

[RAM]

In case you haven't heard I found a Dan Wesson C-bob At one of the local dealers. A ten day wait and I can Pick it up... what a PITA.

Enough of the PRK BS.

While the Dan Wesson is not on par with a Nighthawk Custom for fit and finish, it soes seem to be a very well made gun. The one I found had a very tight slide/frame fit and racked as smoothly as any I have tried. The Breach clearance was very tight, as tight as any Nighthawk I have checked out. Hopefully it isn't too tight for reliability.

I will be picking it up right before I take off for about a week... I'm off to the desert with a case of gun chow! I will get back with a performance report.

This was the fix I needed, now to start the Nighthawk Piggybank project!

[Brownie]

RAM,

Definately looking forward to a report on that puppy. Congrats on the score, I've seriously consider one myself. May get to shoot one in New Mexico belonging to one of the members here [ Alan Rackstraw ] when I train the New Mexico detectives first week of Nov.

[RAM]

Today is my daughters birthday. Went to the gun shop and picked up the C-Bob. Cleaned it went to the range to see how it would do.

Checking the sights it shot 2 - 2 1/2" left of poa at 7 yds. Got the allens out and the set screw was already loose! Tapped the sight right a tad and all was good. Ran about a 150 rds or so. And it started hitting left about 3" next shot 6" Oops! The front sights turn! The factory failed to put the roll pin in and the sight drifted right and almost fell out in just a few rounds!

Got out the tools and found a roll pin in the AR stuff that was the right diameter just a little long, tapped it in most of the way and proceeded with the pin sticking up above the sight! When I got it home I cut it off with the dremel and finished tapping it in, a drop of black gun cote and all is good.

Total rounds 250, Number of malfs 0. With the exception of the sights it ran very well. Weel see how it does next week when I go down to the desert.

I guess the gun was mostly built on Thursday and the sights put on (almost) on Friday!

This gun is quite well made. Pretty well dehorned for carry, only a couple areas I'd like to touch up that are a tad sharp but acceptable as is.

So far I'm Jazzed.

I'll get back with a report in about a week and a half or so.

Now to take the daughter to dinner! You didn’t think I would ignore her all day did you? :D

[Brownie]

Looking forward to further reports on that puppy RAM.

Brownie

[RAM]

I'm back,

The C-Bob ran great. 1 case of Blazer 230gr FMJ, 0 (zero) Malfunctions!:)

This is the first 1911 I have owned that has run without a hiccup from the first round, now 1,250 rounds.

The C-Bob is relatively light weight, a full 1/2 pound lighter than my full size Springer MC operator. Felt recoil is a bit stronger with a little more muzzle flip, but still very controllable.

Every once in a while through out the last few days I would shoot accuracy string at 7 yards. The groups were usually nickel to quarter size. With the best 5 shot group about the size of a .50 cal single hole. This is my most accurate hand gun despite its 4.25" commander size sight radius.

Two minor problems. The gun hits a little high. 1/2 - 1" at 7 yds, about 5-6" at 25 yds, 9-10" at 50 yds and dead on at 100 yds. A slightly taller front sight should fix it.

With many hundred draw strokes I have found most all of the sharp spots! The blending at the grip safety leaves a small sharp corner hanging out to wear on the web between the thumb and fore finger. Also the thumb safety was just a tiny bit sharp causing the thumb the take quite a bit of abuse.

While it didn't cause any discomfort shooting, the checkered front strap would occasionally snag on cloth. It is very aggressive checkering, no slipping on this stuff. For extensive CCW a better option might be stippling as it would be easier on your garments.

I have filed and smoothed the edges of the checkering a tiny bit and it seems to help some. I pulled the thumb safety and rounded the sharp edges and I think I have it but it is hard to tell with the thumb still a little sore.

The sharp exposed corners by the beaver tail got rounded a little bit also.

Over all I didn't notice the sharps until about 250 to 300 rounds so for the most part the gun is ready to go unless you want to put quite a few rounds down range in a short period of time.

I would like to eventually have the gun professionally dehorned.

This is my best 1911 so far, but it is only my 3rd. It is also the only 1911 I own that I consider worthy of being a CCW gun.

Now to find Doc's ammo test and see what ammo to test for possible CCW use.

[Brownie]

Nice report, you are trying your hardest to get me to buy one aren't you;)

I'll be firing one in less than two weeks while in NM with the state det's. and that will probably mean I'll have to find one myself.:o

Docs testing is near completion, shouldn't be long now

[RAM]

B,

Sumpin tells me you don't need my help talking you into a new gun! :D

1911's as you know can be problem children, but this one is a keeper.

I'm starting to think of it as my new extra heavy capacity challenged stainless steel crisp triggered Glock with thumb and grip safeties! Oh and cocobolo grips too!

I never thought I would be comfortable CCWing a 1911 until now.

I still want a Night Hawk though... saving the pennies!

Anyone know what main spring goes into a bobtail main spring housing? All I find in Brownells is standard length. I hope I'm wrong but it seems they should be shorter.

[Brownie]

Sumpin tells me you don't need my help talking you into a new gun!

OCD is a terrible disease, it really is. I haven't bought a new gun since the latest G17 last week:o

I'm looking forward to shooting Al's C-Bob next Thursday :D

No idea on the mainspring, I'd call CZ to get their opinion.

[RAM]

So much for New Years resolutions! Hehehehe!

I've told you before that if I worked in a gun shop I'd be broke!

Just curious about the spring. The pin that holds the MS housing in the frame is relocated about 1/4 inch or so higher up when the frame is bobbed off!

B, also I have heard that some people can't adjust to the bobbed grip. Somehow they think it changes the grip angle for them? I didn't notice any more change than any other time I switch between 1911's and Glocks, go figure! When you shoot your friends see if it shoots a different POI than your other 1911's.

[Brownie]

Somehow they think it changes the grip angle for them? I didn't notice any more change than any other time I switch between 1911's and Glocks, go figure! When you shoot your friends see if it shoots a different POI than your other 1911's.

Will do. It's one of the things I'm interested in as well, but like you, I don't think it will make any difference at all.

[AZ Husker]

It doesn't, in fact, it's more comfortable. Kinda like a round-butt S&W. The Ed Brown main spring housing (who invented the bobtail) does have the pin upward, and uses an Officer mainspring, which isn't a problem with Gov't frames.
Here's one of my favorite bobtailed Kimber customs, and then my prized Colt S70 bobtailed...
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff31/Arizona1911/7.jpg
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff31/Arizona1911/IMG_1996.jpg

[Brownie]

An officers mainspring, that makes sense when you think about it Az. Thanks for the info.

Those are some nice looking 1911's BTW.:cool:

[RAM]

That makes perfect sense... Duh! Thanks for clearing it up AZ.

Now why did you have to go posting the gun porn:eek:... I really like the look of the Kimber.

What grips are on the Kimber?

[RAM]

Let's see if I can post a picture!:o

If it works it is a crappy picture, I need a camera that can focus up close. Any way this is my latest project... notice the flush cut slide stop pin and chamfered frame, not bad for home grown!

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p92/rayatpip/IMG_0155.jpg

[RAM]

OK that wasn't as expected. How do you guys post a Pic as thumbnails in your posts?

This pic is on photobucket. Am I posting the wrong link?

[RAM]

AZ,

What are those grips on your Kimber?

[Brownie]

RAM,

Go to additional options below the screen you post in,

Manage attachments, then click browse, find ther picture on your computer and add it as an attachment, then click post reply after it has been accepted.

[DocH]

RAM,I can see the work you told me about in the PM. Looks like you did a neat job with it from what I can tell.
BTW,I think the "bouquet" using HST's and Rangers is a neat idea. I can use 1/8 dowels as the stems for the "roses". Tac 'em up with a welder.:)
She would like it,and it would be a good conversation piece. Thanks for the idea. The rest of the family will think I'm nuts,but they already do anyway.:D

[RAM]

Lets try again!

[RAM]

EEEEE Haw, it worked!

Thanks B, you da man! Duh! it's your site!

[Brownie]

Now when people click on the pictures, they'll expand to a bigger image as well.:cool:

[RAM]

B,

That's what I was shootin for (sorry).

I like that feature, if it's someting that looks interesting you can zoom in for the detail.

I took the second set of pics out doors in the sunshine and they came out a lot sharper.


Doc,

Even those All copper bullets look good for the project. Get some dry twigs, sticks or grass to fill in around the bottom. Post a pic if it works out.

[SwampRat]

i want one !!!!!!!!!!!

[AZ Husker]

AZ,

What are those grips on your Kimber?

Those are Larry Davidson's "Horned Lizards". Great feel, wonderful hold.
http://davidsonknives.com/grips/grips.htm

[RAM]

Hey SwampR,

I'm really Getting to like this gun! That said , I was in the gun shop that had one on order, that I would have bought had this one not poped up in my sight picture first.

I asked to check it out and I am glad I got the one I did. This other C-Bob while very nice in all other respects had a trigger with a gritty creepy let off. It would need a trigger job to be anywhere as good as mine. I don't know if I just got lucky but my C-Bob's trigger is almost identical to a friends Night Hawk Custom just about a half pound heavier. No perceptible crepe, crisp let off and no over travel.

I suggest you get your hands on them one you intend to buy before plunking down the cash.

The one I almost got was like mine in that it was very tight and very smooth in all respects, except the trigger had a perceptible gritty pop in the creep before let off.

[SwampRat]

When I do find one, I'll make sure I get in my hands first. However even if that didnt happen, Kevin and his crew at Dan Wesson have some of the best customer service in the business bar none. To get one fixed and back on track with those guys is really a non issue. Turn around time is usually a couple of weeks at most and they will test fire it to make sure it works the way its supposed to. I currently carry a DW Pointman but that CBOB really looks sweet. If it works anything like the DW I have now, I would be very satisfied.

[RAM]

If every gun I own ran like my C-Bob I would be very happy, it's the only 1911 I own I will consider for CCW, So far it is 100% reliable 1,350 rounds and counting.