Which one would you buy and why: S&W 945 or Les Baer 1911?

[Ole Man Dan]

Go with the Les Baer.  It's features are what other 1911 type companies 'copy'.

The 945 is a good gun, and I've shot Smith's for more than 40 years.   BUT...

That said I make my choices based on preference and a long association with 1911 type pistols.
(Talk to Clint Smith or some of the other guys who run quality Shooting schools, and listen to what they recommend,then invest in the Les Baer and a bunch of (Wilson) magizines.)   

[sasu]

I ended up buying both. I will get the S&W 945PC in a couple of weeks and sometime later I will report here which I should have chosen if I were limited to only one.

[Travis Morgan]

Magazines for the Smith, I have one, are not easy to come by. If you find a source get few extra right away.
Bob

I have one I think is for those Smiths; looks like a 1911 mag, but won't fit in a 1911. Gimme your address, I'll ship it, and if it works, pay me whatever you think it's worth.

[sasu]

I finally have both of them and will be reporting later this year after getting some experience with them.

The Smith & Wesson 945-1 Performance Center 45 ACP.


The Les Baer Premier II 45 ACP.


They go in the same Galco holster.

[SHOOTALL]

a clone made in South America will fit that holster also . What you have is a customised production gun the S&W and a gun built from the ground up as a custom gun the LB . your findings should be interesting .

[williamlayton]

Dadgoneitall--that LB just looks serious.
ONE DAY.
Blessings

[ratgunner]

Baer 1911.

[Bob Riebe]

Magazines for the Smith, I have one, are not easy to come by. If you find a source get few extra right away.
Bob

I have one I think is for those Smiths; looks like a 1911 mag, but won't fit in a 1911. Gimme your address, I'll ship it, and if it works, pay me whatever you think it's worth.

Does it say 945 on the magazine; if not it is not for a 945.

[sasu]

I have not shot bench rested groups with the Les Baer yet but I tried the 945-1 with Remington 230 FMJ factory ammo.

I got two 3" groups at 25 yards (a slight disappointment but maybe it was my shooting, not the gun) and a 2"+ group off hand at 15 yards.



The 945-1 is a pleasure to hold and shoot. All the internal surfaces have been very nicely finished, no cosmetic shortcuts there. The trigger pull weight is 3 lbs. The sight picture is very crips as it should be with proper target sights. The grips have a very good shape, the gun feels as it has grown up to match the hand holding it. Someone has performed magic with the shape of the grips.

[Travis Morgan]

Magazines for the Smith, I have one, are not easy to come by. If you find a source get few extra right away.
Bob

I have one I think is for those Smiths; looks like a 1911 mag, but won't fit in a 1911. Gimme your address, I'll ship it, and if it works, pay me whatever you think it's worth.

Does it say 945 on the magazine; if not it is not for a 945.

    Well, it didn't wanna fit in my RIA 1911, but it has a S&W stamp, says, ".45 ACP", and has manufacturer stamp stating "ACT-MAG/PSI Made in Italy". Bottom line, it's a free mag that might work for you.

[HAMMERHEAD]

Nice gun sasu, congrats.

[sasu]

I shot more groups with the Remington 230 FMJ ammo, just to rule out flukes. These are 25 meter (yard) groups shot from a sand bag rest.

Group size 2.4"


Group size 3.0"


Aim small, miss small did not help this time, group size 4.3". I hope that is a shooter induced flyer at the bottom.


Just for reference I shot my stock Kimber Tactical Pro II with the same ammo, groups were 3.4" and 3.5". So my $2200 Performance Center gun is just slightly more accurate than a $1300 Kimber. Hmm...

[sasu]

I am beginning to like the 945 after some initial hesitation. It is a very likable gun.

I have done some basic factory ammo and reload testing. With the most accurate loads the 945 is giving 2.4" inch group averages at 25 yards, whereas the Les Baer shoots the same loads to about 1.4" average.

Les Baer wins the accuracy game.