Just as the title says. I recently purchased a les baer premier II with 1.5 guarantee. Gun functions great and is accurate. Problem is the slide has a slight squared corner that is rubbing on the dust cover. In 60 rounds it has rubbed the finish off if the slide. I emailed pics to baer and the secretary said he said maybe a piece of powder caused it and to put 500 rounds through it then send the slide back for refinish. I said no it's rubbing. So she said he'd call me it's only been one day but no call. I had to save for this gun and to me it's an expensive piece. Am I wrong for letting it drive me crazy that my $2000 1911 isn't perfect. Anybody had good or bad CS with baer?
Sidearms & Scatterguns Les Baer 1911 with 1.5 guarantee Problem
- Thread starter SKS Guy
- Start date
But how does it shoot?
If you're intending for that pistol to be a safe queen and an investment piece, then I can understand your frustration. I'd give it til the end of the week as the gunmakers are pretty busy.
Now, if you bought that pistol as a badass competition/personal protection rig, then I say oil it up and shoot the shit out of it. That will be the first of many dings and cosmetic flaws your pistol will earn in its life of service to you. If you bought that pistol to be a shooter, then I wouldn't worry about anything that doesn't impede its ability to send rounds downrange accurately. Just my 2 cents.
If you're intending for that pistol to be a safe queen and an investment piece, then I can understand your frustration. I'd give it til the end of the week as the gunmakers are pretty busy.
Now, if you bought that pistol as a badass competition/personal protection rig, then I say oil it up and shoot the shit out of it. That will be the first of many dings and cosmetic flaws your pistol will earn in its life of service to you. If you bought that pistol to be a shooter, then I wouldn't worry about anything that doesn't impede its ability to send rounds downrange accurately. Just my 2 cents.
I bought it to use but not abuse. Will probably carry off duty and when I'm training at the academy for the cool factor. Don't mind if I cause wear and tear but feel that a brand new 2K pistol should be mint to start with, especially when it's a build issue.
We would need to see the wear in question. I have a lot of experience with 1911s (A lot) and frankly, some wear around the dust-cover is normal. But...I would need to see it. If you can ID a hi-spot, you can just knock it off yourself.
May not be what you want to hear but, again being honest, running a 1911 to any level real use almost requires some self-rescue. Might as well get you started sooner rather than later.
Post some pics.
Oh...if you paid $2000 for your 1911, that's really not THAT much money relatively speaking in 1911 terms. To build a 1911 "right" with quality parts should be at least $1500 alone. And that was a few years ago when I priced that. Probably more now.
I am not saying you have a "cheap" 1911, or that the quality isn't there. It certainly is. But it's a 1911. The design is 100 years old. It has some weaknesses in it by today's standards. No custom 1911 builder will be able to circumvent that truism. With a 1911 anyway.
TTR
Baer will take care of it. It might take 3 months. I called Ed brown about a finsh problem
On a kobra carry light weight($3000) after owning it for 2 months. I got questioned like I was under arrest what type holster, are you wearing your belt to tight ect followed by we can refinish for a small charge of a few hundred dollars. But like one if the other guys said I bought it to carry and
Shoot bad ass and it does that well!
On a kobra carry light weight($3000) after owning it for 2 months. I got questioned like I was under arrest what type holster, are you wearing your belt to tight ect followed by we can refinish for a small charge of a few hundred dollars. But like one if the other guys said I bought it to carry and
Shoot bad ass and it does that well!
I do believe Baer himself will take care of it!!!!
Just call and email asking THE MAN to call you at his earliest convince.
I'm sure he is a busy type guy!
He will take care of your problem.
PSE EVO 60 Lbs.
Blacked out
Just call and email asking THE MAN to call you at his earliest convince.
I'm sure he is a busy type guy!
He will take care of your problem.
PSE EVO 60 Lbs.
Blacked out
Please post up a pic.
Les is a good guy. I've talked to him on the phone a couple of times.
He is very easy to deal with. If you don't BS him or whine, and he won't BS you.
They have excellent service.
I'm with the others responding.
If it is just a burr, knock it off with a fine file or small fine whetstone and don't worry about it.
Give it a good cleaning, lube it up, and follow the lady's advice, grab a case of ammo and go take it out to the range.
They just improve with time, and become like an old friend.
fwiw - for lube try Lucas Red N'Tacky grease on the bushing, barrel, rails, actually everywhere. It sticks and stays put.
It is available at auto parts stores. Under $10 for a tube that will last a lifetime.
Mobil 1 is popular with many also, but as an oil does not stay on like RNT.
Congratulations.
Les is a good guy. I've talked to him on the phone a couple of times.
He is very easy to deal with. If you don't BS him or whine, and he won't BS you.
They have excellent service.
I'm with the others responding.
If it is just a burr, knock it off with a fine file or small fine whetstone and don't worry about it.
Give it a good cleaning, lube it up, and follow the lady's advice, grab a case of ammo and go take it out to the range.
They just improve with time, and become like an old friend.
fwiw - for lube try Lucas Red N'Tacky grease on the bushing, barrel, rails, actually everywhere. It sticks and stays put.
It is available at auto parts stores. Under $10 for a tube that will last a lifetime.
Mobil 1 is popular with many also, but as an oil does not stay on like RNT.
Congratulations.
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I have this same exact setup, but had it hard chromed for long term durability. Keep in mind, they're fit tight and meant to 'wear in' at about 1k rounds. There will be some burnishing of parts as it breaks in. As suggested, you could disassemble it and lightly hit it with a hard stone, where indicated, or send it back and wait impatiently. Shoot 500 rounds or so and see if it disappears, or if an issue, feel certain they'll take good care of you. Even with hard chrome, there are still some very minor signs of wear. Shoot it.
I understand the frustration, particularly, if you consider it to be a build issue and not simply normal wear. The advice you have received here is good. Les will take care of it if it really bothers you and/or you can't identify where to knock it down.
I have two Baer Premier II's (one in .45 and one in 9mm). Both are great, functional guns. Despite the quirks that come with Baers, I wouldn't trade them for anything. After having handled Wilson's, Nighthawks, Browns, etc., Baer won out. As an aside, do you have an ambi safety on your gun? If so, take a look at the finish under the ambi side of the safety. Baer's have a tendency to rub and gouge in that area.
I have two Baer Premier II's (one in .45 and one in 9mm). Both are great, functional guns. Despite the quirks that come with Baers, I wouldn't trade them for anything. After having handled Wilson's, Nighthawks, Browns, etc., Baer won out. As an aside, do you have an ambi safety on your gun? If so, take a look at the finish under the ambi side of the safety. Baer's have a tendency to rub and gouge in that area.
If I paid that much for a handgun, I would expect it to be fit properly. For me, properly fit means that things don't rub where they aren't supposed to. Sure, the slide rails rub on each other, because they are designed to do that. But the dust cover isn't supposed to rub the finish off the slide, and I would send it back to get it refinished, AND FIXED.
I'm pretty sure that something made it past the quality control by mistake, and I don't have big problem with large companies who make lots of guns having occasional issues like that, as long as they fix the issue when they learn about it. I only get cranky if the company tries to blame me for the problem, or they deny a problem "that a blind man could see".
I'm pretty sure that something made it past the quality control by mistake, and I don't have big problem with large companies who make lots of guns having occasional issues like that, as long as they fix the issue when they learn about it. I only get cranky if the company tries to blame me for the problem, or they deny a problem "that a blind man could see".
That is funny right there.
<---- has 3, had 4; thinks Les is D Bag
Gun is a shooter? 100% reliable? Enjoy it as it is and enjoy the 'character' of a largely hand made 1911.
$2,000 (sadly) really doesn't buy something that is cosmetically and estheticly perfect + reliable + accurate.
Still curious to see a picture.
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I don't have a photobucket account. If someone wants to post the pic I can email it to them. Still haven't heard from baer. When I read on forums of Springfield and colt taking 1911's back to fix this same problem I have no doubt that a gun costing twice as much should be repaired.
Looking at the pic, I'd follow the advice, shoot it 500 rounds and send it back. Not sure what Les could or would say beyond what she said that they would take care of you.
It is minor but keep in mind that is with 60 rounds fired, and it isn't goin to get better. My question to the 1911 guys is will this high spot wear off in 500-1000 rounds and then I can have the slide refinished without the rubbing.
Don't sweat it, Les will take care of you. If that wear bothers you, DO NOT carry or at least draw much from a kydex type holster. It will chew the finish right off of them. Both of my Premier II's look like you hit them with a belt sander, especially on the left side of the slide near the muzzle (I'm right handed).
Wow, a perfect example of a 'first world problem' IMO ;-)
I've had nothing but great service from Les.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
It's definitely the dust cover. Hasn't been holstered yet.
I've had a good experience and a bad experience with LBC. That was about 15 years ago.
As for your problem, I would take a fine file and touch the inside of the dust cover to provide the little extra clearance you need to it doesn't rub on the side.. Then shoot the 500 break in rounds through it. Try rubbing a little oil on the scuff mark, it might make it disappear.
As for your problem, I would take a fine file and touch the inside of the dust cover to provide the little extra clearance you need to it doesn't rub on the side.. Then shoot the 500 break in rounds through it. Try rubbing a little oil on the scuff mark, it might make it disappear.
Still no call back from Baer. Guess CS not a priority with them.
Or, I'm spoiled by CS from Noveske,Timney, and Smith and Wesson.
Or, I'm spoiled by CS from Noveske,Timney, and Smith and Wesson.
I would follow their advice. The reason they asked you to put 500 more rounds through it is to finish break in and identify any issues so that you don't send it in, get it refinished, then identify an additional issue once the gun comes back from a refin. I had about 4 or 5 malfunctions in the first 500 rounds of mine (1.5" guarantee), now it chokes about every 2,000 - 3,000 rounds, which is not bad in my book.
Honestly, I wouldn't have noticed that issue, but I am not that detail-oriented. I got pissed because I went to the range, had a squib, and the range master said no problem. I assumed (like an idiot), he was going to take a cleaning rod and tap the round out. Instead he decided to disassemble the gun. He didn't have a bushing wrench (which is a necessity for a Baer), and he ended up putting a giant idiot mark that actually went across the slide! Since, then, I packed the pistol in a laptop bag and something rubbed all over the finish at the front of the slide.
I can understand someone being upset about a $2k pistol not being absolutely perfect, but if you put any kind of rounds through it at all, you are going to do far worse than a scratch in the finish. I am very careful with my equipment and anything that I use regularly has scratches and dings. I worry about how on target it is and my Baer passes with flying colors in that respect. But anyway, I would listen to their advice... shoot 500 hundred rounds and send it in. I put 500 rounds downrange on my first outing with my Baer, so I imagine you should be pretty close.
Honestly, I wouldn't have noticed that issue, but I am not that detail-oriented. I got pissed because I went to the range, had a squib, and the range master said no problem. I assumed (like an idiot), he was going to take a cleaning rod and tap the round out. Instead he decided to disassemble the gun. He didn't have a bushing wrench (which is a necessity for a Baer), and he ended up putting a giant idiot mark that actually went across the slide! Since, then, I packed the pistol in a laptop bag and something rubbed all over the finish at the front of the slide.
I can understand someone being upset about a $2k pistol not being absolutely perfect, but if you put any kind of rounds through it at all, you are going to do far worse than a scratch in the finish. I am very careful with my equipment and anything that I use regularly has scratches and dings. I worry about how on target it is and my Baer passes with flying colors in that respect. But anyway, I would listen to their advice... shoot 500 hundred rounds and send it in. I put 500 rounds downrange on my first outing with my Baer, so I imagine you should be pretty close.
I love my Baer, but most likely wont buy another one.
I've talked to Les on the phone twice, the first time he was extremely nice because I called to inform him about how impressed I was with the pistol that he put out and to order an ambi safety.
The second time he wasn't so nice when I called to tell him the safety he sent me was obviously used and it wasnt properly finished ( my gunsmith agreed with me). I didn't make a stink about it and just asked him to send me another one and I will send back the defective one. I promptly got an ear full about how I was wrong and that nothing of the sort would come out of his shop BLAH BLAH BLAH and that he wouldnt even refund my money for the part.
just my experience, i realize that everyone has a bad day now and then but that isnt the way to treat a customer even on the worst days.
I've talked to Les on the phone twice, the first time he was extremely nice because I called to inform him about how impressed I was with the pistol that he put out and to order an ambi safety.
The second time he wasn't so nice when I called to tell him the safety he sent me was obviously used and it wasnt properly finished ( my gunsmith agreed with me). I didn't make a stink about it and just asked him to send me another one and I will send back the defective one. I promptly got an ear full about how I was wrong and that nothing of the sort would come out of his shop BLAH BLAH BLAH and that he wouldnt even refund my money for the part.
just my experience, i realize that everyone has a bad day now and then but that isnt the way to treat a customer even on the worst days.
I put another 150 rounds through the gun today. It functioned perfect. Tried three different brand mags and all worked perfect. I shot some 50 yard groups and managed to shoot a 1.300 center to center 3 shot group. Probably luck, but was one of only 7 groups shot. Needless to say a couple were more like 4.5 inches. I'm hoping that after 500 rounds the high spot will be worn down and I can just send the slide back. I've only had a few 1911's but this is by far the best.
Did you take any photos of the target? If you did, could you post them on here?
I do have a pic of the target. If someone wants to post it I'll email it. Thanks. I gota get a photobucket account.
Tinypic.com is also easy to use. Once you create your account, you can upload your photos and there will be a link that is the code you use to post on forums. It will look something like this: [img.]...stuff....[/img.].
Shooting that Baer will spoil you, but in a good way. Mine is my competition gun (you can see it in the 1911 pic thread) and I don't think I'll ever part with it.
Shooting that Baer will spoil you, but in a good way. Mine is my competition gun (you can see it in the 1911 pic thread) and I don't think I'll ever part with it.
I've had pretty good CS with Baer. Never had an issue but he was pretty cordial when I called to get some info. The pistol is a straight shooter for sure but I never had a high spot wear like yours.
Okay, I understand where you are coming from so a few comments. Fist off my Baer SRP was my FIRST 1911 and I to was picky, overly anal and ADD about it. You will find Baer customer service is exceptional and in fact I did have the opportunity to speak to Les. I am not kidding that I can't even remember what the issue was that concerned me at the time. I know you spent big dollars and are concerned about the finish BUT.... my advice is to shoot the snot out of it and don't worry. At some point you will have a few dings and scratches and they will only give it character. My crossover point came in a two day handgun class when I had to get it dirty, dropped it and generally abused it. Actually still looks really good.
oh noes ! i think I may have the same little rub mark on there....
Nooooooo shit!!!!!!!
Are you ever lucky or what? You came to one of the few places that will actually answer your question. You are suffering from a disorder, many folks have it, some had it. Hell I think I had it once a long long time ago. You have it and the only question you are really asking is "can you stop having it" and the answer is yes. "Missing the Whole Point" syndrome is treatable and without any real medical intervention if you are willing to face up to it.
Now imagine this....
You are a gunsmith that has a backlog of literally 100s of fine pistols to make. Some folks probably won't get theirs for three years or more. He makes up a great pistol, went out the door perfect in every regard. It shoots reliably, is accurate, should last a couple of life times, can be pretty much abused and will keep on doing the same thing over and over and over and over again. All the while, inside the chamber things are literally exploding! Exploding with enough energy that it can take a piece of lead and, after slinging it down the barrel, it will do quite a bit of damage a 100 yards away. You are feeling pretty good that your work is appreciated and many are standing in line to own it. Then....Kathy comes around the corner, some guy is very concerned. That tactical pistol that was sold to him is keeping him up at night, he is writing in forums about it. Why? Not shooting with precision? No.....Not reloading? No.....Clip failing to feed? No....Trigger stiff? No.....Sites loose? No......Safety not working? No..... Then what? What? What is the problem?
The craftsman looks at Kathy, Kathy looks at him......you have got to be kidding me, he says. No, says she.....I swear, I just can't take much more of this, says he....I know, she says....sad....
You can stop this syndrome by simply recognizing the symptoms and directly confronting your fucked-in-the-headness.....most of us have and are better for it. I believe in you, we all believe in you. Just don't take it too far as the guys that do...those guys...they....we'll it is just too difficult to talk about it..
P.S. How did you do that to your table, I think it will polish out, no?
Now imagine this....
You are a gunsmith that has a backlog of literally 100s of fine pistols to make. Some folks probably won't get theirs for three years or more. He makes up a great pistol, went out the door perfect in every regard. It shoots reliably, is accurate, should last a couple of life times, can be pretty much abused and will keep on doing the same thing over and over and over and over again. All the while, inside the chamber things are literally exploding! Exploding with enough energy that it can take a piece of lead and, after slinging it down the barrel, it will do quite a bit of damage a 100 yards away. You are feeling pretty good that your work is appreciated and many are standing in line to own it. Then....Kathy comes around the corner, some guy is very concerned. That tactical pistol that was sold to him is keeping him up at night, he is writing in forums about it. Why? Not shooting with precision? No.....Not reloading? No.....Clip failing to feed? No....Trigger stiff? No.....Sites loose? No......Safety not working? No..... Then what? What? What is the problem?
The craftsman looks at Kathy, Kathy looks at him......you have got to be kidding me, he says. No, says she.....I swear, I just can't take much more of this, says he....I know, she says....sad....
You can stop this syndrome by simply recognizing the symptoms and directly confronting your fucked-in-the-headness.....most of us have and are better for it. I believe in you, we all believe in you. Just don't take it too far as the guys that do...those guys...they....we'll it is just too difficult to talk about it..
P.S. How did you do that to your table, I think it will polish out, no?
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Hilarious.
Whenever you ask a question here your sure to get a couple good answers and then 3/4 are smart asses. I ask for the 1/4 that understand and give good advice.
P.S. I've been on the smart ass side myself so I understand that part too.
P.S. I've been on the smart ass side myself so I understand that part too.
This Custom Delta has over 1k rounds through it, and it has no scuffs on the dust cover. It was built for me by a gentleman who used to to work for Les, and he definitely had some issues with Baer's QC. The pistol was finished in satin Bear Coat, which has held up quite well, except for on the flare of the ejection port, but that's to be expected. Like many have said, shoot another 500 and send it back. $2,000 is definitely not a ton of money for a 1911, ( I had nearly that in this build not including the pistol) but it's enough to expect a better fit than what you have. I'm sure Les will make it right.
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First. Give them more than a day to respond, your just another customer.
Second. I owned a premier II. Sold it and bought an ed brown. Wow what a difference, I'll never go back to baer.
I suggest you do the same. The fit and finish cannot be compared. As well as not being so tight that it barely functions.
Second. I owned a premier II. Sold it and bought an ed brown. Wow what a difference, I'll never go back to baer.
I suggest you do the same. The fit and finish cannot be compared. As well as not being so tight that it barely functions.
Posting photo for SKS Guy.
This is got to be a joke. Your probably one of those that cry over a ring mark on the scope or even a nick on the scope knob. And people wonder why top smiths dont want to answer their phones.
Yea your right. If I bought a brand new scope that had a ring marks I'd be pissed too. Point is this is unacceptable from a pistol half this price so this is no different. If I cause the damage be a different story.
Smiths don't want to answer their phones because they're overhyped primadonnas, and they get away with it... Why do they get away with it?? Because the average shooting public doesn't know the difference between competent machining and magic...
Not trying to pick an argument with you, but I absolutely HATE the way some smiths handle themselves.
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I don't see the issue...It's a les baer....they are built to shoot, not be safe queens.
Your issue is in reality a nonissue.
Your issue is in reality a nonissue.
If I bought a brand new car(even if it were a mid priced car), and it had a scratch on the fender from the factory, I'd want it fixed.
