Post by "DoubleAction" on Sept 24, 2004 22:52:49 GMT -5
With a price tag of around $2,000. dollars; The Wilson Combat CQB Compact is priced for it's shooting edge, more so than it's beauty. I have six Colt 1911s in various barrel lengths, and only one comes close to the feel of this Wilson pistol; My Colt Series 70 Combat Commander. Some things the Wilson has other than the Colt is much more smoothness around the edges, tighter lockup, better sights, 30 LPI front strap checkering, Armor Tuff Coating, Coned bushingless bull Barrel, Officer size grip ( providing for better concealed carry), 4 inch barrel ( as opposed to the 4 1/4" on the Colt), a 30 lpi flat mainspring housing, dove tail front sight, Wilson's Lifetime Guarantee, and a little more speed.
Another thing the Wilson has, that the Colt is lacking in is a #314c MIM Sear, and a #455B MIM Hammer; The fire control components on my Colts are all manufactured from forged steel, No bad though; because one would probably not notice, unless one was told. The newer CQBs are assembled, using hardened steel sears and hammers, but the price is reflected and increased.
This 4" inch compact shoots better than any 4" pistol that I have ever fired; I was shooting this same pistol six months before I acquired it. The amazing aspect of the gun is it's smooth recoil and fast follow up shots, with little sacrafice to accuracy. Tapping out a full magazine of 230 gr. full metal jacketed .45 acp is easily done with this short recoiling 1911. For myself, I work the pistol at ranges from ten to fifteen yds, using 5" targets, and seldom find strays outside the the 7 ring on rapid fire.
After over three thousand rounds. fired, I've never had one single malfunction, irregardless of the ammunition used.
The one single thing that attracted me to this pistol was it's ability to shoot fast, smooth, and hit the center mass of the target with ease. One major contributor is the sight acquisition from the Wilson's lo mounted Combat Pyramid sights, with tritium inserts; It's real easy to pick up on the sights and maintain a clear sight picture while shooting. The rear sight has the Novak Style cut.
When cleaning, I detail strip all 1911s, it just seems easier to get to everything that way. Field stripping the CQB Compact is a little different because of the Coned Bushingless Barrel. With the pistol unloaded, magazine removed, you retract the slide to the slide stop notch, push out the slide stop, and remove the slide, while retaining the recoil spring as the slide is removed from the frame. That is all there is to it, no bushing to turn, no full length rod, and no big deal.
Cleaning the CQB is no different from other 1911s, the Armor Tuff Coating is highly resistant to Solvents. One thing to take notice of, in case you detail strip the pistol, is the plunger tube spring. Unlike the Colt plunger tube spring, which has a kink in it to prevent it from going across the room, when you remove the thumb safety, the CQB's plunger tube is straight, so get ready and have the palm of the hand over it while you remove the thumb safety.
For concealed and carry, this pistol weighs 40 oz. loaded, with a 7 rd. magazine, not bad for a carbon steel frame pistol ( Maybe those MIM parts lightened it up a bit, just joking) I have carried this pistol in a Wilson Lo Profile sharkskin holster, Galco Concealable, and Galco S.O.B. holster, and find all three very comfortable. The slim profile and shorter grip, gives this pistol a feature with a barrel length 1/4 shorter than the Commander, 1/2 inch longer than the Officer's ACP, and provides it with the more concealable Officer's ACP Grip length.
The bottom line on this pistol is it's price tag; If one can overcome that hurdle, it is not a bad price for such a pistol. One can look around at other offerings and compare by looks, but until one compares by shooting, there will always remain that hurdle.
Another thing the Wilson has, that the Colt is lacking in is a #314c MIM Sear, and a #455B MIM Hammer; The fire control components on my Colts are all manufactured from forged steel, No bad though; because one would probably not notice, unless one was told. The newer CQBs are assembled, using hardened steel sears and hammers, but the price is reflected and increased.
This 4" inch compact shoots better than any 4" pistol that I have ever fired; I was shooting this same pistol six months before I acquired it. The amazing aspect of the gun is it's smooth recoil and fast follow up shots, with little sacrafice to accuracy. Tapping out a full magazine of 230 gr. full metal jacketed .45 acp is easily done with this short recoiling 1911. For myself, I work the pistol at ranges from ten to fifteen yds, using 5" targets, and seldom find strays outside the the 7 ring on rapid fire.
After over three thousand rounds. fired, I've never had one single malfunction, irregardless of the ammunition used.
The one single thing that attracted me to this pistol was it's ability to shoot fast, smooth, and hit the center mass of the target with ease. One major contributor is the sight acquisition from the Wilson's lo mounted Combat Pyramid sights, with tritium inserts; It's real easy to pick up on the sights and maintain a clear sight picture while shooting. The rear sight has the Novak Style cut.
When cleaning, I detail strip all 1911s, it just seems easier to get to everything that way. Field stripping the CQB Compact is a little different because of the Coned Bushingless Barrel. With the pistol unloaded, magazine removed, you retract the slide to the slide stop notch, push out the slide stop, and remove the slide, while retaining the recoil spring as the slide is removed from the frame. That is all there is to it, no bushing to turn, no full length rod, and no big deal.
Cleaning the CQB is no different from other 1911s, the Armor Tuff Coating is highly resistant to Solvents. One thing to take notice of, in case you detail strip the pistol, is the plunger tube spring. Unlike the Colt plunger tube spring, which has a kink in it to prevent it from going across the room, when you remove the thumb safety, the CQB's plunger tube is straight, so get ready and have the palm of the hand over it while you remove the thumb safety.
For concealed and carry, this pistol weighs 40 oz. loaded, with a 7 rd. magazine, not bad for a carbon steel frame pistol ( Maybe those MIM parts lightened it up a bit, just joking) I have carried this pistol in a Wilson Lo Profile sharkskin holster, Galco Concealable, and Galco S.O.B. holster, and find all three very comfortable. The slim profile and shorter grip, gives this pistol a feature with a barrel length 1/4 shorter than the Commander, 1/2 inch longer than the Officer's ACP, and provides it with the more concealable Officer's ACP Grip length.
The bottom line on this pistol is it's price tag; If one can overcome that hurdle, it is not a bad price for such a pistol. One can look around at other offerings and compare by looks, but until one compares by shooting, there will always remain that hurdle.