By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
Specifications:
Manufacturer: Les Baer
Model: 572 Hemi
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action: Single Action
Capacity: 8 rounds
Finish: Hard Chrome/Dupont S accents
Sights: Adjustable rear, fiber optic front
Grips: VZ Grips
Barrel: National Match
Weight: 40 ounces
List price: $2,853
When it comes to high end 1911 handguns—and these days the Beretta, CZ 75 and revolvers are getting the treatment as well—the question is often why do they cost so much?
Well, there are always shooters that feel that the handguns available limit their accuracy and speed. We aren’t talking about handguns meant to win a bull’s eye match or a Steel Challenge but a handgun that will serve for personal defense for the sheer joy of owning a superb handgun. A few words on manufacture. When a handgun is designed there are blueprints, specifications, and tolerances. A sloppy gun isn’t very accurate. It may be reliable but wear will proceed more quickly if there is slop in the action. The tighter the tolerances the greater the expense, the greater hand fitting, and closer attention must be given to the final fit and polish. Moving tolerance over about one decimal place makes for more expensive and a tighter pistol.
A lot of folks point to World War Two GI guns as an example of a loosely made handgun. This isn’t exactly true. Inspectors in the plant used gauges to be certain the 1911s were in spec. Remington Rand, Ithaca, Colt, and Springfield Armory guns featured interchangeable parts. They could be disassembled, tossed into a bin, and then the parts could be reassembled and sometimes they served with mismatched parts for decades, but the inspectors had made certain the parts weren’t mismatched as far as fit goes. The pistols were not that tight, true, and may rattle when shook, but the locking lugs and barrel bushings were tight enough for reasonably good accuracy. Today you cannot exchange parts between 1911 makes; each is individual.
Let’s look at the Les Baer, one of the tightest modern 1911 handguns. This pistol is very tight, with virtually no slop. When you rack the slide you feel the smoothness of the locking lugs as they move into the slide. The pistol returns to battery in exactly the same manner time after time. Eccentric wear is limited and the pistols are very accurate. While the Les Baer is a 1911 and any solider trained on the 1911A1 could easily handle the Les Bae,r this pistol is a far cry from the GI gun and most factory production pistols.
Les Baer set out to manufacture the finest 1911 possible. The pistol illustrated is a flashy piece and with good reason. Baer is a huge drag racing fan among his many talents. The 572 Hemi is named in honor of Baer’s personal drag racer. It features an eye grabbing color scheme. The frame and slide are hard chromed while the slide stop, ambidextrous safety, magazines catch, hammer, trigger, plunger tube, sear pin, and recoil pin are DuPont S coated. Plenty of adhesion and abrasion are offered by the pistol’s VZ grips. The rear sights are Baer’s rugged modern adjustable sights. The front post is a bright fiber optic. This combination allows excellent accuracy potential while also offering real speed for those that practice. The front strap is nicely checkered. The combination of a checkered front strap and VZ grips are a good combination. The pistol is delivered in a cardboard box and is supplied with two magazines.
Because this pistol is tight, it requires some effort to rack the slide. Les Baer recommends a break in of several hundred rounds before function evens out. In this case the pistol came out of the box shooting. My first Les Baer demanded a break in the next one did not. I would not be surprised to see a pistol of this type demand a modest break in. It is a good notion to use full power loads such as a 230-grain full metal jacketed bullet at 850 fps for the initial firing sessions. The pistol was well lubricated and hand cycled several dozen times before I headed to the range. I dry fired the pistol, acclimating to the trigger action. The trigger breaks at a crisp 3.5 pounds with a clean break, rapid re-set, and a no backlash; as clean a trigger as you could wish for. The slide lock safety is crisp in operation with a sharp indent. This safety isn’t going to be pressed during recoil. As you draw the pistol and come on target you may move the safety quickly to the fire position.
The 572 Hemi is chambered for my favorite cartridge the .45 ACP. The .45 operates at relatively low pressure ensuring long weapons life. The .45 ACP uses a modest charge of fast burning powder. The result is limited muzzle flash, usually just a few sparks. While there is revisionist history and pretty ridiculous claims in some places- by folks that should know better- the .45 ACP offers superior wound ballistics to the small bores. You cannot tell time by the second hand and you need to be careful what sources you take to heart. At this point the pistol has fired just over 1,000 cartridges without a single failure to feed, chamber, fire, or eject. That is a big dent in the ammunition supply in this day and time, and I handload and was able to stock up before the present shortage.
The pistol is fast on target like any 1911. There is simply nothing as fast to an accurate first shot as the 1911 and no other big bore self-loader as controllable. The Les Baer 572 actually weighs an ounce or so more than most Government Model 1911 handguns. Recoil isn’t a factor with standard loads. It clears leather quickly and moves between targets very quickly. Among the loads I have used is the Black Hills Ammunition 200 grain lead semi wadcutter. At 870 fps this load delivers excellent accuracy and economy.
For personal defense and home defense I like the 230-grain JHP. Black Hills Ammunition loads this one to about 860 fps. While a top rated service load accuracy is match grade in a quality handgun. The Les Baer has delivered groups of 1.5 inches for five shots at 25 yards off a bench rest. On occasion a brilliant group is even smaller. Suffice to say the 3-inch group at 50 yards guarantee is valid. It will take a good shot to prove the standard out.
The Les Baer 572 Hemi is an attractive option. It may not be your favorite- some will favor one of the Les Baer concept pistols- but it is certainly one of the top 1911 handguns ever made.
I carry the Les Baer often under the Royal Robbins concealment vest. A quality gun belt is essential. A forty ounce 1911 isn’t the lightest gun you will carry! The Overland Gunleather (Overlandgunleather.com) holster is ideal for this use. The BPC holster is molded in a modified pancake style. The holster rides close to the body but the construction makes for a rapid presentation from the holster. The fit and finish are excellent. The Les Baer or any good 1911 deserves good gear. The pistol features a molded in sight track. The holstering welt makes for easy re-holstering. The Les Baer and Overland Gunleather combination is a great fit for all around go anywhere do anything defense use.