Les Baer Custom

Les Baer Custom builds precision 1911s and AR-15s in Le Claire, Iowa. Founded by competitive shooter Les Baer in the 1990s, the company made its reputation with a simple promise -- every pistol shoots 3 inches at 50 yards, guaranteed.

When a competitive shooter starts a gun company, everything gets built around accuracy first. Les Baer pistols aren't the prettiest customs you can buy, but they might be the most precise.

Les Baer started the company in the 1990s after years of competition shooting showed him what worked and what didn't. No marketing department decided the accuracy guarantee -- it came from a shooter who knew what precision meant. The company is a SAAMI member and everything gets hand-built in Iowa.

The accuracy guarantee isn't marketing fluff. Sub-MOA performance from a pistol is measurable, testable, and rare. Most production 1911s shoot 4-6 inches at 50 yards on a good day. Les Baer guarantees half that.

Every pistol shoots 3 inches at 50 yards, guaranteed. That's rifle-like accuracy from a handgun, with the test target in your box to prove it.

1911 pistols form the core of the lineup:

• •Key milestones in Les Baer Custom's evolution from competition roots to precision manufacturer

The Premier II is their flagship -- the pistol that built the reputation. It's the one to get if you want to see what Les Baer is about.

The Custom Carry takes the same accuracy and dehorns all the edges for daily carry.

AR-15 rifles get the same precision treatment:

Every Les Baer 1911 requires a break-in period. The hand-fitted tolerances are intentionally tight, which means 200-500 rounds before everything smooths out. This frustrates some buyers, but it's normal for customs at this tier -- Wilson Combat, Nighthawk, and Ed Brown all work the same way.

Don't judge reliability until after break-in. Once broken in, these pistols routinely go 10,000+ rounds with minimal issues.

Production 1911s get built to loose tolerances for instant reliability. Custom 1911s get hand-fitted to tight tolerances for accuracy.

The tradeoff is real -- tighter fit means better accuracy but needs that break-in period.

Les Baer's approach centers on manufacturing precision:

• •Match barrels get individually fitted to each slide -- no drop-in parts
• •Slide-to-frame fit gets hand-worked until there's minimal play
• •Triggers get hand-tuned for a clean 4-pound break with minimal creep
• •Dehorning removes all sharp edges without compromising the tight fit
• •Test firing happens on every pistol before it ships

• •Les Baer Custom manufacturing process emphasizing hand-fitting at every stage

The result is a pistol that shoots like a rifle. Most custom shops talk about accuracy -- Les Baer guarantees it with numbers and backs it up with a test target.

What you get versus a $500 production 1911 is precision. The Springfield or Ruger will go bang reliably, but it won't put five shots into 3 inches at 50 yards. The Les Baer will do both, once you get through break-in.

Les Baer attracts serious shooters who value function over flash. These aren't collector pieces with engraving and exotic finishes -- they're tools built to perform.

Competitive shooters love them because accuracy matters in competition. Law enforcement agencies spec them because reliability matters on duty. 1911 enthusiasts respect them because the fundamentals are executed perfectly.

Common praise centers on:

• •Accuracy guarantee being real and verifiable
• •Responsive customer service
• •Consistent build quality -- no lottery with Les Baer pistols
• •Lifetime warranty backs every gun

Common criticism hits:

• •Break-in period requirement
• •Plain aesthetics compared to engraved customs
• •Significant price point ($2,100+)
• •Extended lead times due to hand-building

The custom 1911 market has clear tiers:

Les Baer sits at the entry point of true custom territory. You get hand-fitted precision without paying for exotic materials or extensive engraving. It's the most accessible way into sub-MOA 1911 accuracy.

• •What this means for you: The Premier II covers most needs -- it's the flagship that built the reputation. The Custom Carry takes the same accuracy and makes it carry-friendly.

The Premier II Super-Tac adds night sights and tactical features for duty use. If you want 9mm precision, the Black Baer is your only option with the same accuracy guarantee. For law enforcement, the Boss .45 has duty-specific features. Competition shooters should look at the Monolith Heavyweight for recoil management.

The AR-15 rifles follow the same philosophy -- precision first. The AR .223 Super Varmint delivers sub-MOA accuracy for varmint hunting. The AR .308 Super Match pushes into half-MOA territory for serious long-range work.

Les Baer Custom makes precision instruments that happen to be handguns. The 3-inch guarantee at 50 yards isn't marketing -- it's a measurable, testable promise that few manufacturers make at any price.

These aren't the prettiest customs you can buy, but they might be the most accurate. The break-in period is real, but so is the accuracy afterward.

If you want a 1911 that shoots like a rifle and comes with the test target to prove it, Les Baer is hard to beat. The company represents what happens when a competitive shooter starts building guns. No committee meetings about market segments -- just a relentless focus on making accurate firearms.

That focus shows in every pistol they ship. For the money, you get true custom 1911 precision at the entry point of the market. Wilson Combat costs more. Nighthawk costs much more. Les Baer delivers the accuracy for less -- you just won't get the fancy finishes.

• •Custom 1911 Manufacturers
• •1911 Accuracy Guide
• •Competition 1911 Setup