Every so often things just go right! (Long)
So I've been in the market the last few weeks for a new 1911. Something that would be a good shooter for fun at the range with less emphasis on carry. Got that end of the spectrum covered!
I had mentioned to a good friend who is a top IPSC shooter in the area to ask around the club if there were any good deals on single stacks. Hadn't heard much of anything so went to the local gunshow this weekend. I tore myself away from a beautiful nickel plated detective special. Original box and a near perfect finish for a fairly good price. Not what I was there to spend money for! Saw a NIB Les Baer but too rich for my wallet. Then I started agonizing over two STI's, a Trojan and a Lawman. I had just walked away to think up some good explanations to my wife on how great the pistols were when my friend calls me up.
"Still looking for a 1911?"
"Yeah, I think I'm going to pick up an STI"
"Would you be interested in a pre firing pin block Kimber?"
"Wellllll, I dunno. I think the STI might be a better shooter"
"Not this one, (name with held) tuned it and shot one match with it. I bought it and shot two matches with it. Never shot another single stack match again. It's been sitting in my safe for a few years and I got to thinking it might be a good one for you. It's one fine shooter and has about 1,000 rounds through it. I really would like to see you get a sweet gun I'll let you have it for (you don't want to know)"
"Wow, that's a good deal. Let me think about it."
So I agonize for the next few minutes between the two choices. Now these two shooters have been super friends. When things were looking rough with my wifes health and our finances I got free trigger jobs and action tunes. I got a "spare" reloading press and supplies. They just figured they'd help out a fellow shooter to keep him going in rough times. I also knew if this certain person had tuned the gun it would be sweet. Maybe better than that beautiful STI.
So I called back and said "Well, I might be interested. That's a pretty good price."
"Why don't you borrow it and shoot it a bit then decide. By the way, that's YOUR price. No body else gets that price."
So I go to the range last night wearing new glasses, upside down bifocals that I had set up for work and shooting. These things feel weird and are going to take so getting used to.
I send a target down 35 feet and try a few dry fires. Jeez with this setup I can see the front sight great but the target is a really fuzzy blur. Load up and here goes nothing.
http://www.usgunowner.com/photohost/...g=target_1.jpg
The orange bullseye is 1". And there are 8 hits in that group, just a few in the same hole in the center.
It got better after that and on targets that were fuzzier than they used to be but that front sight sure was clear.
For those of you blessed with good eyesight just wait......middle age is coming!
So the upshot is I lucked into a darn fine Kimber Royal Classic that's hands down the smoothest actioned best triggered 1911 I've ever shot, for me anyways. Everyones different but I think everythings just sort of worked out in the right combination and this puppy is the right setup for me with middle aged eyes and a touch of arthritis and my little quirks as a shooter. The trigger is set at 2.5 lbs by the gauge so it's not really for carry and besides the blueing job is very good, why wear it down?
So I called him today and said he couldn't have it back. He also told me that if I hadn't decided to keep it he'd decided not to sell it 'cause it just flat shot so well for him too.
Wow, how did this happen to me?
http://www.usgunowner.com/photohost/...mg=kimber1.jpg
http://www.usgunowner.com/photohost/...mg=kimber2.jpg
It also came with six Wilson mags tuned for the gun. And the price? I ain't saying, I don't want to get banned.....
Good friends are rare, great friends are even rarer.....
