{"id":2804,"date":"2024-12-12T22:17:02","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T22:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=2804"},"modified":"2024-12-12T22:17:02","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T22:17:02","slug":"is-a-custom-pistol-a-waste-of-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=2804","title":{"rendered":"Is a Custom Pistol a Waste of Money?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Clayton Walker<\/a><\/p>\n

I, like many of you, appreciate the charms of a high-grade, custom-level pistol. Combining mechanical and aesthetic perfection, these types of guns exude quality. For example, a 1911 at this level should feature a barrel and bushing that are precisely fit, hand-fit marriage of slide to frame, and a trigger that has a perfectly consistent \u201cglass rod\u201d break. When you rack the slide of guns like these, there\u2019s no slop \u2014 anywhere. Every part feels like it rides on ball bearings, and any point of unnecessary inconsistency or variability that could have a hand in reduced accuracy has been addressed.<\/p>\n

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Is a high-end, custom pistol a waste of money? Or, is spending the money on such a handgun worth the investment?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That said, I do nearly all of my shooting at public ranges, so I can tell you this for certain: a very good pistol in the hands of a novice or totally green shooter will not turn them into a Rob Leatham<\/a>.<\/p>\n

About twice a year, a shooter will walk up to the counter of the range after standing on the precipice of enlightenment, ready to make the leap. \u201cI paid a lot of money for this gun, but it\u2019s shooting low and left for me,\u201d the customer will state. \u201cCan one of you guys shoot it and see if it does the same for you?\u201d If they happen to query the long-time shooter and competitor who manages my favorite range, he will oblige. Invariably, he\u2019ll send four or five rounds through the same hole at 7 yards. \u201c\u2026But I hate doing it,\u201d he notes.<\/p>\n

\"two\n<\/picture>
Shown here are two very different Springfield 1911 pistols. The old-school TRP (below) is far more \u201cfeature rich\u201d than the Mil-Spec (top), though the value of those aggregate features will be different from shooter to shooter.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today, let\u2019s take a quick inventory of what you\u2019re going to get by \u201cgoing up the ladder\u201d in buying a handgun, in the hopes that it may provide a little more information about what\u2019s right for you and to set a realistic set of expectations for what an exquisitely crafted firearm is capable of delivering.<\/p>\n

Box Stock<\/h2>\n

First and foremost, we are living in a time where \u201centry level\u201d pistols are better than ever before. Certainly, the product line at Springfield Armory reflects this: as a consumer, you\u2019re getting a level of accuracy and reliability, combined with a host of shooter-friendly features, that would have been unthinkable decades prior. I still contend the Springfield XD is a nearly unbeatable value. The new XD Mod.3<\/a>, for around three bones out the door, will get you a rock-solid platform that is a true performer.<\/p>\n

\"TRP\n<\/picture>
The author asks, \u201cDo I need the TRP\u2019s upgrades to shoot well? No, but if I want to shoot my best, they certainly help!\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In my own testing, I have found that the sights are regulated so that I never need to worry that my shots won\u2019t hit to point of aim, and the guns just work with a variety of bullet weights and profiles. I had some light-for-caliber 9mm rounds<\/a> that were causing a few of my other service-style guns to choke, and my 3\u201d XD gobbled them right up.<\/p>\n

If you bought a handgun for the equivalent of what this would get you in 1990 dollars, you\u2019d likely be locked into a rattle-heavy piece of military surplus that probably wouldn\u2019t like feeding jacketed hollow points, and even with \u201cball\u201d ammo<\/a>, it still might choke. Triggers would usually be rough and gritty, and ergonomics would almost always be lacking. From that standpoint, the gun stores of today are rife with great deals and awesome products.<\/p>\n

Attention to Detail<\/h2>\n

Of course, the tremendous state of today\u2019s \u201centry level\u201d guns doesn\u2019t mean that a little extra time and attention can\u2019t be spared. Especially where Springfield Armory\u2019s guns are concerned, spending more often provides the shooter with upgrades that maximize both mechanical accuracy (i.e., hand-fit parts) and practical accuracy (such as crisp, light, consistent triggers). On one hand, those little touches are maximizing the accuracy potential of them; on the other, they\u2019re also maximizing\u00a0your<\/em>\u00a0ability to pull the trigger to the rear of the gun while imparting as little movement as possible.<\/p>\n

\"tritium\n<\/picture>
Tritium sights are one example where the \u201cbells and whistles\u201d can indeed make guns much better adapted for defensive use.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Surveying my own shooting and those of others over the years, I have found, anecdotally, that a truly outstanding handgun will allow people to shoot about 40% better on average than a stock gun. It\u2019s a palpable difference! I can normally hold about an offhand 2.5\u201d group with just about any \u201cduty\u201d type handgun at 7 yards, and if I switch over to something like my Springfield TRP<\/a>, I can shrink that to about an inch and a half or better. That\u2019s in my own two hands, at least.<\/p>\n

The benefits provided by some \u201cbells and whistles,\u201d so to speak, will provide a shooter with a little secret sauce to help get to the ceiling of their current ability. Realistically, they may not turn pie-plate or shotgun pattern-sized groups into a single ragged hole. Suppose, for example, that someone switches from a \u201cplain Jane\u201d 1911 to one that has been tuned and accurized. That substitution does not make for an utterly\u00a0transformative<\/em>\u00a0difference in one\u2019s shooting,\u00a0<\/em>but I guarantee it will result in a set of outcomes that are statistically and quantifiably better, even when shot offhand within indoor distances.<\/p>\n

\"checkering\n<\/picture>
The TRP line is known for extremely well-done and grippy checkering. The specification is one element that makes the TRP more labor-intensive, but it does aid purchase and shot-to-shot consistency.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Additionally, there are a lot of features that are designed around usage as much as accuracy. For examples of the type, study a Springfield Hellcat<\/a>. Not every shooter will necessarily make use of the gun\u2019s tritium front sight, red-dot ready capability, or frame texture \u201cindex points.\u201d Each of those features, however, is baked into the gun. Compared to the 3\u201d XD \u2014 again, a wonderful firearm that will serve many folks\u2019 CCW needs \u2014 the Hellcat\u2019s feature set and more adaptable nature is what makes it a next-generation pistol, and one that reflects a variety of modern tastes and predilections among knowledgeable pistoleros.<\/p>\n

A Third Perspective<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s also nothing wrong with wanting the best, or simply buying the gun that calls to you.<\/p>\n

This might on one hand come from an appraisal of aesthetics. My Hellcat Pro<\/a> doesn\u2019t\u00a0look<\/em>\u00a0like my 3\u201d XD, and for a lot of people there\u2019s an innate cool factor connected with a more modern, feature-rich gun. In other cases, a purchase might be motivated by the notion of retained value. When it comes to adding a gun to our collections that we imagine might be passed down to our grandchildren, we often tend to dig a little deeper into the wallet. It\u2019s also reassuring to know that hard-wearing finishes and strong, forged parts often makes for a gun that remains functional and accurate over the span of several decades.<\/p>\n

\"DPM\n<\/picture>
The author installed a DPM recoil reduction system on his Hellcat. The change in recoil behavior is discernible, but still subtle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the other hand, there\u2019s no small amount of reassurance in knowing that when you show up to the range, any misses are\u00a0entirely<\/em>\u00a0your fault as a shooter. Splurging for a gun with all of the accouterments, exacting fitment, and user-friendly refinements ensures that just about anyone has a platform they can grow into. A great gun makes it easier to focus on the fundamentals, and removes a lot of the alibis and speculation that attend sub-par results \u2014 a shooter who\u00a0always<\/em>\u00a0blames his gun, his trigger, or his ammo for a string of bad shots will find that improvement goes a lot more slowly than it would otherwise. <\/p>\n

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Phrased more succinctly: it\u2019s true that most shooters don\u2019t\u00a0need\u00a0<\/em>the bells and whistles to shoot well. However, it\u2019s equally true to say that if you had a TRP in your hands, there would be very little holding you back. With the Hellcat, there\u2019s very little a shooter has to\u00a0do\u00a0<\/em>to the gun to make it ready-to-go as a concealed carry piece. For some, these details make a big difference in not only purchase mentality, but how they approach their training.<\/p>\n

Your Money, Your Value<\/h2>\n

Thankfully, we live in a country where we can spend money not just on needs, but\u00a0wants \u2014 <\/em>and as the old saying goes, the customer is always right. There\u2019s no hard and fast rule as to when a shooter would be better served by spending money on ammo and range time to improve his or her abilities, or when that money would be better spent on upgrading the firearm itself.<\/p>\n

\"TRP\n<\/picture>
In the current market, there are many factory pistols that offer the same kinds of upgrades a custom gun might. Is it worth your money to go completely custom or stay with a high-quality stock handgun?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Speaking from my own experience, I can shoot box stock guns pretty well, and the custom touches and refinements of my higher-end guns aren\u2019t prerequisites to turning in solid groups. That said? I shoot better with those enhancements in place, if only incrementally, and I appreciate even the smallest details on a firearm that make it easier for me to reach my full potential.<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in and discuss this article and much more!<\/em><\/p>\n

Join the Discussion<\/span><\/h5>\n

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Featured in this article<\/span><\/h5>\n

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1911 Series<\/span><\/h3>\n


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Hellcat\u00ae Series<\/span><\/h3>\n


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XD\u00ae Series<\/span><\/h3>\n


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By Clayton Walker I, like many of you, appreciate the charms of a high-grade, custom-level pistol. Combining mechanical and aesthetic perfection, these types of guns exude quality. For example, a 1911 at this level should feature a barrel and bushing that are precisely fit, hand-fit marriage of slide to frame, and a trigger that has […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2805,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2804\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}