I’ve owned Wilsons before, and I’ve owned a CQB in .45ACP as well. But I’ve been shooting a series of 9mm 1911s lately for reviews, and I was interested to see how a full size 9mm 1911 would run in the Wilson CQB platform. At the recent Wilson Combat Intermediate Pistol course, I got a chance to try out a new CQB Tactical LE in 9mm and I was not disappointed.
When I got the gun and was greeted with the usual Wilson Combat pistol packaging; a great soft case, with individual pockets for multiple magazines. Pro tip: if you choose to buy a 9mm 1911, order all you can, because magazines have proven difficult to find. Two come with the gun, but I would highly recommend ordering a few more with your purchase. The pack also includes a target to verify accuracy, and a detailed quality check list with each individual who QC’d the pistol.
I chose the only combination of finishes available on 24 hours of notice — black slide with an olive frame. This is intended to be a fighting gun, so there are no super shiny surfaces. But the “Armor Tough” finish is durable, functional and doesn’t look bad. This model comes with a single-sided safety for daily carry. The magazine holds 10 rounds of 9mm, and easily stuffs into a well built magazine well that funnels the mag right into the frame.
Wilson’s G10 serrated stock along with front strap checkering gave me a solid grip through the entire course of fire; a good thing since my hands get pretty sweaty. The sights are Wilson Combat’s own particular sight set up: a large U-shaped notch in the rear and a green fiber optic front sight.
I had a particularly hard time with the CQB Tactical LE’s sights. It’s the only gun I have with no reference in the back, just the U shape. Until Joyce Wilson asked me about it, I was consistently shooting low. I wasn’t fully raising that front sight even with the top of the back sight. With a little practice, I got used to it, but I still prefer something like a Heine Straight Eight. On a gun of this expensive, I’d also want a tritium front sight.
The CQB Tactical LE’s trigger had zero creep, with a trigger pull right at 3 1/2 lbs. It breaks crisply and cleanly. This is Wilson’s standard trigger; a special order lighter version is available. I might have it dialed down a bit; I have a 2 ½ lb. trigger on my EDC. But honestly it’s pretty hard for me to tell the difference.
As far as reliability, one word does it: perfect.
During the two-day course, everyone broke down and cleaned their guns about halfway through the first day. I chose not to. The end result: about 830 rounds through the gun before the first cleaning. I fired Winchester White Box 115gr FMJs, American Eagle 147r FMJs and Team Never Quit 100-grain frangible rounds. Since then, I’ve put another 1,000 rounds through the CQB Tactical LE. I’ve yet to experience a malfunction of any kind.
From a Ranson Rest, Wilson guarantees 1” accuracy at 25 yards. Off a bag, I was able to shoot 1.5” groups at 25 yards all day long with the standard White Box FMJs. With hand loads I can get it a little bit better.
The CQB Tactical LE is a 5” bull barreled 9mm 1911. Not only that, but it is fairly heavy, heavier than my Colt Combat Elite in .45ACP. Recoil on the 9mm feels like a kitten batting at the front sight. There’s no snap, just a little rise off target and then right back down. That immediately translates to speed, especially when shooting one-handed. Every person that fired the CQB Tactical LE came away with a smile. Just like me, every person that shot the 9mm 1911 against a full-framed .45ACP said it felt like cheating.
I bought this gun. It wasn’t a hard sell. I’ll change the sights to Heine Straight Eights. Other than that, I noticed Ryan Wilson had a particular cut on the top size of his slide, flattening the slide and blending it into the front sight. So I sent my CQB Tactical LE back with him. Ryan returned it a couple of weeks later with the new cut. It looks outstanding and that front sight pops now more than ever. Plus, now it’s a one-of-a-kind gun. Or at least more one-of-a-kinder-er.
As you know, Wisons aren’t cheap. And a lot of people will claim that you’re paying for the Wilson name. But how do you think they got that name?
They got it by turning out consistently high-quality firearms, and the CQB Tactical LE is no exception. I’ve owned a few guns — OK a couple hundred guns — including quite a few 1911s. I’ve never fired a bad Wilson. I’ve never even seen a bad one. Haters love to point out that you can buy six GLOCKS for the same price, but the Wilson Combat CQB Tactical LE is worth every penny.
Specifications: Wilson Combat CQB Tactical LE 9mm
Caliber: 9mm
Magazine Capacity: 10 rounds
Barrel Length: 5″ Match Grade Bull, Hand Fit
Overall Length: 8.7″
Sight Radius: 6.6″
Height: 5.6″
Width: 1.3″
Weight Empty: 40.4 oz.
Weight Loaded: 48.8 oz.
Grips: G10 Diagonal Flat-Bottom
Sights: Battlesight with Fiber Optic Front Sight
MSRP: $3,115
Ratings (out of five stars):
Appearance and Style * * * *
Designed as a fighting gun, there’s no high polish or bling. Wilson Combat pulls off the “combat finish” nicely. The integral rail takes away from the genius of Browning’s design, but that can’t be helped if you want to hang a flashlight from it. And I do.
Reliability * * * * *
Perfect reliability over multiple trips with many different rounds.
Accuracy * * * * ½
After shooting the Bill Thompson’s Custom Automatics 1911, I can’t give any 1911 five stars unless I can shoot it under 1”. Of course, that gun was twice the cost of this one and the Wilson’s 1” to 1.5” groups are outstanding.
Overall * * * * *
This gun was exactly what I’d hoped for and doesn’t disappoint in any way. I was actually a little surprised at it’s rock solid reliability, but not at the fit and finish. Pricey, and very much worth it.
I could buy 20 bottles of Dewars for one Glenlivet XXV, but then I wouldn’t have a scotch that can get into a bar without a fake I’D.
It’s your money, spend it how you like.
Some flavor of Wilson is on my to do list, but there are other priorities.
“I could buy 20 bottles of Dewars for one Glenlivet XXV, but then I wouldn’t have a scotch that can get into a bar without a fake I’D.”
Mr. Peirson, I think we could hang out.
“They” would never allow it. Two reasonable people and a good bottle of scotch would solve too many problems.
Nice. For 3000 bucks it’d better be..
You could buy a used Hyundai for that kind of cash…but it sure wouldn’t be as cool.
I have never been able to point a 1911, apparently my natural wrist angle is not compatible with the grip angle. That’s just me. If 1911 works for you and you’ve got the disposable income this looks like a sweet ride.
Can we get a crowdfund thing going? Heck, I’d take donations just to get my first carry revolver.
Maybe we can work something out. What’s your blood type?
You could look into selling your blood plasma. IIRC, you can get about $40 per visit, and you can go at least once a week, possibly twice.
I’d buy it if they could get the price down to an arm and a leg.
“From a Ranson Rest, Wilson guarantees 1” accuracy at 25 yards. Off a bag, I was able to shoot 1.5” groups at 25 yards all day long with the standard White Box FMJs.”
I should have been clear that I do not use a Ransom rest for my accuracy shooting, and in this case, I was shooting off a bean bag laying on a stump at 25 yards while sitting on the ground.
The best 1911 is still just the tallest midget.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say that people who make this point are “haters.” They just don’t believe in pushing things well into the realm of diminishing returns, where (at the most extreme) the last ten percent of the functionality costs ninety percent of the purchase price. Is it six times better than a Glock? Probably not. (And if you maintain that it is, what’s your rationale?) Is it somewhat better than a Glock? There’s a decent chance of it, particularly since you report this one functions well. But if it’s not six times better than a Glock, you’re into the realm of diminishing returns. (And if you buy a Cabot, you’re getting an actually WORSE firearm for ten times the money, which is just stucking fupid any way you cut it.)
Obviously an individual’s taste and preferences play into things a lot, and some are certainly willing to pay an extra X% dollars to get (<X)% greater quality, because you DO end up with a better gun that way (and only you can make the “worth every penny” determination), but simply making the point that you're not getting the equivalent of six glocks for the price of six glocks (six times as reliable, six times as accurate, six times more ergonomic, six times better looking [OK, you've got me on that last one, but that's one in four]) doesn't make one a hater.
I’ll try this again, for some reason my comment got deleted the first time I posted this.
You make some great points, but this line,”Haters love to point out that you can buy six GLOCKS for the same price” , was added by RF entirely. I never saw the edit until after it was posted and I read it the same time you did.
Cool. Glad to know this.
JWT – I’m glad you were able to get a 2 week turnaround on your slide cut. Make no mistake – this is not the same sort of treatment us commoners get. For example – I called Wilson last week to inquire about getting a threaded barrel. I was told that none of their pre-built ready for sale guns are available with threaded barrels – I’d have to special order it and it would take as long as if I ordered a new customer pistol – how long? four to six MONTHS. I then inquired what the wait time would be if I sent in my existing existing CQB Elite for a new barrel. Care to guess? Four to Six Months. That is just too damn long to wait. I’m going to try and sell my WC and pick up a gun that comes with a threaded barrel. WC doesn’t make one standard, so looks like I’ll be switching to Nighthawk or Ed Brown.
I also have to agree with JWT on the sights. For 3K, WC should include night sights as standard. Again, if you want WC to make the change on one of their ready to go guns, you are still looking at a couple of weeks for a simple sight change.
You’re probably right, but it could actually be easier to mill the top of the slide flat than to refit a new barell.
There’s a reason my recoil-adverse wife like the 9mm Range Officer. A full-sized 1911 in 9mm IS cheating – and if you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’ hard enough.
I want a .45 1911, 9mm 1911, 10mm 1911, and a 9mm 2011. All from STI, WC, and Dan Wesson. I can’t afford that, but that’s what I want. I have to wait a bit because I just accidentally purchased another AR-15 build.
But if I buy my wife a sapphire and diamond necklace, and have any money left over, I’ll definitely look into one of these.
Nice review, by the way.
Thanks. Many, so many, years ago, I bought my wife diamonds, sapphires, and rubies. Really, very nice stuff. She never wore them. Do you have any idea how many Mosins you can buy instead of a pair of 1ct VVS1 diamond earrings? I do.
You know you’re a gun guy when you convert non-gun purchases into Mosin / Glock / ammo box units.
Hah!!! I always thought that I was the only one who mentally converted all non-gun purchases into gun buying units!! DMD
Back in the day, oh, about 20 years ago, my then circle of friends would occasionally pay off a $100 debt to another member of the group with a Makarov. Back then that was the going price.
Any detailed close-up photo of that custom slide-cut front sight setup for us?? DMD
I would love to have a 9mm Range Officer let alone this baby but I can’t bring myself to buy one because I already shoot a Hi Power and I am back in my carry it phase.
Hi, I have an earlier version of the Wilson CQB in 9 mm and it an excellent pistol. After five years and thousands of rounds (and never a failure to feed), this pistol still shoots 1” groups at 15 yards. It is by far my favorite pistol and fits my hand like a glove. I also have a Glock, which has become a permanent safe queen. I’ve translated a higher priced pistol into years of shooting pleasure without one ounce of regret. TW
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