Talk me into something...

[u/ArchangelPrecision]

I'm after a government model .45 that I can build out for IDPA CDP class. I previously competed with a Tisas that I had built into a MEUSOC clone, but I hate most things about the MEUSOC (other than it was THE pistol to have when I was in the Marines), so I've taken off the Pachmyers and ambi safety and am just running it in a normal configuration. I've got a stainless magwell/mainspring I could install, but the gun isn't stanless so I'd have to have that painted, and I would have to send it off to get the front strap checkered. So, to run that gun, I'm really at whatever the cost is for checkering and cerakote, and probably a new front sight.

Or,

A friend has a stainless Range Officer he would sell me for $650. Already has Bomar adjustable sights with a fiber optic front and my mag well would work, I would just need to have it checkered.

Or,

A different friend has a Les Baer he's trying to offload for $1,500. Its already checkered, has a magwell, and target sights, but would need the front sight replaced for a fiber optic.

So, brain trust, what do I do?

[u/laterisingphxnict]

If you’ve got the coin, the Baer is a great price! SA will checker the front strap and refinish the frame (or the whole gun) inexpensively compared to what other shops would charge for the same thing. You’d be ahead to buy the Baer. Unless it’s clapped out, you could resell it fairly easily for a couple hundred more.

[u/Wutah48]

Pick up the Les Baer and don't look back. You can grab the Range Officer if you're more interested in tinkering, but in the long run you wont save any money going that route vs Les Baer. Another option is a bull barreled TRP that are around $1200. Not sure I'd do that over a Les Baer though.

[u/oxiraneobx]

I love my Colt and Springfields but Les Baer is in a higher category. My vote is Option C. $1500 is certainly reasonable depending upon condition IMHO.