By 519M4
Published: 21 October, 2003
Intro
The Wilson Combat Hi-Cap is a 1911 based, target-shooting style, full size handgun. Out of the box it includes the gun and one magazine, disassembly tool, loading tool, small Allen wrench, and manual.
Appearance and build
You see pictures of guns all the time, but pictures can never give you the same sense as actually seeing the real thing. Western Arms is known for their very well manufactured finish and detail, and the Wilson Combat Hi-Cap cleanly shows it. The gun was built with a smooth color transition between black and low green in a matte finish. Being an IPSC style gun, it doesn't look like it would be a friend of your hand with all those "pieces sticking out" everywhere, but that is false. Once you hold it, you can feel how well shaped it is.
Even with its contrast giving silver outter barrel and full Strayer Voigt trademarks, top notch manufacturing doesn't mean just a good looking model. The Wilson is not a flimsy gun, nor is it just another one of those light weights. Weighing in at roughly 900 grams, this 1911 has the solid and hefty feel that is expected of all Western Arms guns. Overall it a very nice gun to look at, and hold.
Components
The Wison Combat Hi-Cap was engineered to take down targets, so without a suprise it includes many components that you should expect. Externally you can find a skeletonized trigger and hammer, Bo-Mar adjustable target sights, and a super-tactile knurled grip provide maximum dexterity. To prevent accidental discharges, the gun has ambidextrous thumb safeties which can only be switched up when the gun is cocked, and an integrated back strap pressure safety that
allows the trigger to be pulled only when you have your hand fully on the grip. Also, the gun can be manually decocked by pulling the trigger and slowly moving the hammer to its forward position.
The skeletonized trigger, as a trait of an IPSC gun, is adjustable. Using the Allen wrench included, you can adjust the amount of trigger over-travel by turning a small allen screw that is accessible through the trigger itself. This allows you to adjust the gun to your own feel. Also, the trigger does not "swing", as do triggers on most guns, such as the M9.
When aiming the gun you will notice the sights, which are not your average type. They are fully windage and elevation adjustable
Bo-Mar type, and lack the normal 3-dot, Novak, or snag-free sights that you noramally see. Instead, to assist in target shooting, they have one solid color with small horizontal ridges cut into them to reduce distortions while looking at your target. Also, the top of the slide has similar ridges to prevent glare, which can deter the visibility of your target. The gun has a weight and balance combonation that gives seemingly perfect steadyness. All together, it makes shooting a whole lot more precise.
The Wilson Combat High-Cap has two special internal components-- the Buffer system, which I will talk about later, and the Western Arms' Magna blowback system. Even though it's included, it offers more of a namesake than an actual performance difference. Although, you can easily notice that gas in the form of liquid rarely excapes the barrel. The design of the R-type mag puts less liquid form fluid through the gas system when compared to many other guns' systems. In fact, as I mentioned before about liquid excaping via the barrel, it also allows the gun to be fired in almost any direction without allowing any liquid to expel.
The Wilsons' design is fairly simple and the gun can be broken down to its basic parts in less than 20 seconds. There are no pins, springs, or little pieces that pop up and get lost, unless you are really striping it down to every last bit. Only basic disassembly is required for maintenance, which is a task that just about anyone can handle, even without previous experience.
Performance
Operating the gun follows the normal run-down. The first thing is putting BBs in the mag. The follower on the mag does not lock at the bottom, although the task of loading is eased by using the loading tube that is included with the gun. Some people find it easiest to just load them in with your hand, which also works for me. Next, filling the mag with gas-- Turn the mag upside-down, push the nozzle on the fill valve until the mag is full. Filling the mag with gas couldn't go any smoother. The R-type magazines that WA sends with they guns fill cleanly with no gas excaping everywhere, and they stay full with no leakage issues. Sliding the mag into the gun... It has a smooth and positive locking feel once it’s in, which gives you an assuring feeling that your mag wont fall out. Like every blow back operated gun, you have to cock it to chamber the first round and lock the hammer. The slide on the Wilson Combat moves amazingly smooth as you do so.
The first time I fired the gun, I was suprised at how fast you can fire it. This is due to the short and light trigger pull and high-speed cyclic rate. There is a distinct and obvious report from the muzzle, even with the low power 134a gas. You will notice that out of the box, the slide does not lock back. This is because of the "High speed recoil-buffer system" (The washer and smaller spring visible in the disassembly picture). On the recoil rod, divided by a washer is the normal spring and the smaller and stiffer buffer spring. The purpose of this system is to cut down recoil time, resulting in faster follow-up shots. With the buffer spring installed the slide does not lock back, but recoil is a lot faster, more crisp, and the amount of muzzle flip is decreased. The buffer spring system can be removed in less than a minute, simply by sliding it off from the recoil rod and re-assembling the gun. Without it, the slide blows back a bit further, recoil is increased, and muzzle flip is increased. Although, keep in mind that the more the slide is caught by the slide catch, the more wear that the slide receives in that specific area.
The slide is actually different than many other Western Arms. To help with making fast follow-up shots, the slide is made with a lighter material to increase the cyclic speed. As you can see, the Wilson Combat is obviously for target shooting purposes, which is also the explanation on why it lacks hop-up. Since range is not a
factor of target shooting shooting, the gun does not include hop-up so that there is one less factor that contributes to BB instability. The gun shoots at a recorded maximum velocity of almost 390fps with top gas, this leaves the gun with a maximum range under 50 feet but "handicapped" with bulls-eye accuracy within this range.
Conclusion
What does the Western Arms Wilson Combat Hi-Cap yield? A 1911 with a whole list of components engineered for target shooting, 30+1 round capacity, "blink-speed" cycling action, and dead on accuracy.
Lastly, the main question, "Is it for me?" For the hefty price of $170 for a GBB, it might not be the type of gun a combat shooter is looking for. On the other hand, In the eyes of an target shooter, it is a perfect base for one top of the line 1911 target gun.
|
