Visited the Nighthawk Custom shop

[WBB]

I was in Berryville on a short vacation and stopped by the Nighthawk shop. Everyone there was very friendly, Mark and Shane gave me a tour and I met and watched the gunsmiths do their thing. It was interesting, enjoyed it so much I came home with a new GRP w/o the laser.
I was looking at some of their firearms, all were very nice, Shane offered a 10% discount since I was visiting the shop so I said OK. If you like 1911 pistols I recommed a visit to the NHC shop. Now I have to go to back to work to pay for another pistol.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/WBB1911/NightHawk025.jpg

[Shipwreck]

Heck, even 10% is a great discount when U are dealing w/ that much money - Did you schedule it ahead of time or did U just show up?

[BrianNJ]

Thats a beauty! Good luck with it. For me thats a dream gun cause all I could do is dream of owning one.

[John]

OK, you got the tour, you saw the smiths. Why don't you come up with a report, so that we can all read about it?

As for the pistol, have I told you how much I hate you? :p

[henryiv]

Nice score. I like the GRP w/0 laser a lot. VZ grips look and feel nice IMHO.

[WBB]

Thanks everybody. Shipwreck, This was a spur of the moment trip. When I got into Berryville I called NHC for directions to their shop and said I would like to handle some of their pistols and might buy one, which I did. I'm a patriot, I try to keep my money moving to help the economy.
John, I did tell them I got a lot of info. on NHC at m1911.org, maybe they will join the forum. I will try to shoot her this weekend.

[Rio Vista Slim]

WBB,

That's one beautiful pistol! Be sure to let us all know how it does on the range, please.

[John]

One of their gunsmiths is already a member here, and I update Craig on important things that come up, whenever they come up. So M1911.ORG and Nighthawk have a very tight relationship, no worries there. If only they could have my Talon ready (and the documents for the export).....

[WBB]

Shot the GRP this morning and all I can say is WOW! I now have a permanant smile on my face. I fired 150 rounds of BH blue box 230 hb using Wilson 7 round mags with pistol topped off each time. No malfunctions, shooting at a silloute target at 20 yards using two handed weaver stance and had several groups with 3 or 4 holes touching, all rounds except a few flyers that were my fault were in a 4 inch group. The GRP is capable of putting all the rounds in one hole but I am not.
The sight were easy to line up and it has one of the best trigger pulls I have ever felt. The slide worked as smooth after shooting as it did before I started. I think I will keep it.
I now have three brands of "high end" 1911 pistols, all are excellant firearms and I cannot say one is better than the other, they are all just different. The GRP is well worth the money.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/WBB1911/Nighthawk2011.jpg

[king1679]

I notice there is a Wilson mag in that gun....

[king1679]

I did not say the above post as a "dis" to Nighthawk.... My best gun in my collection is the Nighthawk I carry with me every day on duty as a police officer. My only problem is with the mags and I wish I didn't have to do it but I also carry Wilson mags in my gun. The Act-Mags work great until they break! Other mags I have tried do not lock the slide back. Only the Wilsons work and don't break. I do not understand why no one else can make good mags. Maybe the guys at Nighthawk will start making their own some day and be just as nice.

[Brian_D]

Nice pics of the new pistol! I live in central AR and am planning a trip up to Berryville to tour the shop as well.

[WBB]

king1679, I am sure the NH mags work fine but I have 30+ Wilson mags and I like to "standardize". I keep 2 quad mag pouches and one double mag pouch for concealed carry loaded so no matter which 1911 I grab I know the Wilson's will work. I don't want to run out of ammo.
Brian_D, the NHC shop is interesting and you can get a hands on look at all the firearms, more than a dealer will have on stock.

[Bosko]

I see that NHC sells magazines under their own label. I have a pistol on order and have elected to purchase additional magazines. Am I wrong in assuming that NHC pistols are optimized for these magazines? Should I be calling Tripp Research like I did with my Kimbers? May have have the benefit of those who have gone before me, please?

[ErnieStu]

king1679, I am sure the NH mags work fine but I have 30+ Wilson mags and I like to "standardize". I keep 2 quad mag pouches and one double mag pouch for concealed carry loaded so no matter which 1911 I grab I know the Wilson's will work. I don't want to run out of ammo.
Brian_D, the NHC shop is interesting and you can get a hands on look at all the firearms, more than a dealer will have on stock.

You only pack 10 magazines at one time?

[WBB]

Bosko, I think any quality magazines should work fine. If I did not already have over 30 Wilson mags I would have bought the NH mags. They offered a special deal on mags when you buy a new NH, I think it was 10 mags for 100$ or something like that.
EnnieStu, I'm a plumber and have two work trucks, I keep one quad mag pouch in each vechicle. Sometimes I go 100 miles out of town so it's nice to have a few extra mags on hand, just in case. I'm not paranoid, just cautious. The 1911 goes with me, too many thieves to keep one of those in each truck.

[DHC]

NH gives you 6 mags for $99. Not a bad deal, and the gun comes with 2. They are Novak mags with the NH stamp on them. I've heard some folks here have received a mix of mags marked both NH and Novak. Not sure why the QC issue with Novak mags, though... You'd think Novak would rectify that as there seem to be a larger number of failures than mentioned about other mags...

[surf99]

Yes, NHC does "recomend" the ACT-Novak mags. I have learned that mine will
work with most I have tried in it so far. That's not more than 3 brands, but a
good sampling of quality mags, ACT, Metalform, G.I. surplus. ACT in Italy has
said this and that about the feed lips cracking, and this is not limited to Nighthawk at all. I imagine they are working on the problem, but since there are many brands that use them as O.E. there is a lot to consider in a change.

[Frampy]

My Predator II Bobtail was shipped with a Wilson 8rd mag in the gun. The extra mag was an ACT with The NHC logo on it. Craig told me he ships his carry guns with no mag well with the Wilson 8rd ultra low profile base. I already had one of these mags. They are nice!!! The ACT does not come with a low profile base. NHC has tried to get them to make one but has not been successful. I love my NHC but will stick to the Wilson Mags! Hey I don't carry a Wilson just a Wilson Mag! Most will agree they are the best mag out there. I'm sure NHC will start making the mags after we buy enough of their guns to finance the endeavor!!