NightHawk Custom Part 1 Thunder Ranch Combat Special

[@lenholt7419]

Popped up in my feed. I just got back from a visit to Berryville and still basking in the glow. Mark Stone invited our group out to shoot. The Thunder Ranch was on the table. What a statement.. "Its nice but It's nothing special" Yes I had the same reaction until, I shot it. I walked away thinking it was more than predictable. In 9mm, It would impress even more. The example in 45 is a very soft shooter. I own Nighthawks and guess I'm gonna have to figure out how to get more! Thanks for the review even now.

[@BillFrady]

That is a great pistol.

[@sethking3]

I just ordered one. Thanks for the review

[@BillFrady]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@StayConnectedEV]

As usual fantastic overview!!!! Love to see you shoot the CZ AccuShadow 2.. Hands down its a beast.

[@BillFrady]

Thank you sir!

[@chadmiley]

The reason I’m watching this video is looking at all the aspects of this gun. Because this will be my next custom gun. Awesome video.

[@BillFrady]

This gun is basically the very best fundamental 1911 45 ACP I have ever handled. When I interviewed Clint Smith at SHOT Show, he told me that this was the closest collaboration gun that was actually realized, based on his wishes. Straight up beast.

[@chadmiley]

Lock N Load Radio1 I actually want to send my Les Baer and have that Smoked finish added to it. For $400 I think that’s a steal

[@davidmotorcycle]

The Thunder Ranch is a nice looking pistol

[@BillFrady]

I love it!

[@30317john]

Watched this several times now. Getting closer, maybe 6-12 months away from deciding

[@BillFrady]

It is without a doubt the best basic 1911 I have ever laid my hands on. Tuned and ready out of the box.

[@MarcoFromTropoja]

Thinking about ordering one of these. Would be my first high end 1911. I started out with my Springfield MC Operator and fell in love with it. But I want something a little more custom.

[@BillFrady]

Well, this gun is basic. But it is the ideal rendition of what a basic gun gun should be without the shortcomings of bad material or engineering. A Clint Smith collaboration. He carries one daily.

[@MarcoFromTropoja]

@@BillFrady I honestly like it a lot for it’s aesthetics. I like that apocalyptic/battle worn finish from the pictures. I just think it looks awesome overall.

[@BillFrady]

@@MarcoFromTropoja Go for it, it is definitely a best seller.

[@mitchcornacchia968]

ELECTROMAGNETICLY SUSPENDED!!!! Love it GO FOR IT .45!!!

[@BillFrady]

Its like they float back and forth with no metal contact. Crazy stuff!!

[@patrolman812]

The Thunder Ranch all day everyday

[@BillFrady]

Damn skippy!

[@formerpilgrim4934]

I owned and shot just about everything pistol wise in the last 40 years... And while I’m not going to be throwing my Glock and HK’s into the pond anytime soon, I’m finding my main interest now is in ‘higher end’ 1911’s.

[@BillFrady]

It is a special kind of shooting, brother.

[@oliverallen5324]

Every man comes to a point where he reassess what’s important. The German make great weapons. However, America makes art.

[@BillFrady]

@@oliverallen5324 Yessir. I like this NightHawk pistol because of it flawless simplicity.

[@poolee77]

I have a Mark 23 and Nighthawk GRP Recon. Hard to say which I prefer. The Mark is clearly more durable but the NH is fun to shoot.

[@turkeyhunter7617]

Sounds like a sweet 1911 😎

[@BillFrady]

The best Basic pistol made today.

[@MannyCortez82]

LOVE your reviews! I've been researching my next purchase and after a year, I narrowed it down to the Agent 2 and the Thunder Ranch. I don't have a place near me that has these for me to hold/shoot, so I ask you good sir... if you could only pick one of these two, which would you choose, and why? Thanks in advance and keep the great content coming!

[@BillFrady]

In to days world, I would say choose the one you can ammo for. I have actually done that however. Chosen between these 2. I chose the Thunder Ranch. Because Clint Smith designed it to be simple and effective. And NightHawk executed simple and effective so very well. Both are single stacks, so capacity isn't that much different. And of all the NightHawks I shoot the Thunder Ranch the best.

[@MannyCortez82]

@@BillFrady thank you so much for the insight and response. I appreciate it!

[@mbenjamin292]

Come on Nighthawk give this man all 3 I am happy to have one my Lord now I am pondering on another please give this man all 3 and call it a day.

[@BaddFrogg777]

@@BillFrady A dream come true. My favorite handgun enthusiast with real world experience and true 1911 Expert knowledge. Reviews my favorite 1911 and my next purchase. Awesome. With Chip McCormick PowerMag Plus 10 round magazine's. The UltiMatE!

[@akajd5907]

💯🇺🇲💥⚔️☝🏼💪🏼👍🏼👌🏼"Combat Special" anything else need mentioning?...... A collaboration made in handgun heaven between Wilson Combat/Thunder Ranch IMHO. "People don't need to be John Wick they need to be Clint Smith" "Fear an old man in a profession where men die young" "Shall Not Be Infringed" 🇺🇲Stay well. Go in peace.

[@BillFrady]

Wonderful philosophy !

[@dougcobb8114]

Yep...your vedio inveloinced my discidion...but in 9mm

[@dennisb4027]

Best job ever!

[@BillFrady]

Thank you sir!

[@pcb8639]

NightHawk web page shows that the Thunder Ranch Combat Special is available in 9 mm, fyi.

[@BillFrady]

But of course

[@BillFrady]

You know I could claim this is like work, but that would be a lie.

[@God_Glory_Guns]

Lock N Load Radio1 I should ship you mine so you can make a full review and overall thoughts

[@BillFrady]

@@God_Glory_Guns my email is [e-mail]

[@alexanderaguilar5132]

Is better than the Les Bauer Thunder Ranch?

[@BillFrady]

I havent ever handled that pistol, so I cannot accurately claim that. Since they are both based on Clint Smiths criteria, i would think they are very similar.

[@God_Glory_Guns]

Does that include the Les bear? Price tag?

[@BillFrady]

Alas, i am unfamiliar wir Les Baer pistols,(havent ever handled one). I have heard great things about them, but the thing about this gun is it was built based upon a wish list from Clint Smith. Both are 1911 icons, eh. This pistol is $3199 I believe. And i am so close to writing the check!

[@deank5649]

The TRS pistol (Thunder Ranch Special) from Les Baer is cheaper $2300ish than the Nighthawk Thunder Ranch combat special $3400. The Les Baer TRS is a pretty good gun I'm personally not a big fan of hard fit 1911s.

[@God_Glory_Guns]

Lock N Load Radio1 I’m sure you are going to choose that one over the other two. Your videos are awesome I subscribed and can’t wait for other videos to come thank you sir!

[@God_Glory_Guns]

Dean K yes they are super tight I own a les bear I did a review on it but it’s a joy to shoot. Yes a big price difference big time

[@emak4558]

Thought it was gold bead on front, big difference.

[@BillFrady]

It is a gold bead, that was my mistake.

[@TacticalAshiGaramiTV]

🔥🔥🔥

[@BillFrady]

Thank you sir!

[@TacticalAshiGaramiTV]

@@BillFrady keep making great content

[@LDmagnum]

I thought clints front sights were gold?

[@adama4791]

the front sights on these are gold, its just kinda low profile

[@BillFrady]

Did I omit that fact?

[@33Luger]

I think you can get a different front site. $3000 lets you custom a bit.

[@bobmcalister2131]

I’m going with the Thunder Ranch.

[@BillFrady]

I am leaning that way.

[@kyleerbe1106]

Song?

[@BillFrady]

That isn't the easiest question to answer, but I found it. Annihilate by Adam Fielding.

[@kyleerbe1106]

Thank you. I meant the song during shooting montage though

[@BillFrady]

@@kyleerbe1106 Deviant Gaze by Jack Trammell. I did obtain a license for that one.

[@kyleerbe1106]

Thank you. Awesome review, keep up the great work with great guns

[@poppad3585]

2nd look. " NICE"

[@BillFrady]

Thanx Poppa

[@hardtarget2359]

Thunder Ranch ALL THE WAY!!!

[@BillFrady]

Waiting on it now

[@rugertaz9994]

You mention this pistol is better than your Nighthawk Falcon, in what ways is it better?

[@BillFrady]

It just handles the recoil impulse slightly better, and for me it just gets on target slightly faster. The Falcon is a little bit lighter. When comparing NightHawk guns, the degrees of seperation are very small.

[@akmonster9687]

That’s a 14ct gold bead on the front sight not brass 😉

[@BillFrady]

Dont tell anyone. Not common knowledge

[@philapop5269]

I am going thru that exact quandary right now... I own a NHC Falcon, a Kestrel, a War Hawk, and a Chairman. I have NHC on the line and looking at their web site trying to decide if I buy the Thunder Ranch or not. Damn I hate Nighthawk, my life was so much easier before I met them. Any thoughts? They have one available and I can have it in my hands next week.

[@BillFrady]

Get it. It is excellence in simplicity.

[@philapop5269]

@@BillFrady I think I am indeed going to order the 9mm Thunder Ranch on Monday, Thx for your input. As far as YOU looking for input, I would skip the President and get the Chairman in 9mm. Basically the same gun but w/ a 6" barrel and the gun is a real tac driver, I bought it last summer. You can also get it in stainless, but I bought the black nitrite. I can't say the Chairman is better than the Ranch, since I've never handled the Ranch, BUT I guarantee you'll be happy w/ the Chairman, one amazing gun! Let me know what you decide.

[@N98858]

New Subscriber that kind of "Stumbled into your viewership"... KEEP the Thunder Ranch ';-) Shooters like that do NOT come along that often!

[@BillFrady]

I appreciate that. i am actually going to take all of this year to decide. NightHawk sponsors my radio show, so I will get to try a lot of their guns 1st. So far the Thunder Ranch is still out front.

[@cctrans29]

All do respect that is one fine 1911. But I rather have Chambers build me one. Just like Clint's.

[@BillFrady]

I completely understand

[@danvan2683]

Your wearing the same shirt as in the other Dan Wesson video, come on man!

[@BillFrady]

Well, the video is about the gun. Not my wardrobe. I dont actually keep notes on what I wear.

[@danvan2683]

@@BillFrady I'm just trying to be funny, I have the same shirt, I just came by my first Dan Wesson vigil, I appreciate the review, I haven't shot it yet.

[@BillFrady]

@@danvan2683 In terms of the pistol, you are going to love it.

[@danvan2683]

@@BillFrady thanks for the response, and the content, you sure seem to know what your talking about.

[@BillFrady]

@@danvan2683 Thats primarily because I dont until i take the time to do a little reading and pulling apart, and only then, when I am sort of familiar will I dare to shoot the video. Thank you very much.

[@44smithnut]

Ok so you can put together a nice video. If the Thunder Ranch is such a good shooting pistol how come you don't show any groups you shot with it? I realize It is combat pistol and not a match pistol but it would be nice to see some real match performance out of the TRS, if its so good. I spend a great deal of time shooting for groups since I have never in my 58 years on planet earth been in a "combat" situation, but still like to practice both combat shooting and match shooting. By the way my reloads will shoot better than anything you can buy off the shelf in my guns in my hands. I've shot quite a few "high end" 1911s, owned a few and have a Les Baer on order. I really like the "no bling" all business 1911s. Cool video but lacking any solidarity in actual shooting abilities.

[@BillFrady]

Well, believe it or not, you are the 1st to ask this. Most of the time I have a few moving parts in play, so let me break it down. Most of the time I shoot steel, you can hear it in video. 2nd most of the time I have a very limited amount of time with a gun, and in this case I was shooting 3 seperate pistols. I don't get a lot of time to dial myself in with any one gun. As an example, if I handed it to you, you probably would be better with it, based on your shooting habits. Now I am going to starrt B8 training with the guns I intend to carry, because accuracy is very important, a very good foundation. If you are looking for a NHC pistol that is accurate, you should look at the TRi Cut.

[@tigerman3]

Thunder Ranch all the way.

[@BillFrady]

Agreed.

[@practicepractice5719]

You need better lighting. When you hold it up to the camera you can't see a thing.

[@BillFrady]

I actually did that on purpose to try something out. It failed.

[@practicepractice5719]

@@BillFrady No worries. Keep up the great work

[@BillFrady]

@@practicepractice5719 Thank you. I have a follow up to this video coming out this week. WQith better lighting.

[@garyomalley4521]

14k gold not brass

[@BillFrady]

I was going by Clint Smiths description at SHOT Show 2020. If it is 14k gold, seems sort of dicey to run around with it as a carry gun.