Roberts Defense Recon PRO .45 ACP | 1911 45 ACP Pistol Review

Roberts Defense Recon Pro is a production gun boasting a range of custom features. Chambered for .45 ACP, this excellent single-action is certain to make waves in the sea of 1911s. It’s a gun that just feels right in your hand.

The Roberts Defense Recon Pro’s ejection port is oversized and lowered, and features a rollover flare. Roberts Defense builds the frames and slides for all its firearms.

ETC-Frag by VZ Grips comes as standard issue on the Recon Pro. There is a relief cut underneath the area where the triggerguard meets the frame, which enables the operator to get a high hold on the gun.

A wedged-shaped, low-profile Novak-style combat rear sight was chosen for the Roberts Defense 1911 Recon Pro .45 ACP.

The front sight is a fluorescent, red fiber-optic. A tritium night sight is offered as an option.

Roberts Defense bevels the Recon Pro’s magazine well. With 8+1 rounds of hard-hitting .45 ACP on tap, you’ll be primed for some serious shooting.

The thumb safety is extended, and the beavertail grip safety is blended, and fitted nicely

It’s often said that, if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. And this couldn’t be more true of Rob Unger, owner of Roberts Defense. In 2011, Unger had just one goal, and that was to build a quality 1911 using only premium, American-made parts. After receiving a test sample Recon Pro from Unger, I’d have to say that he is well on his way to fulfilling that goal. The Roberts Defense Recon Pro is a full-size 1911 built on a lightweight alloy frame and boasting a host of custom features. When I removed the gun from its custom case, it immediately became clear that this is not just another production gun. This is a pistol that exudes quality! Its fit and finish is second to none, and each of the gun’s attributes make perfect sense for serious 1911 aficionados.

Unger said, “I’ve always had a real strong appreciation for a well-built 1911. I’ve been custom-building firearms for a number of years, and word has spread about my work. With my background of production and machining, I knew that I could build a 1911 that would be extremely accurate and reliable and I’d find a spot in a crowded marketplace. We think we build a product, which exceeds our customer’s expectations. At least that’s the feedback we’ve received. We make sure they get a lot of bang for their buck.”

Gun Details
Roberts Defense machines its frames from forgings. In the Recon Pro’s case, that’s a forging of 7076-T6 aluminum. After the final machining, the frame receives a proprietary anodized coating and then two coats of Teflon. Unger said, “It is a rock-hard coating with excellent anti-friction qualities.” The one thing that impressed me immediately about the Recon Pro is its precise frame-to-slide fit. With the slide in battery, there is not an iota of play between the two parts. Even after I disassembled the gun and put the bare slide back on the stripped frame, I couldn’t find any play, yet the slide moved effortlessly on the rails. Unger told me that they machine the two parts to very close tolerances: “We machine the parts close enough that the slide will just start on the frame rails. Then we hand-lap each frame and slide.” The result is a flawless fit.

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