My spouse requested me why I used to be smiling. I advised her I used to be signed up for a multi-gun competitors at Rio Salado Sportsman’s Membership in Mesa, Arizona. Even higher, I’d be utilizing the brand new Wilson Fight Division 77 Challenge 1. My spouse is just not a gun particular person. She requested if it was particular. I believed a minute after which advised her it could be like a rustic boy exhibiting up on the native ¼ mile drag strip with a Lamborghini.
The Wilson Fight Division 77 Challenge 1
After I first acquired the project to evaluation the Challenge 1, it was so new I hadn’t even heard of it. A fast Google search later, and I used to be drooling. Life as a gun author is normally loads of enjoyable. However it’s extra enjoyable if you end up testing weapons that carry out on the highest ranges.
I’ve shot fairly just a few Wilson Fight pistols over time, they usually have all been extraordinary. Attending to shoot one that’s made for competitors at a time when I get into two and three-gun competitions is icing on the cake.
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Invoice Wilson was a powerhouse within the early days of IPSC and later helped to discovered IDPA. If there may be somebody I belief to place out a real race gun, it’s him.
At its coronary heart, the Challenge 1 is a 2011 type double-stack 9mm with a double prime and facet ported barrel. Nevertheless, the Achilles heel of the 2011 has all the time been the magazines. Wilson Fight makes use of a very totally different type journal. So, they name it a “double stack 1911” to distinguish it.
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The Challenge 1 is predicated on WC’s X9 pistol, which was first launched in 2016 and reintroduced because the X9 2.0 in 2024. It’s a part of WC’s Division 77 gun sequence from their Analysis & Improvement division.
In 1977, Invoice Wilson began his firm, taking inventory 1911s and including every kind of aftermarket modifications to enhance reliability, accuracy, and ergonomics. At present, he’s turning just a few of his trusted workers unfastened to do the identical factor at Division 77.
In a nutshell, Division 77 will likely be all about innovation. Their first product is Challenge 1.
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Precision Engineering
Quite a lot of options set the Challenge 1 aside. It has an revolutionary cowl plate that enables the consumer to place in a set of pins to match their pink dot, then direct mount it to the slide. Direct mount means one much less half to get unfastened, and it sits decrease. It additionally permits you to put the iron sight again on and never must re-zero.
The fiber optic entrance sight is detachable with a Torx nut that you simply entry from contained in the slide. I come from a legislation enforcement background, which emphasizes all the time having back-up iron sights. Nevertheless, the pattern in aggressive weapons is to go together with both irons or a pink dot—you don’t want each.
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One other innovation is the “RPG” stainless-steel, one-piece, information rod (it’s named RPG as a result of it type of appears to be like like an RPG). The pistol disassembles initially like a 1911 by eradicating the slide cease. Nevertheless, the RPG information rod works like one in a polymer gun.
The information rod will be pushed in barely towards the recoil spring, then lifted up and eliminated. No extra two-piece information rods or needing a bushing wrench for disassembly. A information rod housing that sits under the barrel should then be slid out the rear earlier than the barrel will be slid out the entrance.
Each a part of the gun, from the slide to the body, and the barrel to the slide, suits completely. The tolerances are merely astounding. I’m used to weapons that rattle and have a bit of play in them. That is on an entire totally different degree.
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Designed for Accuracy
Like a variety of Wilson Fight’s double-stack pistols, this one foregoes any grip security. John Moses Browning didn’t assume the gun wanted it, and most opponents will merely disengage or pin the factor. The flat set off is adjustable (spoiler alert: you don’t want to regulate it). It additionally options an ambidextrous thumb security, angled ahead and rear cocking serrations, and confirmed Trak sample grips.
Now let’s discuss in regards to the elephant within the room: that ported barrel. The R&D crew used a brand new instrument known as the Dynamic Recoil Evaluation System (DRAS) to measure 1000’s of knowledge factors because the gun fires. These ports weren’t a one-and-done.
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Invoice was placing comps on race weapons 40 years in the past. Nevertheless, the DRAS allowed his R&D crew to fine-tune the barrel till they achieved a 42% discount in recoil over the WC X9. That is wonderful contemplating how softly the X9 shoots.
Operating the Challenge 1
The gun I acquired to check was nonetheless not launched once they despatched it to me. The unique Challenge 1 got here in copper and black, as seen on the 2025 Athlon Outdoor Rendezvous. Nevertheless, my check mannequin was inexperienced and black. Every colour iteration solely has 500 weapons produced, and when they’re gone, they’re gone. The primary 100 ship with a customized metallic field and problem coin.
Regardless of being embargoed, I acquired permission to take it to some competitions, so long as it wasn’t photographed and didn’t seem on social media.
The very first thing I did was attain out to Bob King at Pink Hill Tactical to get a holster for it. I’ve a variety of pistols I’ve used for competitors over time. I began out utilizing the identical Safariland ALS holsters that I used on obligation. Safariland makes glorious stuff, they usually labored properly. Nevertheless, ultimately, I attempted a bunch of holsters that have been made particularly for competitors.
Ultimately, I discovered Pink Hill Tactical makes the perfect ones I’ve discovered. Plus, I really like the unbelievably big collection of patterns. Bob despatched me one which I believed regarded like topo strains on a map in shades of inexperienced and tan. I consider it’s known as Relv Moab. It regarded very sharp with the inexperienced and black Challenge 1.
Mounting an Optic
Subsequent, I needed to mount a pink dot on it. I lately acquired the chance to check out EOTech’s EFLX and was very impressed. Admittedly, I’m an EOTech fan.
I first put an EOTech on my obligation rifle in 2002 and later trusted my life to them every single day in Afghanistan. After we began carrying out battery compartments on the early AA battery fashions, EOTech stepped up and offered improve kits totally free. I belief the corporate to do the precise factor.
I get to check loads of pink dot sights, and I nonetheless run EOTech on fairly just a few of my ARs. The EFLX is totally different from what I used to be used to as a result of as an alternative of being a holographic sight, it’s a reflex sight. It makes use of the DeltaPoint Professional footprint, a CR2032 battery, and has the on/off/brightness swap on the facet.
Like its massive brothers, it has a big viewing window, which is essential to me. For this T&E, I acquired an EFLX with a 6 MOA dot, however a 3 MOA dot can be out there.
I used to get the smaller dots and stated I’d merely make it brighter to make it seem greater. Nevertheless, after many side-by-side comparisons, I’ve discovered that with pistol pink dots, I’m sooner with a bigger dot. Quite a lot of the aggressive shooters I discuss to say the identical factor.
Apart from being fairly fairly priced, one in all my favourite options is that while you sight it in, it has very tactile clicks of adjustment. Lots of the opponents’ sights have free-wheeling wheels the place you guess how far you have got adjusted.
Classes Realized with the Challenge 1
I acquired to shoot the Challenge 1 fairly just a few instances. This included on the vary for gradual accuracy testing, training a variety of drills, and at last in competitors. I’d like to let you know I received due to the gun, however even the Challenge 1 can’t carry out miracles. Nevertheless, I did be taught a number of issues.
The follow-up photographs are simply as quick and simple as those you see on the YouTube movies of individuals taking pictures this pistol. I don’t assume I’ve ever shot a pistol the place I had sooner, extra correct follow-up photographs. It’ll blow your thoughts.
Ergonomics are impeccable, however you already knew that should you ever shot one of many WC X9s.
Feeding the Beast
My one and solely grievance was that there have been two forms of ammunition that the gun didn’t like.
The primary was very low-cost, and it merely patterned poorly. Every part else I shot in it was like a laser. The second ammo was a flat-nosed, 147-grain Full Metallic Jacket. No, I do not know why you’ll make a FMJ with a flat nostril. However it merely wouldn’t feed reliably for me that day.
I discussed my concern in an electronic mail to Cameron Ankele, the COO at Wilson. Shortly afterwards, I used to be on the cellphone, then sending the gun and ammo again to Arkansas for testing by him and one in all his engineers. The phrase “adequate” is just not one you hear at their camp.
Ultimately, it ran advantageous there. So, perhaps it was me, or the feed ramp was caked with gunk (I’m infamous for by no means cleansing). Or perhaps the Gun Gods didn’t like me that day. I do recognize the truth that if there’s a drawback with a WC gun, whether or not you’re a gun author or a first-time purchaser, they will make it proper.
The Wilson Fight Division 77 Challenge 1: Laser Correct
I’d love to finish this evaluation by telling about how I used the Challenge 1 to win a contest. However I can’t. I’ll say the ability degree of the common Rio Salado competitor is nothing to sneeze at.
Aside from the hiccup with the flat-nose ammo, the gun was laser correct and easily a pleasure to shoot. I felt very comfy pushing my pace and never worrying if I used to be hitting. My scores have been nice, even when I wasn’t as quick as a number of the different guys on the market.
I may even say {that a} gun like this spoils you in a short time. Be very cautious should you get the prospect to attempt one out. Going again to your previous gun is greater than a bit of disappointing.
Wilson Fight Division 77 Challenge 1 Specs
Efficiency
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in toes per second, 15 toes from the muzzle by a Doppler radar, and accuracy in inches for 3, five-shot teams at 25 yards.
