Ron Calderone

Jacob Grey put a hex on me with the Hex™, and now it is the only 1911 I want to shoot. 

A lot of design work went into this pistol. It is smooth, accurate, reliable, and concealable, making it ideal for carry or competition. Like a fine wine, some things need to be experienced, so don’t just take my word for it. Get your hands on a Hex, and you too might find yourself under its spell. 

PROS & CONS

Before we get to know the Hex a bit better, here’s a quick list of my top pros and cons for this gun.

Pros: 

• Highest quality, well made
• Light, crisp trigger
• Accurate
• Reliable
• Hand-fitted slide, frame, and barrel
• Rose gold ported barrel
• Hexagon grips inspire confidence
• Precise fixed sights and optic-ready
• Toolless guide rod for field stripping
• Picatinny rail
• Deep cocking serrations

Cons:

• I don’t own one!
   

MY IMPRESSIONS

Although described as a TWC (throwback with capacity), I cannot agree. Yes, it is a high-capacity 9mm 1911 pistol, but throwback it is not. The Hex is a modern handgun that looks ahead to something better. 

The Hex is a mid-size, single-action, 1911-style pistol with many custom features. The lower receiver, including the grip, is machined from billet 7075 aircraft-grade aluminum. The hexagon-patterned grip texture features stippling of varying height to grip my hand securely. 

The Hex feels like it was made for my hands, with the grip angle, belled magazine well, and squared trigger guard combining for a perfect fit.

The grip angle, belled magazine well, and squared trigger guard become one shape to provide the best feel to my hands. An extended beavertail grip adds control while protecting my hand. A lower Picatinny rail will mount a light or laser easily.

The Hex Design

My favorite two features of the Hex are the Controlled Radius Trigger and the ported barrel. Traditional 1911 pistols use a two-part trigger, but the Hex trigger is machined from one piece of 7075 aluminum. Its hexagonal lightening holes and flat-faced serrated surface combine good looks with functional accuracy. My trigger gauge shows it to break at 3.5 pounds, but it feels more like 3 ounces. It has little no take-up and a crisp break that must be felt to be understood.

It never hurts to have a bit of bling on a competition handgun. The Hex barrel wears a rose gold finish, and I think it defines the appearance of the Hex. This stainless-steel bull barrel is ported and hand-fitted to the slide. I can shoot high-velocity ammunition without muzzle jump. The slide and frame fit are second to none, and the tightly controlled tolerances mean operation is frictionless. 

The stainless-steel slide is masterfully crafted. I like the over-stamped X-shaped cocking serrations on front and back, which give my fingers secure purchase in racking the slide. The deep black color comes from the bath nitride process.

The slide is optics ready but comes equipped with fixed iron sights. I like these iron sights; they are simple and honest. The rear is a serrated notch designed to avoid glare, while the front is a bright white dot surrounded by an orange circle. It stands out in daylight as aligned in the rear notch. The slide top is nicely serrated to deflect sun glare.

More Features

Other features include an ambidextrous extended safety and extended magazine release. The safety is a nice feature for lefties, and the magazine release is easily reached. The skeletonized hammer is functional and fast, but the grip safety is pinned in place and nonfunctional. This is a wise move. Not a military pistol, the Hex is meant for fast-action defense or competition shooting, so no grip safety is needed. 

The Hex comes with two Check-Mate stainless steel double-stack single-feed magazines. Made in the USA, they have a 17-round capacity and feed flawlessly. This is crucial to reliable pistol feeding, especially a high-capacity 9mm. 

Field stripping the Hex is made easier due to the toolless guide rod. This simple idea holds the recoil spring in place on the guide rode while it is removed from the slide. It is simple and eliminates the need to capture the recoil spring. I like anything that makes cleaning easier! 

Altogether now, the Hex becomes more than a sum of its parts. It fills my hands despite being smaller than a full-size 1911. The Hex stippling is not just attractive but functional. The grip angle is perfect to align the sights with my eye. I can point it and know that it will hit where I point. 

SPECIFICATIONS

• Caliber: 9mm
• Overall Length: 8 inches
• Height: 5.5 inches
• Width: 1.5 inches (at magwell)
• Weight: 2 pounds
• Trigger: 3 pounds, 7 ounces; one-piece Controlled Radius Trigger
• Barrel Length: 4.25 inches 
• Grips: Hex pattern machined from billet aluminum with lower frame
• Safety: Extended and ambidextrous
• Grip Safety: Pinned, non-functional
• Picatinny Rail: 2 inches 
• Material: Stainless-steel slide, aircraft-grade billet 7075 aluminum frame
• Magazine: Stainless steel, 17-round, 2 supplied
• Sights: Rear recessed square notch, front white dot in orange circle
   

RANGE TIME

I set up for my test at the Tucson Rifle Club’s action range with two milk bottle-shaped steel plates and a paper target to test offhand accuracy. For ammunition, I had reliable PMC Bronze with 115-grain FMJ bullets. 

Accuracy with a pistol of this quality is expected to be top-notch. I shot 15 rounds offhand on paper at 7 yards for my first test, as I feel pistols should be fired offhand to be realistic. With slow, aimed fire in a two-hand hold, I achieved a one-hole group measuring 2 inches including two flyers at 7 o'clock. These were my fault, as I tend to pull low left when I do not follow through. Still, the Hex showed great potential. 

Next, I engaged the steel plates, keeping the first group in one lead smear in center of mass. Six head shots also printed in one group. Finally, a magazine dump was smooth, without a single failure to feed or eject. The brass seemed to stream out the ejection port.

This gun fits so well and fires so slick that it seems an extension of my mind. The near zero take-up and light trigger break are amazing. This solid metal gun has heft and balances as it should, while the ported barrel keeps the sights on target in rapid fire. Amazing is an understatement.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Jacob Grey learned his trade making parts for the aerospace industry and applied that know-how to his production Hex 1911 pistol. It is an improved traditional design with outstanding ergonomics. 

The outstanding trigger and beautifully accurate barrel come together with Hex grips to make a pistol that points where I aim and hits where I want. Do not pass up a chance to feel the power of a Hex by Jacob Grey.