The Nighthawk Trooper is available with a variety of finishes and options. Our test .45 ACP pistol featured a forged stainless steel frame and slide as well as a match-grade barrel and bushing made from the same material. Cosmetically, the gun was flawless with a soft satin finish and carefully beveled edges. The frontstrap was checkered, like the mainspring housing. The slide-to-frame fit was as perfect as I have ever seen, and the trigger broke like the proverbial glass road with precisely 3.5 pounds of pressure. There was no overtravel, and the lightweight, medium-length trigger had a firm reset.
One of the small details that I absolutely love about this Nighthawk Custom is the way the slide stop is sculpted. It is a beautiful piece of machining that is as functional as it is attractive. The test gun also came with a red fiber-optic front sight and a Heinie Ledge rear sight. What I really like about this setup is that the rear notch is wide enough to provide plenty of light on either side of the front sight to keep the sights from blurring together. This is a sight system that works well for me.
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The average group size for the three test loads was just a hair over 0.75 inches. The Aguila, Black Hills and Hornady loads created best five-shot groups measuring 0.92, 0.7 and 0.73 inches, respectively. Of course, the gun also ran flawlessly.
While the Trooper is listed in the Nighthawk Custom lineup, it’s truly made to your specifications after you place your order. Prices start at $3,199, which is a bargain given the amount of handwork involved and the way the Trooper performs. The Trooper is an instant heirloom that will serve you—and your children, and their children—well.
