The Watchtower Apache performs just as good as it looks. With a good load, it was capable of near 1⁄2-inch groups at 15 yards and could consistently ring steel past 100 yards if the shooter did his part.
Every gun enthusiast out there is familiar with the 1911 and most likely owns a 1911 or maybe even more. The 1911 is an extremely popular, well-known and well-respected firearm with good reason. Nearly every major firearms manufacturer has made their own version of the 1911. During times of war, some non-firearms companies even made 1911 handguns. One of the more notable companies that comes to mind is Singer, the sewing machine company. If you are like me, it was a handgun you admired from a young age. I can still remember bantering back and forth with my friend over the merits of the 1911 versus the Glock 17 for self-defense. At the ripe age of 10 years old, I am not sure how I could make much of an argument for either, but it was all good fun.
This leads us to the subject of today’s article, Watchtower Firearms, which draws upon the history of not only the 1911 platform but also pays respect to the brave souls who fought in World War II. They acquired their name from Operation Watchtower, which was the codename for the Guadalcanal campaign in World War II. The stars of their logo represent the Southern Cross and pay tribute to the brave souls who fought for our freedom under that constellation in the southern hemisphere. As a history buff, I can appreciate the deeper meaning behind their logo and the significance and respect they showed as they shared their story.
The Watchtower Apache shown is the two-tone Graphite and Copper model. The PVD coating makes cleaning easy, and the slide is as smooth as silk, thanks to the proprietary coating.
Watchtower is a veteran-owned company based out of Texas. They manufacture AR-15 and AR-10 rifles in addition to the Apache handgun, which will be covered here. The Watchtower Apache is a double-stack 2011 built on the well-known and much-loved 1911 platform and is chambered in 9mm Luger. It seems the popularity of the 2011 platform is on the rise, with many different companies offering 2011-style handguns. This makes sense given the popularity of the 1911 and its overwhelming success and dedicated following. The 2011 was simply taking the 1911 and modernizing it. This allowed for greater magazine capacity in a platform that nearly everyone was familiar with and chambered it in the popular 9mm Luger. Watchtower took that a step further with a custom MJD composite grip, flared magwell and a unique proprietary physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating. This coating, combined with an excellent fit and finish, makes for an exceptionally smooth and fast cycling handgun. It can be hard to describe just how good it feels with words, but the general reaction to racking the slide is a jaw drop followed by immediately racking it again.
The Trijicon SRO makes an ideal optic for competition shooting thanks to its large window and rugged construction.
The gun weighs 2 pounds 10.5 ounces with a Trijicon SRO (Specialized Reflex Optic) and an empty 15-round magazine. The Apache features a 4.6-inch barrel with a Clark/Para feed ramp and is threaded for the attached .75-inch compensator. The slide is 4.25 inches long, and with the comp installed, it is about the same length as a full-size, 5-inch barreled 1911 but a bit wider. This model features a green fiber optic front sight with a combination optic plate and rear sight. Watchtower offers many different plates for mounting various optics on the slide. I went with the Trijicon SRO because it is an option that Watchtower offers on their website, and its larger window lends itself well for competition use.
This 30-shot group was fired at 15 yards from the Ransom International Master Series Rest. The group measured out to 1.6 inches.
I decided that this handgun would be run through a gauntlet of tests, starting with accuracy testing utilizing the Ransom International Master Series Rest. I started out by running about 150 rounds through the gun, getting a feel for it in my hands and breaking in the handgun. After that, the gun was cleaned and locked in the Ransom Rest to get a feel for the accuracy of this handgun. If it were not up to par then there would have been no sense in continuing testing. This would not be the first time an expensive handgun has failed this test, leaving me scrambling to write about something else. The Apache managed to squeeze 30 rounds into a 1.6-inch group using Alliant Power Pistol powder and 124-grain Hornady XTP bullets.
Continuing on, I was eager to see what this pistol could do with a good handload developed specifically for this handgun. I set out by prepping new, unfired Starline cases and used Mighty Armory dies to size the cases and expand the case mouths to ensure maximum uniformity from case to case. I then applied a chamfer and deburr to the case mouths and seated CCI 500 primers using a Frankford Arsenal Perfect Seat Hand Primer. Charges were dispensed and weighed on an RCBS MatchMaster powder dispenser. Bullets were then seated with a Mighty Armory seating die, and all loads were crimped with a Lee factory crimp die.
Alliant Power Pistol was a proven performer with the initial testing, and it did not disappoint. It turned in this group at 15 yards using the Ransom International Master Series Rest.
As can be seen in the accompanying table, this handgun proved to be extremely accurate, and it seemed to favor bullets in the 124-grain weight range. After reviewing my data, I loaded up what seemed to be the most accurate load and decided to continue testing, this time with the gun in hand. I ran through several drills with this gun and even shot it out to 150 yards without any issues other than an occasional snatch on the trigger, causing me to miss at a distance. Running this gun up close for speed, I managed to achieve some of the best split times of my life. Granted, it has been a while since I ran a 2011 handgun at speed, and I have greatly improved as a shooter since then. However, it was still impressive and provided the warm fuzzy feeling you get when your hard work and practice pay off.
Shooters World Major Pistol turned in an impressive .52-inch group using 124-grain Hornady XTP bullets. This powder closely duplicated Accurate No. 7 performance in the 9mm Luger.
When it comes to finding a good holster to practice and run drills from the leather, I went to my friend Rob Lehey with Simply Rugged Holsters (
simplyrugged.com). He was kind enough to rush and handcraft one of his Competitor Holsters for the Apache so I could have enough time to run drills with it and even enjoy some friendly competition shooting among friends. We set up various IPSC-style stages and enjoyed challenging each other while on the clock. This is a great Holster, especially if you are looking to preserve the finish of your firearm. Thanks to Simply Rugged, there is an excellent option for a competition-style leather holster for 2011 handguns. In running through the stages, with minimal time to break in the gun and holster, performance was exceptional, and I plan on using it a lot more in the future. It is always smart to test your gear prior to a match and ensure everything is working well together. Good practice and good drills will quickly separate the wheat from the chaff when running and gunning on the clock.
The 147-grain Speer TMJ proved to be quite accurate in the Watchtower Apache.
To be honest, there is a lot more I could talk about with this gun; it is fast cycling and smooth as butter to run. The trigger is like a glass rod breaking with no overtravel or even a hint of creep. I would not hesitate to run this in any competition that would allow it. When coupled with the Trijicon SRO, my target transitions were quick, and the gun, quite frankly, will run faster than my current skills will allow. This just tells me that I still need to practice more.
While this gun may not be for everyone as it has a bit of a restrictive price tag, considering the performance you are getting, I would say it is priced rather well. I would be hard-pressed to justify the price of an Atlas or other high-end 2011s over what you are getting with the Watchtower Apache. It may just be the Goldilocks of the 2011 offerings. It’s not leaving you wishing you had spent more and had a nicer, smoother gun, and it’s not so overly expensive that you have a hard time justifying the cost. Honestly, it seems just right for the dedicated shooter looking for a pistol to win competitions and hone his skills.
If you would like to watch the video accompanying this article, check out the video titled “Review & Testing – Watchtower Apache” on our YouTube channel, Handloader TV.
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