Poll for current and previous KIMBER owners only: Would you buy another Kimber?

[Zerodefect]

It's completely obsolete.

Comparing my 1911 to my Glock or M&P is like comparing an Iron sighted M1garand to a M16 with an Aimpoint or ACOG.

-My Kimber rusts, my Glock/M&P deosn't.
-Its slow and heavy to draw, the multiple safeties slow it way down.
-Grip deosn't feel right with a combat grip style. Too loose around the back strap. The Glock is as simple as draw and shoot, no worries about flicking off the safety or having my hand in exactly the right spot to actuate the grip safety.
-not really all that reliable.
-1911's have poorly desighned mags with a floaty top round that nosedives. Modern gun have all the rounds in the mag parallel to each other .

My Glock 23 (modified trigger and other assorted upgrades, its an $850 Glock.) runs circles around my kimber CDP. This may have been cutting edge tech 50years ago.... but today there's plain better moustraps.

I'd happily trade my CDP for a G21 with a few mags.

 

[ichiban]

I have four that have been flawless. One is my carry gun. Two are 9mm, which I tend to shoot more just because of ammo prices.

 

[SSN Vet]

Wow... 68 yes and 59 no

not good stats for Kimber....

and that's pretty much why I couldn't risk dropping a bill on one.

 

[Jonah71]

I'll vote as soon as I've put more rounds through it. But I have an older, less expensive Kimber Pro BP 10 .45 cal. If it's not worth $500, I'll accept the fact I got screwed. If I like it, I'll likely by another Kimber eventually.

 

[HDStreet]

I traded a Glock 21 for my Kimber Custom. I wish I had the Glock back, but wouldn't trade the Kimber back. It's a good piece. I had to polish the ramp to prevent some feed problems, but it's been great ever since. It rides in my truck with me every where I go!

"But as long as the nation is obsessed with historic milestones, is no one going to remark on what a great country it is where a mentally retarded woman can become speaker of the house?"

 

[Autolycus]

I had a Tactical Custom model. It was great but so many plastic parts. I would much rather get a Colt.

 

[harmon rabb]

freakin lulz at the difference between this and the glock thread. LMAO.

 

[Mags]

It was great but so many plastic parts.

Yet another thing Kimber has changed in it's current lineup. No more plastic parts or external extractors. Maybe Kimber has listened to past customer complaints and made changes but given alot of the input in this thread past Kimber owners haven't seen or held a new production Kimber and are judging the mistakes Kimber has learned from.

 

[Magnumite]

So now we need a parallel double stacked, plastic pistol without safeties to train through to be not obsolete? The fastest shooters in the world use 1911's. Elite response groups use the 1911. They must old obsolete tacticians. If you're slower with the 1911 than the Glock you need to practice with it more. If the top round nose dives you've got weak mag springs or a high feed ramp.

"-My Kimber rusts, my Glock/M&P deosn't." Wipe it down or have it special finished.

"-Its slow and heavy to draw, the multiple safeties slow it way down." Lift weights and practice dry fire draws. There is only one safety to operate. The other works when you grasp the pistol.

"-Grip deosn't feel right with a combat grip style. Too loose around the back strap. The Glock is as simple as draw and shoot, no worries about flicking off the safety or having my hand in exactly the right spot to actuate the grip safety. "That's your call, not all hands are same and you prefer the point and pull, personal preference. That's cool.

"-not really all that reliable." Probably is related to the nosedives. Weak mag springs...they are the 8 round shooting star mags? Maybe too high a feedramp. Did you contact Kimber? But then, the Glock does have a rep for being reliable.

"-1911's have poorly desighned mags with a floaty top round that nosedives. Modern gun have all the rounds in the mag parallel to each other." The way the rounds stack in a magazine has to do with the round's configuration, not just the mag design. Additionally you are comparing a single stack with a double stack magazine.

Largely what you state is preference based on your observations of your sample. That's your choice. But too many find the 1911's features advantageous for it to be obsolete. Kimber produces alot of guns...QC slipped. You got one what was "statistically out of the norm".

Either way, you have two nice pistols. Get the Kimber going,,,too nice a gun not to shoot.

 

[w_houle]

Kimber Custom II bought in 1999 was great. It was bought before I knew about gun forums, but still didn't like the plastic MSH, but at least it didn't lock like the SA I traded it for did

 

[joe_security]

Kimber satisfaction runs 50/50. Why take a chance on getting a lemon ? I would rather save my nickels and go DW, EB, LB or an old Colt. Much less chance of having to deal with the dreaded Dennis at Kimber. Heck , give me a mil spec Rock Island ! It would probably work well out of the box. After firing a 1911, my Glock felt like a 2by4.

 

[gordy]

Ive have 3 1911 colts and they work, would I depend on them? NO, I have owned one kimber and shot many at the range I belong to. It seems that if you buy a $2,500 kimber they work. If you buy any other one they are a pile of ****. I sold mine and bought a revolver. it works.

 

[swinokur]

Custom TLE/RL II Perfect. I'd buy another of the same model in SS.

 

[230therapy]

Kimber lost my business NOT because of the mechanical problems, but because they did not follow through with their promises to me. All they had to do was follow through with the promised modifications. They did nothing and instead pulled a gun off the shelf and sent it to me.

 

[mcdonl]

Fascinating thread. Just goes to show you, it doesn't matter what the gun is you will never get much better then a 50-60% satisfaction.

 

[EddieNFL]

Glock is running close to 80 percent. Lower than I expected.

This poll is a lot lower than I expected. I would have predicted about 30-35 percent negative responses.

 

[Mags]

Gordy, what are you talking about?

It seems that if you buy a $2,500 kimber they work. If you buy any other one they are a pile of ****. I sold mine and bought a revolver. it works.

All my Kimbers have been sub 1k and have worked flawlessly.

 

[Balrog]

I have owned several Kimbers over the years, none ever worked 100 percent for me.

 

[Mags]

Well everyone is welcome to come by and shoot my stock Kimbers, just bring your own ammo. No reloads please.

 

[Zerodefect]

The Glock thread is a bit off, the pole deosn't account for those that have a dozen Glocks. You only get to vote once. Also there are a few posts where he allready has a dozen Glocks and deosn't want more.

 

[smoothdraw]

I have my Kimbers. Still keep them and use them a lot. I already spend some money to tune them. No i will not buy one again until they improve the metallurgy or reduce their cost. For me they are very pretty from the outside ugly from the inside. I will get Colts, Dan Wesson ... and if I have money to spend Brown, Les Baer, Wilson. Springfields..same issue with Kimber.

My last 1911 was a Colt series 70 repro. Beautiful gun inside and out and shoot very well out from the box and eats ball, hallowpoint and wadcutters. Shoots my buddies Dan Wesson, shoots well out from the box and detailed stripping shows quality parts. detail strip any Kimber even the most expensive custom shop ones like my CDP, you'll see that Kimber put cheaper parts in a okay barrel, Slide and Frame. Some serious 1911 shooters change everything with their kimbers and only keep the slide and frames and sometime keep that barrel but that's about it.

 

[smoothdraw]

Yet another thing Kimber has changed in it's current lineup. No more plastic parts or external extractors. Maybe Kimber has listened to past customer complaints and made changes but given alot of the input in this thread past Kimber owners haven't seen or held a new production Kimber and are judging the mistakes Kimber has learned from.

Looking at current lineup no more external extractors. No more plastic? Kimbers mainspring housing is 100% plastic the last time i check. Even Custom Shop ones.

 

[Ditch-Tiger]

I have a Custom TLE II that feeds anything and is very accurate.
I had a BP10 that i sold to pay for another gun. no issues except cost/availability of mags, although it was not as reliable as the TLE; I guess thats to be exspected as i bought it used for under $400.00
I will buy an Eclipse pro someday.

I voted yes.

 

[nearlynormalmike]

NO !!! Will keep my Pro Carry II for now.
Plan to sell or trade Tactical Custom II for something else.

 

[orionengnr]

"If your Kimber is working fine, then you will love Kimbers. If you ever have a problem and need customer service, then you will hate Kimbers."

Hmmm...I just bought number nine. Am I beating the odds or what?

I carry one every day, shoot (at least) one every week. Does that give you any indication as to which way I voted?