What is the feeling on these? I have a Kimber 1911 Pro Carry aluminum frame with the 4 inch barrel now for about five years and am looking at a full size stainless model in both brands, full size Pro Carry Stainless or the Ruger SR1911 in full stainless. I cannot see a hill of beans difference in quality betwixt them. Can somebody educate me a little. I am sort of a 1911 newbie but do not want a low end gun (yes, I am aware of the higher end but I just want a solid, quality weapon that I can add needed embellishments if required as I go onward with it).
Ruger 1911 vs Kimber middle 1911s
- Thread starter 3Crows
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bluecollar
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I have the same model Kimber you do. A fine gun. Also have a Ruger SR wl commander. Also a fine gun. To me, I have to say the Kimber is a more refined gun than the Ruger in fitment with a better trigger and just seems to be a tighter gun in all respects. The Ruger does reinforce the frame at the feed ramp but with an all steel frame that you want this is superfluous. Both are good shooters but between those two, my vote goes to the Kimber. I would think that decision would correlate across the various models with me also. But if it were me, I’d try and put some more dust towards the purchase and get some iteration of Dan Wesson which blows both the Kimber and Ruger out the water.
JFrank
Member
I'll probably get flamed for saying this but.... Ruger = 70 series ignition.
I like that
I like that
My Kimber was a little balky at first. But, like it said in the manual, give it 200 rounds and keep it properly clean and lubed. But ti was still not 100%. I then read that the 4 inch Kimbers need a different spring and that Wolf makes one just for them. I bought several and no issues since. I always been a Ruger fan so just want to give them a fair shake though I lean to the Kimber, maybe the TLE Stainless. I do not think I can justify a Dan Wesson. And to enter a third one in here, Sig, like I said, I am admittedly ignorant on 1911s, well, not completely but y'all know what I mean. I prefer a tight gun that needs some break in to a rattle trap like Rock Island (and I am sure that is not being fair).
I have a Kimber Eclipse Pro and it's one hell of a fine and accurate pistol for the price. I don't have a full stainless SR1911 but I have a Night Watchman LWC That I carry and is nice and accurate as well. Of course the Eclipse is bull barrel and the NW is standard with a bushing. I do like that titanium insert on the feed ramp of the Ruger. Series 70 or 80 it don't make a bit of difference to me. I don't think you can go wrong with either one you are looking at. Get the one that feels right and you like in .45 of course...
Both are full of MIM, Ruger uses a Cast Frame, Kimber Forged. Kimber uses a plastic MSH on their lower end models. Not sure what Ruger uses for their MSH (Never looked at one)
Flip a coin.
JTQ
Member
From a quality perspective, they are probably about the same. I'd choose based on features.
You already have a Kimber, so you are familiar with the Kimber firing pin safety. The Ruger doesn't have a firing pin safety.
The Ruger has an integral plunger tube. It is never going to get loose, but if it ever gets crushed, you aren't getting it repaired. The Kimber plunger tube can come loose, but that can be fixed.
Kimber uses their own dovetail for sights, Ruger uses a Novak dovetail for their fixed sights.
You already have a Kimber, so you are familiar with the Kimber firing pin safety. The Ruger doesn't have a firing pin safety.
The Ruger has an integral plunger tube. It is never going to get loose, but if it ever gets crushed, you aren't getting it repaired. The Kimber plunger tube can come loose, but that can be fixed.
Kimber uses their own dovetail for sights, Ruger uses a Novak dovetail for their fixed sights.
Charlie98
Member
I've got a 4" ProCarry II.... love it. Like the OP, I'm in the market (well... I was until 2020 hit...) for a full-sized 1911, although I don't think I want an alloy frame. My ProCarry has Series 70 lockwork, which I was surprised to see the first time I took it apart. My newer Pro Eclipse II is Series 80. Anyway, given the OP's choices... I'd have to pick the Kimber... mostly because I am NOT a Ruger pistol fan, but that is just my personal preference. I would also look at Springfield, and even Colt. The past 10 years or so, the 1911 market really opened up... so there are a lot of choices out there, but the usual rule of thumb is you get what you pay for. The $600-900 price bracket is pretty crowded, and the cost savings over a more full-featured $1000+ pistol has to come from somewhere. MIM doesn't bother me, nor does my plastic mainspring housing (on my ProCarry.)
JTQ
Member
For clarity, no Kimber's have a Series 80 style firing pin safety.
All Kimber's with a firing pin safety use a Swartz style firing pin safety.
Thanks guys, I think maybe I will stay with Kimber--what is MIM? Open to suggestions, for example, which Dan Wesson in a full size (stainless) steel model or other suggestion that is still staying in the 800 to 1200 dollars range give or take?
Edit to add, it has been pointed out to me I said "Pro Carry" which is what I already have, 4 inch barrel, alloy frame, I should have said something like the full size 5 inch barrel Stainless II but again am open to other brand suggestions please.
Edit to add, it has been pointed out to me I said "Pro Carry" which is what I already have, 4 inch barrel, alloy frame, I should have said something like the full size 5 inch barrel Stainless II but again am open to other brand suggestions please.
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JTQ
Member
I'll admit this is a bit of a pet peeve of mine - the Dan Wesson guns are fine pistols. However, they always seem to get recommended in these "I'm looking for a mid-level 1911" (meaning $800 - $1,000) threads.
The Dan Wesson's are $1,500+ guns.
Sure, they're better than the $800 Kimber or Ruger, but they cost twice as much. Why not just get an Ed Brown, they're better too, or a Wilson 1911, etc.
If you want to spend $1,500 on a 1911, a Dan Wesson will be better than a $1,500 Kimber, whatever that model is. However, if you want an $800 1911, you can buy a new Kimber or Ruger for that, but you'll need to buy a used Dan Wesson for that price.
The Heritage model has an MSRP of $1500 which means a street price around $1200 to $1300
https://danwessonfirearms.com/products/
Springfield Armory Loaded models are nice. That's my only true 1911 because frankly, I have trouble justifying the money to upgrade to a $1600 DW Valor or Specialist (at roughly twice the price of the Loaded)
https://www.springfield-armory.com/...andguns/1911-loaded-45-acp-handgun-stainless/
https://danwessonfirearms.com/products/
Springfield Armory Loaded models are nice. That's my only true 1911 because frankly, I have trouble justifying the money to upgrade to a $1600 DW Valor or Specialist (at roughly twice the price of the Loaded)
https://www.springfield-armory.com/...andguns/1911-loaded-45-acp-handgun-stainless/
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derek45
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Early pre schwartz Kimber > Ruger > new kimber
not a fan of da schwartz or series 80
the early Kimbers were really nice guns
there reputation on newer stuff, and spotty warranty customer service issues would steer me towards Ruger
better yet, save some more and buy a Dan Wesson
.
not a fan of da schwartz or series 80
the early Kimbers were really nice guns
there reputation on newer stuff, and spotty warranty customer service issues would steer me towards Ruger
better yet, save some more and buy a Dan Wesson
.
JTQ
Member
It is Swartz. It is named after the inventor, William L. Swartz.
https://www.mypatentprints.com/prod...t-colt-patent-firearm-blueprint-colt-firearm/
May the schwartz be with you.
Charlie98
Member
Yes, I was using S80 as a generic term. Not a big fan of either of them, because I don't like complexity, but the one in my Eclipse hasn't given me any trouble in about 20 years.
Metal Injection Molding...
It's interesting, people beat Kimber and others to death over MIM parts, and champion Ruger. Ruger was one of the pioneers in lost-wax casting (as opposed to forging.) I understand it's not an apples-to-apples comparison, but it just goes to show there's a few different ways to peel a grape. People also point to plastic parts, like the MSH on my Kimber; I've had problems with soft metal on a 1911 slide, before, so it really comes down to quality control and manufacturing process.
Okay, perused the Dan Wesson website and the only model I like is the Heritage Stainless. I like the Commander but for the bobbed grip frame, that is a no go for me, I want a traditional looking weapon. I can mod and fix a lot of things like plastic parts in a Kimber or a loose barrel in a Ruger but the bobbed frame types (not just DW guns) I do not like.
Charlie98
Member
Good friend of mine was selling off his DW 1911, he has arthritis in his hands and can't shoot big bore any longer. I would have bought it in a second... except it was a Bobtail. That's a no-go at this station. I did buy a Dan Wesson off him... but it was a .41MAG DW...
Have you checked out the Loaded?
https://www.springfield-armory.com/...andguns/1911-loaded-45-acp-handgun-stainless/
Howland937
Member
The only Kimber I own is a full size LW 9mm/38 Super. It does fine for what I want, and the $575 brand new I paid last spring was the deciding factor. Fit and finish is less than stellar and it does have a cheap feel compared to the Sig 1911's I have.
My dad has been looking for a full size 1911 .45 and was leaning toward the Kimber LW Custom which runs about the same price as the 9mm variant. Now they're $700+, which to me is pretty steep. Not sure about the Ruger, but for my money I'd put the $200 or so difference toward a Sig, Springfield, or possibly Colt.
My dad has been looking for a full size 1911 .45 and was leaning toward the Kimber LW Custom which runs about the same price as the 9mm variant. Now they're $700+, which to me is pretty steep. Not sure about the Ruger, but for my money I'd put the $200 or so difference toward a Sig, Springfield, or possibly Colt.
I'll preface my post with I am not a 1911 expert either. About 3 years ago I was looking for my first 1911, only difference was I wanted a 9mm. I was sure I would end up with a Ruger or a Kimber. I just could not justify a Dan Wesson, but I could see and feel the difference. I ended up with a Springfield and have never been disappointed. I went to three LGS looking at 1911s, and all of them unprovoked when I said Ruger or Kimber they replied with Springfield. Actually one said Dan Wesson, but if you can't get into a Dan Wesson then Springfield . The Springfield was less than $100 difference compared to the Ruger at the time. I personally think today I would go Ruger before Kimber.
-Jeff
. The Springfield was less than $100 difference compared to the Ruger at the time. I personally think today I would go Ruger before Kimber.-Jeff
Anyone have additional opinion on the "Loaded" model? It looks like what I am looking for, price, quality, full size, stainless and a good name on it.
JTQ
Member
The Loaded has been in the Springfield line-up for long time. It has a solid reputation, as does Springfield Armory as a company.
JKP
Member
I've heard mixed reviews on Kimber customer service. Ruger is one of, if not the best, in tne industry. If every business repaired or replaced their products like Ruger, I'd still be driving my old 62 Chevy. Ruger has no written warranty, they just fix everything and pay shipping both ways.
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I love Ruger but I have noticed the few things mentioned regarding the SR1911, I have NOT noticed any of the (functional) things regarding my Kimber which I do love also. I own a bunch of Rugers and now that they own Marlin, hoping they do the Marlin justice for all, I plan to own some more.
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