Colt or Kimber?

Let me put it this way, I have had 2 colts and one kimber. Out of all the pistols I have owned, the only ones I wish I had back were those 2 colts.

i have owned 4 or 5 different Kimber models over the years. None were 100 percent reliable, and Kimber's customer service could never get them 100 percent reliable... I finally gave up on Kimber.

They are great looking guns, but my experience with them has been poor. I would not buy another, and if given one, would try to sell it or give it away to someone i did not like. I think I should rather defend myself with a pointy stick.

I'll put it this way. I had a Colt 1991, and it wasn't anything special. There was nothing about it that made me feel like a good shot, or that it was what I had been missing in 1911s for so long. When I got my Kimber, I couldn't remember why I had spent so much time messing around with other platforms, it just worked perfectly, and I don't see myself ever selling it.

There are Colt disciples in here who won't touch anything else, but for me, I could never see what the big deal is. It's a 1911.

I thought the kimber was reliable until I fired it in an IDPA match. It choked, and up until that time it was my EDC. The colts I had were before the I ever got into IDPA, but never gave me a problem. My first was a series 70, combat commander, satin nickel in 9mm. A beautiful and rare gun!

My current 1911 is a detonics 9-11-01.

A Colt was my first 1911, even when I tried other 1911's I always came back to the Colts. I like the way they look, I like they way they handle. And they are the orginal.

I have looked at Kimber, I just do NOT like the big billboard scripts on the slide. They may be fine, I just like my Colts.

As embarrasing as it was for that kimber to choke on me at that match was, I would rather it did it there than for it to choke in a defensive situation as my EDC!

I owned 1 Kimber and it never ran good. Yes, it was accurate, but not reliable. I have 4 Colts and while they might not be as pretty as the Kimber they are 100% reliable and have been OTB. Some say Colts aren't as accurate as the Kimbers but I disagree with that also. All of mine will shoot very nice groups at 25 yards.

Newer guns? Colt. Although if Kimber would have left the Series I guns alone, I would have voted for them.

I love my series I guns, and they're still here while the colt is gone, but the issues with series II safeties and MIM breakage turned me off of new Kimbers a long time ago.

My 1991A1 wasnt as accurate as my Kimbers, but it didnt lack much, despite rattling like a bucket of bolts.

edit: Colt gives you more sight options too. Kimber dovetails were cleverly designed so that nothing else would clean them up. Colt's commonly staked front sight and mil-spec dovetail can be recut to just about any popular aftermarket dovetail. I think the only issue is with the series 80 and a bo-mar cut.

Amazing......My Kimber is an awesome gun...accurate, dependable...shoots better than I can...Best of all, no problems...

i personally perfer Springer, but given the choice prolly a 70 series colt over any Kimber, i hear the newer colts are quite as good w/ qc as the 70 series and before.

Its Colt for me too guys. I am a Colt snob though so my opinion my not count. I dont have anything against Kimber, but for that much money Im getting a Colt. If for nothing else, the resale value (in my area anyway) is far better for Colt than Kimber. All of the intangables play a big part for me too......history, tradition, heritage, reliability and so on. I know.....Im a wierd-o Kevin.

+1....biggest waste of money ....NEVER NEVER will I buy a Kimber anything

Somewhere between 700 and 900 rds through my Series II full size Kimber (internal extractor). The mix is approx 650-700 230 gr ball the rest Federal Hydrashoks (sp?). Never even a crossways fart so I didn't see the point in counting rds anymore. Sure I'd like to add a Colt to the collection but I wouldn't trade off my Kimber to get it. This 45 is my bedside security system (along with 2 dogs and the 870)

YMMV, offer not good in all 50 states, blah blah blah.

I am lucky enough to own both a recent Kimber Custom 2 and a Colt Gold Cup. Can shoot the Kimber best but it has a better trigger than the Gold Cup. The barrel on the Gold Cup has a very short distance from where it chambers to the rifling grooves (Lead?) and reloading for it therefore requires some attention.

I wouldn't want to give up either of them and its fun to take both to the range for comparison on the same day.

I have two Kimbers, both of which were relatively trouble free), two Springfields and now have a Colt. I addition I have a Nighthawk. Of the three big manufacturers mentioned, the only one I'd buy another from unhesitatingly is Colt. In a heartbeat.

I don't think I've ever shot a MIMber. But I have heard good things about the early Clackamas built Kimbers.

Of the 2 choices, I'd go with Colt.

I love my Kimber, although I never had the pleasure to own a Colt.

I don't own a Kimber, but I've handled some and almost drooled on them. Very purty.

Love my two Colts, though.

My three Kimbers were very accurate, indeed, but reliability and durability go to my Colt Government Models, by FAR. Just to be clear, my three Kimbers WERE the early ones, much-worshiped by many as being the best ones, and my Colts were Series 80, which the myth-sayers say were so bad. Two out of three go to Colt.

Really, at least one of my Colts was very accurate, limited probably by the sights, which were not as good as what came on the Kimbers, so even the accuracy category was not a clear winner for the Kimbers.

I voted Colt.

Full disclosure: When I could no longer carry my personally-owned 1911s as duty pistols, I sold off all of my 1911s except my Les Baer.

I have a couple Colts and used them when while in the Navy. Love them. I have never owned a Kimber, but have shot them and have a few friends who own them. They like them, but seem to always be working on them. The action, feed / ramp, etc. Mine just go .....

Even though I know Kimbers are excellent pistols, I go for Colt so I have the option of not having to deal with extended safeties, and beavertails, and this and that and can just get a standard 1911 with no frills. All I want is a bevelled mag well and an ever so slightly extended grip safety. That is it. Colt offers it. Kimber does not.

Can't speak to the Colt but my four Kimbers have been nothing but trouble free, accurate and a pleasure to shoot. That's two 9mm and two .45acp. My SAs and S&W 1911s have been flawless as well. The only guns I have had problems with have been a Para LTC (but I still love it, just wont carry it) and a Ruger SR9.