Kimber or SW 1911? Can't decide...HELP!

Unfortunately no, They have gotten worse.

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yep.

Reading all the negative comments about Kimber, let me just say that my Custom Target II in stainless is the most accurate gun I own after my Ruger Mk II. It has proven reliable with all but the most square-nosed hollowpoints. I have detail stripped the gun and found the workmanship amazing for the price, and its fit and finish is easily worth the $900 asking price. It is the gun most of my friends ask me to let them know when I feel like selling it -- but I most likely never will.

Adding a Wilson Combat shock buff recoil system to it has only increased the accuracy to where it's a tack driver at 25 yards.

The only things I don't like about the gun is the forward cocking serrations -- I feel they are unnecessary and just ruin the looks, and the non-curved nylon mainspring housing.

I have not yet tried a SW 1911 but am thinking hard about adding one to my stable.

I haven't looked closely at the S&W 1911, but I would definitely lean that way.

I bought a Kimber Custom TLE II three weeks ago. This is a full sized 1911 but it came with a 7 round magazine. 8 rounders have not been fully reliable. My Kimber Compact (from the last century) has a 7 round magazine. The S&W apparently comes with an 8 round magazine.

Within a week and a half, I've noticed holster wear on the new Kimber. I did buy it as a carry gun, so I don't expect it to stay pristine forever, but I am disappointed that it's showing wear after ten days.

I'm disappointed at the reliability with 8 round magazines. My old Colt Gold Cup and my 2001 Kimber Gold Match both came with 8 round magazines.

Ken

MUST RESIST EXTERNAL EXTRACTOR!

In the price range you mention, I'd serious consider saving a few bucks and getting a Tauri (or two). I've not shot one, but I have looked at them very closely and they appear to be very well made. From all accounts, they're very reliable out of the box, and I'm guessing they're more accurate than 95% of the guys who will ever shoot one.

I will admit the S&W's look very nice. But I've never shot one of them either. Plus, the whole external extractor thing really kills the deal for me. (Just doesn't look right.)

-Matt

I'm disappointed at the reliability with 8 round magazines. My old Colt Gold Cup and my 2001 Kimber Gold Match both came with 8 round magazines.

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Have you tried the Novak's version? I mainly use the Wilson 47D, which I have pretty good luck with. But I have a single Novak's 8-rounder that has put many, many hundreds of rounds down range without a single hiccup.

-Matt

I have to admit, the only bad thing I can say about my S&W 1911, is the breechface has a slight step in it, and it makes my brass look like $hitt. They did perfect the EE, unlike Kimber.

MattTheHat said:

MUST RESIST EXTERNAL EXTRACTOR!

In the price range you mention, I'd serious consider saving a few bucks and getting a Tauri (or two). I've not shot one, but I have looked at them very closely and they appear to be very well made. From all accounts, they're very reliable out of the box, and I'm guessing they're more accurate than 95% of the guys who will ever shoot one.

I will admit the S&W's look very nice. But I've never shot one of them either. Plus, the whole external extractor thing really kills the deal for me. (Just doesn't look right.)

-Matt

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Don't resist, it's ok to come to the dark side. JMB was a forward thinking man, he would appreciate someone making a change that works.

JMB was a forward thinking man, he would appreciate someone making a change that works.

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Browning M1909

REAPER4206969 said:

Browning M1909

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Yeah I know...Part of my point.

how much is one of these worth?

how much is one of these worth?

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I don't know about that one but here is a M1910.

don't know about that one but here is a M1910.

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Wow! Just look at that slide to frame fit at the rear of John M. Browning's 1910. That is superb workmanship, especially for the era in which it was produced. And, no stinking thumb safety!

Babalouie,

NICE work!!!!

s&w 1911.

Thanks Goju!

Wow! Just look at that slide to frame fit at the rear of John M. Browning's 1910. That is superb workmanship, especially for the era in which it was produced. And, no stinking thumb safety!

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That pistol is also 100 years old as well.

external extractors are ugly for my taste. John Browning 1911 in 45 ACP pure beauty and function.

Majority of my guns are Kimber. I've already detailed stripped my kimbers. I'll keep my kimbers but no more. I haven't detailed stripped a S&W yet but i love what i see detail stripping my colt 1911. Why can't kimber either lower their price or start using barstock, forged or cast metals i don't know. Kimbers mentality are like the american cars of the 90's. Beautiful outside, crap inside, and sell them with premium price like jap, german cars with better parts. And sell a lot of them. I predict if kimber don't change they will end up like GM or Ford.

Actually it will be very interesting to see how many % newbies buy Kimber vs % of experienced people buy kimber. A lot of people i think is like me, new to gun world, see so many glossy kimber ads, go to shops that have a lot of selection of Kimbers and being sales talked by gun shop people. Don't have a clue what other 1911 weapon vendors offer. And up getting kimbers.

Again Kimbers are not bad. They are just not like the kimbers of old. The plain vanilla kimbers maybe still be okay value but those $1000+ kimbers that still uses MIM parts are holdups. Go to AR15.com there are tons of kimbers that are being sold. People really need to price it low before people becomes interested with it.

I'm kicking myself right now for spending $1100 for a stainless kimber TLE/RL 2 where i can just add a bit I can already get a good Dan Wesson (No MIM 1911) or get even a cheaper colt that only has 3 MIM parts.

Again i haven't detailed strip a SW 1911 yet so until then get a kimber but just on the $800 or less range. Or better yet look at some Colt. You'll end up happier.

I agree with the sentiments above...I was a newbie...saw all the ads, LITERALLY was talked into it by the store owner, who of course, was a Kimber dealer...and CANCELLED my original order for a Dan Wesson (which the store owner scoffed at...haha). Looks like I was the idiot because I ended up buying the Kimber crap and it wasn't until I became much more knowledgeable on 1911s, that I was able to discern the differences between a "good" 1911...and a great 1911.

I don't own the Kimber anymore and based on my experience (detailed earlier in this thread), I never will.

I have been underwhelmed by Kimber. I owned one for a bit and have friends that own them. I traded mine off, the finish was not holding up and it was finicky.

Wow!!! This is nice to see. Back when I bought my SW1911, all I heard was complaining about all the warnings and the giant text on the slide...none of which has hurt its performance. It's been perfect every shot for the last 2 years.

I spent nearly $1100 on a new Pro CDP2, has worked poorly since the day I bought it. Failures to fully chamber a round and an occassional slide lock thrown in for fun have got me so upset with this gun I could scream. I bought it as a "High End" quality CCW gun and have completely wasted my money. I WILL NEVER TRUST THIS GUN FOR CCW!

It is absolutely beautiful and the fit/finish looks great but it WILL NOT SHOOT.

I own both and they are both great guns.

Here's my Kimber with Crimson Trace grips



Kimber with Meprolight Tru-Dot Tritium Night Sights and Crimson Trace is hard to beat.