Which would you rather have?

I have a 1911 - Government size - and a SP101 in a 2 1/4" barrel. I like both pistols a lot and must say the SP101 is a great pistol for concealed carry and HD. Not saying that the Kimber is not great for these issues, which it is, its just that it is being compared to another pistol.
The round issue is not a problem...Kimber has two extra. Imo...Sometimes I think its just a mind thing for some people. Knowing that they have "someodd" extra rounds makes them feel "safer". We are talking SD and HD, they are not taking on an army. Sight radius not an issue...remember, your not shooting 50 yards for SD or HD. I find that I acquire the sight picture faster with the shorter barrel. The weight is not an issue at all between the two--25oz for the 2 1/4" SP and 28oz for the 4" Kimber.
Concealability...The SP wins over the Kimber here. Recoil on the SP is all on what rounds you fire or can handle. I keep 38 Special +P's in them for HD for less flash and a little less noise. There are also the ammo choices between the 38 Special and 357 Magnum; you will have a wide assortment to choose from. Reloading... you would be looking close to the same speed with practice. My biggest cons on the SP (which I had to do, personal preferences I guess)...The SP needs to have a lighter hammer spring installed. Also, the trigger itself and trigger guard need to be filed down a bit. The triggers on them are a bit sharp. The price, without a doubt, the SP wins there. They both have their small little pros and cons but for SD and HD.....

I would say that out of the two, even with the spring replacement and a little filing, the SP101 would be a better choice over the Kimber for concealed carry and HD....but I guess its all up to what you feel comfortable with.

Ruger.

The round issue is not a problem...Kimber has two extra

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Um, my Kimbers have 8 round mags, and I carry one in the chamber.

That means:
Ruger--5 rounds of .357
Kimber--8+1 (total 9) rounds of .45acp.

That four extra, or dang near double.
Even a 7-round mag would make eight total, or a difference of three. Do math much?

I have owned eight Kimbers so far, and every one of them has worked perfectly so far (otherwise I wouldn't keep buying them )

Yeah, pretty easy decision for me...

Here we go with my magazine has this many rounds and if I put one in the chamber thats another . According to the Kimber site the Kimber Pro Carry II comes with the a 7 round magazine and has a 4" barrel. Thats what I based it on. Heck, a Glock can hold anywhere from 15 to 33 rounds, so does that mean its a better concealed carry and HD pistol? As for math I am pretty good seeing that I use it everyday in my trade.
The question was not deciding on a pistol because it has a capability of holding some odd more rounds (depending on magazine size), it was which one would be better. You must be one of those people who think the more rounds you can carry the safer you are, nice. Can you read? I stated in my post that more rounds does not make a better pistol or anyone safer. I also stated that Kimber would be good also but it was being compared to another for concealed carry. Can you c/c a kimber in your front jean pocket comfortably? in the front pocket of your shorts comfortably? coat jacket?...in front of your pants inside the waist band?... back pocket?...ankle?.... If you judge your carry pistols on how many rounds they can hold, then you are really missing out on some very fine pistols. To each his own I guess.

I own both. i don't CC currently but i shoot both fairly often. I've never had any problems with hollow points of any kind out of the Kimber. I've also found that i can rapid fire all 5 rounds out of the ruger and keep everything center mass at 15 yards. If i try that with the Kimber my first round hits where i was aiming but the shots afterword climb right off the target. both greatguns but i kinda like the sp101 a bit better.....

8 rds vs 5 is an increase of 60%.

9 rds vs 5 is an increase of 80%

That's significant.

I notice that all the folks that cite the stat: "Shootouts are over in 2.5 rds" (this stat is wrong, btw) usually follow that up with, "and my gun holds twice that."

If capacity didn't matter, then why load up all the chambers?

After a gunfight, I'm not aware of anyone wishing their gun had been a smaller caliber, or held fewer rounds....

Kimber but would prefer a Colt as I feel better pistol. If I want a 357 I will get a older S&W

In the end they are what they are and they will both work. The real question is which gun will you be willing to put the practice in with? Check ammo prices around your area, or if you reload figure out which one you can shoot for cheaper because that will make a difference on how much you practice. There in lies the biggest pro or biggest con.

I sold off a 38 special snub because ammo was too steep/too hard to find for me to get what I thought was sufficient practice to be good with it, even though I was already pretty good with it. 45 ACP is the same, so I don't have one of those either.

Which would you rather have?

A blued .45acp Kimber pro carry 2 w/night sights OR a Ruger satin stainless SP101 .357magnum?

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If you are implying that I would get to choose one for free I would pick the KIMBER.

Only because it would have a higher resale value.

Kimber. You might be lucky to get a Ruger that is decent but I never have. Sold all of mine and never missed a one of them. Kimbers are nice pieces.

Kimber for me. My weapons are dark. I don't want anything reflecting off of them.

sp101 first.

Smaller, easier to carry, kills sapiens just as good.

I have 2 Kimber 45s Ultra Carry II and the Pro Carry with CT laser. I also own the Ruger
SP101 with 2 1/2" barrel. The go to gun is the Ultra Carry II. I have shot SWC, LRN, FMJ, JHP through this gun without ever having a FTF or FTE. No misfires, No jams. And this gun is a joy to shot. Beautiful trigger also. Easily concealable with a extra large shirt.

I love wheelguns and I love Ruger.
In this case however, I would go with the Kimber.

In the time period of 1997 to about 2001, I bought three Kimbers and two SP101 snubbies. I still have the Rugers, but the problematic Kimbers went away by 2003.

Nothing against good 1911s. Kimbers can't seem to reach the good category. I still have a good 1911.

My full size Kimber has been flawless but it's not my carry piece., it's a bedside and plinking weapon. I don't have the Ruger but I'd like to. I vote both.

SP101 with .38 HP's

i'll take the kimber, then sell it and buy two rugers.

The ruger, because I could trust it to be reliable, and because I HATE bluing.

consider how you plan to carry and what type of clothes you typically wear, the ruger is heavy but if you want the 357 maybe a ported scandium or TI airweight revolver from S&W may be an idea since they are lighter, they are more expensive than the ruger but not more than the kimber (aleast in my area) the kimbers are not feather weights either though. Most 357 revolvers are 5 or 6 shot I have heard of higher cap wheel guns never handled one though, and your basic single stack 1911 is 7 or 8 rounds.You can practice reloading with speed strips for faster reloads (most people will be faster with the kimber) but with pratice you can get pretty quick, also more ammuntion options for the revolver and a 357 can shoot 38 special for more options. comfortable holsters are more of a challenge for some than others. and if for some reason you pull the trigger on a revolver and no bang-- just pull again you get to try again on a new primer if that happens with an auto loader you have to rack the slide and try again.
in a defense shoot you maynot have that kind of time.....just my .02
I carry auto and wheel guns no one answer works all the time.....

oh yea whicj one do you shoot better? get that one!

It's a 1911 for me. I'm going to stay out of the Kimber debate at this point..

oh yea whicj one do you shoot better? get that one!

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This is the reason why. I can shoot them much better than any other platform. Not to mention the thin profile makes them easy to conceal.

I have no preference, but the light, short take up and reset trigger on many 1911s may be a poor choice for a carry weapon. The trigger on a 1911 could raise the question of accidental discharge, or give creedence to such claims should legal action be taken against the shooter, No matter how justified, if accidental discharge is claimed and upheld the shooter may have a lot more to worry about down the road. For carry, I would use an auto with a service trigger like a Glock or SIG. Maybe a revolver like the SP101, but a 1911 with its great trigger would not be my choice.

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I'm willing to bet that there has been substantially higher negligent discharges with Glocks than 1911's. Go to any police station and check the locker room. You will find bullet holes in pretty much every one of them.. Oh yeah, and the DEA agent who "is the only one here qualified to carry this gun" Let's check my memory. Oh thats right. Once again its a Glock. Not to say that carrying a 1911 doesn't require training and practise, but it is in no way what so ever, less safe than the guns you mentioned.


Edit. Before all the glock fanboys get all worked up, I don't hate Glocks. I actually have 3 of them.

"those fancy Timex watches"

Oh, my goodness. There's a concept.

I'm staying out of THIS one.

Jeff