10mm 1911 platform

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KansasCityMo

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I've been looking at getting a gun in 10mm and I am convinced that it should also be a 1911.

Question is this: the two major brands I know are Kimber and Colt for a 10mm 1911 and I am leaning towards the kimber on looks. However, I wanted to know what the advantages and disadvantages are with both brands and also the pro-cons of even using a 10mm 1911.

I know there are a lot of opinions here so jump in:)
 
Kimber used to have reliability issues with their 1911 line. However after they went back to an internal extractor they seemed to be back to a top-notch gun.

I mysel never having owned a Colt cannot make any honest opinions about the 1911s but I do have one. It looks like a nice gun. My next 1911 will be a Colt but in .45 ACP.

As a student on a budget I cannot afford to shoot .45 ACP let alone 10mm so I will just stick with my .40 S&W for now.

I am sure someone will come along with much better information than I have given you. You could also try www.1911forum.com for more information.
 
Let's put it this way, there's the 1911 Colt and there's the other guy... If you can possibly afford one you will be much happier with the Colt. Look for a used one online or at a gun show. You will not be disappointed.
 
Good info.

That's pretty high praise for the Colt... suggesting used over a new Kimber.

'spose I'll do some more looking, didn't know it had that reputation.
 
/\ Plus 1 Deerhunter.
Dan Wesson/CZ's seem to come stock with all the Ed Brown parts I had to put on my Kimber. The Kimber was about 700 dollars, a Custom II, and, when I got done putting Ed Brown stuff in, I was closer to 1200.
The Dan Wesson's seem to have bought all that stuff wholesale, and put it in prior to shipping.

S esq.
 
Unless Colt has started making the Delta Elite again, used is your only option.

I'd suggest taking a look at the Witness Elite Match in 10mm before spending a ton of money on a 1911 in 10mm. They run <$500 new, 15 rounds, adjustable sights and a very nice SAO trigger. You can buy the "standard" model for under $400 but its DA/SA that will do cocked and locked and is basically a CZ75 clone. For about $200 extra you can buy uppers in other calibers for the standard model.

I do like the 1911, but the con on the Delta Elite is the recoil rod setup doesn't last very long. Don't know if Kimber/DW has addressed the issue or not.

If you are a reloader, you might be dissapointed in the 10mm as all the guns seem to launch the brass 25+ feet making the lossage on the empties very high.

--wally.
 
I have a Kimber compact in .45 and have had ZERO issues with it.

I have a Colt Delta Elite in 10mm. Function is perfect. Accuracy is only ok. No problems (so far) with the recoil system. Picking up the brass for reloading is, indeed, quite a mission! It is WAY far off and scattered all over heck's half acre!

Trigger in the Colt did not fit well at all and it caused very poor and inconsistant trigger pull. Relpaced the trigger with one having an overtravel stop. Adjusted it to minimal overtravel. GUN WOULD NOT FIRE! The firing pin safety plunger WAS NOT activated by trigger pull UNLESS there was a LOT of overtravel. Since it is (currently) NOT a carry gun, said plunger was removed. If I decide to carry it later, I will replace all the firing pin safety parts and see if I can get it working properly.

Good luck in your quest. The 10mm is an interesting round!
 
I can't get an EAA witness in Kali, but, I saw them for 375.00 for a nice CCW size gun, on one of the gun websites.:eek: Around here, that's like the all-time greatest deal going.

As for empties ejecting too far, sounds like a trip for Wolff stiffer recoil springs are in order.

S esq.
 
As for empties ejecting too far, sounds like a trip for Wolff stiffer recoil springs are in order.
Click to expand...

I've tried the strongest they sell, makes only a minor difference "only" about 20+ feet and gave me some feed failures because the mag spring (also a Wolff extra power) couldn't always get the round up into position in time.

--wally.
 
Some may say that Kimber is great. I do not. Give Dennis a call at Kimber and see if his attitude has improved. If not, and he is as-rude to you as he was to me, invite him to this thread. Tell him Doc is loaded-for-bear and ready for a good old-fashioned debate regarding Kimber quality-control, “limp-wristitis”, and regarding him sending back that Unprofessional Raptor that he returned to me "untouched". Hey, according to Dennis that Raptor was "...within specs". Let me ask you pointedly...are those the 1911 specs that you want? See the pictures!

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=275388&highlight=Kimber

Buy a Colt! To me, it's the principle of the matter.

Doc2005
 
Where did that come from? Kimber provides decent frames, barrels, and slides. The MIM parts break, and, should really be replaced with forged. If you spend 1000 bucks on a Kimber, and still get MIM, I think it's a rip off. If you spend 650 for a bottom of the line custom II, and work from there, it's not so bad.

I bought mine, put Chip McCormack slim grips on it, had the slide stop and the safety break, then had every part Ed Brown thought I should replace, replaced with his forged stuff. Sprinco guide rod, and, Jack Huntington set it up to shoot 45 Super, and, Wilson mags. KIMBER.gif
KIMBERRIGHT.gif

This gun drives tacks, with about a 3 pound trigger.

I had similar problems with MIM on an UCII, and, Ed Brown doesn't make a lot of forged parts for the small guns...

S esq.
 
It came from me owning 15 Kimbers, 5 of them Custom Shop, and all 5 defective. Read the link I provided.
 
Doc2005:
You confirmed what my gunshop hinted at. Buy the basic gun, and, have a decent gunsmith go through it.

I bought two, both had MIM parts break, sold one, and I've kept one, simply because I've got two much custom stuff in it to pull it all out.

Myk for 1911s are Dan Wesson/CZ, since they come with all the parts I end up putting on,pretty much, for 1k.

Detonics are also excellent, though they are another business problem.

I've always viewed 1911's as what you buy, you can expect to have to have your gunsmith check, since they are raw product. If they aren't done right, send them back, or, just get a refund from your gunshop, and let them deal with it.

In your case, for what you were spending, you would have been far better off going with the 1500 dollar Wilsons, Baers, or Ed Browns...

S esq.
 
Dan Wesson Razorbacks

RZs.jpg
[/IMG]
 
I had a Kimber Stainless Target II (w/ internal extractor). The pistol shot great. The only change I made to it were Wolff XP +10% mag springs and a 24lb recoil spring. I bought it BARELY used for $750. It always functioned perfectly and was VERY accurate. I ended up selling it (d'OH!) to my step-brother to fund another project a year or so ago. I regretted that but it gave me a chance to look at other 1911 10mm's (since I HAD to get another 1911 10mm to replace it).

WHAT I SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND is what I believe to be the finest non-custom 1911 10mm that money can buy..... BETTER THAN MY KIMBER ... <drum roll>

The CZ/Dan Wesson Razorback:
resizeleftglarewoodae4.jpg


Read my thread over on 1911forum.com ... http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=173008

Everything you need to know is there.

Happy hunting!
 
Last edited:
Socrates:

Correct...if you purchase a Kimber purchase a stock pistol. Avoid the "Custom" Shop. My Warrior is awesome, but Warriors are not "Custom" Shop.

That leads to the why I would love for Dennis to pop in for a debate. Dennis and I had a heart-to head-up-the rear talk about these "Custom" Shop pistols. Dennis rather upset the Senior VP for Customer Relations regarding his assertion of my Raptor that,

"...one has no right to expect any better function out of a 'Custom Shop' pistol because they are not custom pistols. They're just run-of-the-mill Kimbers with more add-ons...but they're not custom! Now, it's not like you purchased a limited edition...that's a custom pistol and you would be right to expect more."

After the SE VP called and spoke with me, he called Dennis to authenticate my quotes. To Dennis' credit, he apparently told the truth...albeit with the threatened knowledge that I had recorded the call, as I had advised him I was doing. See, Dennis lied to me one too many times. Dennis will never lie to me again. :D

So, yes, you accurately understand my position Re: Kimber. I will never purchase one for the principle of the matter. Others may choose to, but I strongly suggest a regular run of the mill, non-"Custom Shop", which per Dennis’ own words, are not "custom". Can you say fraud?!
 
Doc:
I've gone to war with Bob Baker a couple times. My friend developed the .500 JRH to fit in FA revolvers, long before Baker did. He said, 'it was independent development' same idea, same time.
Kind of funny, since a guy that used to work there, now dead, Randy, IIRC, had Jacks' cases to look at. Same with putting the .475 Linebaugh in the FA 83, Jack did it first, and turned the rim down.

My complaint was that a gun that costs 2500 dollars requires an 80 dollar trigger job to get it down to 3 lbs? I don't think you can argue much that FA's are the Rolls Royce of revolvers, but that's like having one come with manual steering...

Now, I've learned he wasn't kidding when he said the 83 was a 4 shooter. It's also hard to believe that the worlds best revolver doesn't have a decent safety, allowing carrying a loaded round, under the hammer...

I guess I'll live, but still...

Gun industry is really weird that way.
 
True enough that there is something to be said for principles. I have seen MANY people here who are truly guided by those same.

Be well,

Doc2005
 
Quick story, Doc. I bought a CA bulldog in about 1980. Only ammo I could find in the entire town was Remington 44 special. Lead bullet, 250 grains, really soft.
They used powder so bad there was a huge flash, tons of recoil, and the bullets were going out so slow you could see them. The stuff wouldn't stay on a man sized target at the LEO range at 7 yards. For this, I paid 22-24 dollars for 20 rounds, in 1980 dollars.:cuss::fire:

I've never bought a Remington product since.

;)

S esq.
 
Well, I just updated a simple 'review' of the Kimber Stainless Target II in 10mm that I bought about a month ago.

The gist of it is, for a $950.00 pistol, I couldn't be happier. 1.25" accuracy at 15 yards, No malfunctions to speak of (and all probably mag-related), and an uneventful break-in period.

The two complaints: the single magazine supplied, and the plastic MSH. If you want to read the review, it's on M1911.org / kimber.

Jim H.
 
No malfunctions to speak of (and all probably mag-related), and an uneventful break-in period.
Click to expand...

Let's send this Dennis-evolved quote and misconception to Myth Busters. While a magazine may at times contribute to failures, I have used ALL of my Kimber magazines in my Colts, and including during the 3,000 round torture test I conducted head-to-head between a G17 and a Colt Series 70 reissue. It never failed. Furthermore, a Mil Spec 1911 does not need a break-in period. When the Colt was adopted for military use, it had to fire 6,000 rounds with zero failures.
 
baer_razor_target.jpg


Why not go for a Les Baer (50 yard target on the left) or a DW Razorback (25 yard target on the right)?

Both are quite accurate, reliable, 10mm's and excellent shooters. Especially popular are the DW's as they are "current production" guns and readily available in forged stainless steel like mine.
 
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