45acp ideas as to what brand &model

[lostone1413]

I had a BP THE II Kimber get ruined after somehow I got a double charge so now i'm wanting to get a new 45. I'm hoping some of you can help me cut down on my looking time as far as the best make and model to fit my needs. I will tell you what i'm lookin for in a 45 and maybe you can give me some ideas. The Kimber was 10RD double stack mag. I have two 14rd mags for it yet so if their is a 45 I can use them mags in i'd like that to be one of the things. Another thing I like the thick grips. I have some arthritis in my fingers so the thick grips like the double stack mag fit in feel better in my hand. I really like the S/A that is one of the more important features I want. Having been a Polymer frame on the Kimber I have to question if it would have been damaged as bad if it was a steel frame gun. So a steel frame 45 is also top of my list. In time I would like to add something like the laser grips so that would also be a good feature to be able to add. The size doesn't really matter that much because now I carry a GP100 with a 4"barrel and before it blew up I carried the kimber which is a full size 1911. I hope to stay well under 800 for the gun. I'm open to any brand and model. Let me know what you feel would best fit my needs. I would say the S/A action and steel frame are the most important features I want but let me know what gun has the most features of what I listed above Thanks Chuck

 

[Majic]

Hi-cap, steel frame, don't want to break the bank = Para-Ordinance (though some people cuss them).

 

[gbourne]

HK USP 45 fullsize. Its polymer but a factory rebuild after a Kaboom only cost $100.00

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

How did Kimber respond when you contacted them? How did their customer service people treat you?

 

[ruger357]

SW1911.

 

[lostone1413]

I mailed the gun back to Kimber they told me it was an ammo problem so in other words i'm SOL. They said the gun was beyond repair but for some reason I can't help but wonder if it was a steel frame would the damage been so bad it couldn't be repaired. I thought maybe Kimber would offer some type of rebate if I bought a new one being the gun was new and couple that with me wondering if it was a steel frame would it have been fixable. Guess in away it soured me on Polymer guns and somewhat on Kimber

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

It doesn't sour me on poly-framed guns (love my Glock 21), but it certainly sours me on Kimbers. Last fall I was seriously thinking about buying a Kimber Custom II. Then I started reading about serious quality control problems. Worse yet, I started reading about Kimber's horse-S-H-I-I-T-E customer service response. Now there is no way I will ever spend money on one of these guns.

So far I've bought three guns this year and will buy at least three more by the end of the year, including a 1911. For Kimber's sake I hope their lavish promotional campaign helps draw in uninformed suckers because not one of the other three guns I buy this year will be a Kimber.

 

[Ankeny]

Get real. No manufacturer will replace a pistol that has been kaboomed from a double charge of powder. Faulty ammunition is not the responsibility of the maker of the gun.

 

[45auto]

Para would be the most common steel framed double stacked 45 you will see.

Springfield had one, but I don't think it's still in production, not sure though.

Enterprise Arms is one that I have read about also.

I doubt you could have it done for $800, but if the Kimber slide is still good, you could have a Para, Caspian, Enterprise frame fitted to the slide. Again, I doubt $800 would do it though!

Para might be the the way to go, ease of buying, mags, etc.

Good luck.

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

MX5 wrote: "No manufacturer will replace a pistol that has been kaboomed from a double charge of powder."

How do you know that for certain? I've seen cases where Ruger bends over backwards to keep customers happy, but then I've never heard of a Ruger autoloader KBing, so this might be comparing well-built apples to insanely overpriced, antiquated oranges.

At the very least Kimber should offer to work with its customers, perhaps offer replacement parts at cost or something when one of its insanely overpriced, antiquated oranges explodes.

 

[Majic]

Why should a manufactor give help to someone who has abused the product? Since the KB was the fault of the ammo then the ammo maker (meaning the reloader in this incident) should accept all fault.
Kimber provide a functioning weapon. You shot ammo not recommended in it and expect Kimber to help you out with your problem when it let go. Get real and think about that. We are responsible for our own actions. This is a perfect example of the silly lawsuits the the gun industry fights everyday, and you probably wonder where those lawsuits stem from.

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

Majik, I find a certain amount of irony in all you Kimber apologists telling others to "get real." I do "get real," which is why I would never buy a Kimber. Spending a grand on a gun like that is about the most unrealistic thing I can imagine.

What do you get for your money when you buy a Kimber? A lot of MIM parts of questionable quality and some brand-name cache to compensate for whatever inadequacies you may have in your personal life.

If, however, Kimber went above and beyond the call of duty to help keep customers satisfied, like helping customers fix their ridiculously overpriced guns when they break, then perhaps that extra money might be well spent. It would cost them nothing if they sold customers who had experienced catastrophic failures replacement parts at cost plus shipping. If they have so many catastrophic failures that selling replacement parts is a huge part of their business, then the company deserves to go out of business. Passing the buck and saying, "Not my department" is pure chicken feces.

You telling me to get real is like you trying to pluck the mite from my eye when you don't see the boulder in your own. You want things "real"? Go buy a Ruger. I suggest you do your own reality check before addressing me in such a disrespectful manner.

Sheesh, kids today, you'd think they were raised in barns.

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

Another vote for Para-Ordinance P14-45. I have a stainless limited. No KB here. Replace the plastic mag release. Still have original 14 rd mags functioning. It is a handfull, but fits just right P14-45 limited in stainless is $800+

I also have a Glock 21C. Also a handfull (more so that the P14-45). I only use quality ammo and no reloads cause of the KB potential. $500+

If you are open, then you may want to consider the Beretta 92/96 or Taurus 92/100 series (9mm and 40 S&W). Both hand fillers, high cap, and function well. I prefer the frame mounted safety of the Taurus. YMMV. Taurus $400+, Beretta $500+.

 

[Majic]

First to clear the air I wasn't even talking to you Lobotomy Boy. Read my post and you should see it is aimed at the owner of the pistol who had the troubles.
Second to address your coments, what good would providing replacement parts do for a pistol that's beyond repair?
Praise Ruger all you want and admonish any other manufactor, but if you push their product beyond it's design parameters, don't expect them to stand behind it on their money.

 

[cratz2]

Our of curiosity Lobotomy Boy, are you on the payroll of Ruger or something? If you were Ford, and someone bought a Town Car (nice car, but some would say overpriced) and the manual told you not to put deisel in it but the buyer decided to anyway, would you (owning Ford) give the buyer engine parts at cost? Is that your idea of going above and beyond?

I have no doubt that Kimber and Glock (just to name two) have skipped out on at least one repair where they should have done the repair but the two companies can't be responsible for every person that wishes to void their warranties and then expect them to repair or replace their guns.

If it's factory ammo purchased from a professional business, sending the gun and samples of ammo to the gun manufacturer then to the ammo company will often result in a replaced gun. Using reloaded ammo (or lead ammo) in a gun from a company that specifically says not to... Who knows.

You keep mentioning the your opinion that they are over-priced. Kimber most direct competition right now (Dan Wesson, in my opinion) is going broke trying to undercut Kimbers pricing and keep up with variety and options. They may be more than you wish to spend and you obviously aren't a big 1911 fan, but they seem to be doing something right, even if it is just advertising.

To the original poster, the more Dan Wessons I handle, the more impressed I am. I was looking at a special run of 38 Supers (one stainless, one blued) with front strap checkering, Bomar sights, very well fit, great trigger. $709 for the blued, $739 for the stainless. Pretty sweet gun for the price. But the company has gone through changes in the past and is currently having some difficulties which might make me hesitant and Grayriders recent post on his 10mm failure gives one pause. 45s seem to be consistantly good though.

As far as Paras go, I'm pretty sure all their double stacks (at least the one I had) have alloy frames, not steel.

 

[lostone1413]

The think is how you know it wasn't a weakness in the polymer frame that made the damage so bad it couldn't be repaired?

 

[Marshall]

lostone1413, look at the Para's!


Lobotomy Boy,

With all due respect, your thinking on this issue bares a striking resemblance to your screen name.

 

[dairycreek]

Dear lostone1413!

Given the parameters you established I think that a CZ 97B might be a great choice. Extraordinarily accurate 45 ACP out of the box. Double Stack and built like a brick outhouse. FYI

http://www.czusa.com/product.detail.php?id=43

Good shooting

 

[Majic]

Lostone, I think the point is that the pistol wasn't designed to handle a double charged load. You really can't fault any product that has been pushed beyond it's designed parameters.
Even steel framed pistols have had their frames cracked or bulged with KBs. Once the part has been stressed and show signs of damage no manufactor would recommend using that part again. If they did and the pistol let go again then they would be liable for a lawsuit, not to mention the moral aspect if someone actually got hurt in the incident.
Who reloaded the ammo? That is where you should be adressing your problem. Not trying to find fault in the pistol.

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

Marshall, with all due respect you are not the first person to counter my point with a brilliant observation about my nickname instead of logic or reason.

 

[Marshall]

Marshall, with all due respect you are not the first person to counter my point with a brilliant observation about my nickname instead of logic or reason.

Lobotomy Boy,

Reason: Manufacturers warranty doesn't cover misuse, abuse or failures of other products used with their products that cause product failures.

Logic: They would either go out of business from claims or, be forced to price their products accordingly, making them unafordable thus forcing them out of business.

 

[cratz2]

LB, you have to admit that when someone with your screen name voices outrageous expectations which are in no way founded in reason or moral obligation and with no solid business sense (or wishing to stay in business), you're going to have fun poked at your name choice.

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

Marshall, they'd only go out of business if their products were constantly failing. With the exception of Kimber and a few others, that is not the case with most gun manufacturers.

Cratz, my expectations are no more outrageous than the price Kimber charges for its guns.

 

[rbernie]

Spending a grand on a gun like that is about the most unrealistic thing I can imagine.

LB - just as a FYI, the street retail on these pistols ranged from $550 to $700, depending on the slide finish. That fact's not going to change your mind on this, but it is still a relevant fact.

 

[rbernie]

lostone1413 - check your PM.