Advice: Trade or No

[HMMurdock]

I'll cut to the chase, here is my dilemma. I currently own a Kimber Gold Match 1911 with Heinie Straight-8 Night Sights. It is stainless. To get it how I want it, I will want to refinish it (the stainless is too flashy and not durable enough for my use), I will want to add an S&A one-piece magwell, and get the frontstrap checkered. I'm looking at investing at least another $300 to get all of this done.

I am not only a college student (read: broke@$$ ho), but a part time fugitive recovery agent. So it will be a long time before I can invest the money, and it will be used for making arrests. Therefore, it may get a bit beaten up and grimey through the course of a warrant.

I have gotten an offer for an even trade on a new Sig P220R, either DAK or SAO (single action only with a safety like the 1911), whichever I choose. I appreciate the thoughts on other firearms --yes, Glocks are great-- but I am really only considering keeping the 1911 or getting the Sig P220R instead.

My fellow High Roaders, what are your founded opinions? Please none of the "I have never shot a Sig but..." stuff, but those of you with an honest opinion that you feel most be expressed, please advise me.

Note that I do take care of my firearms, but I have spent time tracking guys down in the woods, crawling under houses and hiding under vehicles and gotten quite filthy in the process. Anyone think the 1911 with even more invested in it will be the sexiest choice? And note that I will be broke for a while because my arrests help pay for my college textbooks... Or should I opt for the P220R (which has little more room for upgrading compared to the 1911) and is more reliable...

All advice is welcome, and I thank you all for your time.

TRL

 

[Autolycus]

I would go with a Sig 220R with the DAK trigger. I had a 1911 but I would not want to invest that money esepecially while you are broke.

An even better suggestion would be to look for a Sig 226R in a cheaper caliber so you can practice more.

 

[DogBonz]

I voted for the DAK

Because of your business needs. The DAK is more politically correct should you ever need it use it.

 

[progunner1957]

I am not only a college student (read: broke@$$ ho)

ROFLMAO!!! Been there - had only a Glock 17 for years. I voted for the SIG in DAO - probably a better choice for your "part time job," also because I don't trust the Schwarz safety mechanism in the Kimbers.

I had a Kimber TLE II and ditched it in favor of a Springfield Armory TRP Operator and have never regretted it - the TRP is an outstanding 1911!

 

[larry starling]

Go with the Sig! Its not a colt but it's better than the Kimber......

 

[Ala Dan]

Keep the Kimber Gold Match~!

Rule Of Thumb:

"Never, Ever Trade A Good Working Firearm"

Save up the $$$$, and get which ever SIG floats your boat~!

 

[Mulliga]

The first and most important question - Is your Kimber reliable? If it is, I'd think hard before trading it away - it's not like the 220R will be any cheaper to feed. If it's not, I'd try and fix the problem, then trade it.

 

[Black Majik]

Keep the Kimber.

If it was a older SIG, maybe. Since its a new one... keep your 1911.

 

[Jack19]

IF your Kimber is reliable, keep it.

SIG's "R" guns are a faddish way to compete with Glock and have a built in rail. I've never seen the point.

If you want a flashlight, carry one (and you should). But putting a light on your handgun means that you are always pointing your handgun at something, even when you're only trying to make identification.

Remember Cooper's Four Rules?

RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY

RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

With a flashlight on your handgun you will violate Rule II every time. The same is true of the morons who think lasers can be used to "intimidate." (It's also sometimes, depending on your location, called "Assault with a Deadly Weapon.")

Keep your Kimber if it works for you. The SIGS aren't always better.

ETA: I've owned four SIGS; I tried to like them because everyone else did. In the end, I didn't..for many reasons.

 

[EdLaver]

I made a mistake, I voted for the Kimber before I read your dilemma. I say get the Sig with the DAK trigger, they are great and I'm sure you would be completely satisfied with it.

 

[MachIVshooter]

If the Kimber has worked for you, definitely keep it. And you don't have to spend $300 for that stuff; at least not right away. The mag well you can install yourself, and they cost $30-$50. For the frontstrap, use skateboard tape for now. Good stuff, trust me. As for the finish, I wouldn't sweat it. I understand that black is tacti-cool, but you are arresting fugitives, not engaging seasoned special forces enemies under cover of darkness as you emerge from a swamp after a 6 kilometer swim from your stealth boat. People put wayyyy too much stock in "covert" carry guns. Other things will give away your position looooong before the slide of a stainless gun will. If they notice that, they already knew you were there.

 

[critter]

MachIV nailed it! Keep the Kimber. Work on it as time and $ comes up. Nothing you want on it is a necessity and you aren't in a hurry. If it gets a little banged up, so what! You intend to refinish it later anyway. I would only get it bead blasted. Dulls it down a little and doesn't show scratches as well, old ones or new ones. Another option (later) is a matt hard chrome. Then it is REALLY fixed-easy to clean and slick!

Yup. If that kimber is reliable, KEEP IT AND USE IT.

 

[ugaarguy]

I agree with Mach IV and Dan. If the Kimber is reliable keep it for all the reasons they've stated. All I can add is that if the polished stainless is a problem you can always get it bead/media blasted to a matte finish, which is inexpensive. I like stainless for the low maintenance and ease of refinishing; whether it be blasted or polished. Remember, to redo (not touch up) any finish a gunsmith will almost always bead blast and degrease to prep (the cheap part) before actually doing the finish process (the expensive part). Also, you've already got a good set of combat night sights in those Heinies. You didn't list different sights as a want either, so I'm guessing you like the Heinies. It's natural to percieve another gun as meeting your needs better. However, when needed/wanted upgrades are as simple as a self installed mag well, skate board tape, and maybe a blasted finish, my experience is to stick with what works and is familiar.

 

[10-Ring]

Why isn't stainless steel durable enough? Flashy I can understand, but durable???? interesting

Anyway, that Gold Match is a nice gun. IMO, you'd be better off just refinishing your 1911 in a darker finish and go from there!

 

[HMMurdock]

Thanks for the advice so far, guys. And keep them coming!

So far the Kimber has proven durable enough. I am popular among my associates for "durability testing" a firearm before I put it to extensive use by abusing the hell out of it in the manner of what it can expend on a bad day for me --me landing in the mud, crawling a bit, and mixing in a bit of sand and wet mud. The Sig GSR I used to have handled it great. My TRP Operator not so much. And of course Glocks ate ammo like a dream. As a bail agent Ive not had to use my firearm yet and hopefully I will never need to, but I wouldnt have it on me unless there was that risk... I will stress test it before I stand by its durability but so far it has eaten quite a few mags of practice ammo and defense ammo just fine. And by the way, it is a "I model", as opposed to a "II" with external extractor and whatnot...

I agree on why not to have a rail. I like having it there for --dare i say-- lasers down the road: hear me out. First of all, I agree that I do not like using the flashlight on a firearm as my primary illumination deveice, or at all for that matter. If I make entry to serve a warrant and I am looking around, I don't want to wind up pointing a .45 at a little girl just because I can't see her in the dark. But as for the laser, you said it was stupid and for 90% of the people I agree with you. But in serving warrants, I have either a firearm or a taser out about half the time at one point or another, and the Taser I have used has the laser on it and you'd be amazed how quickly people shat themselves and give up when they see the laser. As a recovery agent, I have to have my firearm out more than most and only in dangerous situations. And thus far they have never noted the fact im holding a taser so much as the red dot on their chest. I'm not telling everyone to go out and get a laser because if you have a firearm out it should only be in situations where you will probably need to use it. But in the nature of my business, every little edge helps and because I have it pointed as often as I must, I'd just assume get paid and not have to spend time in court, so I don't wanna have to fire. My firearm is a compliance tool and insurance for dangerous felons. That is my disclaimer to anyone that wants a laser for a personal defense firearm.

The stainless is fine, and its not that it isnt "durable", but it is already scratched as hell from holster wear. I'm not concerned about it being tactically matte, as I said before-- the bigger presence my firearm makes the better because, in my line of work. But I don't like the "bling, bling" effect as much as well as how much it shows the scratches and dings. It's in very good shape, it's just a pain to keep from looking smudged and whatnot.

I love the heinie sights.

Again, thank you for the input and I'm still weighing my options. Keep the ideas rolling, please!

TRL