Colt vs Kimber 3 inch Question
- Thread starter lono
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rcmodel
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Make mine a Colt, 4".
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redstategunnut
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Neither. Shrinking a 1911 to 3" drastically undermines reliability; if you want a compact gun get something else.
Now if you find a commander or government sized Colt and Kimber at the same price, get the Colt.
Now if you find a commander or government sized Colt and Kimber at the same price, get the Colt.
id get the kimber. I feel its a better gun.
iv never owned a colt but I have handled and shot them before, wasn't impressed with the triggers or rattle-trap slides.
iv never understood the following colt has in their 1911s(tho deserved for their ar15s), I guess its the hallmark horse everyone loves, sorta like Springfields cross cannons.
iv never owned a colt but I have handled and shot them before, wasn't impressed with the triggers or rattle-trap slides.
iv never understood the following colt has in their 1911s(tho deserved for their ar15s), I guess its the hallmark horse everyone loves, sorta like Springfields cross cannons.
rklessdriver
Member
When it comes to short barrel 1911's, relability is very hit and miss.
I HAD a Kimber Tactical Pro II. I was sold on the snazzy looks and seemling quality of the Kimber. It was nothing but problems. I well documented the FTE problems, 3 trips back to Kimber and over 800 rounds of "break in" ammo....
I now carry a plain jane COLT M1991A1 Compact/Officers ACP. My "rattle-trap" puts them in the same hole and has never malfunctioned in the last 4 yrs of ownership.
I fully understand the following COLT 1911's have. In my experience it's well deserved.
Will
I HAD a Kimber Tactical Pro II. I was sold on the snazzy looks and seemling quality of the Kimber. It was nothing but problems. I well documented the FTE problems, 3 trips back to Kimber and over 800 rounds of "break in" ammo....
I now carry a plain jane COLT M1991A1 Compact/Officers ACP. My "rattle-trap" puts them in the same hole and has never malfunctioned in the last 4 yrs of ownership.
I fully understand the following COLT 1911's have. In my experience it's well deserved.
Will
Nacho Libre
Member
Go with at least 4". 3" are know for reliability problem. But if you had to have a 3" go with colt.
jay21
Member
Love the Kimber for the propitiatory spring/plunger....I also hate it for the same reason. I had carried mine for years and had no issues with it though several thousand rounds. Only sold it when i lost my job, was a great gun IMHO
Blue68f100
Member
I have the Kimber SS Ultra Carry II w/CT. It's been 100% reliable from day one. My main carry piece.
montgomery381
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- Sep 6, 2011
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From my own experience I would go with the Colt. My father had a Kimber Ultral TLE about a year ago and it was junk. I would list all the malfunctions tha it had but I don't want to take the time. Any malfunction you can think of it had. He sent it back to the factory but unfortunately the problems persisted. And this was after the 500 round break in period. Personally I think a 500 round break in period is a little ridiculous. In total he put close to, if not, 1,000 rounds through that gun trying to get it to work but it was never reliable. So he go rid of it and bought a Colt Defender and has been completely satisfied. Good luck.
Claude Clay
Member
I've had both
both were 1.5" at 75' accurate and reliable with all ammo.
i only parted with them when arthritis made the light guns too much to
comfortably shoot. i coulda kept them ( or 1 anyways) for just SD but
I've others and people i know appreciate these very much.
Sig Ultra is in my holster now.
the 5 ounces makes a difference for me.
both were 1.5" at 75' accurate and reliable with all ammo.
i only parted with them when arthritis made the light guns too much to
comfortably shoot. i coulda kept them ( or 1 anyways) for just SD but
I've others and people i know appreciate these very much.
Sig Ultra is in my holster now.
the 5 ounces makes a difference for me.
I would love to know if the folks making comments regarding the reliability of 3” 1911’s have ever even owned one…
I have owned 4 and never a problem with any of them. I also know several folks that also own 3” 1911’s. None have had reliability issues with their guns…NONE!
I carry a 3” Kimber CDP every day. If it was not 100% reliable I wouldn’t carry or own one.
I have owned 4 and never a problem with any of them. I also know several folks that also own 3” 1911’s. None have had reliability issues with their guns…NONE!
I carry a 3” Kimber CDP every day. If it was not 100% reliable I wouldn’t carry or own one.
IMTHDUKE
Member
Reliability? Not an issue with mine. I couldn't decide either, so got both. Pretty much same gun as far as performance and size.
orionengnr
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I have owned about 25 1911s in the last 30 years.
More than half of them have been 3"ers--made by a number of manufacturers including Colt, Springfield, Para, RIA/Charles Daly, etc.
What 3"ers are in safe today? Three Kimbers--two Ultra CDPs (one at least ten years old and one about three years old) and one Ultra Carry (about six years old).
Why? Because they have proven themselves to work 100% of the time.
More than half of them have been 3"ers--made by a number of manufacturers including Colt, Springfield, Para, RIA/Charles Daly, etc.
What 3"ers are in safe today? Three Kimbers--two Ultra CDPs (one at least ten years old and one about three years old) and one Ultra Carry (about six years old).
Why? Because they have proven themselves to work 100% of the time.
For some background, I own several 1911s, all in full size. I have a kimber raptor that has been a great gun. I have not yet owned a Colt. Only reason is that I like novak sights and most Colts do not come with them, the defender does. I have a 1911 in 9mm and only want a 1911 in 45acp.
I keep reading people saying this.. I have NOT read where people are actually having reliability problems. In the last year of reading THR pretty faithfully, nearly every 1911 question post. I do not remember 1 issue associated with lack of function due to it being a 3".
Winkman822
Member
Given teh choice between Colt and Kimber, I'd go Colt. I've owned both Colt and Kimber and have had a great many more problems with the Kimbers than the Colts (and we're talking 4" and 5" guns here), the only 3" gun I've had is a Springfield EMP 9.
Captain33036
Member
I have had a few 1911's. RIA, Colt, Kimbers, as well as a Caspian loaned from a great friend once. They are ran fine.
The Kimbers I have had were the Custom II, Pro Carry and two Ultra's. The Ultra Eclipse (heavier, all Stainless steel) and the Ultra CDP (lighter weight).
All have been 100% reliable and very accurate. The Ultra's were so accurate that I sold the Custom and Pro. Now, I only have the lighter, Kimber Ultra CDP in .45acp. I have been very pleased in its accuracy and reliability.
The Kimber Ultra's also come with 7 round magazines...not sure all compact 1911's do...some have only 6. That was another consideration. But...maybe this is just due to the magazine used...perhaps someone can tell us.
I also researched using full sized magazines in compact frames, and ...yes you can. You SHOULD be careful not to ram them in with too too much force...but this is largely mitigated by using an X-Grip magazine adapter. Here is a pic of mine with one below:
So, I can carry 8 rounds in a compact 1911, with other 8 round magazines as back up.
Hope this helps
Best
J
The Kimbers I have had were the Custom II, Pro Carry and two Ultra's. The Ultra Eclipse (heavier, all Stainless steel) and the Ultra CDP (lighter weight).
All have been 100% reliable and very accurate. The Ultra's were so accurate that I sold the Custom and Pro. Now, I only have the lighter, Kimber Ultra CDP in .45acp. I have been very pleased in its accuracy and reliability.
The Kimber Ultra's also come with 7 round magazines...not sure all compact 1911's do...some have only 6. That was another consideration. But...maybe this is just due to the magazine used...perhaps someone can tell us.
I also researched using full sized magazines in compact frames, and ...yes you can. You SHOULD be careful not to ram them in with too too much force...but this is largely mitigated by using an X-Grip magazine adapter. Here is a pic of mine with one below:
So, I can carry 8 rounds in a compact 1911, with other 8 round magazines as back up.
Hope this helps
Best
J
critter
Member
I have owned a Kimber Compact and it was 100% reliable. Good gun but no experience with the K-3".
I have a Colt New Agent (I understand is the same as the defender for the most part EXCEPT it has only the trench for sighting). That little thing is a joy to carry and has NEVER ever bobbled not one time! It is my most go-to toter.
I have a Colt New Agent (I understand is the same as the defender for the most part EXCEPT it has only the trench for sighting). That little thing is a joy to carry and has NEVER ever bobbled not one time! It is my most go-to toter.
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