Does Kimber really have a bad reputation for off the shelf reliability?
- Thread starter Bigmike79
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No experience with new. I have a used Custom II that’s as good as any gun I’ve ever had. No issues for me, but I can’t speak for whoever owned it before I did.
bannockburn
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The Sig and Colt 1911 style 380s' definitely have a good reputation. I Decided to go Kimber because I didn't like the sights on my 380 Government Model and the Mustang didn't look like much of an improvement. I didn't like the angular look of the Sig; however, that is nothing bu an individual preference, some do like it. The new Springfield has similar angular lines, even if ti had been available when I purchased the Kimber I wouldn't have purchased it instead.
The Kimber just looked the best to me. I realize that looks have nothing to do with the function of the pistol; however, part of bonding to a particular pistol is feeling good about it. Feeling good about it includes a sense of pride, and aesthetics plays into that. It feels good in ways that my Glock 42 never did.
Please don't misunderstand me, if you like the way the Sig looks then that is great. In no way would I criticize your choice. After all, all of these SA 380s' are the same under the hood. Further, yours is a very attractive example of the Sig line.
Liking the way a gun looks is part of the reason that I am considering a particular Browning 1911-380 over a version of it that is about $100. Yes, it is the same platform and will function the same, one is just more attractive to me. (however, I am still very "on the fence" about the Browning at all, that discussion is being beaten like a dead horse in another thread)
Zerodefect
member
CZ has a nice little Sig thing now:
Your Colt Mustang pic reminded me of it. Wonder how much bigger it is? (9mm not .380)
Your Colt Mustang pic reminded me of it. Wonder how much bigger it is? (9mm not .380)
bannockburn
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Hasaf
I originally had a Colt Government .380 and loved it. At the time though they were in relatively short supply where I was at. My brother soon took a fancy to it so I sold it to him and was going to get another one when I saw an ad for the new Mustang. This to me was the just the right size for a .380 so I sold a couple of guns (one of them was an AMT Back-Up .380), and got a great deal on the Mustang at a gun show a few months later. It has been extremely reliable with a decent trigger and fairly accurate out to 50 feet; it was near perfect save for those really tiny sights. Quite a few years later, after the SIG P238 had been out for awhile, I came across a great deal on one (it was a Special Edition with the Nitron finish, night sights, rosewood grips, laser module, extra magazine, and holster), that I decided to get it and give the Mustang a few days off in the EDC rotation.
Would be looking at the Kimber Micro .380 and the Springfield Armory 911 .380 if I didn't already have two very nice ones in my collection.
I originally had a Colt Government .380 and loved it. At the time though they were in relatively short supply where I was at. My brother soon took a fancy to it so I sold it to him and was going to get another one when I saw an ad for the new Mustang. This to me was the just the right size for a .380 so I sold a couple of guns (one of them was an AMT Back-Up .380), and got a great deal on the Mustang at a gun show a few months later. It has been extremely reliable with a decent trigger and fairly accurate out to 50 feet; it was near perfect save for those really tiny sights. Quite a few years later, after the SIG P238 had been out for awhile, I came across a great deal on one (it was a Special Edition with the Nitron finish, night sights, rosewood grips, laser module, extra magazine, and holster), that I decided to get it and give the Mustang a few days off in the EDC rotation.
Would be looking at the Kimber Micro .380 and the Springfield Armory 911 .380 if I didn't already have two very nice ones in my collection.
Years ago Kimber decided to build their upper end 1911's with an external extractor. There is nothing wrong with an external extractor other than not being traditional on a 1911. If done right, they work just fine. Kimber never used this design on either the original Custom or the Custom II. I don't recall ever reading about anyone having a single issue with either version that retained the original internal extractor. I've had mine for years without a single issue.
FWIW I also have a couple of S&W 1911's with external extractors that have been perfect as well. I guess Kimber just never figured out how to build a reliable gun with one. Since changing back to the internal extractor I believe most of the issues have gone away. But the reputation has not. I'd not be afraid to buy one from any generation as long as it didn't have the external extractor.
FWIW I also have a couple of S&W 1911's with external extractors that have been perfect as well. I guess Kimber just never figured out how to build a reliable gun with one. Since changing back to the internal extractor I believe most of the issues have gone away. But the reputation has not. I'd not be afraid to buy one from any generation as long as it didn't have the external extractor.
I had a Kimber Solo Carry STS 9mm. It had feed / eject issues at first and needed to be returned to the factory for a ramp polish and tweek. It ran well after that, but I could not get comfortable with the trigger geometry, it was over curved and rather pointed which would irritate my trigger finger after 25 to 30 rounds. Sold it to my brother in law, it fits him fine and he loves it. I picked up a Remington 380 replacement for it, to use as a small, knock around pocket piece, at less than half the cost. I don't have any experience with the compact / sub-compact Sigs, but the 3 full size (P210A Target 9mm, P220 SS 45acp, P226 SS 9mm) that I have are great.
Zerodefect
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My Kimber CDP Custom II, has an external extractor. It extracts very well. I think the external extractor was a scapegoat for the other faults in the Kimbers of that era. Those were dark days at Kimber. It's not much different than a Glock extractor.
Sadly, I don't think we'll see an extractor like that on a 1911 ever again.
marksman13
Member
My external extractor Raptor did have issues and the coating on my Warrior SOC did appear to be "tacky" though I wouldn't say it was melting and it was unreliable, but VERY accurate.
SwampWolf
Member
Kimber had a really tough time with the external extractor on the 1911. They did seem to finally get it right, but then abandoned it. I had a Kimber with an external extractor that didn't work, they sent me a new extractor to install and it worked 100% after that. It always fed fine.
S&W got it right the first time, both in .45 ACP and 9MM.
S&W got it right the first time, both in .45 ACP and 9MM.
Old Dog
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This dinosaur has kinda evolved ... I used to believe an external extractor on a 1911 was the spawn of the devil. However, both S&W and SIG have made it work.
And I still think the Kimber Pro CDP II is one fine 1911.
And I still think the Kimber Pro CDP II is one fine 1911.
Yep, forgot about Sig.
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