Ran into my former boss recently at the gun range and he was really talking up his Kimber 45 (I would guess a mid price one but not certain). I was thinking the Springfield TRP would be a nice one to compete against but not really sure - any suggestions in the $1000-$1500 range?
Kimber 45
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ColtPythonElite
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Springfield Loaded will do the job for under a grand.
Theohazard
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Kimbers are good guns, but they're overpriced in my opinion. They've had some quality control issues over the years, and yet they still manage to convince many people that they're the "end-all and be-all" of production 1911s, and that's just not the case. They're not bad guns, and they sure do make some beautiful 1911s, but you get more for your money with a Springfield or a Colt in my opinion.
The base Kimber Custom II at around $800 is a very good gun. Not all the bells and whistles, but mine shoots better than anything made by Springfield. If buying Kimber I'd buy the base model and customize if you want. All I've done is change to better grips and add night sights.
For a little more I consider the S&W 1911's to be the best of the mid priced 1911's, and the most overlooked.
For a little more I consider the S&W 1911's to be the best of the mid priced 1911's, and the most overlooked.
I've had some pretty good 1911's, and I can say that Kimber is generally speaking way overpriced for what they are. It's not uncommon for folks to brag about their Kimber, but they're way overpriced and honestly those that know more about 1911's aren't as likely to buy a Kimber as those who just think Kimber makes a "custom" 1911, yeah they call their full size the "Custom", which is a bit misleading as they're very much high volume production guns. Spend a few hundred more hard earned dollars (on basically the same pistol) and they'll engrave "Custom Shop" on the side, which is a bunch of hooey if I ever heard it.
Kimber has one basic 1911, the only difference between the base Custom II and the others are cosmetic, the basic gun is the same, so a $1200 Kimber is just an ever so slightly fancier base model Custom II, maybe with night sights or a different checkering pattern. But they still just give you one crappy magazine and a 1911 that is full of MIM parts, even a cheap plastic mainspring housing...it's truly disgusting for the $$ people drop on them.
The TRP is a solid choice, and I will add that if you want very good quality (something Kimbers generally lack), look at a Dan Wesson 1911, an STI 1911 or one I played with the other day and was seriously impressed with the quality of gun for the features/price, a Sig Sauer 1911. This particular model was the TacOps and it had very good quality and very nice features (night sights, rail, magwell, ambi thumb safety, made in the USA) for around $1000 new and much nicer than any Kimber I ever had (and I owned about a dozen different Kimbers).
Compare a Kimber TLE II to a Sig 1911 (TacOps, Nitron Rail, any of them of similar price) and there's no question the Sig is the much nicer gun. But my top three pics are Dan Wesson, STI and Sig for a 1911 in that price range.
Kimber has one basic 1911, the only difference between the base Custom II and the others are cosmetic, the basic gun is the same, so a $1200 Kimber is just an ever so slightly fancier base model Custom II, maybe with night sights or a different checkering pattern. But they still just give you one crappy magazine and a 1911 that is full of MIM parts, even a cheap plastic mainspring housing...it's truly disgusting for the $$ people drop on them.
The TRP is a solid choice, and I will add that if you want very good quality (something Kimbers generally lack), look at a Dan Wesson 1911, an STI 1911 or one I played with the other day and was seriously impressed with the quality of gun for the features/price, a Sig Sauer 1911. This particular model was the TacOps and it had very good quality and very nice features (night sights, rail, magwell, ambi thumb safety, made in the USA) for around $1000 new and much nicer than any Kimber I ever had (and I owned about a dozen different Kimbers).
Compare a Kimber TLE II to a Sig 1911 (TacOps, Nitron Rail, any of them of similar price) and there's no question the Sig is the much nicer gun. But my top three pics are Dan Wesson, STI and Sig for a 1911 in that price range.
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raze
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the trp is an excellent choice in that price range, I would go with that over a Kimber just from personal experiences. Another company to check out would be STI ive been impressed with their guns for a bit.
LiveLife
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I think Sig XO 1911 is probably the most underrated sub $1000 1911 that can outshoot many $1000-$1500 1911s.
All 5" Sig 1911s are built on stainless frame/slide with match grade barrel/triggers regardless of the finish. Unlike many 1911s in the same price range, it comes with checkered front strap and silky smooth slide to frame.
My railed XO TacPac fed SWC reloads from day one and after 7000+ rounds did not experience any parts breakage and still produce sub Quarter groups at 15 yards and sub 2" groups at 25 yards using plinking lead SWC reloads (200 gr MBC SWC with 4.0 gr Red Dot/Promo).
All 5" Sig 1911s are built on stainless frame/slide with match grade barrel/triggers regardless of the finish. Unlike many 1911s in the same price range, it comes with checkered front strap and silky smooth slide to frame.
My railed XO TacPac fed SWC reloads from day one and after 7000+ rounds did not experience any parts breakage and still produce sub Quarter groups at 15 yards and sub 2" groups at 25 yards using plinking lead SWC reloads (200 gr MBC SWC with 4.0 gr Red Dot/Promo).
Zaydok Allen
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For $1500, give me a Colt, or a S&W PC gun.
smalls
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$1500 puts you right in Dan Wesson and STI territory.
Hi-Point firearms are a great alternative for working-class people like me, who don't have $1000+ to spend on a single handgun. I'm glad you're doing well - thank God for your blessings sometime. Hi-Point makes a good product at a low price and has an excellent warranty. I have the model C9 handgun and love it. 342 rounds of fmj fired for 99% reliability. Good sights, soft recoil, easy to clean and simple blowback operation.
Krusty783
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I vote Springfield. I have an MC Operator that I traded a PTR-91 for about 6 yrs ago. I should have done it sooner...
Theohazard
Member
It was a joke. He was suggesting that if you want the most bang-for-your-buck, just buy multiple cheap handguns and a bunch of cheap ammo. He even put a winking smiley face at the end of his comment.tarosean said:
Hometeached1
Member
How about a Ruger SR1911 and spend $500 on mags and ammo. If you want to put down around $1300 for just the 1911 I'd look at Colt, or get a used Colt and get a custom build like WC145's "melted" officer. Hopefully he will stop by and post a photo of it.
Mauserguy
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I have a Kimber Custom II. It has a nice trigger, but honestly, I'd be just as happy with a Rock Island and $400.00 in my pocket.
Mauserguy
Mauserguy
needmorecowbell
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I have a Kimber and a Sig which I'd recommend to anyone looking in the sub-$1000 range. In the range you're talking, I'd get a Dan Wesson. And as far as Kimber quality goes, until somebody shows me actual quality data like problems per thousand sold or something I say Kimber's are just as good if not better than most. You see more issues on forums like this because they sell more 1911's. Could they really get that many people to pay that much money for a shoddy product?
I have a Kimber Warrior that I have had for a lot of years, great gun and I've put a lot of rounds through it.
My favorite carry gun is a Springfield LW Champion Operator, really sweet commander sized package.
I also have a Springfield loaded that I put a compensated Clark custom barrel on and a set of Wulff springs, it is one heck of a target 1911.
Another is a really nice and an old Colt 1911 from WWII that has been refinished so it is a fun shooter.
Recently I acquired a Springfield target long slide, this was one of my grail guns. Don't know why I had to have it; just did!
All of them are solid shooters so find something you like the looks of, feels good to you and don't fret too much about who says what is best cause whatever you get will work just fine for you.
My favorite carry gun is a Springfield LW Champion Operator, really sweet commander sized package.
I also have a Springfield loaded that I put a compensated Clark custom barrel on and a set of Wulff springs, it is one heck of a target 1911.
Another is a really nice and an old Colt 1911 from WWII that has been refinished so it is a fun shooter.
Recently I acquired a Springfield target long slide, this was one of my grail guns. Don't know why I had to have it; just did!
All of them are solid shooters so find something you like the looks of, feels good to you and don't fret too much about who says what is best cause whatever you get will work just fine for you.
JR24
Member
Both of mine are great (Pro Carry II, Warrior). My Pro carry is my EDC.
Mine have been very solid, if possibly a little overpriced (though I got a good deal on my pro carry).
Mine have been very solid, if possibly a little overpriced (though I got a good deal on my pro carry).
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