subman47
Member
Which one to buy Kimber Stainless Ultra Carry ll or Springfield Ultra Compact (loaded stainless steel) does anyone have an option good or bad on either one?
Kimber or Springfield ?
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jimniowa
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I have the Kimber Ultra Carry ll. I also have a tricked out Colt Seires 70. The Kimber needs no improvements as far as I am concerned when I compared it to the Colt. I bought it for cwc to replace a .44sp snub I was carrying. I know nothing on the Springfield.
jim
jim
wow6599
Member
Those that have a Kimber will say Kimber, those who have a Springfield will say............
BamAlmighty
Member
Springfield......
The fact that Kimber only warrants their products for 1 year Versus Springfield's Lifetime tells me who truly stands by their product. A year warranty, especially for a self reputed "premium" product is ridiculous, especially when several other gun manufacturers are offering lifetime.
I bought Kimbers in the past and I still own them, but I won't buy another Kimber product again. Which is a shame, because I really like the Solo, but I am not going to support a company that won't support its community.
The fact that Kimber only warrants their products for 1 year Versus Springfield's Lifetime tells me who truly stands by their product. A year warranty, especially for a self reputed "premium" product is ridiculous, especially when several other gun manufacturers are offering lifetime.
I bought Kimbers in the past and I still own them, but I won't buy another Kimber product again. Which is a shame, because I really like the Solo, but I am not going to support a company that won't support its community.
Tim the student
Member
So why didn't you like either of them?
DC3-CVN-72
Member
get the Springfield. 
Neither were reliable enough to trust in a defensive situation. Customer Service from both companies was bad, with Kimber being the worst. I sent the guns back to their respective manufacturers, but neither company actually fixed the problem.
I have outstanding luck with S&W 1911s.
Tim the student
Member
Thanks for the additional info Balrog.
I'd go with Springfield, I've never owned either but shot one Springfield and two Kimber 1911s.
The Springfield worked great but the Kimbers both liked to screw up every few rounds. I also agree with the poster above who mentioned the warranty being an important part of your decision. If anything goes wrong with the Springfield you're set for life but if anything happens to that Kimber after the first year you're SOL.
The Springfield worked great but the Kimbers both liked to screw up every few rounds. I also agree with the poster above who mentioned the warranty being an important part of your decision. If anything goes wrong with the Springfield you're set for life but if anything happens to that Kimber after the first year you're SOL.
If this is a gun for serious use, I highly recommend that you look seriously at a 1911 with a barrel/slide longer than 4".
When they get shorter than 4.25", you'll start encountering more frequent feeding problems due to the shorter dwell time at the end of slide travel and the faster moving slide compared to that of the cartridge column
When they get shorter than 4.25", you'll start encountering more frequent feeding problems due to the shorter dwell time at the end of slide travel and the faster moving slide compared to that of the cartridge column
mljdeckard
Member
I have owned both brands, and they were both great. Flip a coin. I'm more apprehensive over wanting a compact 1911. If I HAD to get one, I would look at the Springfield EMP. At least it was actually designed to be a compact, not just to be a chopped-down full-size.
Sapper771
Member
Springfield, IME: Great warranty. They pay shipping both ways. Fast turn around.
Kimber, IME: Beautiful 1911s, poor warranty, piss poor customer service.
Kimber, IME: Beautiful 1911s, poor warranty, piss poor customer service.
subman47
Member
thanks for all the info, now leaning toward Springfield
Mainsail
Member
I vote for the Sig.
Zerodefect
member
Of those two. I'd pick the Kimber.
Kimber has problems with small replaceable parts. Lately Springy has had problems with crooked sight cuts, crooked slides, barrels etc. etc. Both cut corners to get thier 1911's down in price.
If your willing to do the wrench time a Kimber can be very reliable. But they've never been reliable out of the box for me. If you do get a K, or SF, get a lower model basic one. They're cheaper. I just swap out thier nightsights and some small parts anyway.
If your serious about defense, I recommend niether. Spend a little extra to get a good 1911 form someone who spends more time and effort making sure the gun hasn't any flaws. Someone who cares about all the reliability tricks. Someone with quality customer service when problems do rise up, and they will as in any business.
Like Ed Brown, Les Baer, and Dan Wesson. Maybe also STI and Fusion.
subman47
Member
thanks Mainsail :banghead:now you have made it even more confusing
Zerodefect
member
More confusion inbound, I'd bet my life on these:
LesBaer Comanche Monolith (there is a standard nose non monolith version as well if you don't feel like modifiying holsters to fit):
Dan Wesson CCo:
Dan Wesson Valor w/Severns Hardhat refinish:
LesBaer Comanche Monolith (there is a standard nose non monolith version as well if you don't feel like modifiying holsters to fit):
Dan Wesson CCo:
Dan Wesson Valor w/Severns Hardhat refinish:
Husker_Fan
Member
I've been looking at compact 1911s for a while now for a carry piece. I haven't shot enough of them to speak from personal experience, but almost everything I've read suggests 4"+ guns are more likely to be reliable. Also, from carrying a hi-power I can say the barrel/slide length is not as much an issue as the grip. A CCO type 1911 is what I am really looking for now. That is a commander slide on an officer frame.
Everything I've read leads me to expect the Sig RCS would be better than the SA or Kimber and for about the price of the Kimber. If only I could get over the Sig style slide and external extractor. It's not a functional thing, it just doesn't look the way I think a 1911 should and that shouldn't matter for a carry gun. I'll likely wind up with one of these in the next few months.
If coin wasn't an issue, I'd be all over a 2010 or newer Dan Wesson CCO.
Everything I've read leads me to expect the Sig RCS would be better than the SA or Kimber and for about the price of the Kimber. If only I could get over the Sig style slide and external extractor. It's not a functional thing, it just doesn't look the way I think a 1911 should and that shouldn't matter for a carry gun. I'll likely wind up with one of these in the next few months.
If coin wasn't an issue, I'd be all over a 2010 or newer Dan Wesson CCO.
sideways
Member
I urge you to compare the two side by side one comes with goodies the other does not come with every thing you need for carry pistol (extra mag )I choose the incomplete package because it seems to be better made. I say go with Colt.
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ColtPythonElite
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Colt Defender...FWIW, I've got a full sized Springfield Loaded. It runs like a Swiss watch. However, a lot of my internet homework shows Colt to usually be the better of the compacts.
ALthough I wished the gun had worked I had nothing but problems with the Kimber Ultra Carry. Multiple trips back to Kimber to no avail. Finally replaced the gun with another that was no better. I now have an SA Ultra Compact and it just chugs right along. Actually like the all steel frame in the smaller gun. And both aluminum frames cracked around 3000 rounds with the Kimbers. The SA's steel frame eats up allot of the recoil. Had the best luck out of all the 1911's I've owned with SA and S&W. As always YMMV.
I'd say Springfield, even though I have a Kimber. Springfield has far better service and warranty should you need it. I haven't needed it with my Springfield, but I have with the Kimber and it was not a good experience.
For compact 1911s, I highly recommend either STI (Shadow, Escort) or the Colt Defender. For mid sized your options open up more, but I really like the STI Ranger II in the under $1K segment.
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