mptrimshop
Member
i hear so much talk of how Kimbers are not good 1911 for the money, and then i hear the argument that there are so many out there that your bound to have a few problems. I just want to see some poll # on it
Kimber poll to set the record straight
- Thread starter mptrimshop
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geronimo509
Member
mine was great, so was my brother's
I think Kimber's are good 1911's. Remember when you build 55,000 per year you are bound to hear some negatives. If say Ed Brown makes 3000 and and you have a 5% problem rate then that is only 150 problems per year. If Kimber puts out 55,000 and you have a 5% problem rate then that is 2750 malfunctioning firearms. 2750 aggravated customers equals alot more internet horror stories than 150 does. Now I am not comparing Kimbers and Ed Brown's, I am just giving you the senario for why you hear more negative on Kimber.
I think they make quality, accurate firearms and would not hesitate to buy one.
I think they make quality, accurate firearms and would not hesitate to buy one.
mljdeckard
Member
You do realize that this poll won't resolve anything, right?
My Custom II is the best handgun I have ever owned. I use it for everything, and I would carry it to war tomorrow if I were allowed to. My best friend shot mine, got one for him and one for his wife. No problems. Another friend moaned about wanting one until his dad gave him one. No problems. My dad wanted one, but didn't want to come up with $670 for a Custom II, so he got a good deal on a SA Mil-Spec. But NOW, he wishes that the trigger, hammer, and sight cuts were the same as my Kimber.
I have owned a Colt 1991. I don't remember it being anything special. I have shot Nighthawks and Baers. Good? Of course. Better than a Kimber? Perhaps under subjective eyes. Worth three times as much as my Kimber? I have no idea why.
My Custom II is the best handgun I have ever owned. I use it for everything, and I would carry it to war tomorrow if I were allowed to. My best friend shot mine, got one for him and one for his wife. No problems. Another friend moaned about wanting one until his dad gave him one. No problems. My dad wanted one, but didn't want to come up with $670 for a Custom II, so he got a good deal on a SA Mil-Spec. But NOW, he wishes that the trigger, hammer, and sight cuts were the same as my Kimber.
I have owned a Colt 1991. I don't remember it being anything special. I have shot Nighthawks and Baers. Good? Of course. Better than a Kimber? Perhaps under subjective eyes. Worth three times as much as my Kimber? I have no idea why.
mptrimshop
Member
i just want to see the numbers.
I voted the last option, I've shot my buddy's which was a stainless (custom II?) it had the external extractor. It felt like a 1911, shot like one, but it had a couple FTFs. Granted this was well within the 'break-in' period (under 200 rounds I'm guessing). From what I've read however I feel the majority of the issues comes from the external extractor. I wouldn't own one just because I have more faith in other companies.
mptrimshop
Member
my popcorn has been salted and buttered
CoRoMo
Member
Hmmmm...
I voted for the 4th option because I think they are wonderful pistols. I doubt I'll ever own one though. I'll stick with Springfield.
I voted for the 4th option because I think they are wonderful pistols. I doubt I'll ever own one though. I'll stick with Springfield.
kwelz
Member
If you want to know about Kimbers as serious shooters or Pistol smiths. If you are a Kimber fan you probably won't like the answer. I have given my reasons for disliking them before and see no reason to repeat them here.
But lets just say Kimber doesn't really care what we think.
But lets just say Kimber doesn't really care what we think.
mljdeckard
Member
My smith shoots nothing but Kimbers.
texas bulldog
Member
i doubt i'll ever buy one. i'm sure they have made many fine pistols, but i feel i get more bang for my buck with dan wesson, colt, STI and others. YMMV.
ol' scratch
Member
I love my Custom II (internal extractor). I have read the negative things said about Kimber 1911's. I have never had a problem with mine. I even shoot 200 grain semi wad cutters (reloads I create) through mine. I think the biggest problem is with the crappy mags they (Kimber) supply. USE WILSON COMBAT MAGAZINES. I don't have any problems with mine. With the stupid Kimber marked mags (which they don't even make), the pistol jammed alot on any thing but hardball.
Many people don't seem to understand 1911s. Sometimes they need a little adjustment. Remember that the original 1911 was only designed to feed hardball ammo. If you want SOME 1911's to feed all the time you have to make some adjustments.
Many people don't seem to understand 1911s. Sometimes they need a little adjustment. Remember that the original 1911 was only designed to feed hardball ammo. If you want SOME 1911's to feed all the time you have to make some adjustments.
waterhouse
Member
None of your options fit me. I've owned several (I believe 4 or 5), liked most of them, was unhappy with one of them, and later found other 1911s I liked more for the same or less money so I sold all of them off.
I'd have no problem owning another one, but it probably wouldn't be at the top of my recommendation list
what the f is the point of this option? That will not set record straight. More so because there isnt an equally uninformed and subjective "yes" answer
Oh, and I voted I have an Ultra Carry II and its friggin awesome. I removed the "II" portion of the gun ;-) . Before that, I had a period where I wasnt so sure, but thousands of rounds later I trust my life on it.
CoRoMo
Member
Does this set the record straight?
Browns Fan
Member
If you want a pretty gun to keep in a presentation case and never shoot it, then yeah, get a kimber.
five.five-six
Member
I love my custom carry II, bullets go in the same hole, casings fly out and new cartrage goes in the chamber every time I pull the trigger... I have had 2 stovepipes in over 2k rounds of combat training..none target shooting
Eightball
Member
Mine's been great. Recommend it all the time, shoots better than I do, and the only malf was due to a cheap mag and low-quality JHPs.
ol' scratch
Member
I shoot the h*ll out of my Kimber. I shoot it more than any of my pistols including my Rock Island. Don't make statements unless you KNOW for a fact everyone who purchases a Kimber never shoots it. This sounds like a statement from someone who has never owned one let alone fired one. I could have purchased a Springfield GI for $500. I sprang for the Kimber with a MATCH GRADE BARREL, TRIGGER AND BARREL BUSHING; A FULL SIZED OPERATING ROD, LOWERED AND FLARED EJECTION PORT, FORGED FRAME AND SLIDE and MADE IN THE USA (unlike Springfield) for $750. It seemed like a no-brainer to me.
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NJGunOwner81
Member
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- Jul 11, 2009
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Kimbers are my FAV!
When I first saw the Kimber II Stainless (Internal Ext) I fell in love! I bought it as my first gun ever and I have not regretted that decision for one second!
I've told all my friends ... well, the gun loving friends that care anyway ... I have NEVER had one problem with that gun! NO misfires, NO FTFs, NO jams ... nothing! There was no break-in period for my gun because from bullet one it functioned flawlessly and that is why I have a hard time understanding people who do have problems because it is in such contrast to what I experienced.
I own other types of guns (Sig P250 & Taurus Judge Magnum) and have shot other types of guns but I LOVE my Kimber. It makes me look good because, in reality, I don't think I shoot as well as I do ... think the gun helps out a good deal.
Are Kimbers expensive? Compared to some others on the market they are but I think they are more than worth the money! But that's just my two cents! I always let people shoot my Kimber if they want to because I want them to see and feel how good they are!
Take Care & Stay Safe!
Frank
NJGunOwner81
When I first saw the Kimber II Stainless (Internal Ext) I fell in love! I bought it as my first gun ever and I have not regretted that decision for one second!
I've told all my friends ... well, the gun loving friends that care anyway ... I have NEVER had one problem with that gun! NO misfires, NO FTFs, NO jams ... nothing! There was no break-in period for my gun because from bullet one it functioned flawlessly and that is why I have a hard time understanding people who do have problems because it is in such contrast to what I experienced.
I own other types of guns (Sig P250 & Taurus Judge Magnum) and have shot other types of guns but I LOVE my Kimber. It makes me look good because, in reality, I don't think I shoot as well as I do ... think the gun helps out a good deal.
Are Kimbers expensive? Compared to some others on the market they are but I think they are more than worth the money! But that's just my two cents! I always let people shoot my Kimber if they want to because I want them to see and feel how good they are!
Take Care & Stay Safe!
Frank
NJGunOwner81
ol' scratch
Member
For what you get, I really don't think they are that more expensive.
mljdeckard
Member
I shoot mine to death too. When I run out of .45, I put on the .22 slide and crank through a couple of hundred of those too.
I paid $630 NIB for it in like 2003, I think. Now I can find them for $670. I added night sights, Hogue wrap-around finger groove grips, and dropped the full-length guide rod. (I think a critical of the 1911 design is the ability to rack the slide by pushing forward against something.)
I paid $630 NIB for it in like 2003, I think. Now I can find them for $670. I added night sights, Hogue wrap-around finger groove grips, and dropped the full-length guide rod. (I think a critical of the 1911 design is the ability to rack the slide by pushing forward against something.)
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