Kimber Pro Carry II or better choice?

[mongoose33]

I had the opportunity to handle a Kimber Pro Carry II 1911 clone--it's more a commander size than full size.

It felt perfect, balanced wonderfully, I loved the trigger. I like it in .45 ACP. The only thing about it I didn't like was the Crimson Trace laser grip--I don't like where the laser is located, when my finger is up on the slide instead of the trigger, it blocks the laser. So I want one that doesn't have the Crimson Trace.

Now, I'm trying to decide if I want to, as they say, pull the trigger on one.

But before I do that, it seems like I should solicit some views on whether that's a good choice, if there are other similar models I should be considering, and other general information about this choice.

As other information, I have a couple XD pistols (9 and 45), a Sig P229 in .40, a Rock Island 1911 in .45 ACP, and a few other things.

But man--that Kimber felt sweet.


So, any comments or ideas? TIA.

 

[kcofohio]

Having 2 of them here, a 45 and a 9, I'm pleased with them. The 9 has a Crimson grip. I have never noticed it getting in the way. But that could be different hands. They have been reliable. No regrets.

Edit: One came with the black sights. I replaced those with Meprolight night sights. Older eyes, you know.

 

[bainter1212]

I am carrying my Pro Carry II in .45 ACP right now. It has been an accurate and reliable sidearm.
I would love one in 9mm but they don't sell them here in CA

 

[nettlle]

I have a Pro Carry ll and agree that it feels nice in hand, has good balance, and an excellent trigger. Its a nice carry also.

I also have a government size 1911. The government size is my preferred range gun. The longer sight radius and weight of the government makes it a little easier to get nice groups at the range. The Pro Carry ll is every bit as accurate. It just takes a little more concentration to get it to group as well as the government model.

 

[Zerodefect]

Depends on the kimbers price. And the price of a Dan Wesson Guardian.

 

[bluzman]

I am carrying my Pro Carry II in .45 ACP right now. It has been an accurate and reliable sidearm.
I would love one in 9mm but they don't sell them here in CA

Before I escaped from CA, I shot an AZ friend's 9mm Pro Carry II. After leaving, one of my first firearm purchases was a 9mm Kimber Tactical Pro II which is a Pro Carry with night sights, a magwell and VZ grips.

Now that the Single Shot Exemption is gone, I think your only option would be to find a CA resident who has the pistol you want and is willing to sell it via a PPT through an FFL.

 

[JTQ]

A Kimber "Pro" designation would be a 4" barreled gun with a full size grip. Kimber makes a bunch of those models, and most are available without the Crimson Trace laser if you don't like that.

Kimber's are all pretty much the same. When you go up in price in the Kimber line-up you don't get any better fit or parts, just sometimes useable features, but mostly "bling".

Kimber "Pro" size guns http://www.kimberamerica.com/pistols/1911?layer&cat=357

 

[CNobbe]

I had a Pro Carry II in 9mm, and it was a nice shooter. The couple of 45 Pro models I've tried shot great.

 

[RainDodger]

When it's not my Springfield XDs when I want something really small, for the last 8 or 10 years I've carried this Pro Carry II HD in .38 Super. It's a fine gun.

 

[mongoose33]

Thank you all--I'd read some negative things online about the Kimber and I really thought I might see some of that come out in this thread--which would have made my mind up for me.

But....wow. No reason i can think of not to go in that direction.

Again, thanks for the input. Looking now for a good deal on one.

Goose

 

[Ibmikey]

Let me join in just to say my Pro Carry is a finely made pistol that does not skip a beat when asked to fire, is accurate and for a quasi full size pistol, easy to carry. Obviously I am not one of the Kimber bashers.

 

[bainter1212]

I will just add that Kimber specifies a break-in period of 500 rds before it will reliably feed hollowpoints.
Do not disregard this advice. I went 450 rds + before mine would feed hollowpoints.
Once the gun "broke-in" it feeds anything and everything.

 

[JDR]

I have nothing against Kimbers, they build some nice guns. But I shot a Pro Carry HD ll against my Ruger SR1911 Commander, same 10 yd. distance, same Fed AE ammo, and although the Kimber shot well, the Ruger shot tighter groups on a target. YMMV!

 

[RainDodger]

Adding to my post above... as bainter1212 said above, Kimber specifies a "break in period". That never appeared with my gun. Perfect functioning from day one (.38 Super).

I made one functional mod to my gun - since Kimber wants you to replace the recoil spring every 800 rounds, I put in a Wilson Combat flat recoil spring. It will probably outlast me, and the gun still functions perfectly.

Remember... there are Kimber bashers and bashers of every make and model. Every gun is a little different. I have many, and I still view my Kimber as a very well made gun that shoots very well and better than most. With anything, you can get a bad one; you can get a good one, etc. Go forth and enjoy!

 

[X-Rap]

I have one Kimber that I will keep, it's a Raptor Pro, shoots great but I put the 22 conversion on it a couple years ago and it's been there since.

 

[stoky]

I have a Tactical Pro II in .45 ACP.

It only has a couple of thousand rounds through it so far. It's accurate and reliable. It didn't run with the magazine that came with it and the take down tool wasn't included. It likes Cobra mags. They were somewhat of a PIA to deal with for parts. I'm somewhat concerned by the lack of a barrel bushing, but so far so good.

 

[rdtompki]

I bought my wife a Kimber Pro Carry HD II in 38 Super. We're fitting a 9mm barrel which she will use in steel challenge if she decides to switch from a full-size 1911. This seems to be the only practical way to wind up with a 9mm Commander-size 1911 in CA.

 

[bluzman]

Adding to my post above... as bainter1212 said above, Kimber specifies a "break in period". That never appeared with my gun. Perfect functioning from day one (.38 Super).

I made one functional mod to my gun - since Kimber wants you to replace the recoil spring every 800 rounds, I put in a Wilson Combat flat recoil spring. It will probably outlast me, and the gun still functions perfectly.

For those who are considering or who already own either a Pro Carry or Tactical Pro in 9mm, I installed the Wilson Combat .38 Super Flat Wire Kit in my 9mm Tactical Pro after reading that it would also work in my pistol. I wanted to eliminate the issue of frequently (every 800 rds) changing recoil springs. I can testify that the kit installs easily and works without any hiccups.

 

[WVsig]

There are better guns out there for the money. I would take a Ruger over a Kimber. For your money the Kimber is not a lot of gun. IMHO

What is the budget?

 

[mongoose33]

There are better guns out there for the money. I would take a Ruger over a Kimber. For your money the Kimber is not a lot of gun. IMHO

What is the budget?

The budget is $700, might go to $800 if night sights.

I absolutely love the way the all-black Kimber model looks (http://www.kimberamerica.com/pro-carry-ii-a) , a sexier gun I may never have seen.

But maybe stainless; it's less likely to show holster wear.

I like the lighter carry pistol.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I've carried the Ultra CDP II, in .45 ACP, for the last 12 years. Though it's smaller than the Pros, it is the finest out-of-the-box weapon I've ever fired. It replaced a HKUSP45C, that it completely outclassed in every single way. If there was another Kimber out there I wanted, I wouldn't think twice.

 

[mongoose33]

Thank you all for the input. It's been a very hard decision to make, but I have made it.

I've ordered a Ruger SR1911 in stainless, the commander size. It's not as light as the Kimber Pro Carry II, but it's about the same size. I decided to go with this instead of the lightweight style SR1911 as I don't like how it looks--black frame, stainless slide = ugly to my sense of aesthetics.

The gun shop had a full-size SR1911, the trigger is sweet, the feel is good, and the shorter version is what I'm looking for.

Again, hard decision but I can get it ordered in here which I cannot do with the Kimber.

Thanks to all for your views--I still think the Kimber is a great choice and based on the comments above, a lot of people agree.