Giterboosted
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I'm going kimber I think, as soon as the IRS stops screwing me
Kimber vs springer
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Lefty Wright
Member
I've had great luck with both and good experiences with both customer service departments. Guess I'm just lucky, but it sounds from earlier posts like I'll be able to get a boatload of Kimbers cheap from these guys!
PS. Let me know how you get the IRS to quit screwing you.
PS. Let me know how you get the IRS to quit screwing you.
Giterboosted
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That'll be the greatest self defense of all, if I figure it out
Winkman822
Member
My stainless TRP has been 100% reliable for the four years I've had it and for all of the many thousands of rounds its fired. The only thing I find is that it tends to be most accurate with 200 gr. and 230 gr. ammo as afar as POI/POA is concerned. It's an outstanding gun out of the box and really doesn't need anything changed, except for perhaps staking the ejector on the gun as opposed to it simply being glued in (Kimber doesn't stake ejectors either IIRC, I'd have to look at one of mine when I get home).
Just because I say that I've had really bad luck with Kimber doesn't mean everyone else will do likewise. Kimber does make a fine weapon, but I just have not had any luck with them and as such, now steer well clear of them. I do, however, plan to use both of my current Kimbers as platforms to build off of over the next couple of years.
Just because I say that I've had really bad luck with Kimber doesn't mean everyone else will do likewise. Kimber does make a fine weapon, but I just have not had any luck with them and as such, now steer well clear of them. I do, however, plan to use both of my current Kimbers as platforms to build off of over the next couple of years.
Winkman822 said:
My TEII ejector was staked.
Giterboosted, there's been some discussion about Kimber's Swartz safety so I figured I'd take some photos of the frame and slide to show you what you end up with if you remove the FPS components.
Kimber TEII frame. You can see the small hole in the frame just below the disconnector.
Ed Brown frame.
Ed Brown (top) and Kimber slides (bottom). You can see the hole above the relief in the slide for the disconnector.
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Winkman822 said:
This is a great idea. I'm still tinkering with my TEII and enjoy it so much more because of it. My Kimber is performing superbly with 230gr FMJ and 200gr LRNFP but I'd like to get it to run 100% reliably with Western Nevada 185gr LSWC bullets. I have thousands of those buggers from years back and my SIGs run through them effortlessly but not my Kimber in factory form. It's such an accurate bullet that I feel it's worth the effort. I just started to work on the throat of the barrel last night trying to match it to the EB barrel. The worst that can happen is that I need to buy a new barrel ... right?
JTQ
Member
OK, I can't take it anymore, it is Swartz not Schwartz.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_160_26/ai_92585769/
"May the Schwartz be with you."
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_160_26/ai_92585769/
"May the Schwartz be with you."
JTQ
Member
More trivia for the trivia lovers.
While the S&W 1911 also uses a firing pin safety activated/deactivated by the grip safety like Kimber, it is not a Swartz safety, but a Mochak designed firing pin safety.
http://ip.com/patent/US6374526
It is a very robust design and in general has had a very good reputation. However, with the new "E" series apparently becoming the new standard for S&W 1911's, S&W is following the Springfield lead and deleting the firing pin safety and using a titanium firing pin instead. California will still get the Mochak designed firing pin safety models.
While the S&W 1911 also uses a firing pin safety activated/deactivated by the grip safety like Kimber, it is not a Swartz safety, but a Mochak designed firing pin safety.
http://ip.com/patent/US6374526
It is a very robust design and in general has had a very good reputation. However, with the new "E" series apparently becoming the new standard for S&W 1911's, S&W is following the Springfield lead and deleting the firing pin safety and using a titanium firing pin instead. California will still get the Mochak designed firing pin safety models.
I won't debate the hit or miss quality of a Kimber, but the last two I have purchased were the "Pro" size (4 inch) lightweight guns from the custom shop. Both pistols have run flawlessly. If you buy a Kimber, chances are you will be fine, but just be aware you might have to do some tuning if you get a Monday morning gun assembled by a hung over college kid with a bad attitude.
As far as the firing pin safety, I removed all of the components before I even fired the gun. I take the parts out because I have an extremely high grip and I don't want to take a chance on only partially disengaging the grip safety. In addition to tossing the FPS parts, I also "desensitize" the grip safety so it disengages with the slightest pressure. As far as civil liability in the event of a justified shooting, I wouldn't be concerned about making internal modifications to improve reliability being an issue.
As far as the firing pin safety, I removed all of the components before I even fired the gun. I take the parts out because I have an extremely high grip and I don't want to take a chance on only partially disengaging the grip safety. In addition to tossing the FPS parts, I also "desensitize" the grip safety so it disengages with the slightest pressure. As far as civil liability in the event of a justified shooting, I wouldn't be concerned about making internal modifications to improve reliability being an issue.
KingContraryMan
Member
Some things are worth waitin' for.
test drive
Member
Springfield
If the swartz safety bothers you on the Kimber get a Kimber Warrior, no swartz.
BTW I have owned 4 Kimbers and they all ran without a hiccup and were very accurate. I had 2 Springers one was reliable and accurate the other was just reliable. More of my 1911 experiences from ownership include Sig, Colt, and Para. I still own Kimbers and got rid of all the others.
BTW I have owned 4 Kimbers and they all ran without a hiccup and were very accurate. I had 2 Springers one was reliable and accurate the other was just reliable. More of my 1911 experiences from ownership include Sig, Colt, and Para. I still own Kimbers and got rid of all the others.
Giterboosted
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I went with a Kimber ultra crimson carry and love it, but again i ask what benefits will I see in removing said safety?
Winkman822
Member
I'm planning to use the Eclipse II as my platform. I plan on dumping the Series II Swartz safety tidbits, getting a Wilson #33 barrel fitted along ith a new bushing, replacing the BGS with an Ed Brown, replacing the ignition parts with Wilson Bullet proof parts. and replacing the goofy plastic MSH with either an S&A one piece magwell/MSH.
Not all Kimbers come with the plastic mainspring housing BTW. I noticed it was just the Custom and TLE series, might be more though. My Kimber Tactical and Warrior did not come stock with a plastic MSH but my TLE Pro did. I also had an older Custom II that did not have a plastic MSH.
Winkman822
Member
Basically any Kimber that does not have an extended mag well or a lanyard loop will have the plastic MSH...Not cool for a gun in the price category of a Kimber.
Somewhat agreed but other makers also skimp, I never figured out why the Springfield Loaded models never included front strap checkering that is standard on all but the most basic models of Kimber. I would much rather shell out 30 bucks for a MSH than 150 bucks on a checkering job.
But I do agree it is very cheesy of Kimber and Colt to use plastic MSH.
Winkman822
Member
I wouldn't call Springield's not checkering frontstraps skimping...Colt doesn't checker any frontstraps either...including on their $1,500.00 Special Combat Gov't model; Les Baer Concept I and II pistols aren't checkered on the front strap and they retail for $1,690. In that light I really don't think it's fair to call lack of checkering a skimp.
That said, use of a plastic MSH on Colt and Kimber 1911s is a little irritating considering the price of the guns.
mesinge2
Member
I own Colts, Kimbers, Springers, and Para's. And in my opinion they all have certain options I like and don't like. For example, I hate the duck's bill grips safeties on most Colts and have replaced most of them. On the Springers, I have replaced those stupid allen screw full length guide rods with one piece full length versions. On my Para they all required tweeking in order to feed HP ammo well and on the Kimber's I have replaced the MSHs and the slide stops.
And I have replaced ALL of the recoil springs with Wolffs and all the mags with Wilson Combats and Chip's McCormick Power mags on all of my 1911s as well.
Giterboosted said:
The FPS safety is there for one reason only, to prevent an AD if you drop the pistol with a round in the chamber and the pistol lands in such a way that the firing pin strikes the primer with enough force to set it off. As has been mentioned, some manufacturers that don't have a FPS use a titanium firing pin to reduce the likelihood of this happening (less mass). For me, I'd rather not have extra levers and springs to fail. Read this thread ... and keeping thinking Swartz!!
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=156426
Congrats on the Kimber.
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