Kimber VS. Springfield

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ndh87

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Im looking at 1911's and i've narrowed my choices down to the Kimber Custom II or the Springfield Mil-Spec(not the GI). For awhile i was dead set on the mil-spec, but today i looked at a kimber...man, i really like those sights.

The Kimber is about 100 bucks more, but it has the nice beavertail, hammer and trigger, and i think i like the sights better.

For the Springfield, i was planning on putting a few of my own upgrades on it, like a combat hammer, maybe a trigger.

I've heard good and bad things about the Kimbers, some people have said that they have great ones, and some people have problems, does anyone have any input in this area? what about the customer service?

I've heard mostly good things about Springfield and their customer service.

Basically, i'd just like to get everyones opinions about the Custom IIs versus the Mil-spec. I know they're pretty different in upgrades, etc.


The main things im concerned with are reliability and accuracy. Which ever of these two i chose will be my everyday carry pistol.
 
have a niece who's husband has a Kimber Desert Warrior ,with all the bells and whistles,been fighting it for about 6 months,will not feed hard ball.been back to Kimber once that I know of.when he calls for advice gets "it just needs more breakin time" he has about 400 rounds thru it.for a hi $$$ pistol,this one is trash,I've seen Norinco 1911's shoot better. from what I've seen of his problem and the tech support of "more breakin" I wouldn't buy one.on the same note,folks I've known with Springfields,when they had problems,customer service stayed with them till the problem was fixed. jwr
 
The Loaded is nice, but the one thing i cant get comfortable with in a 1911 is bump out on the back strap of the loaded models, I've never liked the feel of them.

It seems to me that the SA pistols tend to have fewer problems and the customer service for SA seems better.

I think i might just continue on as i planned originally and get the mil-spec and put a few custom parts on.
 
I have a Springfield loaded that I like. Have only put a hundred rounds through it so far, but it has eaten both ball and 230 gr HP without a hitch. If you do buy a Springfield invest in some better magazines. The one's they ship with their pistols are pretty cheaply made. My only complaint.
 
i have a sa 1911 and i love it and sa does have an outstandng customer service that is for sure.

the kimbers that i have experience with have been good they are nice, accurate and reliable, there seem be alot of issues that have plagued the kimber line in the past.
 
I have owned 2 kimbers, a classic custom from the Clackmas OR plant and recently a desert warrior. The classic was an uber reliable pistol for well over 200,000 rounds. I broke several of the barrel link retaining pins\slide releases and went through more than one spring kit. I had a few ftfeed issues related to the extractor, but tuning resolved it. Overall a very good 1911. The second I just purchased and I put 100 rounds through it yesterday. I only had one issue, a ftfeed but it was my fault... I didn't seat the magazine fully. Overall I have had great experiences. Hope this helps, Shawn
 
I don't have any Springfields.

I've got five Kimbers. The latest being the Ultra Covert II.

A friend that also has five Kimbers shot the Ultra Covert today.
He liked the Covert so well he said, "You ought to buy the other two Coverts".

I'm thinking about it.:)
 
Son and I both have Custom IIs, and the total round count (for both) is about 15K. No issues, no problems, no quirks.
 
I'd rather have a mil-spec Springfield that will run all day than try to impress anyone with a brand name or model regardless of make.That's what's important.
 
Never owned or shot a Springfield (sure I'll own one one day) but, I do LOVE my Kimber Custom TLE/RL.

Edited to add..

About 600 rounds through it and it failed to lock back on last round once...the second or third mag I put through it (chalked it up to new gun/operator error).
 
The Loaded is nice, but the one thing i cant get comfortable with in a 1911 is bump out on the back strap of the loaded models, I've never liked the feel of them.

I think i might just continue on as i planned originally and get the mil-spec and put a few custom parts on.
Click to expand...
You'd save money getting the Loaded and having a different grip safety installed.

If you get the Mil-Spec you'll have to have to get the frame radiused for a beavertail grip safety, get it refinished where it's been cut to the radius, get a commander style hammer, and have the hammer fitted to the sear. If you decide to upgrade the sights the Loaded has Novak sights on it from the factory, so you're already set with Novak style dovetails milled into the slide for which there's a very wide variety of aftermarket sights. With the Mil-Spec you'd have to get the slide milled for aftermarket sights and that can get expensive.
 
Must not be enough guys who spent the extra $100 on the group...

Most of the SAs I've shot or seen have been at matches. Very few make it through their first IDPA match without some kind of failure. The examples I am most familiar with took much more than a simple tune-up to make them match reliable.

We do some unorthodox things at matches, including lying on your back and firing upside down (simulating lying under your bed when the BGs break into the room). Interestingly, never seen a Ruger that would get off six rounds upside down.

My Kimbers, and the ones of the other competitors I am familiar with, have always functioned flawlessly, except when fed poorly done handloads.

Bear in mind that all Kimber makes is the frame (and doesn't make the poly ones). The rest of the parts are ones that you would buy as aftermarket parts and use to customize your gun. Kimber simply handfits them to the frame.

Personally, if I'm buying a 1911 that isn't a project gun or custom built, it'll be a Kimber.
 
My wife has a Kimber Custom II with the external extractor and when she first bought it she could only shoot Blazer aluminum cased ammo. It would not cycle brass of any brand. After around 500 rds we tryed brass again and now it shoots anything.

She also has an Eclipse with an internal extractor with no problems.

I have 2 series I customs, one Clackamas and one Yonkers with serial numbers about 1000 apart. Neither one has ever had a problem.

I also have a Springfield GI that I had to tune a bit to keep cases from landing on top of my head. That is the only problem I ever had with it.
 
I guess I've been fortunate, or lucky, or something. I have two Kimbers... a Pro CDP, and stainless Pro Carry SLE. Both are series 1 guns. Both have in excess of 10K rounds thru them, both factory ammo, as well as my reloads. They've handled lead, FMJ, wadcutters, and JHP, with no issues. Seriously, I just clean 'em, feed 'em, and shoot 'em.
 
Kimbers may look pretty, and have the prettiest ads written by the greatest speech writers, but that does not make them better. I had three lemon Kimbers, a friend had a lemon Kimber, and another friend liked his two Kimbers. Those are the Kimbers of which I have personal knowledge. That is two good out of a sample of six; not good gambler's odds. I fixed my Kimbers myself, by replacing parts, and the friend with the lemon Kimber dealt with their customer service, a long process which aggravated him to no end. My Springfield was 100% reliable. Friends with Springfields seem invariably happy. FWIW, I had very good luck with two 5" Colt Government Models.
 
I purchase a mil-spec NM serial number I finished it myself with all the bells and it is a shooter for sure
 
My husband has a Springfield GI; I have a Kimber Ultra Carry II. Both of them are terrific guns. The Springfield actually needed much more "babying" on the break in time than the Kimber did....the Kimber functioned flawlessly right out of the box.

Both are great guns, though; you won't go wrong either way (but yes the Kimber is much better looking... :D)

Springmom
 
Kimbers are pretty...but I would go with SA and you really should consider the loaded model.

I did just that but then Santa dropped a little extra cash in the bank account and I ended up with the TRP model :D I have yet to shoot it though before it becomes my new carry piece.

I actually prefer the look of the shiny stainless the loaded and darn near went with that.
 
I've never personally witnessed anyone have problems with a Kimber.

Mine have been 100% reliable and very accurate. I'd go that route again. Been thinking hard about getting an Ultra Carry.
 
I have a Kimber Team Match II. Never had a FTF even during break in. I often shoot a VERY light loads with it (4.5 gr W231 under a 200 gr. LSWC) with a 13# spring and it does great. My only complaint is that for a target piece it came with a CRAPPY tripper. Lots of creep, so a proper trigger job was necessary out of the box. I really like the Kimber, and have no experience with the SA, but others at my range shoot the SA's and love them. I don't think you can go too far wrong with either.

/john
 
I have both Springfield and Kimber. Both have been good quality pistols. Mine shoot reliably from any position including upside down.
 
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