Kimbers: Ordinary, or Extrordinary?

[Got_Lead?]

I have a Kimber Classic, Clackamas, Oregon vintage. The slide to frame is extremely smooth and tight, I was thinking of installing a Kart barrel in it and using the gun for bullseye shooting.

However, I am hearing so many comments about how they are unpopular with the bullseye shooters. I am wondering why? Is the metallurgy substandard?

What do you guys think of them, are they good, or only mediocre? Is it a good enough platform to invest in upgrades?

 

[MCMXI]

What do you guys think of them, are they good, or only mediocre? Is it a good enough platform to invest in upgrades?

I don't know if Kimbers make good platforms for Bulls Eye shooting but they can make good platforms to build on for USPSA, IPSC, IDPA or self defense. I shoot a Kimber Tactical Entry II in USPSA matches and have good success with it in terms of accuracy, function and reliability. I invested some money (about $500 in parts) and quite a bit of time into that Kimber doing all of the work myself, but it has been worth it. The only Kimber parts remaining are the slide, frame, MSH/magwell, grip safety and sights (soon to be upgraded to Heine). The last upgrade was an Ed Brown barrel and not only did I gain a noticeable improvement in accuracy, but I also ended up with improved function. A specific 185gr LSWC load that wouldn't feed reliably with the factory barrel feeds just fine with the Ed Brown barrel. That was an unexpected bonus.

Here's the Kimber that I'm talking about ... at top obviously. It looks quite sedate but it's a great shooting, extremely reliable match gun. Eventually, I'll get around to painting it with Cerakote. The performance of the TEII in a number of USPSA matches greatly influenced my decision to buy a Kimber Stainless Pro Raptor. The TEII turned out so well that it made me want to take on another Kimber project.

 

[Jed Carter]

They are nice looking mass production firearms, this alone makes Kimber rather ordinary, nice guns though.

 

[MCMXI]

^^
Oh definitely ... there's nothing "extraordinary" about Kimbers. But I think we all realize that Kimber isn't marketed towards hardcore 1911 shooters. For many shooters looking for an American made 1911 they're a decent choice but maybe not the best choice. The question here is whether or not it's worth putting money into them. I certainly wouldn't send one off to a good gunsmith and pay $1,000 to have it worked on, but for the DIY type with a reasonable amount of ability, they're worth the effort and cost for USPSA or similar ... Bulls Eye I'm not so sure, but that Ed Brown barrel is very accurate.

 

[timothy75]

Bullseye guns are heavily modified, its not a knock aginst kimber, just that there wont be much original gun left after its competition ready.

 

[ranburr]

You have the best Kimber that they ever made. I wouldn't change anything on it. The OR marked guns are bringing a premium.

 

[Sean Smith]

I'd think as a base gun for a bullseye custom job an old Kimber is probably better than most other production guns. Early Kimbers were really good guns. I talked to at least one "big name" pistolsmith about 10 years ago who loved the things.

As the production volume went up the QC went down and they started cutting more corners while Colt and Springfield Armory got better. Now they're not crap by any stretch, but they have a reputation for being depressingly inconsistent (one gun is great, the next is unreliable, etc.) and using cheap small parts. They used to be head and shoulders above the other production 1911s and now they're not seen that way anymore. For all that even the early Kimbers still aren't on par for bullseye shooting out of the box...but some are surprisingly close. Some of those old Kimbers have kind of stunning accuracy for what they cost new.

 

[Get R Done Guns]

Definitely "ordinary" in bullseye these guns will not get you good scores. Hand made is the gun you are looking for and Kimber does not do this. Mass produced by machine. Great guns none the less but there is always better, more accurate than them these days. For the price point pretty much top of their class. (A couple Colt's and a few others may still be better but who knows)