next gun will be 1911, which one?

[dubya450]

Okay so i have decided that my next pistol purchase will be a 1911. I've narrowed it down to either the Kimber Pro Crimson Carry II or the Colt XSE Commander. It will be one of them two that ill buy and not something else. Which would you get and why? Pros and cons. Thank you

Cory

 

[dubya450]

Actually I'm also going to add the kimber stainless pro raptor as well as a maybe.

 

[jim243]

As long as we are adding (and nothing else, ya right). I'd add the Kimber Eclipes II Pro. But I am bias.

Jim

 

[dubya450]

I'm completely new to 1911's for the most part. I've shot a few but never owned one. What really is the difference between all the kimbers besides looks and grips, sizes ect? And what makes say a Nighthawk cost two to three times as much as a kimber or colt? There are just so many 1911 choices out there its hard to find somewhere to start. I do know i want to stay under $1500

 

[orionengnr]

I have had better luck with Kimbers than with Colts (or Springfields).
Some have had different experiences.

A good friend recently bought a Pro Crimson about the same time I bought an S&W E-Series Bobtail Commander.

We visited the range together two Wednesdays ago and we each put 100 rounds of our own 200 gr SWC handloads through our new 1911s, without incident. That was my second 100 rounds through my S&W.

Some people say "if it isn't a Colt, it's a copy". I've had better luck with the so-called "copies", and carry a (steel framed) Kimber every day. Once I have 1000 rounds through the Scandium-framed S&W "copy", I will be carrying it.

 

[Jason_G]

Of these two? Colt.

I hate FP safeties on a 1911, but Series-80 style FPS beats the pants off of Swartz FPS in my book. If you want, you can read what Hilton Yam has to say about it in this article. It's about midway down, second paragraph after the bullet list. The whole article is a good read though.

On top of my dislike of the Swartz safety, I also have an issue with a company that will ship a $1000+ 1911 with a plastic MSH. That sort of thing is something that you can learn to live with if it's on a budget pistol, but not a weapon that is in the kilobuck price range. JMHO.


Jason

 

[dubya450]

Thank you for the link to the article Jason, it was a good informative read.

 

[gpjoe]

I currently have a Kimber Ultra CDP II and a O4091U Colt Commander. Both have been fine for me.

There are folks that will tell you to stay away from Kimber for a couple of reasons: That it's, well, a Kimber and is over-priced and unreliable. They will tell you it only has a one-year warranty. I haven't had any issues with mine and it is my go-to carry piece so I'm staking my life on it and I am confident in the pistol functioning properly. The other reason is that the Kimber you are looking at (like my CDP II) has a bull barrel and therefore does not have the standard 1911 guide rod, barrel bushing, and recoil spring. Some will tell you that because of this it (or any 1911 under 4.25") is not as reliable as a Commander or standard 5" pistol.

Again, my Kimber has been great, but I have heard enough noise on the internet to at least get me to question whether I would consider another Kimber.

Of the two you posted, you can't really go wrong with the Colt Commander. I also have a full-size XSE in blue steel and it's a fantastic gun. I vote for the Colt.

 

[Skylerbone]

FYI the XSE line sells for North of $950 and includes a plastic MSH as well. If you're looking for a carry 1911 I'd recommend a full size. If you're committed to one of those two I'd say flip a coin but my personal preference is for Colts, among others.

 

[cuba]

As your introduction to the 1911 you need to walk before you run, experience the original size first (5")then graduate to the smaller one later.

I'd pick the Colt though.

 

[MCMXI]

Actually I'm also going to add the kimber stainless pro raptor as well as a maybe.

It's not in your poll but the Kimber Stainless Pro Raptor that you mentioned above would be my choice since I have one of those. I was very, very impressed with mine when I bought it last year. It arrived in better working condition than either of my significantly more expensive Dan Wessons. It was excellent out of the box and continues to be so. I think it's one of Kimber's better kept secrets ... it's a well balanced, accurate and reliable 1911.

By the way, removing the FPS from a Kimber is an easy job and you can replace the factory firing pin with a titanium one from Colt for around $13 ... that's what I did to both of my Kimbers.

 

[Fishbed77]

Shhhh! Everyone stop voting for the Colt XSE.

They are already hard enough (i.e. impossible) to find for sale areound here. I don't need would-be Kimber shoppers looking for them too!

 

[dubya450]

Lol don't worry fishbed, I think I'm going to put the raptor on layaway tomorrow along with a Gen 4 glock 21. Ill still get a colt or two though (in 6-12 months). Probably get the Delta Elite and maybe a mustang 380. I decided on the kimber mainly because of the cosmetics, the colt is kind of plain Jane which is okay I just want a pretty, shiny 1911 first, and I've shot my buddies kimber and it was one of the nicest shooting pistols I've tried, and I've shot alot of different ones.