Pricing & Suggestions on Kimber & Springfield 1911's

[brianr134]

Hello,
As I'm entirely new to the autoloader 1911 world of handguns, I figured I'd ask here and get some second opinions. I've been looking at the Springfield Armory PX9151LP and PX9154LP as well as the Kimber Pro TLE/RL II. I believe it was the Pro TLE/RL II that I was looking at as it had on the front bottom of the casing the notches to slide a light or attachment onto (???) and a solid black finish.

From what I have been able to find, they are all very nice auto's with little problems. I know its been beat to death, but if anyone could through some experience in I'd be grateful . The pricing for each was roughly:
SA PX9151LP: $750
SA PX9154LP: $950
Kimber Pro TLE/RL II: $760 on sale for $640 (assuming this is the right model?)

Overall that is more than I was initially looking at spending since my first choice was the XD-45 ACP at $550, but the look of the 1911's turns me on even more even at a higher price and reduce clip count. I was initially set on a stainless finish with a wooden style grip for the style, but am willing to go with anything else that looks just as nice.

Thank you for the help,
Brian

 

[Top_Notch]

I bought a PX9151L (Stainless Loaded) and it was $750 out the door. Great gun and have no problems. Fit and finish is excellent.

 

[Chem Geek]

Why the smaller Kimber? If it's really a TLE/RL II it's a steal if it's new, MSRP is $1100+.

Personally I think the PX9154L is gorgeous, and that's what I'd like to get. They're in a lot of online stores for $700-850. If you really like the 1911 but want to go a little cheaper, check out the Springfield mil-spec's.

My vote: PX9154L Black stainless combat model.

 

[brianr134]

I was not really sure about the Kimber's actual model number. Their modeling confuses me. It was a 5" barrel and black coated 1911. It looks identical to the Pro or Custom TLE/RL II model since it had the slide rails for the attachments. The tag definitely said ~$760 new but on sale for ~$640. Maybe its an older model thats not listed in the Kimber catalog I had.

I'm pretty well set on getting the PX9151LP as I really don't want to jump from $750 to $950 in what I spend. The last item that is a confusion to me, what differences is there between the PX9151LP vs PX9154LP that warrants the $200 difference? I know that the 54LP has a lighter trigger pull and the tritium sights.

Thanks again for the help,
Brian

 

[never_summer]

the kimber pro tle/rl II has a 4in barrel and the custom tle/rl II has a 5in barrel, that seems like a pretty good deal to me. I paid pretty much msrp on my 9mm 1911 if that makes you feel better

 

[Chem Geek]

The PX9151LP and the PX9154LP shouldn't be very different, except for the finish. THe 9151 is plain stainless while the 9154 is the black stainless version. The prices shouldn't be very different, it sounds like they're overcharging (at least compared to online dealers) for the black stainless. However, they're apparently really hard to find, so they probably feel justified in charging more.

The railed Kimber is a Custom TLE/RL by the sounds of it. Maybe it's the series I? I don't know enough about their pricing, but it's way under MSRP listed on their site, so there's probably some detail we're missing.

 

[brianr134]

Thanks for the info everyone

I called my father and he's going to get my pricing at the gun dealers where he lives. So I'll see if I can't get it cheaper hopefully. If they quote less than $800 on the PX9154LP I suppose I'll hop on that and have him pick it up for me. Otherwise its looking like the PX9151LP is the one I'm getting, I can't complain either about it, I really do like the finish and look.

I am unsure what the Kimber really was. I'm pretty sure it was a Custom TLE/RL, maybe series I, maybe series II. I wasn't able to memorize the tag for more than 5 seconds. Suppose my next investment should be a new memory.

Thanks once again.
-Brian

Edit: As a side note, I see online that the prices for the PX9152LP is more than the PX9154LP. The 52LP is coming around at about $960 and the 54LP about $780, perhaps they had a tag wrong? The gun they had didn't have the slam pad however and I can't remember if it had the MoBar sights.

 

[glocker1911]

There were no TLE/Rls in the so called "series 1", although they can be found with both external extractor (run away, quick) or internal version (should be nice), but all had the series II schwartz safety. I used to be the first to reccomend Springers, and still think they make great guns, but also suggest you look hard at some of the 1911s S&W is offering. I recently purchased a PD Tactical (lightweight, fullsize with rail) and am very impressed with it's fit and finish. Good luck.

 

[BevrFevr]

think twice before you get that cool rail

It is real real hard to find much leather(or plastic) for 1911's with rails. Sure it is out there but the choices are few and far between.

I got a smith and wesson with a rail and would happily buy another before I bought a kimber or a springer.

If you plan to carry, skip the rail, if it is for the bedside get the rail.

 

[glockman19]

God price for the Kimber. If you don't get it I will. Where did you see it?

I would always get a Kimber over a Springfield. Tighter tolerances better all around gun. Springfield custom shop 191's are good but Kimber's are my favorite. Great Guns.

 

[possum]

SA PX9151LP: $750
SA PX9154LP: $950

i don't know what models those are, if you gave some names and models like loaded, operator etc. but i definetly know about the kimber pro carry and that sounds like a great price to me. i would go with the kimber, but that just so happens to be the kimber that i want too.

 

[brianr134]

Well I went to talk to the store yesterday about maybe getting a better price than $755 since I was also going to spend about $250-300 more when I bought the gun on extras. They gave me the line that $755 was the price they paid for the gun and if they lowered it that they'd be paying me to walk out of the store with it. Fine with me so I decided I'll buy online then and probably save a few $20-50 off the final price, enough to buy another mag.

So now I'm back to first base looking for a place to get it from.

 

[BevrFevr]

make sure you keep $10

To buy some oil to lubricate the hinge on that wallet.


Wow it is worth $20 to $50 to me just to buy a gun at a great price that I can see first hand rather than some rusted piece of crap you get in a five year old box from some joker online.

Don't take this personally but you ain't bought many guns online have you?

Sure you can get a great deal but when you are sheding more than $700 worth of blood to somebody you can't look in the eye...

I assume that if you are worried about $20 that you ain't rich.

You are going to have to pay shipping, insurance, and taxes dependiing on your state. Don't forget about FFL transfer fees, another $20.

All said and done I bet you lose >$50 on the deal buying online.

Good Luck Brother!
I mean that -bevr

 

[brianr134]

BevrFevr, I know exactly what you mean about buying online vs store. Yes, I have never purchased a gun online so I'm new to what to expect from there. Every store though that I've talked to has informed me that they can get the gun in 2 days, after finding it however and that it can take a while. And most at the moment, are being shipped overseas they claim.

I'm still looking around at other stores for now as I'd rather buy it from someplace rather local to me (~300 miles). I do see them on gunbroker for about $600-$700 dollars and I just realized that my brother's friend happens to be an FFL, so I can have it shipped to him and probably not have to pay the change of hands fee but only the NICS.

I have the money to buy whatever, its just the fact that I'm cheap and I admit, I will always shoot myself in the foot in hopes of getting a deal. Something I should try to get over, but its hard as that is how my whole family is and how I was raised.

I'm looking for any help I can get on this as I've never had issues before of getting guns and without much of a delay. This is a whole new experience for me.

Thanks,
-Brian

 

[brianr134]

Well, I called another store about 3 hours drive from me and got a price on a few that they had carried but will have to wait till Monday for them to do a special order availability and pricing on the Loaded Combat PX9151LP, but it looks good.

I was quoted $930 for the Loaded Target PX9152LP and $540 for the Mil-Spec PB9151LP which is the cheapest I've found them so far, so it looks good that I probably will be ordering from them if their price for the loaded combat comes back in comparison to the others.

-Brian

 

[BevrFevr]

oops! My bad!

I did not realize that you lived up there when I made my previous comments.

In your case, buying online definitely has its advantages. Don't fear too much either. The only prob i have had online is a pistol that should have taken 3 days took 2 and a half weeks to be delivered. The guy went on vacation. His stooges didn't do anything while he was gone. That is the story I got anyways.

Hell at todays gas prices you are gonna save a good chunk going through the mail.

You seem to have your head on straight. I think you will have good luck if you do your part.

Definitely let your buddy ffl make a few bucks on the deal. It is good karma.

Happy shooting! -bevr