Ruger or Kimber?

[ID_shooting]

Howdy kids,

Gonna buy a new 45 ACP this year. For about the same price, I can get a new Ruger KP345 or a new Kimber BP ten II. I just can't decide which one I like better, I have fondled both. I like Rugers reputation for reliability but I know thier accuracy is not to "match" levels OOTB. I do like The 10 rd capacity (14 after sept 14th) of the Kimber and they are known for thier OOTB accuracy, but Kimber's reliabilty has been in question lately.

BTW, This is not for carry but for plinking and cou-de-gras (sp) when hunting.

WWYD if making this choice and why?

 

[wally]

I'll never buy a Ruger autoloader until they start putting the safety on the frame where it belongs!

I have a Kimber BP Ultra Ten II (3.5" barrel). Gun is great, mags sucked! One that came with the gun and a new Kimber blister backed spare both needed stronger springs and much filing/polishing of the interior seam weld at the rear of the mag to stop the "ride over feed jams"

Basically gun was 100% if I loaded 6 or less in the mags. Loading more would lead to a nose up FTF more than half the time. Kind of defeats the purpose of a wide body gun -- but the BP Ten is no thicker than most 1911 grips its just they have this thickness all over. I like the feel in my hand very much.

I'd not recommend the BP TEN unless you are able to fix the mags yourself, or you feel lucky and somehow expect to get good mags. Kimber has "bought back" a fair number of these because of feed problems. Search forums.1911forum.com Kimber forum for the gory details.

--wally.

 

[prezzz]

Have you given the Sig P220 a look-see? Fantastic .45 acp weapon and very accurate.

 

[Highland Ranger]

There are many other choices in higher capacity 45's - I've had excellent luck with HK's USP line for a traditional decocker/safety setup.

If the safety isn't an issue and you are looking for a field gun, although not a fan - Glocks are an obvious choice.

In lower capcity, the Sig P220 is an excellent weapon, the Ruger KP90 is also a good gun, but heavy and not as finished as the sig (and half the price.)

And of course, there are all the 1911's. I have two Kimber's and love them both . . . . .

 

[Lennyjoe]

wally, is that with the Para 14 mags as well?

 

[ID_shooting]

I looked at others, several reasons I guees I narrowed down to the Ruger or Kimber.

* American owned and operated.
* 1911s feel good in my hands, the new Ruger feels just as good.
* Can't stand glocks, I had two and didn't like to shoot iether of them.
* I can get the ten II for 5 bills, not too many high-end 1911s for that.
* Don't care for H&K, over pirced for what they are.
* Like Sig even less.

 

[wally]

Kimber BP takes a Kimber specific mag. P14 mags won't lock in. It might be possible to mod the mag to make it latch but then it wouldn't work in a PO gun.

http://www.rescomp.co.za/rht_pistol_accessories.htm sells a replacement catch that is supposted to let the BP guns use Para mags.

If the AWB sunsets this might be a solution. But right now finding good HiCap PO mags is a problem too -- Para sent me a garbage "pre-ban" P12 mag straight from their web store. Same problems as the Kimber mags had


If you are confident you can fix the mags if necessary or would be happy with 6+1 loading for reliability, then I'm sure you will like the BP TEN II -- my Ultra has a great trigger and is a sweet shooter.

--wally.

 

[rde]

Ruger: it will work.

 

[Bemo]

Buy the Ruger

If you buy the Ruger, then I won't go fondle it anymore. I've seen two in town, one at Shappells and one at Sportsman's Warehouse. If there are others in town, I don't want to know. It's the first Ruger auto that actually feels good in my hand.

 

[ID_shooting]

Well Bemo, the one I have beel drooling on is at Shapel's, I have a distaste for sportsman's. Word has it that they are looking to move the three BP ten IIs the have right next to register. I guess they have been in the shop for a while now and the boss said to get rid of them.

 

[rugerfreak]

Get the Ruger----its as much gun as any of the others mentioned at half the price.

Had a Sig---was POS---ditched right after I shot it the 1st time.

Had 1911's---the biggest flaw is that its single action only----doubtfull I'll even own another----I do like the look and feel of them though---but the single action severely limits its usefullness----range gun only----no way will I carry cocked and locked---too much to possibly go wrong.

 

[rbernie]

If you want a DA/SA, of these two the choice is clearly the Ruger. I rent and shoot a P90 and P97 regularly, and feel either of them could be in my safe in a heartbeat *if* I was in the market for a DA/SA 45ACP semiauto. Another fine choice, IF IT FITS YOUR HAND, is the CZ97B. I've owned one, and other than its size I found it to be a superlative handgun.

If you want a SA-only pistol, the Kimber is the logical choice of these two. I currently own a PCII-10 (the stainles-steel frame insert version of the BP10-II), and it's the pistol in the keyless safe in my bedroom. I really could do without the firing pin safety nonsense of the Kimber, but I've put over 6000 rounds thru this pistol with less than a dozen malfunctions (all ostensibly tracable to ammo). I wait for the day when Kimber can distribute inexpensive 14-round magazines for this platform....

Since I want to have pistols for carry or home defense that allow Condition One *and* because the CZ is too big for my hand, I own the Kimber (and many other 1911-pattern pistols). YMMV.

 

[denfoote]

Ruger hands down!!!
IMHO, Kimbers

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

I have a Kimber Ultra Elite and my shooting pal has a Ultra 10-II. We could probably get together and let you try them out at Shooting World.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Kimber.

My Kimber is a fine, accurate, reliable pistol. My Ruger is scrap iron.

 

[dairycreek]

Given the criteria you establish...........

it seems as if the better choice would by the Ruger. They are reliable, built like the proverbial "brick outhouse" are very reasonably accurate and will last darn near forever. Good shooting

 

[Heraclitus]

Don't know a whole bunch about Rugers, but I've had a Kimber Gold Match for nearly three years now. It is my favorite match gun, and has never had a single problem worth reckoning -- even using six Mitchell mags I bought in a moment of dire expediency. The gun's polished ramp and throated barrel are remarkably efficient when feeding rounds that invariably nose-dive as they come off the slipshod mags. I could say they're Wilson Combat, and no one would be any wiser for it. The point being made here, of course, is that Kimber makes a terrific 1911.

As usual, try before you buy.

 

[Damon]

A Kimber Classic would be my first choice, than the Ruger. So given your preferences, I would take the Ruger.

 

[cowpuncher/pi]

Kimbers Leo Mag is a megar. It seems to be better. It is a 13 rounder. I am not sure what they will do if the Ban sunsets. I carry the first Hi-cap Kimber with the Bul frame. I had some trouble with it, but I sent it to Actions by T. I carry this weapon on duty. Had some trouble finding a holster for it as it has a different trigger guard than standard 1911. A glock 35 safariland fits fairly well. I like having this pistol in my tool box as it holds 14 rounds of 45. And it is a stinkin tack driver. Regards

 

[Ky Larry]

My carry gun is a Kimber Custom Defender II. I've owned several Ruger auto's. Both have given me trouble-free service. Buy the one you shoot best. You won't go wrong with either. Shoot well and often.

 

[ID_shooting]

OK, there diffinately seems to be two deffinate camps here. Any have thier own "tales of the gun" regarding the choices above?

 

[ID_shooting]

Well, with the ban suset I went out this weekend to buy a "ban gun." I went with the BP ten II. 5 even, good price I thought.

Having trouble finding a decent holster for it. Not looking for CC, just somthing handy for field work.

They said factory normal mags are $50 so I might do some more searching there.

Tuner, Any Idea what I might have to do to "tune" this thing right out of box?

 

[short_ar15]

I have two stainless New Roll Mark Series 80s [Government & Commnder] and they are fine. I have shot the front sight loose on the Government Model and will have to restake it. I like the fact that i can strip them down to bare bones and replace any part needed BUT... I had to try the Ruger P345, i'm a 45 kind of guy, and now it's my carry weapon. It weighs 28.5 ounces, has less recoil, and carries better than the Commander. The Commander may be slightly more accurate but not by much. The Ruger sights are far better, which compensates for the possible accuarcy difference, and it is de-horned.

The Ruger may not have the personality of my Colt's, but it does have my confidence for carry, and it is smaller / lighter than a Commander.