shot a Kimber today and was shocked...at how good it was.

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tuj

tuj

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Hi fellow shooters.

A very nice gentleman let me shoot his Kimber Custom today (I use the word 'Custom' lightly, because as I understand it, there is no actual custom work they do, right?). I have always been a bit of a snob against Kimbers (I have a Les Baer PII 1.5" and a STI Spartan, kind of both ends of the specturm), but I have to say, his Kimber had the best trigger feel of any 1911 I have shot, and I've shot a number, including Nighthawks and a number of match guns. The take-up was virtually non-existent, the break was clean and crisp at what felt like 3 or 3.5lbs, and there was very little over-travel, meaning that reset was very short.

I have to wonder, are they all like this? I have dry-fired other Kimbers and their triggers were nothing like his. He said that nothing was done internally to the gun; he had changed the grips and the slide stop.

Which Kimber model in the 5" range is the best in terms of trigger feel and accuracy? And older one, or one being currently made?
 
The Custom is the most basic model. Meaning it is up to you to customize it. I've had one for years and it has been perfect for me. Kimber did have some issues with some guns a few years ago and the reputation is still there. Most of the problems were with the higher end guns with an external extractor. A properly designed external extractor works just fine. Kimber just took a little while to figure out how to do it. The Custom guns always had the proven internal extractor.
 
My series I custom shoots like a dream. The stock trigger is pretty good. I like it.
 
I went to Kimber's website and the gun that looks the most like it is the Stainless Gold Match II (although I don't think his was a II), but his gun did say 'match' on the right side.

man, now I want one... :banghead:
 
I can not comment on the custom. I do have an ultra carry 2. Very nice trigger and a great gun to shoot. Was my e.d.c. but now has been rotated to my dress gun.
 
I also have 2 Kimber stainless Custom II Target 1911s along with a Baer, Brown, and Wilson. They have been excellent in performance and reliability.
 
I have always been a bit of a snob against Kimbers
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Too bad. You've denied yourself for no useful reason.

The II in the name indicates the presence of the Kimber version of the Schwartz safety. Safety works off the grip.

It's named the "Custom" because Kimber was about the first maker to introduce a basic gun with many of the "custom" parts that shooters had been installing aftermarket on their guns. This was how Kimber broke into a 1911 market dominated by Colt.

To see the difference call up a pic of a basic series 80 Colt 1911 and look at the Kimber Custom. That's the difference.

tipoc
 
The only knock I've ever heard about Kimber was the attempt at an external extractor. Before and after that, they have enjoyed a reputation as a quality pistol.
 
I have to wonder, are they all like this? I have dry-fired other Kimbers and their triggers were nothing like his.
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It could be he shoots his enough to make the sear & hammer worn in slick.

And the ones you tried in the past haven't been!

I've Shot some very good Kimberly stock triggers.
But they had all been shot enough to burnish the sear surfaces into glass slick mating surfaces.

rc
 
If I could afford to stay with 1911's, Kimbers would be my go to guns regardless of cost. The two I've owned have been reliable (my current one 100% reliable), had great triggers, and were stone cold shooters. It's my belief that even the high end Kimbers like the Gold Combat make more sense than Wilson, etc. The reality is those $1500 Kimbers with a little work will be as good as anything, or certainly as good as anyone needs. I personally don't think they have any competition in the under $1500 range.

Kimbers have huge pluses out of the box:

The best fit and finish, with the key basic features included, with forged slides and frames hand-fitted in their price range

The best triggers in their price range

Unlike Springfield they are built in the good ole USA, while admittedly the much pricier USA Springfield TRP is GREAT gun, their entry price guns don't have near the QC of Kimber.

Having said all of this I've come to the conclusion more and more that 1911's are great safe guns, but my Glocks are great working guns. I'm making the transition to tupperware.:D
 
I don't know why anyone would be surprised at how good a Kimber shoots. I picked up one the first year made, I have found it is the most accurate 1911 frame pistol I have ever shot, bar none. It has never hiccupped, FTF, FTE regardless of what I feed it. I would match it against any production 1911 pistol made including the Colt Gold Cup ( which I also have the good fortune of owning ):) Just saying:)
 
They have been heavily criticized for having a good many mim parts included. Many of which failed. For a few years they were turning out so many versions of 1911s so rapidly that quality suffered it seems. But it looks like they corrected that some.

Folks do know that 1911 triggers are likely the most adaptable of any gun. You can get about as good a trigger as you want off of any 1911. A $500. Rock Island can have as good a trigger as a $3,000. Baer, and it don't take much money to do it. Provided the trigger parts are of a good steel.

tipoc
 
I've carried a Mark I Custom for nearly 20 years now, and it's been as close to perfect as you can imagine -- eats everything, never bobbles, shoots accurately and has a great trigger.
 
I purchased a lightly used Eclipse Custom II a few years back and it had an absolutely magnificent trigger from the get go....Every Kimber I've shot has had a perfectly acceptable trigger for a factory gun.....
 
I picked up Gold Combat in trade a few years back.


KIMBER1911A.jpg

I got a great deal mainly because it's an external extractor, but the gun has been perfectly flawless and is a flat-out tack driver, awesome pistol to take shooting.

As for the trigger, with the exception of a couple of Smith revolvers it has one of the nicest feeling triggers I've ever felt. Everyone who's ever tried it is thoroughly impressed. Smooth light and clean with a nice crisp break like a glass rod.



Kimber bashing is almost as popular as Glock bashing on the internet, but I got no complaints. Maybe I just got a good one but is "really" a good one.


Top sellers are always the target of haters.....not much fun bashing something nobody's ever heard of I guess.
 
My "Custom shop" Raptor II has always been a great pistol. I didn't know I was supposed to hate it until I started reading about them on gun forums. Now I just grin.
 
My Custom II is pure awesome. Great trigger, 100% reliable, and just a pleasure to shoot. I bought mine used with a couple of add ons. I haven't changed a thing on it since I purchased it. My buddies who either have owned or currently own 1911's are in love with my Kimber. Frankly I didn't realize there was Kimber bashing (first I have read about it was this thread).
 
Some of them ARE nice. All of them ARE NOT.
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One could say that about any production pistol. That comment didn't add anything to this thread. Can't we just have a love-fest for an oft-maligned maker for once without the haters and naysayers chiming in?

My Custom TLE II has an awesome trigger, Swartz safety system notwithstanding. And my Pro CDP is one of the prettiest guns out there, along with being ideally suited for concealed carry and 100% reliable.
 
Both my Kimbers have been accurate shooters, reliable, and had great out of the box triggers. Can't ask for much more IMO.
 
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