Springfield Kimber or S&W--Which 1911 PartII
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Jim Watson
Member
I'd go with the scandium. S&W is pretty close to Colt Commander design except for the extractor and firing pin block mutations. And I KNOW that works.
Safety First
Member
All three are good choices, that said the S&W would be my choice hands down.
My reasons? S&W life-time Warranty and they pay the freight BOTH WAYS
If you are using for CCW the 1911SC weighs 28 oz and comes w/2 "8" rd mags
I would buy the Smith even If I were not buying it as a CCW...Hopefully w/in next couple months I will have the 1911SC if I do not succumb to the lure of the Colt lt wt Commander....decisions decisions...Good Luck Oh, I forgot to mention the other reason I like the Smith. Almost every post I have seen on this board and a few others say it is the best out of the box 1911 they have owned in terms of accuracy and reliability. It seems Smith got this one right....
My reasons? S&W life-time Warranty and they pay the freight BOTH WAYS
If you are using for CCW the 1911SC weighs 28 oz and comes w/2 "8" rd mags
I would buy the Smith even If I were not buying it as a CCW...Hopefully w/in next couple months I will have the 1911SC if I do not succumb to the lure of the Colt lt wt Commander....decisions decisions...Good Luck Oh, I forgot to mention the other reason I like the Smith. Almost every post I have seen on this board and a few others say it is the best out of the box 1911 they have owned in terms of accuracy and reliability. It seems Smith got this one right....
Spackler
Member
I really like the commander-sized 1911s.
I like the S&W. A nice version of the lightweight commander. Fit & finish is very good. I just really like the whole package.
I like the S&W. A nice version of the lightweight commander. Fit & finish is very good. I just really like the whole package.
spacemanspiff
Senior Member
the scandiums a lighter alloy, right?
whats the weight of all three?
whats the weight of all three?
Either of the three would serve you well.
I personally would choose the Champion since I have one and for over a year and some 1350 rounds I have had hardly a hiccup. When I first got it there was a problem feeding certain truncated cone type factory loads. I called SA about the problem and they said that if I sent it in they would polish the ramp and barrel chamber entrance chamfer. I decided to break out the Dremel and do it myself and after a 30 minute polish session to a mirror finish, the gun will now load a rock if I could get it into the magazine.
Accuracy is exceptional and I like not having a barrel bushing to deal with. The heavy barrel really holds up in accuracy during long lead chunking sessions. Everyone that has handled the gun has commented on its balance and natural pointabliity. This probably holds true for all 1911's of this size.
My second choice would be the Kimber. I have a buddy that has that exact gun in your picture and he really likes his. It has been back to Kimber a couple of times for some minor problems but he has it back and has had no other problems since. I believe he is nearing the 2000 round mark with his.
I looked at one of the S&W scandium guns and it looks like a quality piece but I have no experience with the gun or its history. I know that none of my 1911 loving buddies has one either.......probably for the same reason as I stated here.
Good luck to you on your choice and "Keep em in the 10 ring"
I personally would choose the Champion since I have one and for over a year and some 1350 rounds I have had hardly a hiccup. When I first got it there was a problem feeding certain truncated cone type factory loads. I called SA about the problem and they said that if I sent it in they would polish the ramp and barrel chamber entrance chamfer. I decided to break out the Dremel and do it myself and after a 30 minute polish session to a mirror finish, the gun will now load a rock if I could get it into the magazine.
Accuracy is exceptional and I like not having a barrel bushing to deal with. The heavy barrel really holds up in accuracy during long lead chunking sessions. Everyone that has handled the gun has commented on its balance and natural pointabliity. This probably holds true for all 1911's of this size.
My second choice would be the Kimber. I have a buddy that has that exact gun in your picture and he really likes his. It has been back to Kimber a couple of times for some minor problems but he has it back and has had no other problems since. I believe he is nearing the 2000 round mark with his.
I looked at one of the S&W scandium guns and it looks like a quality piece but I have no experience with the gun or its history. I know that none of my 1911 loving buddies has one either.......probably for the same reason as I stated here.
Good luck to you on your choice and "Keep em in the 10 ring"
Stevie-Ray
Member
I'd go with the Kimber. I'm still going to get a Commander sized Kimber.
dmftoy1
Member
My Kimber has been really good to me. It shoots much better than it's owner. I don't have any experience with the S&W.
The SA I bought 18 years ago was really good to me also but the fit/finish wasn't as good. (it was a GI edition) I suspect that you'll be very happy whichever way you go.
Have a good one,
Dave
The SA I bought 18 years ago was really good to me also but the fit/finish wasn't as good. (it was a GI edition) I suspect that you'll be very happy whichever way you go.
Have a good one,
Dave
MaterDei
Member
All three are fine choices and I don't thing you can go wrong with any of them.
The Kimber is a proven performer.
The SA has too much bling for me. YMMV. I like stainless, just not a glossy stainless.
The SW is intriguing.
I, too, would like to know what each weighs. As a CCW that should count for something, shouldn't it? I'm guessing that the SW will be slightly lighter, maybe 3 - 4 ounces.
Good luck.
The Kimber is a proven performer.
The SA has too much bling for me. YMMV. I like stainless, just not a glossy stainless.
The SW is intriguing.
I, too, would like to know what each weighs. As a CCW that should count for something, shouldn't it? I'm guessing that the SW will be slightly lighter, maybe 3 - 4 ounces.
Good luck.
Smoke
Member
The S&W extractor does not have enough time under it's belt to be proven reliable to me.
I have both a Kimber Pro Carry (CDP version) and a Springfield Champion.
The Kimber has been flawless out of the box. The champion needed tweaking to feed reliably.
YMMV
I'd pick the Kimber myself.
Smoke
I have both a Kimber Pro Carry (CDP version) and a Springfield Champion.
The Kimber has been flawless out of the box. The champion needed tweaking to feed reliably.
YMMV
I'd pick the Kimber myself.
Smoke
GreenFurniture
Member
I gotta go with "Smoke" on this one. I have several of each and the only one that has never needed to be tweaked out of the box is Kimber.
Master Blaster
Member
A few reviews:
http://www.gunblast.com/SW1911Sc.htm
Something else to consider:
http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-P345.htm
http://www.gunblast.com/Kimber_ProCDPII.htm
http://www.gunblast.com/SW1911Sc.htm
Something else to consider:
http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-P345.htm
http://www.gunblast.com/Kimber_ProCDPII.htm
Pointman1776
Member
Do you have a chance to shoot one before getting one? At a rental range? Gun club? Any friends own one?
I love my Kimbers, all of them, although I'm partial to full-size Gov't models.
I love my Kimbers, all of them, although I'm partial to full-size Gov't models.
dairycreek
Member
Own 2 of the 3 listed!
I have a Kimber Pro Carry and the S&W 1911 Sc
A tough choice between these two but, if I really had to make such a choice, it would be the 1911 Sc. Mine has just been a better, more reliable, more accurate shooter than the Pro Carry. So much so that I carry the Sc everyday and I am thinking about selling/trading the Pro Carry for something else. Not scientific by any means but that is my personal take on it FWIW. Good shooting
I have a Kimber Pro Carry and the S&W 1911 Sc
A tough choice between these two but, if I really had to make such a choice, it would be the 1911 Sc. Mine has just been a better, more reliable, more accurate shooter than the Pro Carry. So much so that I carry the Sc everyday and I am thinking about selling/trading the Pro Carry for something else. Not scientific by any means but that is my personal take on it FWIW. Good shootingspacemanspiff
Senior Member
if you read the 1911 kimber forums much, one might think that there is quite a lot of unsatisfied kimber customers.
i'm just happy the kimber i chose isnt a lemon.
afintino, i'd check out the 1911 forums and see if anyone has posted reviews or praise or horror stories about the specific 1911's you are interested in.
i'm just happy the kimber i chose isnt a lemon.
afintino, i'd check out the 1911 forums and see if anyone has posted reviews or praise or horror stories about the specific 1911's you are interested in.
Another vote for the Kimber. I like Springers, but they are generally not as well fitted as Kimbers at similar price points. I have no experience with the Smith 1911, but am of the opinion they should stick to revolvers based on my brief experience with their other autos.
ETCss Phil McCrackin
Member
According to the websites of each, the Champion and Pro Carry (Steel) are 34oz unloaded. The Pro Carry (Alum) and Smith (Scant) are both 28oz. As far as carry purposes, since I like stainless, I would go with the Kimber. My $.02.....
10-Ring
Member
Of the choices you offer, I'd go w/ the SA
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