Springfield or Kimber?

[Captain America]

I was going to get a Springfield Mil-Spec, to practice on and learn inside and out while I saved up for custom jobs or a completely built pistol from Les Baer, Wilson Combat or Nighthawk. However, it will also be a CCW pistol at times and I don't want to be a total cheapskate. There are things that I might want to put on there and will delay later purchases.

So I took a look into some lower end Kimbers at the prodding of several local gunsmiths. They suggested that even the lower end Kimbers will already have some things that would have to add to my 1911 anyway, saving me time and money. I love the look of Kimbers, anyway.

Any reason why I shouldn't fork over just a little bit more money for the Kimber Custom II? I really have to keep my purchase no higher than that range, though. I like both the idea of cutting my teeth on a basic Springfield and going for a Kimber. Tell me what you think. I've gotten some great advice on these forums so far!

 

[Newton]

This is just based on my personal experience.

Kimbers are good for looking at, especially the Raptors, but they are known as the "Federal Employee" at my local gun club - because they don't work, and you can't fire them.

 

[SLCDave]

Consider the Loaded versions of the Springfield Armory 1911 as well.

 

[1911user]

I'd go with Springfield.

 

[Henry Bowman]

Kimbers are a love/hate thing. Each one is either an excellect piece or requires work to become smooth. I have and carry one I love. I have also had a Springfield milspec. It worked flawlessly, but was not easily upgraded (so I got the Kimber).

My advice: Check the used market. You can get a bit more for your money. I would start with the for sale listings here on THR. I have never gone wrong here.

 

[wildehond]

Hi,

I seem the remember that the Spirngfield was tested by THR's own 1911 guru and it had a forged slide which would sway it in my book. You can get the Springfield setup for you personal taste and you will enjoy it. You might even find you grow attached to it and not wanting anything more.

Regards

wildehond

 

[f4t9r]

Kimber gets my vote , great gun and great customer service.

 

[Rexrider]

I currently own a Kimber and a Springfield. The Kimber is a "pre-series II" Classic Stainless Target. The Springfield is a Loaded Black Stainless.

Both have performed very well and I could not be happier with either one.

If I had to choose between the two or consider which company gets my money for a 3rd 1911 (woohoo), then Springfield it is.

Not to mention Springfield gets the nod for having a conventional extractor and no funky firing pin safety. Springfield does have a "gun lock" feature built into the mainspring housing but if you don't want it then all you need to do is replace the mainspring housing.

This just my opinion based on personal experience. Your mileage may vary. When it is all said and done, this is still a Ford vs Chevy debate.

 

[singlestackpinblaster]

I too have a Kimber and a Springfield. I bought a Kimber Custom CDPII 3" for carry - and it's been at Kimber for about seven weeks now. It was sent back because I kept having FTE's with virtually every ammo I could get my hands on. So, after talking with three different guys at the custom shop, they sent a call tag for it and are replacing the slide with a new one (that has an internal extractor). I love that little gun, and it's as accurate as anything, just not reliable. Hopefully Kimber will fix that - so far their customer service has done me right.

As for the Springfield - I have a loaded target stainless. What a beauty! I purchased it from a local gun shop and got it for a steal. It was NIB, but was their display model. They reduced it by almost $400! It has some wear, but I plan on having it NP3'd once I finish the upgrades. It is a hell of a gun, shoots everything I feed it, and is accurate, accurate, accurate. The slide is currently on it's way to Geneseo to have the bomar night sights replaced (they were dim from sitting in the gun case for god knows how long.) They too have excellent customer service.

Either way, they are both great guns, and the decision is yours. Make sure that if you plan to shoot a lot, which I assume you are, that the gun you select has a steel frame. Aluminum or lightweight frames are made to be carried alot and shot a little.

I am currently looking at the new Dan Wesson (CZ) 4" Combat Commander. You may want to give them a try - two of my friends have Wessons and they have held up well during our weekly range sessions.

Good luck and shoot straight!

 

[BozemanMT]

Kimber

i agree with the other poster, buy used, you can go way up the scale for less money.

$500 1911's are always $500
but $1200 new 1911's are $800 used

 

[XD Niner]

Kimber = 1 year warranty
Springfield = Life time warranty regardless of the number of previous owners

'Nuf said.

 

[kbheiner7]

I'd go Kimber, but believe Springers are good guns too.

I think Kimbers are fit better and are more accurate than others in the same price range.

Unlike others, I do not believe the Kimber IIs are problematic. I have shot many and carry one I trust my life to. I have thousands of trouble free rounds through mine and had not problems with the others. I plan on buying several more.

 

[KIMBER45TLE]

Either One

All Kimbers except for a MilSpec hiding in the crowd. No problems with any of them from low end to high end. Internal, external extractors. Kimber, Wilson, or Springfield mags. They go bang every time you squeeze the trigger, and generally hit what you shoot at. Kimber or Springfield, they all work.

 

[ddj8052]

Chevy or Ford?
Coke or Pepsi?
Etc etc...

Both companies make really good guns. I own both and like both. I choose Springfield only because I do not like the Series II safety of newer Kimber guns. The funny thing about that though, is that I have had good luck with the Series II guns that I have owned. I still got rid of them and only kept my Kimber 25th Anniversary Custom. On the whole I think that the Kimber guns are much better finished than the Springfield guns. I just picked up a Springfield TRP and the finish job was very very bad. A ton of annoying problems with the gun. Although it has been 100% reliable with everything I have put through it, So it is also a Keeper.

Bottom line pick up and handle a couple and see which one moves you.

 

[TimboKhan]

I don't particularly care for 1911's (or, more correctly, I don't care for the obscene amount of hype they get), but if it were me, I would spend the money on a S&W 1911. From the ones that I have looked at, they seem to be reasonably priced and have all the cool features everyone wants. I assume, but do not know for fact, that they are the same as every other 1911 in terms of parts and stuff. That, or I would look at a Springfield. I think the nice loaded pistols probably gives you best value.

 

[TimboKhan]

BTW, Bozeman, thats a great point you made. I have never really found a good value (given the name on the slide) on a used lower end 1911, but I have seen plenty of "good" prices on higher end used guns.

 

[Lebben-B]

I own a Springer GI and a Kimber Raptor II. Both guns are great - the GI has ~2500 rounds through it and the Kimber about 600 at this point. For a first 1911 I would get the Springfield. IMO, they tend to be more reliable right out of the box and make a great platform for upgrading.

Mike

 

[FullEffect1911]

One of the beautiful things about the Springer is that it is pretty much as close as you can get to the original. This means if you need a part or want to upgrade, the parts are readily available. Nothing like having an extractor problem with an extractor you can't work on (this is of course assuming that the kimber would have an external extractor).

I'm a springfield man myself. Every kimber i've looked at the the local shop just didn't seem of feel right to me.



As an aside, the SW1911 is indeed very nice, however it does have an external extractor. I had one and i liked it; very reliable, however i did sell it for a more traditional 1911 (springfield).

 

[Hagen442]

KIMBER VS. SPRINGFIELD & COLT

My experience between 3 1911 guns .
Springfield / Colt - Take it out of the box and shoot it. After approx 50 rounds the gun is BROKE IN.
Kimber - Take it out of the box and shoot it and ask yourself ( Why am I going thru this again ) The difference is the Kimber specs are tighter than
Springfield or Colt.
After about 150-250 Rounds the Kimber will start to BREAKE IN or it needs to go back to the Factory.
I have a friend who is a Gunsmith and we both love Colts bubt also shoot Kimbers . We have found the Kimber to be more accurate over time than either the Colt or Springfield and that is why we put up with the Kimber
BREAK IN. They are like a good wine ( Better with Time ).
I am currently in the process of Breaking In a Raptor and as I previously stated , it is getting better with time.

 

[Working Man]

Kimber = 1 year warranty Springfield = Life time warranty regardless
of the number of previous owners

That right there says a lot to me.

 

[bootcamp]

Chalk another one up for Springfield. Warranty and service is excellent "if" you'll ever need them. Accuracy is awesome.

 

[Newton]

Kimber only offers a one year warranty

That should tell any prospective buyer everything they need to know about Kimbers.

 

[progunner1957]

Kimbers are good for looking at, especially the Raptors, but they are known as the "Federal Employee" at my local gun club - because they don't work, and you can't fire them.

LOL!!!

I had a Kimber TLE II (LAPD SWAT gun) which I ended up trading off on a Springfield Armory 1911. I just didn't trust the Schwarz safety they use in the series II guns.

I now have a Springfield TRP Operator 1911 and is is just outstanding. If it is in your price range, I can't recommend the TRP highly enough. If not, I would take a look at the full size loaded 1911 that Springfield makes.

It is about 1/2 the cost of the TRP and it is a solid, basic 1911 with alot going for it. You can get one with tritium sights and parkerized finish for around $700.

 

[jman74]

Springer for sure.

For your first 1911 anyway. Should be plenty reliable out of the box or SA will make it right for you. The Kimber's, in my opinion and observations, can be tempermental. I've seen some break in real nice and work fine, but I haven't personally seen one I'd trust as a carry piece. My buddy's CDP (that's Custom DEFENSE Package) is a custom jam-o-matic. Kimber can't seem to make it right. Not to mention it came from the factory, actually Kimber's Custom Shop, with a defective firing pin. That kind of quality control can be explained away on a $400 base model, but to me, doesn't inspire confidence in a company when it happens on a $1200 "custom shop" model. One the flip side, my brother's base model Custom II has been perfect out of the box.
For me, I'll take SA. I've got three.

 

[Kruzr]

Kimber will fix a gun forever. The one year warranty is a legal issue. Most of the high end guns have no written warranty at all. Ruger has a good explantion of this on their website as to why they offer no written warranty.