Springfield or Kimber?
- Thread starter Captain America
- Start date
- Status
FullEffect1911
Member
When i had a SW1911 i didn't have a problem until about just after 600 rounds, and i think it was a magazine issue. Like i said SW1911's are very very nice, however if the extractor were to break it a factory repair only thing, and it isn't like you can adjust it if you needed to. I personally like user serviceable parts like the original internal extractor. Tune it up however you like it, and if something goes wrong you can fix it yourself.
I will say this however, of all the 1911's i've owned (which is only 3 but still) The SW1911 is the only one that gave me no problems at all (sans one jam after about 600 rounds and it was with wolf ammo).
Go figure, i still love springfield!!!
I will say this however, of all the 1911's i've owned (which is only 3 but still) The SW1911 is the only one that gave me no problems at all (sans one jam after about 600 rounds and it was with wolf ammo).
Go figure, i still love springfield!!!
yayarx7
Member
At the risk of reapeating things already said.
Kimber and S&W are still trying to figure out a 100% reliable external extractor.
The top of the line Kimber comes with an original design internal extractor.
Spingers come with the original design internal extractor.
Kimber and S&W are still trying to figure out a 100% reliable external extractor.
The top of the line Kimber comes with an original design internal extractor.
Spingers come with the original design internal extractor.
Sgt Stevo
Member
Does colt still make viable product for the market. Not to sound stupid. But I dont see them much anymore. And it is sad. I owned a cammander some years back. I got broke and had to sell it. I would love to own a good colt just for the history alone.
I looked on there site. Not much there anymore. None with nite sites. And that drop test thing in the PRK, probly knocks some out of the picture. All my buds seem to own 1911s, and they all seem to work. The nicest I shot was a Valtro. I cant afford that. My uncle has a stock 1911 that was in my dads desk for twenty years. when My dad passed his brother got it. Someday I will have it.
My dad called it Betsy bye bye. I dont know why. what cal legal colt is best?
I looked on there site. Not much there anymore. None with nite sites. And that drop test thing in the PRK, probly knocks some out of the picture. All my buds seem to own 1911s, and they all seem to work. The nicest I shot was a Valtro. I cant afford that. My uncle has a stock 1911 that was in my dads desk for twenty years. when My dad passed his brother got it. Someday I will have it.
My dad called it Betsy bye bye. I dont know why. what cal legal colt is best?
Captain America
Member
Nobody I have talked to recently has had a problem with Kimbers and suggested that maybe I was only hearing extreme cases of bad Kimbers. I like Kimbers, but the I heard some scary stories and having my first 1911 back in the Kimber shop is useless to me... But many local gunsmiths son't have any problems with them. And I did notice that one can get a good deal on a Kimber Custom TLE II... 
We shall see... I will, of course, post photos
We shall see... I will, of course, post photos My Kimber TLE has been flawless. Now that Kimber has gone back to the internal extractor, that is the way that I would go.
I also own a SA Loaded, but prefer the TLE for the front strap checkering and I also find the TLE sights easier to acquire the target.
They are both good. Go with what feels best in your hand.
I also own a SA Loaded, but prefer the TLE for the front strap checkering and I also find the TLE sights easier to acquire the target.
They are both good. Go with what feels best in your hand.
Outlaws
Member
I thought everyone saying Springfield Mil-Spec were crap and jammed were just full of BS.
Well, today my friend took his new WW2 GI model Springfield to the range and after putting the mag in and releasing the slide, it failed to close all the way and feed the round 5 times out of 2 boxes of ammo. 100 rounds / 7 round mag = not good numbers.
To its credit it feed fine all but twice after we started shooting the mag.
Well, today my friend took his new WW2 GI model Springfield to the range and after putting the mag in and releasing the slide, it failed to close all the way and feed the round 5 times out of 2 boxes of ammo. 100 rounds / 7 round mag = not good numbers.
To its credit it feed fine all but twice after we started shooting the mag.
TimboKhan
Member
well, thats dependent to a certain extent on what ammo he tried to feed it. My limited experience with the Springy GI's is that they won't feed hollowpoint ammo worth a damn, and it also might have been a crappy magazine.
birddog
Member
Our Kimber CDP II has been 100% reliable, 100% of the time, with 100% of the ammo (a very wide variety of handloads and factory) it has been fed over the last 3 years.
Our Springfield GI? Ditto, though it has less mileage.
The Kimber's prettier, with better sights. All depends on what you want.
I get tired of hearing people trash Kimbers, in and out of gun shops and Internet boards. Everyone I talk to at the range who actually owns one, loves it.
Our Springfield GI? Ditto, though it has less mileage.
The Kimber's prettier, with better sights. All depends on what you want.
I get tired of hearing people trash Kimbers, in and out of gun shops and Internet boards. Everyone I talk to at the range who actually owns one, loves it.
farscott
Member
As someone who has 1911s that range in cost from below $500 to over ten times that amount, I recommend starting with the most GI pistol you can, with one possible exception. That exception is the flared ejection port. Given the choice between SA and Kimber, I would opt for the SA, particularly the SA Mil-Spec due to the flared ejection port.
My choice is not because the SA is a better gun than the Kimber; it is because the SA offers more options to the owner. Kimber rear fixed sights use a proprietary cut than limits the aftermarket choices; SA uses the GI cut. To be fair, this is not as much of a hassle as it was a few years ago, but it is something to keep in mind.
Both pistols have funky locks, the SA ILS and the Kimber Series II firing pin safety, but the SA one is easier to remove, requiring just a new mainspring housing. The Kimber firing pin safety requires removing more parts.
The Kimber comes with front cocking serrations; the SA does not. If it is a lot easier to add FCS than it is to remove them. Personally I dislike FCS on holster pistols, so my choice is colored by that.
There are some positives to the Kimber over the SA; SA uses a Ti firing pin and a non-standard firing pin spring. The diameter of the SA .45 ACP firing pin is close to a .38 Super firing pin. While my Mil-Spec launched lots of rounds with those parts, I finally replaced them with a steel firing pin and standard firing pin spring. If a beaver tail grip safety is a want or need, the Kimber comes out ahead here as it leaves the factory so equipped. The SA frame tangs are non-standard and one needs a beavertail grip safety for the SA frame tangs.
In my mind, it is easier to modify the SA to get what I want, so that is my choice.
My choice is not because the SA is a better gun than the Kimber; it is because the SA offers more options to the owner. Kimber rear fixed sights use a proprietary cut than limits the aftermarket choices; SA uses the GI cut. To be fair, this is not as much of a hassle as it was a few years ago, but it is something to keep in mind.
Both pistols have funky locks, the SA ILS and the Kimber Series II firing pin safety, but the SA one is easier to remove, requiring just a new mainspring housing. The Kimber firing pin safety requires removing more parts.
The Kimber comes with front cocking serrations; the SA does not. If it is a lot easier to add FCS than it is to remove them. Personally I dislike FCS on holster pistols, so my choice is colored by that.
There are some positives to the Kimber over the SA; SA uses a Ti firing pin and a non-standard firing pin spring. The diameter of the SA .45 ACP firing pin is close to a .38 Super firing pin. While my Mil-Spec launched lots of rounds with those parts, I finally replaced them with a steel firing pin and standard firing pin spring. If a beaver tail grip safety is a want or need, the Kimber comes out ahead here as it leaves the factory so equipped. The SA frame tangs are non-standard and one needs a beavertail grip safety for the SA frame tangs.
In my mind, it is easier to modify the SA to get what I want, so that is my choice.
DIXIEKIMBER
Member
KIMBER VS SPRINGER
THIS IS JUST MY 2 CENTS
MY SON-IN-LAW HAS A SPRINGFIELD TRP AND I HAVE A KIMBER CUSTOM DEFENDER II. WE BOTH SHOOT IDPA AND USPSA, WHICH MEANS 2 MATCHES PER MONTH, ALONG WITH PRACTICE. WE PUT ABOUT 400 TO 600 ROUNDS A MONTH THROUGH EACH WEAPON. THEY BOTH HAVE PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY. THE ONLY PROBLEMS WE'VE ENCOUNTERED ALWAYS STEMMED FROM MAGAZINES (A TOPIC FOR ANOTHER THREAD). I BOUGHT MY KIMBER ON SALE FOR ABOUT $700 INCLUDING TAX, HE PAID $1200 FOR THE SPRINGFIELD. THERE ARE SOME MINOR DIFFERENCES IN AMMENITIES. THE SPRINGFIELD'S FRONT STRAP IS CHECKERED, HAS AN EXTENDED MAG WELL, IT ALSO HAS AN ABIDEXTROUS SAFETY (USELESS IMO) BUT FOR SOME REASON HAS A TWO PIECE GUIDE ROD. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT A ONE PIECE GUIDE ROD WAS MORE DURABLE, I MIGHT BE WRONG. MY POINT BEING THAT BOTH WEAPONS WORK EXTREMELY WELL AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE EXTRA $500 IS WORTH SPENDING ON THE SPRINGFIELD. A KIMBER CUSTOM II IS A GREAT PLATFORM TO BEGIN IN COMPETITION WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK. THE LOADED MODEL SPRINGFIELD FALLS IN THIS SAME CATEGORY, INEXPENSIVE BUT A GREAT SHOOTING GUN.
THIS IS JUST MY 2 CENTS
MY SON-IN-LAW HAS A SPRINGFIELD TRP AND I HAVE A KIMBER CUSTOM DEFENDER II. WE BOTH SHOOT IDPA AND USPSA, WHICH MEANS 2 MATCHES PER MONTH, ALONG WITH PRACTICE. WE PUT ABOUT 400 TO 600 ROUNDS A MONTH THROUGH EACH WEAPON. THEY BOTH HAVE PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY. THE ONLY PROBLEMS WE'VE ENCOUNTERED ALWAYS STEMMED FROM MAGAZINES (A TOPIC FOR ANOTHER THREAD). I BOUGHT MY KIMBER ON SALE FOR ABOUT $700 INCLUDING TAX, HE PAID $1200 FOR THE SPRINGFIELD. THERE ARE SOME MINOR DIFFERENCES IN AMMENITIES. THE SPRINGFIELD'S FRONT STRAP IS CHECKERED, HAS AN EXTENDED MAG WELL, IT ALSO HAS AN ABIDEXTROUS SAFETY (USELESS IMO) BUT FOR SOME REASON HAS A TWO PIECE GUIDE ROD. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT A ONE PIECE GUIDE ROD WAS MORE DURABLE, I MIGHT BE WRONG. MY POINT BEING THAT BOTH WEAPONS WORK EXTREMELY WELL AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE EXTRA $500 IS WORTH SPENDING ON THE SPRINGFIELD. A KIMBER CUSTOM II IS A GREAT PLATFORM TO BEGIN IN COMPETITION WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK. THE LOADED MODEL SPRINGFIELD FALLS IN THIS SAME CATEGORY, INEXPENSIVE BUT A GREAT SHOOTING GUN.
BrennanKG
Member
I've had good experiences with both brands.
I shoot a Kimber Gold Combat Stainless from Kimber's Custom shop (internal extractor, I believe that makes it Series I). I've owned it for 6 years or so, and other than the strange experience with the Triton CQB rounds that sheared off at the top of the case (anyone else experience that?) my Kimber has shot reliably, and great, regardless of the ammo used and the level of care provided. This is without having ever seen the inside of a gunsmith's shop.
A buddy of mine has a handful of Springfield 1911s. They all shoot great, from the GI to the Professional. His Operator had a few hiccups, but that's part of the 1911 experience for a lot of owners, and those were taken care of by SA's customer service.
My input, either choice is likely to be a good one.
B.
I shoot a Kimber Gold Combat Stainless from Kimber's Custom shop (internal extractor, I believe that makes it Series I). I've owned it for 6 years or so, and other than the strange experience with the Triton CQB rounds that sheared off at the top of the case (anyone else experience that?) my Kimber has shot reliably, and great, regardless of the ammo used and the level of care provided. This is without having ever seen the inside of a gunsmith's shop.
A buddy of mine has a handful of Springfield 1911s. They all shoot great, from the GI to the Professional. His Operator had a few hiccups, but that's part of the 1911 experience for a lot of owners, and those were taken care of by SA's customer service.
My input, either choice is likely to be a good one.
B.
Because of the age of your pistol, it is most likely a "Series I", however an internal extractor is not the indicator of a "Series I" pistol. Technically, there is no such thing as a "Series I" Kimber. They just called any of the newer designed pistols (with the Swartz firing pin safety) Series II. Prior to that point, there were not "Series I" pistols.
Kruzr
Member
At the risk of pointing out a post that conveys misinformation, Kimber stopped making the external extractors in December of last year. All Kimber models except the Team Match (which has always had an external extractor of a different design than those tried in 2004 and 2005,) now have internal extractors. I've heard the Stainless TLE will also retain the external extractor but I haven't seen a new one recently.
BrennanKG
Member
Indeed.
I believe the phrase I should have used was "pre-Series II" although as I intended to imply with the "I believe" caveat, I wasn't sure of the proper nomenclature.
My Kimber is a good one, although I've definitely seen a few bad ones under the same brand.
B.
I believe the phrase I should have used was "pre-Series II" although as I intended to imply with the "I believe" caveat, I wasn't sure of the proper nomenclature.
My Kimber is a good one, although I've definitely seen a few bad ones under the same brand.
B.
Captain America
Member
Any failure ratio of 3-5% in any piece of equipment is generally regarded as an accepted failure ratio. In the media and/or popular opinions, all you hear about is the bad things, often the worst. One has to recognize which it is.
The Kimbers sound as excellent as a good Springfield Loaded. A few custom parts that I am going to have to install on my Springfield, anyway.
The Kimbers sound as excellent as a good Springfield Loaded. A few custom parts that I am going to have to install on my Springfield, anyway.
BrennanKG
Member
Springfields are good shooters, and their warranty puts them heads and shoulders above much of their competition in my book. I'll most likely be using a Springfield as a base for my Ned Christiansen gun. So many firearms desired, so little time, money, and spousal approval.
B.
B.
Captain America
Member
Women spend the same amount on clothes. They just don't save up their money and spend money on planned, well though out purchases like a beautiful 1911 (an undescribable feeling).
It's like what Jack Nicholson said in As Good as it Gets...
To get a woman, you just take a man and lose reason and accountability.
Amen.
They just don't save up their money and spend money on planned, well though out purchases like a beautiful 1911 (an undescribable feeling). It's like what Jack Nicholson said in As Good as it Gets...
To get a woman, you just take a man and lose reason and accountability.
Amen.
birddog
Member
Don't tell that to my wife, whose first handgun purchase was the above-mentioned, and much beloved, and not cheap, Kimber Ultra CDP II.
Captain America
Member
True. I can't say that the stereotype fits all women, your case in point... But "most" women are "most" women.
BrennanKG
Member
Mine likes shoes (Filipeno heritage) purses (all women) and guns, to say nothing of her quilting and scrapbooking. The lady can spend money like the best of them.
B.
B.
- Status