Used Kimber vs New Remington

[lizziedog1]

I spent this morning in Reno. It gave me the opportunity to visit several gun shops.

I have been wnating a 1911 for a long time.

Most of the time I look at the Remingtons and other similarly priced guns. I know you get what you pay for, but my budget limits the number of digits allowed on price tags.

In one store, they have a used Kimber. It is the Stainless Target model. It may have had five hundred rounds through it. It even comes with a spare magazine and factory box. Cost? A shade under 800 bucks, or about the amount for one of new cheaper ones. I might be able to wheel-and-deal a few bucks off of it.

What would you do? Buy the used Kimber or a new 1911?

 

[Martowski]

I would totally buy the used Kimber vs. the new Remington. They'll both be "used" as soon as you shoot the first magazine full anyway, and the stainless Kimber Target will hold much more value long term if you ever want to sell it for something else. That is, providing, the Kimber really is in pristine shape.

I bought a used Classic Custom Target awhile back and love it, FWIW.

 

[Zach S]

If its a series II Kimber, I wouldn't consider it. IMO QC started downhill when they added schwartz safety. But I cant say I'd pay $800 for it, even if it was a series I. The most I've paid was $650, but I've considered one that was just under $700. If I wanted adjustable sights, I might try for $750.

I cant comment on the Remington as I haven't had any interest in one.

 

[lizziedog1]

Two replies that couldn't be more different from each other.

 

[rbernie]

Lots of threads here on Kimber pistols in general, for those that want to read 'em. I have owned a bunch of Kimbers over the last decade, used most all of them pretty well, and never been dissatisfied with any of 'em. Between the two, I'd clearly favor the Kimber.

Having said that - the price for the Kimber seems high; a Stainless Custom II Target should cost around $850 new in most places that I've looked.

 

[Martowski]

I read a lot of criticism online regarding Kimber Series II, but a real question I have is how many of you have had one actually fail? I'm not talking about what many would consider normal 1911 "bugs" (FTF, FTE), but rather actual parts breaking or failure of the trigger to release the hammer and the hammer to strike the pin? And, and what round count?

EVERY manufacturer of EVERY product in the world will have some with defects. But I sense that a lot of the Kimber bashing is more speculation and second-hand information vs. first hand experience. Again, I'm not saying people won't come back and indicate they have had problems, but for every one person with a problem I have seen more than many with none.

 

[mljdeckard]

I'm a Kimber guy, but $800 seems a bit high.

 

[9mmepiphany]

but a real question I have is how many of you have had one actually fail? I'm not talking about what many would consider normal 1911 "bugs" (FTF, FTE),

Just to try to put that myth to rest, those normal 1911 bugs are failures. Properly fitted and maintained 1911s don't usually experience these failures, which are an artifact of cost cutting.

They have somehow become accepted as normal among 1911 owners...but it doesn't make them any less failures. When you choose to spend less or scrimp on maintenance, these failures become more common

 

[csa77]

I own a classic stainless target (series 1). 800$ is about what I paid for it brand new ~12 years ago....that being said there is no way Id sell it. Its too good of a gun for me to let go of. hands down the most accurate handgun gun Iv ever owned and most reliable.

I have around 4,500 rounds though it and I wouldn't even consider 1200$ for this gun.

now this is the only 1911 Iv ever owned so maybe im biased but I have owned one other 45 in my life, a H&K USP 45 and for me the kimber is hands down more accurate and more reliable.

also my kimbers failures in the last 4,500 rounds are just 2 stovepipes. using WWB or UMC bulk from walmart. from my experience that make its leaps and bounds more reliable then the USP i used to own.

 

[RON in PA]

Let me comment about Remington 1911s as I own one (a basic R1) with 1400 rounds through it. It has fed SWC and RN reloads as well as generic ball ammo. It works well with Golden Sabre 230 gr JHP. In fact I can't remember any failures to feed and fire. If there were any it was in the first mag or two. Basically the gun is very reliable and I would bet my life on it as long as factory Remington mags are used. The only problems I've encountered were failures to hold the slide open after the last shot and difficulty dropping the mag. This only occurred with Metalform mags, Remingtons are 100%.

My only other complaint is the series 80 safety that makes the trigger pull less than desirable. A bit of mushy take-up before the final release, but that release is clean. In all fairness the trigger has been getting better as the rounds have accumulated.

The black oxide finish is very nice, much nicer than parkerizing. Workmanship is good, but not great. I have noticed early made Remingtons with poorly finished cast frames, but mine is fine. Hopefully this indicates that Remington has gotten their act together. The sights are good, the mag well beveled and the ejection port lowered.

No comments on Kimbers as i have no experience with them.

 

[lizziedog1]

No comments on Kimbers as i have no experience with them.

An honest man!

 

[Casefull]

Offer 700 for the kimber.

 

[CZ223]

I am not sure of the actual model

that you are looking at so I can't really judge price. The Lower end Kimbers sell for that much new. If however, it is something like the Eclipse model then it is a good deal. I have five Kimbers including a Tac-Pro II, Eclipse Pro Target II, Eclipse Pro II, a stainless Ultra II and, a Blued Ultra II. I bought all of them used and all have been very dependable from the get go other than the first one, the Tac Pro II. I had a hunch that it might not work because it had obviously not been used much and the price was waaay below retail. The short story is that it needed the extractor tuned. A friend of mine did it for $25 and it has run perfectly ever since. The other guns needed no work. Remember, a gun is a machine and, like any machine, needs maintenance. If a part breaks, replace it with a good one and move on. I can not speak to the quality or reliability of the Remington but I will say that a plane Jane government model just doesn't trip my trigger. If you like a full sized gun, take a look at the Ruger or the Taurus. I have two Taurus Duo-tones and they have been 100% reliable and are the most accurate of all the 1911's that I have owned. I like all the bells and whistles.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Get the Kimber. New SS Target models are $950-$1000 new. Try to negotiate the best price you can get. My Custom II has been great. Dead on accurate and reliable out of the box.