which 1911?

[1911WB]

1911s

For a novice to 1911s I think the advice given about SA is on target. Their GI and Milspec models are about the best basic models you can buy. A really important consideration is that the 1911 pistol was disigned as a 5" model- once you start going shorter, problems can and do appear. As you become more sophisticated and knowledgeable about 1911s, & develop some problem solving skills, moving to shorter barrels, different calibers, etc. can occur. Good luck with what can rapidly become an obsession!

 

[2TransAms]

You can get a used Dan Wesson Pointman for under $600 if you keep an eye out. All the upgrades and great quality. I have two and I love them. And they shoot every bit as well as my Kimbers.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

So out of 8-10 pistols from Kimber and Springfield, not one of them worked to your satisfaction?

I am going to recount the guns and their problems to the best of my ability (this goes back over a 8 to 10 year period):

Springfield Loaded: Would not feed rounds without occasional jams, would not go fully into battery (maybe 4 or 5 times out of a hundred).

Springfield Micro-Compact: same problem as above, but would also lock the mag back while it still had rounds in the magazine.

Springfield Mil-Spec: Terrible jams, both FTF and FTE.

Kimber Custom: Stove-pipe city

Kimber Compact (or whatever they call the 4 inch barrel, full length frame model): Could not reliably feed or eject (worse than the Springfield).

Kimber Target 10 mm: Terrible jams, both FTF and FTE, too numerous to count.

Kimber TLE II: Could feed hardball ok most of the time, but did terrible with anything else.

That is 7 guns total that I can recall off the top of my head.

Anyway, I don't own any Kimbers or Springfields now, nor will I ever. I have 4 Colts, one Smith and Wesson, and a Wilson now, and none of these 6 have issues.

Maybe I just had bad luck with Springfields and Kimbers, but I am not making any of this stuff up. On the plus side, the Kimber Target model was probably the most accurate 1911 I have ever owned, including the Wilson, but who cares if its a jam-o-matic?

 

[Three Man]

Sounds like magazine or extractor tension problems to me.

Were the Kimbers Gen 1 or 2?
Were the same magazines used in all these pistols?

Springfields are known for questionalble extractors but other than that they are great 1911's but lose there value so fast and I don't know why. Maybe due to high mark up?

A used standard 5" 1911 from Colt, springfield, Kimber or S&W would be a good start.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Sounds like magazine or extractor tension problems to me.

Then I am either unlucky or Kimber needs to work on this problem.

I think all of the kimbers were series II.

I have problem 20 or 30 Wilson and McCormick mags, so no the same mags were not always used.

However the same mags I used with the Kimbers and Springfields have been used with the Colts, S&W, and Wilson without problems.

Its not a mag problem, I assure you. It could be extractor problems, but I Kimber and Springfield couldnt fix it (or didnt anyway) if it was.

 

[res1b3uq]

Problems

Dang!! You guys are beginning to make my old West Hurley Auto Ord. look pretty good.

 

[AndyC]

Heck - that is terrible. I had a Norinco 1911a1 on which I had a carry-package fitted and a reliability-job done before I even picked it up - best damn .45 I ever owned. Pity they're not available here any more.

 

[Zen21Tao]

The 1911 I always recommend for those on a budget is the Norinco. They can be found for as little as $350 but are excellent quality. They are made in China but are made from solid forged steel not cheap alloy and are 100% to spec with the Colt 1911-A1 so all aftermarket 1911 parts will work on it. The durability and interchangability with 1911 parts makes it a great platform to use to build up a match shooter later as well. As for accuracy, many (including myself) say that the accuracy is on par with $2000+ match grade shooters. I have one and I absolutely love it.

Here's a pic of my Norinco

 

[KC&97TA]

I've got a Kimber TLE, it's a little girl and likes to be clean and lubed, other than that it's a great gun. TLE will run you a bit more out the door but you get a little bit extra, the Base Model Custom II will cost you around $700.

The Springfield Mil Spec, is another great gun, doesn't comes with a standard beavertail, crappy old sites, but after the rear site is replaced with a target site, it's a good shooter. Think they retail around $660.

I don't like the Springfield WW II model.

Kimbers come with the MIM parts, so what... Most replace the slide stops with a Wilson or Ed Brown anyway, along with the saftey and Kimber Mags just suck, so you'll be getting a hand full of Wilsons, everyone knows this, it's like baby's comeing home from the hospitial with cheap dipers on.

My Kimber TLE after 6k+ rounds, will still bench a 1-1/4" group with 5 shots @ 25 yards, my trigger has been tuned to exactly 4lb 10oz, I just love that gun.

If you can find a used Colt 1911, jump on it, they're great, I'm still looking for a Combat Commander, the 1911 gun smiths love to work on them just out of tradition.