possum
Member
kimber has been having and plaqued by alot of qc problems, it would be sometime before i ever think about a kimber.
Which is better COLT or KIMBER
- Thread starter paulk
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I asked a local High Volume Gunstore why they don't carry Colt M1911's anymore.
The reply was that the Colt was too expensive, and they were embarrassed to sell them at that price when they "were not that well made".
I assume that they were referring to how loose a Colt M1911 is compared to a Springfield or Kimber.
I know that the bargin basement Springfield GI M1911's that I picked up have a tighter frame to slide fit than the average series 80 model.
The unfortunate fact is that Colt has let its tooling and capitial equipment wear out.
You can look at the 2006 production numbers from the ATF, http://www.atf.gov/firearms/stats/afmer/afmer2006.pdf
Colt made 11534 pistols larger than 9mm, I suspect that most of those were Colt SAA for the Cowboy action shooters, and Kimber made 57, 851.
The market was walked away from Colt as much as Colt has walked away from the market.
They are making their money on the M4 military contracts.
The reply was that the Colt was too expensive, and they were embarrassed to sell them at that price when they "were not that well made".
I assume that they were referring to how loose a Colt M1911 is compared to a Springfield or Kimber.
I know that the bargin basement Springfield GI M1911's that I picked up have a tighter frame to slide fit than the average series 80 model.
The unfortunate fact is that Colt has let its tooling and capitial equipment wear out.
You can look at the 2006 production numbers from the ATF, http://www.atf.gov/firearms/stats/afmer/afmer2006.pdf
Colt made 11534 pistols larger than 9mm, I suspect that most of those were Colt SAA for the Cowboy action shooters, and Kimber made 57, 851.
The market was walked away from Colt as much as Colt has walked away from the market.
They are making their money on the M4 military contracts.
smokingun45
Member
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2008
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- 15
Sig 226/220
1911NM
Member
Chevy.
I have a Kimber, but still would like a pony gun
I have a Kimber, but still would like a pony gun
clemsonu0219
Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2008
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- 237
Kimber, almost everyone of their guns are solid. Which one(s) are you looking at? I also believe that with Colt you are paying for the name more so than the quality.
A buddy of mine sent his Colt 1911 back to Colt to have some work done. Had the pistol for a few years, what a shooter, he just wanted a little custom stuff done. They screwed it up royally, then wouldn't stand behind what they did. Not in any way. I'll never put a dime in Colt's pocket in any way. Period.
Zach S
Member
Whis is why I specified series I kimbers. And Colts.
I will agree with that! If you want to make your Colt a reliable pistol, send it to people who know how to make a reliable M1911: Wilson Combat Arms.
This pistol peened its first frame out in less than 3000 rounds. While Colt replaced the frame, they did not fix the out of tolerance problem that was causing too early of an unlock. And Colt’s warranty was around one year, so it was only a matter of time till I needed another frame. But Wilson Combat made it right, and while the pistol was visiting, I had them add things. And everything works the way it should, in fact better.
This barrel is an example of Colt’s Finest. This was on a high dollar Colt TargetMaster. If you notice, there is a shadow in the barrel, just in the machined groove between the lugs. That is not a coincidence, that ring is a manufacturing defect. In the cutting of the groove, Colt somehow constricted the barrel.
It actually shot well, as well as you can expect an out of the box Colt M1911 to shoot.
Still, the little Pony on the side will keep the value of the firearm high. Even if the Chinese start making them with the Colt trademark.
My two Colt Government Models worked fine; my three Kimbers required parts replacement to be reliable, and none worked with their factory-supplied magazines. My Kimbers were from the glory days, before the external extractors and internal firing-pin safeties, but that did not make mine great. Kimber struck out with me, and I will not waste my money on another; I don't like project guns. I have two friends who also bought Kimbers; one likes his, the other had multiple problems and also had bad experience with Kimber's customer service. I don't care how pretty their ads are, I will stay away from Kimber.
Hunter0924
Member
Colt does build a quality pistol using quality metals.
For a dealer to say "Colt was too expensive, and they were embarrassed to sell them at that price when they were not that well made" leads me to believe they have no idea what they are talking about.
Most dealers push what they make the most money on, the mark up on Kimbers is much higher.
I prefer Colt myself.
For a dealer to say "Colt was too expensive, and they were embarrassed to sell them at that price when they were not that well made" leads me to believe they have no idea what they are talking about.
Most dealers push what they make the most money on, the mark up on Kimbers is much higher.
I prefer Colt myself.
XavierBreath
Member
Colberfield
MaterDei
Member
Kimber, Ford, Green, PC, Coke, Texas
Simply the best.
Simply the best.
MICHAEL T
Member
Well I had both Colts and Kimber. I gave the Kimber to my X wife . They both have a lot in common They Look good but unrelieable. My Colts are a stone cold relieable
hanno
Member
I've owned a Colt Series 80 since 1997 and a Kimber Classic Custom Target since 1999. Both have had a lot of rounds through them and neither one has ever given me a problem. If I were to buy another, it would probably be a Colt since they tend to hold their value.
I was all set to buy a Kimber SIS Ultra tonight, but rejected both samples my dealer had. Both had rust on the muzzle and the finish on the thumb safeties was thin or missing. There were also places on the slide where it was obvious that dust was present during the application of the KimPro finish.
For a tag price of just over $1,300, these guns should never have left Yonkers.
For a tag price of just over $1,300, these guns should never have left Yonkers.
gbran
Member
Never owned a Kimber, but I sure like my Colt.
steelyblue
Member
2007 Dodge Charger, 2003 Chevy Suberban, Kimber Eclipse Target II
The Eclipse is the only one my wife is jealous of!
The Eclipse is the only one my wife is jealous of!
MT GUNNY
Member
Dodge S&W
outerlimit
Member
I like Colts. And I hate Fords.
IZinterrogator
Member
A few months back when my brother was in town, we went shooting, his Kimber CDP vs. my Colt Gunsite CCO. We both were shooting tight groups, but he had several FTRBs. Good thing my Christmas present to him was a Colt CCO. Oh, and I had just gotten back from Iraq, so my Colt hadn't been cleaned or oiled in 11 months, so it wasn't a lack of maintenance on the part of his Kimber.
I've been shooting Colt's since the 1970's. Colt had a lot of QC problems then, and they've just gotten worse over the years.
For decades, Colt dominated the 1911 market. But in a relatively short period of time, Kimber has risen rapidly to the top and dumped Colt as the number one seller of 1911's.
There's a good reason Kimber became #1 so quickly---they produce a better made and more reliable weapon than Colt. I've owned several of both, and my first 1911 was a Colt. However, Kimber has made me a believer.
The Kimber II's put the Colt Series 80's to shame.
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