While at my weekly range visit to fire my alloted 24 rounds, a fellow shooter asked me if I would like to fire His "New Toy".

The "new Toy" was a Kimber Custom II .45 acp Pistol.
I was impressed with the Pistol and also the price He paid for it (less than $800.).

Any one own one ? Opinions ?

I’ve owned one and my brother has as well. Mine was blued steel and worked just fine. My brother’s gun was stainless. It gave a few function problems. I think he eventually traded it for something else, but I’m not sure. I have never liked the “feel” of Kimber’s grip safety, and their fixed rear sight is a bit of an odd duck. I don’t think other sights are made that will fit in its slot in the slide, if you’d ever want to replace it with something adjustable. Other than that, I liked the pistol just fine. That said, if I were buying a .45 in that price range, I think S&W had some models that you might find on the used market that I would prefer.

Kimbers are decent guns from most reports. However I think they are drastically overpriced, especially for guns that have plastic mainspring housings and only a one year warranty...

I owned one that I ended up giving to my son. It was accurate,reliable and reasonably priced. I think I paid $650 about 15 yrs ago.

Not a fan. MIM parts, over priced and I have heard from many that their customer service is terrible. I would take several other makes over a Kimber although they are pretty!

Colt also sells or sold 1911s with plastic mainspring housings, supposed to save weight or something. Maybe save money for the manufacturer.

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Personally, if I wanted a gun like the Kimber Custom II in that price range, I think I'd rather get the Springfield Armory Ronin Operator, or maybe one of their Range Officer variants. Good quality plus a solid customer service reputation.

Just my opinion.

Kimber makes an okay 1911. But their service isn’t good. And I’m not a fan of mim parts.

For the money Dan Wesson is your best bet. No mim. Each gun is assembled by one gunsmith.

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I have three: 9mm, 45 and 38 Sup. the fit and finish on each is perfect. Function has been stellar with zero issues. The 45 has fixed sights and it shoots to POA! The 9mm has been my go to gamer gun for many years and probably has over 20,000 rounds on the odometer.

I've had zero issues with any MIM parts or the plastic MSH. The 9mm sear and hammer were replaced at around 10,000 rounds with Wilson parts. The MSH was replaced early on for a S/A mag well.

The 38 Super is the most accurate out of the box 1911 I've even shot, under an inch at 25 yards using RMR!!

I have two "Carry II's" that are 100% as well, 9mm and 45!

If you're keeping track that's 5 and none have been returned for any work. I cant say that about Springers or S&W's in my inventory!

Smiles,

I have a custom ii in 10mm auto. My deer gun, although didn't get that opportunity this season. lol
Non custom shop Kimbers are pretty tight from the factory and require a break in (300 rds per manual).
With that said yes I had some issues during the first couple hundred rounds with certain ammo types. Now with some 500 rounds through it haven't had any issues and it's an awesome gun to shoot.

In fact I often CCW it in a Legion Concealment IWB kydex on my 3:30.
There's just something about an all steel 5" 1911 that's very comforting especially in 10mm.

1911s are probably my passion. I have more 1911s than any other platform. I have been building 1911s for more than three decades now.

Kimber offers some very nice 1911s.

I have owned many and I still have some.

One of my favorite carry guns is a Kimber Pro Carry. I had the factory do some checkering for me and then had the pistol finished in KIMPRO

If you are looking for a nice accurate 1911 with adjustable sights, there is the Kimber Gold Match. This is offered as a single stack or as a double stack in blue or stainless. The pistol outperforms the asking price. It is a very fine gun. Mine is the 14+1 round double stack

For the really serious shooter, Kimber has the Super Match. This is an expensive pistol but you probably won't get a custom builder to make one this accurate for what Kimber is asking. This pistol has a removable magazine funnel. Since most of my 1911 magazines do not have base pads on them, I keep the funnel off of my pistol.


Then there is the Kimber Custom Shop that keeps building limited run variants. One of my favorites is the Eclipse. I probably like this one because KIMBER sort of copied the two tone look from Smith & Wesson's 3566 family of autoloaders


Then we have the two tones from the custom shop. The Pro Elite and the Ultra CDP

My favorite Kimber Custom shop piece is the Centennial. Built for the 100th anniversary of the 1911 it has a color case hardened frame, about 20% engraving coverage, Elephant Ivory grips and an adjustable bo-mar style sight. I think only 250 were produced

Jimmy, you are only 140 miles away from me if you want to come over and shoot some of these. That way you can form your own opinion instead of listening to a hundred different anonyms Internet viewpoints

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"Acta non verba"

I had so many problems with Kimbers years ago that I swore off of them. However, in the last couple of years, I've acquired two Kimbers that have become my go-to 1911s in .45ACP.

The first is a Kimber SIS Pro, the civilian version of of LAPD's SIS II. It has a steel frame, so it's almost as heavy as a Government Model but in a Commander size package. It's flat out the most accurate 1911 I've ever owned, even better than my Gold Cup.

The other is a Kimber Super Carry Pro. Top of the line Commander size pistol with round butt alloy frame. Lightweight, easy to carry, and 100% reliable.

I put Crimson Trace grips on both of them, and both are ready at a moments notice.

...and horrible customer service from what I've been told also?

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And.....what really turned me against Kimber are their sales tactics. If you’re a small LGS, they could care less about you. The big box stores get first dibs. My buddies LGS has waited over a year for guns that he ordered.

Also a few years ago when I worked part time at a LGS, two Kimber sales reps walked in and wanted the owner to stock their guns. They were incredulous as to why he didn’t stock any.

They said they are simply the best and you MUST stock their guns on you won’t make any money. Then they went on to tell him that it was a $10,000 buy in and you have no choice as to what guns they send. And you had to sell so many guns to remain a preferred vendor.

No thanks. They are not the best by a loooong shot. A quality 1911 is an investment. Buy smart. Again, Dan Wesson has quietly garnered a stellar reputation for good reason.

Jimmyj, if you want buy it. It’s your choice buddy.

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Also, front cocking serrations and FLGR are turn off for me. They make zero difference in a 1911. All show and no go.

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Owned a Kimber CDP. Fine gun. Accurate, dependable and beautiful. I paid $1200 for it when they came out. Nice gun. I liked it. Had to sell it.
Came time to buy another 1911, so I went shopping. Really looked and compared. Finally took a chance and bought one. Accurate and dependable. Just like the Kimber. Not beautiful but it's a packer and a shooter not a BBQ gun. I actually like this one better. It actually is more accurate. Got a RIA in 9mm. Paid exactly half what I did for the Kimber.
I would shoot several 1911s before you buy one. See what features you like on different guns. Find the one you like the best. And don't worry so much about the make. Personally until you get over the $1500 range where all the guns are hand fitted by one genetically enhanced super intelligent monkey with a laser on his head, everyone sends out a lemon now and then.

They are a decent 1911, but the superfluous Schwartz safety is a deal breaker.

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213th FBINA

I have the Kimber Custom II .45 ACP.

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My real handgun passions are N frames with calibers that start with a 4, and 1911's. I own a fair number of both, and most of my 1911's are Kimbers.

Don't own the exact model you are asking about, but do own six that are the "II" models with the firing pin safety. All have been accurate and reliable, and well made and finished. Personally, the plastic MSH does not bother me, but is cheap to replace for those it does. The firing pin safety is activated by the grip safety, and does not effect the trigger pull.

Kimber does make them tight, and some may need a couple hundred rounds to loosen up some and be reliable, but it is also this tight build that contributes to their accuracy.

Had one that was unreliable feeding - it was obviously a too tight extractor, which I fixed myself in about 5 minutes.

My only experience with their CS was when I sent them a .22 conversion slide I had purchased used, that was accurate but an unreliable feeder on several frames. They sent me back a new one, with a spare magazine, no questions asked. It works like it should.

Most gun shops sell them for less than retail, and I think they are excellent guns for the money. Is a Les Baer or Dan Wesson nicer? Yes, but also double or more the price. All MHO, of course.

Attached is a photo of my latest - an Aegis Elite Pro in .45 with a factory milled slide and Vortex Venom red dot sight. Steel frame, Commander sized with a rounded butt. Great shooter. This particular gun does not have the FP safety, and other models w/o the safety are available if that is your druthers.

Larry

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I guess I will have to be a little bit contrary. I have been using Kimber pistols for nearly 20 years. Kimber Custom CDP, Pro Carry, TLE, all in .45ACP. Every one has been outstanding, reliable, and very accurate. I have called on Kimber customer service one time, sent in a pistol, and had it returned to me in exactly 8 days, problem solved, couple of springs replaced due to wear, and new night sights installed (the originals were dimmed a bit).

Kimber offers production pistols incorporating a wide range of features that were largely available only from custom makers for years. I would not try to compare Kimbers to top-drawer shops like Les Baer and a few others, but I will compare them to production Colts with positive remarks.

My other 1911 pistols range from a 1914 Commercial Colt, 1917 Springfield Armory, 1918 Remington-UMC, 1918 Colt "black army", 1927 transitional Colt, 1938 Super .38, WW2 1911A1's (Colt, Remington-Rand, Ithaca, US&S), a Series 70 Government Model, Colt Commander, Combat Commander, a 1991A1, and a Service Model Ace .22. I think I have an adequate sampling for comparison.

My choice for daily carry since about 2004 is the Kimber Custom CDP, and I think very highly of it.

If I knew they came with a cheese stick/slim Jim combo I would have bought one years ago,

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I have two 1911's. One is a blued Kimber Gold Match II. Yes it has a poly mainspring housing but that's easy to replace.

I find it to be a very high quality piece in fit and finish. I got it from Kentucky Gun about 4 years ago as a "display" model but it didn't look like it was handled at all. I gave $900 for it. I think it was well worth it.

My other is a Springfield Stainless Loaded Target in 9mm. It's a good gun but I'd call the Kimber the better gun. But it's close.

I've had more trouble with the Springfield without a firing pin safety than the Kimber with it. But SA's customer service is about the best in the business from my experience and they fixed it right up.

Really, I am happy with both.

Another happy Kimber owner. I currently own 6 and have had no issues with any of them. Each have functioned 100% from the first shot. I’ve only had one occasion to talk to customer service and that was to get a faulty 38 super magazine replaced. Their customer service was excellent and replaced the magazine promptly without question.

I own and have owned quite a few other makes of 1911’s including some high priced custom ones and still own one. Certainly you’ll get more in a custom gun but you’re going to pay several times that. For a high quality production gun Kimber is hard to beat.

I’m a cheapskate and have never paid anywhere close to retail for any gun. I shop around and bought all of my Kimber’s well below retail. Several times I’ve gone out to buy a new 1911 with the idea I’d like a new Colt and all but one time I returned with a Kimber. Side by side, Kimbers are tighter, better triggers, better finished and more features for the dollar. I currently own one Colt 38 super LW Commander. The commander is loose. The slide is loose and the barrel bushing will fall out if you turn the muzzle down when disassembling. Also there’s essentially no blending of edges and surfaces. On the other hand my Limbers are tight and blended nicely. My Eclipse Target 38 super was so tight when new I almost couldn’t get the barrel bushing out. Let me say this gun is probably the most accurate of any of my guns including custom.

I’ll add that I’m a fan of Springfield also and feel they make an excellent gun. I own a couple and feel they’re every bit as good as a Kimber. My colt is a good gun but is disappointing in fit and finish.

As to plastic mainspring housings and MIM parts, Colt uses MIM also and my commander had a plastic mainspring housing which I replaced.

Search around for good prices. It’s a little harder to find discounts right now but lower prices will return when the insanity subsides.

I bought a Kimber Ultra Elite in 1999. Liked it and had no real problems but I had a couple customer service questions. I tried numerous times to get my questions answered and never even got an acknowledgement from Kimber. Not a company I want to deal with. Finally gave it to my son.

My 1911 now is a Sig Ultra. Love it, no problems and great customer service!

Not all Kimbers have the Schwartz safety, only those marked with "II" as in Custom TLE II, etc. Both of my Kimbers, a Custom Shop Super Carry Pro and SIS Pro, do not have the firing pin (Schwartz) safety.

Stainless II cost me $450.. My carry is a Stainless Pro $525 great guns.. owned many other Kimbers.

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I got one of the 10mm Custom II GFO models on Gunbroker 2 years ago for $640 (the shot show special model). Would not feed; ramp and chamber had to be polished & radiused, breech face needed stoned, and the usual trigger job.

The good news....it’s tight, accurate, and now feeds a variety of hollow points.

Good gun, just needed a bit of refinement. If you’re capable and have a few hours time....

KIMBER Super carry, I love it!!

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