kimber 1911 -Any good?

[GONAVY]

I have 4 kimber's and they are all reliable. For me, best buy on the market. The prices have escalated alot since the election. 850$ doesn't bother me for a kimber.
Many friends who shoot IDPA utilize kimber's. One friend in particular has now put 50,000 rounds through his and the only thing he has changed was the recoil spring. He continues to blast away.
I have seen more trouble with colt's and custom rigs than kimbers. My 2 cents.

 

[Spotteddog]

I've had three, now only have one. I gave my Son my CDP "G" length. He's used it for 6 years now. I purchased a CDP Ultra that my BIL took a shine to after all of his were stolen, so that's where another one went. The only issue was a slide stop failure on the 5" CDP @ about the 750 round count. The Ultra's REALLY don't like too much oil! All have been more accurate than their owner is. Wilson mag's for insurance. I don't know what prices are like in your area, but nearly nothing sells for what it did a year ago! So what's being charged is a function of your desire and comfort level anymore.

 

[John Kelly]

I think they really made other manufacturers create a better and more diverse product.
I own a TLE II and it is a fine gun.
Buy the Kimber and don't look back.
If you have problems they WILL stand behind their product.
Are they better than a Colt/Springer/SIG/S&W, I don't know. But mine and many like it have done very well.

 

[oliver507]

Dear PJ,
Some here like the Kimbers and smoe don't.
Personally I like them (own or have owned 4+),
sombody wanted to several of them for more than they were worth to me so they now own them. I still carry one of the two I still have every day along with my M-49. I have shot IDPA with both as well as a M-27 Glock. The CDP-II and the Ultra Carry have served me flawlessly. So if you like the gun then you ought to acquire it at what you think is a fair/reasonable price. $850 sounds close to me but this advice is free and is probably worth what you paid for it.

 

[Farmer17]

I had a Kimber Custom II with the external extractor and Schwarz firing pin safety. It was an excellent gun in every way possible... great trigger, machining, tolerances, and controls. Very accurate and 100% reliable during several thousand rounds.

 

[Joe in SC]

I had a stainless gold match that was very accurate. I aquired a les baer premier II and didn't need both. The baer came with 1 1/2" guarentee at 50 yds. Truthfully the kimber gold match was almost as accurate. It was one of the first series. I would buy kimber again in a skinny minute. As someone else said,kimber raised the bar on all other production manufactures.

 

[safearm]

I had a TLE II that wouldn't keep the rounds on the paper at 25 yards; I traded it for a Desert Warrior that was probably the best full-size 1911 I've ever owned. Sometimes you get a bad one, but in my limited experience, Kimber is a good buy.

 

[Jellybean]

I believe Kimber makes a good 1911.
I also believe they're over rated and over priced. I have shot them, but don't own one.

I've been a fan of the 1911s well before they were a status symbol and built a few in the '80s. I don't own a Kimber but have shot them, which is why I don't own any. I too feel they are over rated and over priced.

 

[perrazi]

in my part of the world, the dealers won't hardly trade for a used one due to the issues already stated. for what is supposed to be a major builder of 1911 guns, there are way to many bad ones for me.

 

[mroyal98]

I can't really buy into the folks that say overpriced and over-rated. I bought a match grade Kimber pistol for just over a grand and a S&W match grade from Performance Center would have been a heck of a lot more than that. I have had absolutely no problems at all with everything I've fed it, it is a tack driver for anyone with any skills that shoot it, and honestly I consider it to be the finest gun that I (in my limited experience) have ever shot and/or owned.
Of course, your mileage may vary, but you won't convince me differently.
For reference, my S&Ws are a 910 (that doesn't shoot that straight but I still like it's rapid fire) and a 637 (which surprises me constantly with it's accuracy).

 

[jonnyringo]

Colt and customized Springfields for me. I have known of several unhappy Kimber customers. I m sure there are some good ones out there too. I did have one Springfield Compact that wouldn't detonate CCI primers.

 

[lev83]

Price may be a little on high side and Kimber QC is somewhat in question but there is no doubt they make a good looking gun. Main consideration is to be certain gun has the internal extractor.

 

[captqc]

I own two kimbers (Tac Pro II, and Gold Combat)
the Tac Pro II has the dreaded external extractor and has performed 100%. Both guns have excellent fit and finish and have not failed once. I owned a Springfield before the Kimber and the fit and finish was not as good (sharp edges, looser slide to frame, etc). On this and every other gun forum you'll see people who say this gun or that is a piece of junk but in all honesty all manufactured products vary (some a little, some a lot) I know, I'm a quality manager. Kimbers usually are worth the money but as with any manufacturer you could have something go wrong. Some people will say "get a Glock" 100%, blah, blah but here in Portland our cops had two blow up. The bottom line is check it out play with it and if it floats your boat buy it. Gary

 

[7003006]

I've owned three,stainless gold match,ultra cdp and an eclipse in 10mm the first two were/are outstanding,the eclipse was terrible.

 

[Gov]

Kimber Custom TLE II owner here.

Love it. No FTF/FTE in several thousand rounds. It is a daily carrier, and trusted arm.

The "II" means it has a schwartz (firing pin) safety ... AKA "Series 80" style pistol... not that it has an external extractor, as previously posted.

I do have a friend with a "horrible" Kimber... so they exist... Their particular model is an Eclipse II with an external extractor, and it has had some problems going into full battery (obviously a problem on the 1911!) Not sure if it is an ammo, maintenance or defect issue with theirs.

$850 for a used Target II sounds high. I'd suggest offering 60 to 70 percent of MSRP, depending on the amount of use /abuse (less for more use and / or having an external extractor.)

 

[beemerrider]

Between my two sons and I, we've got about 14 1911's; 2 in .38 Super and the rest in .45acp. and they range from a civilian Colt model made in about about 1927 to my Gold Cup, a Kimber Pro Carry, 3 Wilson's, a Springfield TRP, an Ed Brown Kobra Carry and several others. If I had it pick the top 5; it would be:
1. Ed Browm
2. Wilson CQB in .38 Super
3. Wilson CQB in .45 ACP
4. 70's Series Gold Cup
5. Springfield TRP

It's hard to pinpoint the reasons why my choices line up the way they do. I've shot thousands of rounds thru my Goldcup I had custom tuned by the legendary Jim Clark, now deceased and I've put lots of rounds through the others of as well. They are all reliable, accurate, and I think it comes down to "feel" and confidence. I would try some different guns, buy "the best one you can reasonably afford" and ask others' opinions like you are doing. I doubt you'll go wrong with any of my top five, or a Kimber, Nighthawk or a few others. Strongly consider a used model of any of these that is a "low mileage" pistol. You can easily save 20-40% if you shop well, and end up with a pistol that may have less than 500 rounds through it. Best of luck to you. Email in profile if I can help you. beemerrider.

 

[Onomea]

Bee, I realize it's a personal preference, but why do you like the Ed Brown more than your Wilsons? (And how come no Les Baers?)

 

[crofoot629]

Patrick,
I think if you read all of the replies you've gotten a very accurate answer to your question of are Kimbers "any good". They ore "ok".

They do have a poor reputation for customer service as well, which is too bad considering they are "ok" and not too infrequently need the attention of customer service.

My two cents? There is no free lunch and you get what you pay for. It takes the better part of $1500 and up to get a top drawer 1911. Wilson combat, Les Baer, Springfield Armory, and Ed Brown are some obvious choices that come to mind.

Myself, I really can't stand Kimbers. Some of my dislike is objective and some rather personal and completely subjective. Subjectively they've done more to uglify 1911's then all others combined. I loathe their melted models and different color scheme models. There was once a time when a blued slide and a hard chromed frame actually looked good. No more with all of Kimbers different colored beavertial/slidestop/thumb safety/slide/frame color configurations and way too melted lines of some of their "dehorned" pistols. I also find it hard to stomach the rube who thinks he has something special because it's a Kimber.

Objectively, Swartz safeties, external extractors, spotty quality control, guns that won't run and poor customer service are deal breakers.

Hope this helps.

Emory

 

[beemerrider]

ONOMEA AND CROWFOOT629:

I like the Ed Brown because it's a Commander size (1" short slide; full-length grip) and it has Ed's proprieary "bob-tail", where he angle cuts the bottom of the mainspring housing, both of which make the pistol easier to coneal. I picked the two-tone with their stock wood grips, which are very attractive. I love the gun in every respect; lots of rounds downrange & no hitches. My son with the Springfield loves it and is getting one. This takes nothing away from Wilson. One of my Wilson's is a full-size CQB in .45 and has always done everything asked with no problems; oh, one time the Wilson medalion fell out of one of the grips and they offered to have me ship the grips to them for repair and I said no problem, I really appreciated the kind offer, but just tell me what kind of glue I should use and I'd save us both the time and effort. My other Wilson is an Officer's size, really nice, shoots great and I find I need to practice more often and work harder on my end to maintain my satisfactory level of accuracy from this pistol than I do from a Commander size 1911. This is due to the size of pistol, it's recoil characteristics and my level of discipline in practicing, so I've opted to practice a little less; not much, and shoot and carry the Brown. And in my opinion the Brown Kobra Carry looks "Cooler" and the same opinion would tell you the products and companies are equal; just different. I've read their catalogs, looked at their sites, talked to their people on the phone and spent considerable time with each at the Shot Show.
Les Bear, huh? You're really trying to get me in deep "you know" with Mrs. beemernon-rider aren't you? They make great 1911's right along with Brown and Wilson and I was doing great, had the model(s) all picked out and everything while eyeing their Shot Show specials, when my sons reminded me that should I consummate the sale, their mother would "consummate something akin to one or two levels beyond waterboarding on me, but that she might not stop to do any actual interogating; just hose me. Stay tuned; if I catch her in a weak moment, I might get one. I've had them apart; they are incredibly well done and you'll wonder how they even work when you feel how tight they are; but they do, and quite well. The "Big Three of 1911's"

Hope the humor and my experience help you out.


TO: Crowfoot629

You and I seem to be of a like mind on 1911's. That's Oregonians' for ya.

Take care,

Lynn

 

[patrick james]

Thanks to all for the reply.I went a head and bought the Kimber primarly because he's a good friend and his wife just lost her job.He said he's house payment was more important than his new pistol.As us Smith & Wesson owner know I'm not crazy about the internal saftey.Thats the reason I never owned a series 80 Colt.I have to say of the many gun and knife forum I visit you guys and gals are about the most knowledgeable group I've have ran across.I really don't have that many Smiths but every morning this the first forum I go to.Thanks again PJ