Kimber 1911 ??
- Thread starter Doug44
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My 2 son's and younger brother each have a Kimber that had once belonged to my late brother in law. Two are in 45acp and the third is a 9mm, my favorite to shoot is the 9mm. I think they are nice but you could certainly find a 1911 that performs just at well for considerably less money.
Trooper224
Member
They're junk. Kimber does a great job at putting lipstick on a pig.
03hemi
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Great guns as long as they're working, just don't expect any customer service. They're known for shirking their warranty work by blaming the end user for breaking the gun. This info is from 3 different gun shops, no personal experience. I'd look at the "E" Series or Performance Center .45acp Lightweights from Smith or the Sig C3 for that kind of money, myself. These are mine but I don't have the PC yet, most under valued guns in the market.
Fishinfool
Member
My favorite brand of 1911. I own seven at last count. No issues with any of them, and they all get shot. My most accurate .45 1911, out of a bunch, is a Kimber "Custom Target" - an $800 gun. My one dealing with CS / Repair, on a used .22 conversion kit, was beyond what was expected.
Price wise, they start at under $800 for a full featured, basic model, and can go higher depending on the model and options.
I wouldn't keep buying them if they didn't work well. They are not "junk"
Larry
Price wise, they start at under $800 for a full featured, basic model, and can go higher depending on the model and options.
I wouldn't keep buying them if they didn't work well. They are not "junk"
Larry
I asked a similar question about a Kimber 1911, one of those newer snazzy-lookin' ones and got pretty much the same answers as you. These guys will protect your money for you, which I appreciate very much. Don't rely on gun magazine reviews. Photography and embellished journalism can sell you a nice Yugo (car.)
I've owned a Pro CDP for a long time and love it! Mine is an early 1st series gun and it's been trouble free. I talked a friend into buying an identical one a few years ago and he likes his too. I've seen a few others at shows and you may be better off with an older gun instead of a new one. The first series don't have a firing pin safety and I think the quality was better. You will want to replace the recoil spring every 100-1500 rounds, especially with an alloy frame gun.
Mine has one of the nicest triggers of any 1911 I've shot. It's almost scary light and I have inadvertently double tapped at the range when I got a little sloppy. It's on the bottom right in the photo. Ignore the other stuff…
Mine has one of the nicest triggers of any 1911 I've shot. It's almost scary light and I have inadvertently double tapped at the range when I got a little sloppy. It's on the bottom right in the photo. Ignore the other stuff…
UncleEd
Member
Take a look, consider Springfield
Armory, Colt and Ruger as well.
For just a casual range gun, might
also consider Rock Island Armory.
And strongly consider a 9mm over
a .45ACP; cheaper to shoot and more
pleasant to shoot.
Armory, Colt and Ruger as well.
For just a casual range gun, might
also consider Rock Island Armory.
And strongly consider a 9mm over
a .45ACP; cheaper to shoot and more
pleasant to shoot.
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I have a full-size TLE II from some time ago. I don't recall exactly how old it is. I don't have any trouble with it as far as accuracy and function. It's a good gun. There are things about it I changed because I didn't like the original equipment - notably the grip safety, which feels awkward to me. Based on my gun and the firsthand reports from friends, I wouldn't be afraid to buy another Kimber.
Two things come to mind here. Yes, Kimber does devote time and effort into machining various decorative features into their pistols. Likewise with decorative finishes. You either like that or you don't, but either way, this does not come for free. As to the lightweight thing, I would not buy any aluminum-framed handgun principally for range use. For a gun that will serve as a range and carry gun, yes, but for purely a target weapon, no. I'd want a steel frame.
All this FWIW. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Two things come to mind here. Yes, Kimber does devote time and effort into machining various decorative features into their pistols. Likewise with decorative finishes. You either like that or you don't, but either way, this does not come for free. As to the lightweight thing, I would not buy any aluminum-framed handgun principally for range use. For a gun that will serve as a range and carry gun, yes, but for purely a target weapon, no. I'd want a steel frame.
All this FWIW. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Inusuit
Member
I own several 1911s including a Springfield I used in IPSC competition. I bought a Kimber Stainless lightweight about 2 years. Out of the box, it feeds everything including FMJ, defensive hollow points, and my 200 grain SWC reloads. About 500 rounds without a single failure, not something I can say about the Springfield or the Colts.
As with any maker short of full custom guns, you can get occasionally get a lemon. My Kimber is definitely not "junk." This one was on sale at Sportsmans Warehouse for $699.
As with any maker short of full custom guns, you can get occasionally get a lemon. My Kimber is definitely not "junk." This one was on sale at Sportsmans Warehouse for $699.
I've owned two Raptors (a 4" Pro and a full size) and they both run flawlessly. I've heard all the negativity but when it comes right down to it, they'll ALL have some problems if you see a post on the interweb and read the replies. 
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double-dipper
Member
I have a Kimber micro and its one of my favorite CCW pistols to carry. Never had an issue with it not going BANG, FTF or FTE!!!
Way back when they were "Kimber of Oregon" and "Kimber of America" they made outstanding guns and had a very good reputation.
Opinions will very on Kimber just like Remington. I still remember the old Kimber guns as being very good guns.
I understand now they are/maybe/will be relocating to Troy Alabama.
Way back when they were "Kimber of Oregon" and "Kimber of America" they made outstanding guns and had a very good reputation.
Opinions will very on Kimber just like Remington. I still remember the old Kimber guns as being very good guns.
I understand now they are/maybe/will be relocating to Troy Alabama.
Marshal Tom
Member
I have owned one and shot several others. I think they are over priced. I have heard nothing good about their customer service. They have MIM parts. I think the older ones were better than the newer models. I would consider several other brands before Kimber. We had a 9mm as part of the shooting program arsenal where I worked and it was one of the favorites of the guests. It ran flawlessly.
I have 2 KIMBER 1911 in .45acp. The old one was carry gun for many years , never a problem. New one is collector item engraved ,not shot much but no problem so far . BOTH EXTREMELY ACCURATE at 25 yards.
4barrel
Member
I own two and really like them both, tight package and great shooters. For what it's worth, LAPD SWAT carry the Custom TLE II, which will easily fetch $1200 plus. One of mine is the two-tone Custom II, I picked it up at an auction for $625, I got lucky since they had a bunch of them. The only difference between it and the TLE is night sights and checkering on the grip.
Also picked up a Stainless LW with the slide cut and Vortex Venom installed at the factory, also a great shooting gun. I got it for $700, and since the Venom regularly sells for $250, I think I got a good deal.
I've heard you can get lemons from Kimber, but don't know of any personally, I think that's probably true for any manufacturer.
Deals are out there, you just have to keep looking.
Also picked up a Stainless LW with the slide cut and Vortex Venom installed at the factory, also a great shooting gun. I got it for $700, and since the Venom regularly sells for $250, I think I got a good deal.
I've heard you can get lemons from Kimber, but don't know of any personally, I think that's probably true for any manufacturer.
Deals are out there, you just have to keep looking.
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muzzleblast
Member
I've owned a Pro CDP for a long time and love it! Mine is an early 1st series gun and it's been trouble free. I talked a friend into buying an identical one a few years ago and he likes his too. I've seen a few others at shows and you may be better off with an older gun instead of a new one. The first series don't have a firing pin safety and I think the quality was better. You will want to replace the recoil spring every 100-1500 rounds, especially with an alloy frame gun.
Mine has one of the nicest triggers of any 1911 I've shot. It's almost scary light and I have inadvertently double tapped at the range when I got a little sloppy. It's on the bottom right in the photo. Ignore the other stuff…
Nice Kimber... But, the pair of Steyr GBs can't be ignored as "other stuff..."
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kimber is the most talked about brand by people who have never even held one much less owned and fired one. Most kimber owners own two or more of them .Take with a big grain of salt what you may read on the internet.
Black69
Member
My son had one with the crimson trace laser. I had a Ruger Sr1911. We went shooting and his would fail to feed ball ammo about every 5th round. He liked my Ruger better than his Kimber and ended trading his for a Glock 19.
Black69
Member
My son had one with the crimson trace laser. I had a Ruger Sr1911. We went shooting and his would fail to feed ball ammo about every 5th round. He liked my Ruger better than his Kimber and ended trading his for a Glock 19.
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