I have 3 Kimbers and I love them all. Having said that, two of them were completely customized by Coal Creek Armory before I bought them, including the Melonite QPQ/Isonite finish. The stock gun doesn't shoot quite as well as the modified ones, but that's to be expected when you consider the price difference and all of the best aftermarket parts that were installed. I've heard a couple stories of MIM parts breakage, but I've never seen it happen. To me, it's just another thing for people to complain about for no apparent reason. All of my 1911's shoot great. I have a full-custom Cylinder & Slide 1911 with Caspian Arms frame and slide, plus all the best parts and hand-fitting, and it doesn't really shoot much different than my other 1911's, although it's a real work of art. I can't personally shoot as well as many of my guns are capable of, or even as well as I could 30 years ago, but to me, the S&W, Kimber, Colts, SIG and Springfield 1911's all shoot great. Back in the early 1980's, I had an Auto-Ordnance, and it seemed to have a very loose slide-to-frame fit, but I don't have it anymore to compare. I can't see much difference between any of them. My Doug Koenig model Smith 1911 cost a good $400 more than my regular stainless Smith, and I see NO difference in shooting, other than the fact that the high-dollar gun has the straight trigger. I don't have any Regent or other low-dollar 1911's to compare, but I suspect there's not all that much difference. I am very partial to my Springfield 9MM EMP, although that's not a real, full-size 1911, it's a tack driver.
