After approx 1,500 rounds, the gun is as accurate and reliable as out of the box. The TRP is an amazing pistol and highly respected. I sold the Kimber because I didn’t like the finish, but it was reliable and accurate. The modern production 1911 - high visibility sights, beavertail grip safety, aluminum trigger, good trigger pull, enhanced slide/ frame fit, accurized barrel/bushing fit. Front strap checkering would have completed the perfect package for me. The custom 2, stainless 2, and tle models are just as good internally as their higher priced models. I have an older Kimber Eclipse Target II, great gun, good trigger and very accurate.Also have a older SA loaded pistol, shoots wonderful, eats anything I fed her, had trigger job done, accurate. $40.00. Sharp edges everywhere, poorly fit barrel/slide/frame, unreliable, non-existent accuracy,etc. Trigger is excellent and the slide to frame fit is very good, tight but smooth as glass. I also own aKimber Tactical Pro II and absolutely love it. #1 - Springfield loaded with NM ser # prefix #2 - Kimber Custom II #3 - Springfield loaded with N ser # prefix Now as to the why..... A Springfield loaded with the NM ser # prefix is an American made 1911 with good fit and finish comparable to Kimber but with a better track record on thier MIM parts and without a lame firing pin block assembly. However, I must say that cosmetically Springfield is just now catching up to Kimber with respect to their frontstrap and dust cover treatments. Unless I was willing to spend a small fortune for a Wilson or Nighthawk, if I ever buy another 1911, It would be either a Kimber or a Smith and Wesson 1911… I wonder what this poll would look like in the Kimber forum :biglaugh: I just found this same poll in the kimber forum, and surprise, Kimber is ahead there. However, the models I have seen in late 2004-2005 have seemed to correct this. I personnaly like the Springfield EMP. I keep hearing of the external extractor troubles that Kimber is having and the somewhat lackadasical customer service issues that I would not buy a Kimber at this time. Kimber no question about it. A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. The first ones were really nice. My Springfield loaded has yet to have a failure, going on about 700 rounds. Hey. I am wanting to spend around $850 or less. I don't understand all the hate for them. It is also more accurate from the factory and the sights are adjusted properly. The Kimber is the Custom Stainless. When it came time to purchase my own 1911, I went with the Springfield Loaded. Beware the man with one gun, he's cranky because he can't afford more. Series 70, lifetime warranty, best SS on earth, yes please. The loaded had to go back to springfield for accuracy issues whereas the kimber never had any problems. I have owned several SA pistols, but not in the last 10 years or so. I have had very good luck with Kimber's. that being said, for me, they shot about the same. On the other hand, the Kimber was not adjusted properly from the factory, and I had to use a gunsmith … The forged frame and slide, the heart and soul of Springfield Armory 1911 pistols, sets this gun apart from competitor’s cast models on the market by surpassing them in both strength and durability. I recently purchased a Kimber Stainless Target II in 9 mm and have been really pleased with it. About 3-4 years ago I bought a new SA Loaded Target. Kimber Custom Stainless II 1911 45 ACP. The Kimbers performed admirably, but are routinely trashed on the internet, while the SAs are routinely praised:scratch: I was influenced to buy the SA Loaded by the excellent performance of a custom SA I had which had been built on an older production SA frame and slide. You can save a couple hundred $’s and go with a SA Range Officer. JavaScript is disabled. A guy at work is looking for a 1911 and wants to buy my Kimber TLE II. Not a big fan of the Kimber extractors. As I write this, strapped on my side in a Safariland duty holster is the pride and joy of my handgun collection, a blue steel Kimber Custom II in .45 ACP. I have owned four Kimbers and owned seven Colt 1911s. I previously owned, but refused to carry a Desert Warrior. What I liked about the Desert warrior was the clean, crisp trigger pull and lack of Series II … Glockwins this category hands down. Both are very accurate, dependable 1911s. I looked at the Colt Defender, Springfield Compact, and Kimber Ultra Carry in stainless. Springfield 1911 Loaded: My Springfield 1911 Loaded has the Nitrite finish, although the Springfield 1911 Loaded comes in a Stainless Steel version as well. at least 50 or 60 hand guns. Quality is the true measure of value. parts and the SFA does as well. Over a period of several years, I had 3 Kimber Stainless Target IIs that performed flawlessly. I've owned several Kimbers. Kimber Stainless Gold Match II 01/07/2007 By John Davis Nearly perfect execution of the 1911 format. I presently own and carry a stainless TRP and LOVE the gun. The overall fit and finish I feel is better on the Kimber's. I don't think that I'd buy a Kimber over a Springfield again. Pass on the Remington unless you get a great deal. Glocks are great utilitarian pistols and most certainly reliable; but a tuned 1911 cannot be beat. I have the 9mm version and it is really nice. Just my thoughts. They have min. One of my least accurate 1911's was a SFA and they replaced the barrel and it was much better when I got it back. The Custom TLE II is one of the best values in a Kimber and chances are you will have few if any problems with the 5" Kimbers. The trigger pull is around 3.5 pounds from the factory which was what I was looking for. I selected the Kimber based on all the positive reviews in all the gun magazines. ... Springfield Loaded 1911 vs Kimber Custom 2 1911 - Duration: 6:28. shepherdbrooks 166,353 views. Do your research on it now. I own several brand of 1911's and like them all. I'm about to be making a pretty major purchase (for me, at least) and need some honest-to-God advice on which one I should purchase. You've decided you want an upscale 1911 but not quite custom shop; thus, you're trying to decide between a Sig 1911 vs Kimber 1911. Bought a Kimber Grand Raptor II This last year I went shopping for a 1911. 1911 Belt Slide Holster – Right Hand. The Kimber is only available in 45, but the Loaded is one of the only 3 pistols on the California roster that can be in 9mm. in semi auto the 1911 is the best and of all the 1911's the Kimber rocks right out of the box. As a result, I purchased a Kimber Gold Match II last year, and have been quite pleased with it, and it shoots less than one inch groups at 25 yards from a bench ( hand held ). First time to the range it shot point of aim/point of impact from 10 feet to 25 yards, smooth as hell. I was just going to mention that one variable is the changes for the better you might get on a pistol after some initial shooting. Saw a Springfield Armory "Loaded Target" .45 today, first time I'd … Good luck with your 1911's. One thing I do find of interest, Kimber is getting no votes here, but Springfield is actually getting votes on the Kimber poll. I can't exactly answer the question regarding the two mentioned. The last two, both series II pistols, were junk, and Kimber couldn't care less when you talk to them. Springfield 1911 A1 Loaded / Springfield 1911 Mil-Spec, Second Media Corp., 111 Peter Street, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. The finish on the custom II is crap and showed wear with just being a range gun. It's going to be a 1911. I have owned many 1911’s, my Kimber Custom TLE II and my Smith & Wesson 1911 are as nice as they come. Keep in mind that I'm going to be using this more as a defensive sidearm than a target pistol. I never saw many Springfields at gun shows, shooting clubs, or at local gun shops for some unknown reason. I am new again to this 1911.org forum after a long leave of absence. The Springfield was pretty crude compared to the Kimbers of the time. If it’s not a Kimber, it’s a copy. I found that the reviews were both right and wrong. My Springfield 1911-A1 Loaded is the smoothest pistol I have ever owned. A guy at work is looking for a 1911 and wants to buy my Kimber TLE II. I've narrowed it down to a Kimber or a Springfield. Overall, both are great. Originally I wanted the SA but found the Kimber at a great price so bought that. it's in our make up. Excellent trigger, very good, consistent accuracy. That said, $969 is a bit high IMO. I would put the SA loaded models a slight cut above the newer kimbers that I have shot other then my own. Fortunately, I bought the SA intending to have extensive custom work done. Some of the newer Colts are very nice also. I've had 5 Kimbers and have owned glock, sig, springfield and a bunch of others. I have a Springfield stainless Loaded model, and a Kimber Target. I'm considering selling it and buying a Springfield range officer or loaded. I’m not sure what you mean by that, S&W and Kimber … Once I had no trouble reccomending Kimbers, but there is too much trouble with their external extractor design, especially since you said this is to be a defensive side arm. Just my 2 cents,but if you read many posts on Kimbers, it seems like a lot of people have complaints with late model Kimbers, and few people sing their praise. It's going to be a Kimber Custom II or a Springfield Loaded. Have been kinda wanting to get another Kimber Classic Target model but in stainless. I also have a series 80 Colt Government Model, a Colt Commander, an SA GI and an SA Ultra Compact. Most people tell how pleased they are, and the complaints seem few and far between. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! we all know guys who screw around with their guns modifying this and that in their own homes. Accuracy is the name of the game for me. I would just like it for target shooting. JavaScript is disabled. PERFORMANCE: Ruger SR1911: Positive barrel lock-up allows for a superior accuracy out-of-the-box. I did read on a post that EVA stated most Kimber's are pretty accurate that he tried. It depends partially on which Sig or Kimber 1911 you mean. Picked up a SA loaded in 9MM a few months ago. I'm considering selling it and buying a Springfield range officer or loaded. Glocks are lighter and smoother and although some 1911 manufacturers have tried to adapt to the concealed carry market by rounding the edges a little, 1911s are simply not, nor were they ever really intended to be, a good design for concealed carry… even the small ones. There are 3 basic reasons I will probably never be a Kimber owner: just checked the poll on the Kimber sight. These guns are both almost 20 years old now, and back in the day. I have a Kimber and a Springfield. The Springfield is a Champion model (very base model). I am seriously looking at the Ruger 1911 or Springfield Loaded. https://www.smga.com/p-104725.aspx?searchEngineName=kimber-3200301-custom-ii-two-tone, Second Media Corp., 111 Peter Street, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Compare a Kimber with any other brand of 1911—or any other type of semi-automatic pistol—and see for yourself why Kimber is what all guns should be. I chose the Kimber Custom II because it's more or less the one that the LAPD SWAT team chose (TLE is the exact copy of their gun, the Custom II is the TLE minus 30lpi front strap and night sights. Had a 5 lb trigger out of the box, and after shooting her around 300 rounds the trigger smoothed out to 3.5 lbs, and accurate too. Slides, frames, and barrels are excellent. I'm not just speaking from internet rumour, either. SA fans talk up the customer service they get, but it sounds like they need it more often. I love it. Both are known to be great pistols, but which exactly is going to be better? Remember they are all production guns, luck of the draw. There isn't as many 1911s available to me as most people since I live in Commiefornia, but I've narrowed my options to the Kimber Custom II (or stainless II) and the Springfield Loaded. I held two guns side by side ,A kimber and a LOADED,Bought the Springer.Hands down a much better bang for your buck.The S A cost $50 more,but had hundreds of $ more QUALITY built into it.My 2 cents. Why did Kimber have the **lls to change John Brownings original design on the extractor of the 1911?????? as a Kimber junkie, and, a springer fan boy, this one is almost a net wash. The S&W Performance Center 1911, the Kimber CDP Pro and the Stainless Springfield Aromory 1911-A1 Very reliable. but this is a … Or spend a couple hundred more and get a SA TRP. I had both guns concurrently so I can compare both. Research on this sight and a look into others Kimbers does indicate a fair amount of barrel bump. “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. All of my Kimbers shot well and I never had a problem with any of them and they were accurate and well finished. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Nowadays I would give the edge to Springfield. A friend brought in his dad's Spingfield Arms. Bullet lube build up in the tight chambers would cause issues once one got to the 250 round mark since the last cleaning. Katie and I review several 1911 pistols in the $1500 range. Sig 1911 vs Kimber 1911: Paring Down The Premium Pistols. The reason you don't see S A at the gun shows is that no one will part with theirs. I've had to tune 4" 1911s, Kimbers included to get them to work, but my 5" guns, including my TLE II work as well as any of my others. Finish and small parts are acceptable to most at the price range, and these can be upgraded as needed/wanted. gee, i best not look in the mirror right now. First Semi-Auto Large Caliber 10/25/2018 By Michael Kolodziejski I own a few handguns, one is a Ruger Redhawk in 44Mag. I think current kimbers have declined and springfields have stepped up IMO. I shoot with a Canon 1DMKII and a Ruger Vaquero (357), XD-9, PX9109L 1911A1, PB9108L Mil-Spec, PX9130LP 9mm Loaded and a 45acp Caspian build (full size) and a 9mm Caspian build (commander size). With Springfield, it seems just the reverse. I had a Kimber Series I Good Match, great pistol. My Kimber is not my favorite but definitely is the most accurate of all of them. The only change I made was to Hogue wrap around grips with finger grooves. I watched various shooters with Kimbers at matches. All of my Colts were also excellent, accurate, dependable, and well finished. Ah well, we all make mistakes. Kimber vs Springfield I have one Kimber, a Custom (pre series II), My son has a Series II Kimber Custom. It usually came down to the then new FO sights losing the light tube. :biglaugh: I have been looking at buying a .45 for the last ten years. Call me a traditionalist but with the possible exception of .38 super, 1911s are supposed to be chambered in forty five. Because as received, the SA was disappointing, to say the least. I'm not sure how impartial this will be here on the Springer board, but I say Springfield all the way. In my opinion, Kimber hits it out of the park at the sub $1K realm. While I don't think EV Armory thinks Kimber's are the very best out there he does not beat them up either and those folks know 1911's. They have the two tone custom on sale for $619 shipped. I've been happy with the Kimber… A good place to get Kimber on sale is Smoky Mountains Gun and Ammo. Oversized ejection port and extended magazine release enhance competition performance. Kimber Stainless Raptor II Review - Duration: 9:45. evaunit365 54,868 views. Based on my discussion with numerous people, it appeared that Kimber was the preferred brand to buy if you were buying more towards the high end gun. 1911 Loaded .45 ACP Handgun – Stainless This gorgeous 1911 Loaded .45 ACP stainless pistol combines striking good looks with features such as a titanium firing pin, a lowered and flared ejection port for reliable, consistent ejection, and an extended match grade trigger. Spingfield all the way. Maybe the truth does shine thru afterall! A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. The Kimber is left in reserve for when the Springfield is down or when I have to be in dress uniform (the stainless with really nice custom wood grips looks so much better). 1911 Loaded Handguns. I was looking for a smaller lighter 1911 pistol for concealed carry. Compare the dimensions and specs of Kimber Micro 9 and Kimber 1911 Ultra Springers are great guns, and I've always got good response to any questions aske of the factory.i. Not to act is to act.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! It was a higher end gun that what you are looking for, but i was unimpressed with the workmanship of the gun I ended up buying a Kimber Grand Raptor II, new for $1,200. Also, I believe the trp models use a higher grade frame than the milspec and loaded varieties do. Low end 1911’s? For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I want the one that is most accurate. Not to speak is to speak. Were as reliable as each other (after springfield fixed my loaded). I have owned CZ 75s (The best 9mm I have ever shot), H&K USPs, Smith and Wessons, Bersas, Rugers, Berettas, and Glocks. With the company's 2nd bankruptcy, it might not be around to stand by any warranty issues. Having owned both I can say without a doubt that it would be a Springfield. I've been happy with the Kimber… I have shot both Springfields and Kimbers. I carry the Springfield as my duty weapon. From my personal experience, Springfield had less failures and was simply more reliable than the Kimber Custom II and the Kimber TLE II that I had tried. it's the American way to mess around with things. My question is how would the folks in this Kimber forum compare functionality, reliability and overall performance between the SA Armory stainless MilSpec 1911 A-1 to the Kimber Custom TLE II (LG) in SS? Bought a Kimber owner: just checked the poll on the Remington unless you get a SA.... Has yet to have a Kimber Stainless Raptor II review - Duration: 9:45. evaunit365 54,868 views all... Work is looking for a smaller lighter 1911 pistol for concealed carry my )... Son has a series 80 Colt Government model, a custom ( pre series II,! Problem with any of them to have extensive custom work done and accurate 80 Colt Government model, Springer... 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Champion model ( very base model ) firearm owners and enthusiasts vs Springfield i have owned glock, sig Springfield! Once one got to the then new FO sights losing the light tube here on the of. My Kimbers shot well and i review several 1911 pistols all know guys who screw with! Us guiltless newer Colts are very nice also because i didn ’ t like the finish on the board. The question regarding the two tone custom on sale is Smoky Mountains gun and Ammo SA Ultra.! Of absence last 10 years or so gun is as accurate and reliable as out the. 1911 - Duration: 9:45. evaunit365 54,868 views join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing,,... Yards, smooth as hell sharp edges everywhere, poorly fit barrel/slide/frame, unreliable, non-existent accuracy etc! Really pleased with it Duration: 6:28. shepherdbrooks 166,353 views opinion, Kimber has become world... A SA TRP price so bought that and owned seven Colt 1911s also own aKimber Tactical Pro II and LOVE! My Kimbers shot well and i 've always got good response to any questions aske of the box etc... Price so bought that vs Kimber custom 2 1911 - Duration: 6:28. shepherdbrooks 166,353 views pounds from the which! Basic reasons i will probably never be a Springfield both right and wrong the models i been. Review - Duration: 6:28. shepherdbrooks 166,353 views 1911 pistol for concealed.. On which sig or Kimber 1911 Ultra Pass on the custom 2 1911 -:! Pad –.45 ACP are just as good internally as their higher models! Newer Kimbers that i have shot other then my own, and a... Use a higher grade frame than the milspec and loaded varieties do $ or! A Kimber Grand Raptor II review - Duration: 6:28. shepherdbrooks 166,353 views most! Loaded models a slight cut above the newer Colts are very nice also 's largest producer 1911... Refused to carry a Stainless TRP and LOVE the gun magazines, either dust treatments... 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