Posted: 3/20/2012 2:12:35 PM EDT
| Ok This story goes back many years ago I was needing a new 9mm pistol for conceled duty carry. I went to buy a HK P7M8 one of the last new in box ones the gun store had after they stopped production but feel in love with a 1911 Kimber Aegis Pro 4" and bought it instead. The Aegis served me well fired thousands of rounds through the pistol not one issue and I found it very easy to shoot accuracy wise. Took a promotion at work didn't need to carry a mid sized handgun anymore so ended up tradeing the Aegis off for a smaller pocker sized pistol. Years later I find myself needing another mid sized 9mm started doing some research guess what found I was still interested in another 1911 4" 9mm and once again the P7M8. My local dealer has a Kimber Aegis pro 4" in stock sitting on the shelf but after doing some reading up I notice Kimber seems to be a 50/50 go right now lots of folks with issues so I am worried to drop $1200 on a gun that may be great or maybe not. That has left me thinking I should just buy a Like new condition P7M8( found a few) and be done with it or maybe try the all steel STI Ranger II in 9mm` but I was hoping to stay under 30oz empty to keep my carry weight down. Any else have any thoughts on this topic ? |
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I agree, kimbers aren't as good as what they used to be.
that said you have quite a few other choices in 9mm 1911's again. Dan Wesson makes a bobtailed commander size the guardian. all reviews say it is very good. Will run you closer to 1400, but not too much over your 1200. it is an aluminum frame gun so your weight should be good. para made and LTC which was also hit or miss, but half the price of the kimber, so you can afford to get it fixed if it is wrong. if you can get over the weight issue, that opens it up to some less expensive options. STI puts out the spartan as well. 4 inch 9mm gun. and as you mentioned, the other sti guns are fine too. I think s&w has one, or was coming out with one as well. |
I looked at the 5" S&W 9mm this week at my local gun shop real nice looking pistol but I am looking for a 4" model. You think spending $1000-$1700 would be easy but I am having to work at it  it seems what I want is out of stock! I was told the economy is bad but every $1000+ gun I like is sold out or ultra low stock who figures?
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I have both the S&W Pro Series 5" and DW Guardian in 9MM. I like my 1911s in 9MM. I have had one issue with my Guardian but DW customer service took care of me. The fit and finish on the DW is awesome and it fits my hand better than any other pistol I own. It is on the higher end of your range ($1,500 street price), so it will be up to you if a few hundred dollars matters.
I think the "buy once, cry once" mantra definitely holds true here, especially if this gun is going to see hard use. |
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http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/dan-wesson-guardian/ Aluminum Frame 1.8 lbs  |
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A lot of what you hear about Kimber is from "newbies" to 1911's. Most makers now days are making them with pretty tight tolerances, and if not lubed properly can have issues. They are not Glocks.
I just bought a Ultra Aegis. Ran great out of the box, as have my other 3 Kimbers. The Pro Aegis should be good. I'm not sure of the recoil spring in 9mm, but Kimber for a long time put a weak one in the 4" 45, that had a tendancy to have some RTB issues for some users. Solved with a Wolff spring. If you can deal with the bobbed safety. It should be a good gun. I hate the safety and am changing it. I see NO advantage to bobbing, other than it's different. Sure doesn't help function. Who ever thought a point on a safety was a good idea needs to shoot the damn gun once. I would suggest DW ECO, but they are several months from production, I think. Since you are in Texas, take a look at the Escort. The barrel is 3.5", I believe and aluminum frame. |
| I had a kimber pro 9mm and it was the worst and most unreliable firearm I ever owned. I am 43 yrs old def not new to 1911's or any other kind of firearm. I have owned 4 other Kimbers over the years and end up selling them all. At the moment, I own 17 1911's by Springfield, Colt, Sig, RIA, Ruger and others. Others may not agree, but I would say stay away from Kimbers. |