Posted: 4/10/2012 10:59:45 PM EDT
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I'm ready to purchase my first 1911 and I was wondering if a Kimber Custom II would be a good choice or if I should get a different one. I am planning on using it for competition shooting and trying to figure out if it would be better to get the Kimber or something else. I could really use some help here as I am not very familiar with any 1911 series.
Thank you, Chemical |
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Chemical, while i'm not a kimber fan at all i will try to help. for competition you'd want a five inch barrel. probably not a true "blued" finish as it will not hold up to lots of holster action, i would think.
springfield has the best warranty in the business so you might look at those as well. i keep buying them because i can buy one used off the equipment exchange and send it in for repairs even though it's used. my cousin-in-law carries a short barrelled full gripped kimber when he's in houston(as opposed to iraq/afghanistan). i felt the need to balance my personal opinion. |
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Well, since you asked....
I, too, am very pleased with Springfield –– both the guns and especially the customer service. I've heard so many bad stories about Kimber 1911s that I've steered clear of them. I own Springfields, Colt's, and a Ruger. I like the Springfields the best of those. Good luck on your choice. |
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Quoted:
competition shooting = look up the Springfield Armory Range Officer or STI Spartan, Gregory_K speaks much truth here. For a competition gun, these two are your best bets by a wide margin. Not to say others won't work, but the STI Spartan (or Trojan, even better!) or SA RO will get you started with an accurate, reliable gun that can be outfitted as you want as your funding and taste allows. Get one of the above pistols, 7 or 8 Wilson Combat 47D or ETM magazines (or Tripps, if you prefer), a Comp-Tac holster, 5 single mag pouches, and a belt. You will be set for USPSA SS or IDPA CDP for a very, very long time. |
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Quoted:
I'm not 100% sure that a 1911 would be my best option for my first action shooting pistol would a .45 be better or like a 9mm If you want to shoot a 1911, then shoot a 1911. Both USPSA and IDPA offer divisions specifically for the 1911s. You'll be competing against others shooting the same gun. From a cost standpoint, it may be cheaper to shoot in IDPA SSP or USPSA Production. Both of those are set up for a "service" 9mm - Glock 17 or 34, S&W M&P, Beretta 92FS, CZ 75 (my production gun!), Sig 226, Caracal, etc. 9mm will be cheaper to shoot, and typically the pistol purchase is a bit cheaper. A service 9mm will always have a spot in action pistol competitions. However, if you reload, .45ACP lead is pretty inexpensive. I think my current 200gr SWC reloads are running under $0.10 each, which is cheaper than my 9mm reloads. From a learning standpoint, the 1911 is a harder pistol to shoot fast with (IMHO) due to the recoil. The upside is that most have good triggers (that can be made VERY good). Most of the stock 9mms will be faster to recover on recoil but will have a trigger that's not as crisp. Fondle a bunch, buy one, and shoot it for a while. The only thing I can guarantee you is that it won't be your last competition pistol. |
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Some of your decision depends on what competition you are doing and how serious you want to get.
I have a 9mm RIA full size that is a blast to shoot. (IDPA and IPSC) While I compete, I am definitely NOT a top tier shoot. Most of my shooting is working on finding an hitting targets against the clock and running my pistol. (I use my conceal carry set up.) If I where really serious about competing.... STI would be my choice - I see a lot of local pros shooting them in 38 super. Good luck! |
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I do not believe that laser grips are allowed in any competition at this time. You might be legal if you kept the power switch "off" during competition.
As long as you're putting the right size grip on the right size frame (full size on full size, officer on officer) you should be good to go. |
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Quoted:
Some of your decision depends on what competition you are doing and how serious you want to get. I have a 9mm RIA full size that is a blast to shoot. (IDPA and IPSC) While I compete, I am definitely NOT a top tier shoot. Most of my shooting is working on finding an hitting targets against the clock and running my pistol. (I use my conceal carry set up.) If I where really serious about competing.... STI would be my choice - I see a lot of local pros shooting them in 38 super. Good luck! I've signed up with IDPA and I'm planning on going to spectate my first match next weekend I was just trying to make sure that a full size .45 acp wouldn't be a problem for the matches. I have alot of experience with pistols in general just not in the 1911 area many of you have been very helpful and I want to thank you all for your help i think I've decided on getting the Kimber Covert Custom II after taking my brothers to tho range yesterday. That's the main reason I was asking about the crimson trace grips. |
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No offense, but that pistol might be the worst choice you could make for a competition gun. Understand that I've got two Kimbers, and have competed with one of them in USPSA for several years. You can do better than that if you want to compete with it. As a carry gun, it'll be fine, but if your primary aim is competition, pick another.
For starters, it's an aluminum frame. This has two disadvantages. First, it's light. Great if you're carrying, but it will push you around like a cat playing with a hamster when you're shooting major .45 loads through it in awkward positions. A steel frame will be heavier, and help you control the pistol more. Second, aluminum is not as durable as steel. If you're really planning on competing, you're talking about potentially thousands of rounds per year. Maybe it will be fine, but aluminum 1911's have a reputation for cracking. On a competition gun, you will probably want adjustable sights. That's personal preference, and may not matter as much on a .45 as a .40 or 9mm, but I'd prefer a Bo-Mar type adjustable rear. Additionally, with this gun coming with tritium sights, the front sight post is pretty wide. Again, personal preference, but most folks tend to prefer a narrower front blade than you'll get with tritium inserts. Also, this is a Kimber Series II gun. That means there's a firing pin block. I'd prefer a pure Series 70 design with no FPB for a competition gun. Much, much easier to get parts for if you want to change things out. For $1400, I'd either get a Springfield Range Officer and have a bunch of work done to it, or a "Competition Ready" STI Trojan from Dawson Precision. IMHO, you'll end up with a much better competition gun. Just my HO. |
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OP, if you haven't shot a lot or even if you have I'd stay with the basic fundementals of shooting with sights as opposed to a Crimson. An unwavering rule of learning and shooting well with pistol sights or any opnen sights is to concentrate on the front sight and not focus on the target. You break this rule when using a Crimson and looking at the target. And believe it or not, when you miss what you're aiming at with open sights it's usually because you're looking past and around the FS and focusing on the target.
eta- I used to compete and have shot for decades and if I did shoot a laser'd gun I'd immediately shoot a gun with sights so as not to pick up any nasty habits. |
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Quoted:
No offense, but that pistol might be the worst choice you could make for a competition gun. Understand that I've got two Kimbers, and have competed with one of them in USPSA for several years. You can do better than that if you want to compete with it. As a carry gun, it'll be fine, but if your primary aim is competition, pick another. For starters, it's an aluminum frame. This has two disadvantages. First, it's light. Great if you're carrying, but it will push you around like a cat playing with a hamster when you're shooting major .45 loads through it in awkward positions. A steel frame will be heavier, and help you control the pistol more. Second, aluminum is not as durable as steel. If you're really planning on competing, you're talking about potentially thousands of rounds per year. Maybe it will be fine, but aluminum 1911's have a reputation for cracking. On a competition gun, you will probably want adjustable sights. That's personal preference, and may not matter as much on a .45 as a .40 or 9mm, but I'd prefer a Bo-Mar type adjustable rear. Additionally, with this gun coming with tritium sights, the front sight post is pretty wide. Again, personal preference, but most folks tend to prefer a narrower front blade than you'll get with tritium inserts. Also, this is a Kimber Series II gun. That means there's a firing pin block. I'd prefer a pure Series 70 design with no FPB for a competition gun. Much, much easier to get parts for if you want to change things out. For $1400, I'd either get a Springfield Range Officer and have a bunch of work done to it, or a "Competition Ready" STI Trojan from Dawson Precision. IMHO, you'll end up with a much better competition gun. Just my HO. +1 |