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Posted: 6/15/2009 6:58:37 AM EDT
[#1]
I'm sure you'll find some who love 'em, some who don't. Start your tally:
I have one, a Custom II, and I love it. I have other 1911's, but my Kimber is my favourite. |
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Posted: 6/15/2009 7:09:00 AM EDT
[#2]
I have a Pro CDP I bought about 10 years ago. Fit and finish are excellent. Its functioned flawless since new out of the box. However, some here have said that their quality has diminished lately for the price. I haven't really looked closely at or shot a new one so I can't comment about this myself.
NAD |
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Posted: 6/15/2009 7:39:44 AM EDT
[#3]
I just bought a Pro Carry II a few weeks ago.
1st trip to the range I was having issues with FTF's. Shot about 250 rounds that day with a bunch of FTF's. Took it back to the range yesterday and no FTF issues at all. I was also experiencing some extraction issues with the casings hitting me in the forehead but that seemed to be a lot better as well. I attribute both to needing additional rounds to break in. Mine has basic iron sights so I'll be swapping those out with some night sights but seems like great quality.... |
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Posted: 6/15/2009 8:29:20 AM EDT
[#4]
I have never had a Bull Barrel, What are the pros & cons about them?
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Posted: 6/15/2009 10:21:36 AM EDT
[#5]
Pro: Adds weight to the muzzle end of the barrel.
Con: No barrel bushing. Need to capture the recoil spring to take the slide off. NAD |
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Posted: 6/15/2009 10:22:49 AM EDT
[#6]
I think the bull barrel is supposed to be more reliable than a bushing setup on 1911's with barrels shorter than 4.25".
Most I have talked to have liked their Pro Carry, it seems like a solid gun for not much money. If you want to avoid the "bugs" that so many people grip about on Kimber's you can look into: Replacing the MIM MSH with a metal unit = Costs about $40. Replacing the MIM slide release with a metal unit = Costs about $40. Replacing the shit Kimber magazines with nicer models = $25 a magazine. Deactivating the schwartz safety - not a big deal if it doesn't bother you. In the end, replacing the magazines are the only thing you should definitely do. |
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Posted: 6/15/2009 10:33:15 AM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
In the end, replacing the magazines are the only thing you should definitely do. +1 on this. Factory Kimber mags leave much to be desired. Spend the jack and get some good Wilson's or Chip M's. |
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Posted: 6/15/2009 11:21:43 AM EDT
[#8]
I have all three size's of Kimber's a 5" tactical less then a year old a 4" CDP 9 years old and a 3"CDP.
My 4" CDP has been drop dead reliable since new, I have used Kimber, wilson, chip Mc. and colt mags in it and it works great with them all. Round count cose to 4000. The 5" Tactical does not like wilson mags, trys to double feed the last two rounds. But is perfect with kimber, chip Mc., colt and Novak. About 900 rounds. My 3" CDP is my new'st Kimber. I was not very confident about it, but really wanted a Ultra. I have a 3" Para that has never been reliable. So I took the plung with the Kimber and bought 4 tripp cobra mags. So far 400+ rounds with the Tripp and stock kimber mag and I'm still waiting for it to fail, so far its been perfect. I have been very happy with my Kimbers. 
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Posted: 6/15/2009 2:42:20 PM EDT
[#9]
Kimber is only "that bad" if you ask some of the safe queen owners of other top name brands. If you want to know what I mean just take a look at the 1911 porn on this and other sites.
I see guys with Colts, Springfield......yadda yadda; talking smack about how bad a Kimber is and what a GREAT! shooter the gun they own is. THEN they post a photo of a stone cold safe queen. WTF!? So my theory is they have the money to go out and buy whatever top shelf 1911 they were tricked into buying and commenced to talking shit about Kimber (or you name the other brand) like they were some sorta expert. I own and shoot a Kimber TLE RL II (a lot). I use it on the job, during training that I conduct and training I attend. It's an outstanding gun. It runs well and has not failed me any more than any other gun has failed me in all the years I have behind a trigger. If you want a Kimber and believe it's the right gun for you go buy it. Fernley (aka Pathfinder) Semper Primus! |
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Posted: 6/15/2009 3:00:59 PM EDT
[#10]
I have an Ed Brown and a Springfield TRP that I run the hell out of both so they arent "safequeens" by any stretch of the imagination. So I dont know if that helps "qualify" my answer more than the fact that I owned exactly ONE Kimber and sold several dozen working with a Kimber Master Dealer. I also have a SA LW 5" pistol but thats beside the point.
Here goes, are you ready Springfield>Kimber 9 out of 10 times. Sit back and read Kimber and Springfield dedicated subforums on some of the other 1911 sites to help you decide. ETA Im not a Springfield Kool Aid drinker, in fact Im in the process of selling both the TRP and LW.
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Posted: 6/15/2009 3:23:42 PM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
I have an Ed Brown and a Springfield TRP that I run the hell out of both so they arent "safequeens" by any stretch of the imagination. So I dont know if that helps "qualify" my answer more than the fact that I owned exactly ONE Kimber and sold several dozen working with a Kimber Master Dealer. I also have a SA LW 5" pistol but thats beside the point. Here goes, are you ready Springfield>Kimber 9 out of 10 times. Sit back and read Kimber and Springfield dedicated subforums on some of the other 1911 sites to help you decide. ETA Im not a Springfield Kool Aid drinker, in fact Im in the process of selling both the TRP and LW. My point I believe was.... do your research, buy the gun that is right for you and your wallet. But my other point I will stand behind as well. If a guy is posting pics of his 1911 and its a safe queen and he's talking shit.....well maybe he's also full of it. I'm not saying experts only have worn guns.... and we can argue the BS semantics all day. All I'm saying is do the research and talk with owners who are users, not collectors. My experience is the guys who are quick to bash certain guns (regardless of Name brand) and post NIB looking gun pics.................... well lest just say there is a lot of my dick's (wallet) is bigger than yours going on? For the record. I own a TRP and (yes) a Taurus 1911. I like and shoot them both. Fernley |
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Posted: 6/15/2009 4:15:47 PM EDT
[#12]
And here I forgot the popcorn
Kimber's are fine guns. Springfield's are fine guns. Is Springfield a better gun then Kimber?...I'm not going to answer that. Will a good Kimber be as reliable and accurate as a good Springfield? Yes. Does Kimber have more bad guns then Springfield? Yes. Does Kimber make 3 times as many guns and therefore should have 3 times as many bad guns as Springfield? Yes. If you like the Kimber and you are getting a good deal on it, make sure and inspect it and if you think it's a good specimen...buy it. The Springfield is an excellent gun as well, but it sounds like you want a 4" and not a 5", so the Pro Carry is your only bet. I like them both a lot...but I agree with you on the LW Operator thing...I like full fat 1911s. If it was a normal Operator I'd say Springer all the way. |
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Posted: 6/15/2009 4:45:57 PM EDT
[#13]
Kimber makes GREAT 1911s...
having said that, I'll never own one, I just can't stand the firing pin safety. They do make great pistols though. |
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Posted: 6/15/2009 6:38:14 PM EDT
[#14]
I had a Kimber TLE II, never again. I own Colt, Springfield, and Sig.
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Posted: 6/15/2009 6:53:26 PM EDT
[#15]
I own colts, springfields, kimbers, and a few others, The kimbers that i own are first rate, 1- custom II and a tle rl , both are first rate. It takes about 600 to 800 rds to break them in, once you do, they run like a watch. Alot of people on this site dont like them, they seem to prefer springfields, but ive had more problems with pne of my springfields than any other pistol ive ever owned.
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Posted: 6/15/2009 7:21:26 PM EDT
[#16]
i own 2 kimbers...today, i'd still opt for a Springer
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Posted: 6/15/2009 7:49:53 PM EDT
[#17]
Quoted:
Kimber makes GREAT 1911s... having said that, I'll never own one, I just can't stand the firing pin safety. They do make great pistols though. this is another bad assumption that people make about kimber. not all kimber models have this safety. |
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Posted: 6/15/2009 9:53:48 PM EDT
[#18]
I carried a Pro Carry II almost daily for 5 years and it was totally reliable after 300 rds. It had 4 FTF at about the 200 rd mark and then not another failure of any type thru 2300 rds. It was the most accurate 1911 that I have owned or shot, 1.5 in 5 shot groups at 15 yards. The first mag thru the gun went 6 rounds into just a hair over 1 in at 15 yrds. I was never able to do that again, not the guns fault!
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Posted: 6/16/2009 11:01:33 AM EDT
[#19]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I have an Ed Brown and a Springfield TRP that I run the hell out of both so they arent "safequeens" by any stretch of the imagination. So I dont know if that helps "qualify" my answer more than the fact that I owned exactly ONE Kimber and sold several dozen working with a Kimber Master Dealer. I also have a SA LW 5" pistol but thats beside the point. Here goes, are you ready Springfield>Kimber 9 out of 10 times. Sit back and read Kimber and Springfield dedicated subforums on some of the other 1911 sites to help you decide. ETA Im not a Springfield Kool Aid drinker, in fact Im in the process of selling both the TRP and LW. My point I believe was.... do your research, buy the gun that is right for you and your wallet. But my other point I will stand behind as well. If a guy is posting pics of his 1911 and its a safe queen and he's talking shit.....well maybe he's also full of it. I'm not saying experts only have worn guns.... and we can argue the BS semantics all day. All I'm saying is do the research and talk with owners who are users, not collectors. My experience is the guys who are quick to bash certain guns (regardless of Name brand) and post NIB looking gun pics.................... well lest just say there is a lot of my dick's (wallet) is bigger than yours going on? For the record. I own a TRP and (yes) a Taurus 1911. I like and shoot them both. Fernley There is alot of gun make bashing on this site, Kimber and Taurus seem to bear the brunt of it. All gun makers turn out a few bad guns just like auto makers, my sister lemon lawed a Toyata and my partner a GM truck. Nobady makes more cars and trucks then those two. If you make more then most odds are you will also have more bad ones. No one makes more 1911's then Kimber and Taurus makes more clones of just about everything then anyone else. I have six 1911's three Kimbers, a colt, a Parra and yes a Taurus. My Kimber's are outstanding, reliable and without a doubt the most accurate. My Colt is pretty darn good also. The Tuarus is not as accurate but has been more then reliable. My Para has been a problem, accurate but not reliable enough to trust it for carry. But I wont bash Para as a company because I bought one gun from them that does not meet my reliability standards. There are lots of gun owners out there completely happy with thier Para's. Alot of it comes down to my gun is better then your gun B.S. I bet more Glocks are returned to the factory every year then any other gun in the U.S. Why is that, because they sale more guns then anybody else. |
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Posted: 6/16/2009 11:11:46 AM EDT
[#20]
I have had a Pro Carry II for 2 years now. Alloy frame, not the stainless. Other than me getting used to shooting a pistol (it was my first), it is been problem free until recently. I replaced the FP spring and the recoil spring with the Wolff XP springs designed specifically for the Kimber 4" barrels and it is now smoother than when I got it!
My Stainless II has been flawless since I bought it and I put Wolff springs in it at the same time I did it for the Pro Carry II. Every maker makes some lemons, but I've been fortunate in that both of mine have been perfect. The shooter? Not so much. :D |
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Posted: 6/16/2009 12:24:55 PM EDT
[#21]
I have had 2 Kimbers
My first was an Eclipse. worked great. I was too young and stupid to realize a good 1911 when I had one. I traded it for a Raptor. That kimber took alot of work to get to work right, which ment replacing springs, hammer, sear, and also a new extractor. It works decently now. However it doesn't touch the reliability of my NH. The way I look at it is Kimber is a good 1911 for the money, only problem is reliability is sometimes hit or miss, but you can make it work with some exra work and money. My NH is not a safe queen either, It has more wear and tear than a 2 dollar whore in a very lonely city. 
Shes carried daily in this 
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Posted: 6/16/2009 1:33:20 PM EDT
[#22]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Kimber makes GREAT 1911s... having said that, I'll never own one, I just can't stand the firing pin safety. They do make great pistols though. this is another bad assumption that people make about kimber. not all kimber models have this safety. Good point mathecb, but I didn't mean to imply that they all have the FPS, just enough of them to keep me off the brand. All the series II models have it, and that's just about all I see on the shelves nowadays. I do have a kimber 22 conversion on one of my springer frames. That works great! |
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Posted: 6/16/2009 1:58:50 PM EDT
[#23]
FWIW...I have a CDP Compact that runs like shit. I love the design, fit, and finish...but its all for nothing if it won't fucking go into battery consistently. So...I went and got an H&K
I'll get another 1911 eventually...just not sure when. |
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Posted: 6/16/2009 2:10:28 PM EDT
[#24]
My first 1911 was a Kimber. I have 3 and I have had ZERO problems. Also, if you don't like the firing pin block, try the SIS. Here is my review on my latest purchase.
Kimber SIS/RL |
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Posted: 6/17/2009 6:25:54 PM EDT
[#25]
I had 2 kimbers RCP and Super match they both ran like shit. Sent the Super match back to kimber to fix and they gave me shit and the run around. They replaced the slide and fucked up my front site. To bad is what they said. Gun has ran good after that. They have not been good for me. Some people say my kimber is the best that's great but mine haven't been. Roll the dice
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