I'm looking at buying a commander size 1911 or micro-carry and all the shops in my area have Kimber's in stock, SBS or Rock Island but very few SW, Colt or SA so I was wondering how Kimber stacks up to other 1911's. This will be a carry, HD and range gun. Im looking to spend under a grand but preferably a bit under 800 bucks. I thought I had read somewhere that Kimber's quality went south a while ago but I can't recall where or when I read that. I just want a gun with decent accuracy and reliable. Thanks

If you're sold on a Commander length barrel, don't care about the Series 80 system, and you want to stay close to $800, a Kimber Pro Carry (669278320519) would not be a terrible choice and would likely be my pick with similar criteria.

(See generally https://www.guns.com/firearms/...barrel-new?p=404743.)

(Definitely will want to get a Wilson Combat magazine for it straight away and plan to start replacing MIM parts with WC Bulletproof parts as your budget allows.)

I've had a stainless Kimber Pro Carry since early 2000; in fact, it was the first Kimber 1911 I bought. It's been excellent both reliability and accuracy-wise. It's a "Series I" which I prefer over the Series II, and some people don't like the takedown method, but I don't have problems with it.

I've also got a Colt Gunsite Commander, and the Kimber is more accurate.

quote:

Originally posted by Legal Beagle:
If you're sold on a Commander length barrel, don't care about the Series 80 system, and you want to stay close to $800, a Kimber Pro Carry (669278320519) would not be a terrible choice and would likely be my pick with similar criteria.

(See generally https://www.guns.com/firearms/...barrel-new?p=404743.)

(Definitely will want to get a Wilson Combat magazine for it straight away and plan to start replacing MIM parts with WC Bulletproof parts as your budget allows.)

What is the series 80 system and whats wrong with Kimber magazines that I should invest in WC magazines? I'd like to buy a 1911 that all I have to do is go shoot it and not worry about replacing parts. This gun won't see a lot of shooting just the occasional trip to the range. Thanks for you input, much appreciated

You should look at the Springfield Armory Ronin. It's a lot of gun for the price.
I would also suggest a Dan Wesson. It's a little more expensive but you get what you pay for with them.

Ruger SR1911 Commander. Everything you want in a 1911 and nothing you dont. Priced right (especially used) and good factory support.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
Ruger SR1911 Commander. Everything you want in a 1911 and nothing you dont. Priced right (especially used) and good factory support.

Id buy a Ruger or SA if I could find one but all I can find in my price range at the shops in my area are Kimber, SBS and Rock Island.

I’ve never had a kimber that worked. I’d look for an older colt or Springfield. Dan Wesson would be my preference if you can find one.

Fitting a pistol to one's hand is a very personal thing; it needs to feel just right. I have a Colt Gold Cup National Match (1973), Colt Government model (1978), STI 2011 (2004), and a Dan Wesson Specialist (2020). Of all of them, I enjoy shooting the Dan Wesson the most. The fit, features, reliability and accuracy of this 1911 is simply outstanding. If it fits your hand properly, I recommend getting a Dan Wesson, even if you have to sell something else to afford it.

Spend some more and get a Dan Wesson. Avoid Kimberly.

Kimber's 1911 problems are pretty much in the past. All they had to do was wait for Ron Cohen to leave for the SIG CEO job and then those left behind could get to fixing the hot mess that he saddled them with. Kimber is certainly not a perfect company; a few of their bolt guns are rather iffy in build QC and accuracy and they do have some real clunkers in the past portfolio (Solo and the follow-up EVO, for instance), but generally their current 1911s have been doing far better than they were a decade or so ago. Even their Officer models seem to work quite well these days.

Full disclosure: we're an authorized Kimber dealer and in the time that I've worked at the shop (about a decade now) we've only had one of their 1911s go back for repairs, which is less than the number of Colt and Ruger 1911s that we've had to send back for additional fixes, and percentage-wise we sell far less 1911s of those two brands than we do Kimber and SA 1911s. Granted the overall total numbers are not huge (3 or 4 Colts and two Rugers) and certainly may not reflect the overall industry given our low numbers, but it's still notable given the relative numbers that we've seen.

I have a Kimber Ultra "Crimson Carry" 3". After installing a Wolff recoil spring and putting a small detent notch on the slide release it's been 100% reliable with any ammo I've shot. It's a fun little pistol to shoot.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ryanp225,

quote:

Ruger SR1911 Commander. Everything you want in a 1911 and nothing you dont. Priced right (especially used) and good factory support.

I should have remembered Ruger. It's another very fine choice.

If it was my money, Kimber would not be in the running. Their quality (even today) is hit or miss. I'd be looking at Springfield Armory, Ruger, Dan Wesson, etc. You say the stock is low at your local FFL's, you might have to consider buying online and shipping it to your FFL.

Also, don't do a mini or micro 1911. They have been discussed on this forum before and Bruce Gray has commented on physics and short caliber .45's and the issues they have.

Yea whatever^^^^^^

My buddy had a Kimber that wouldn’t run right. They found every excuse under the sun to deny it was a gun problem. Kimber is fucked. If you have an issue it will be your issue and your issue alone. Their CS is criminally bad. This experience by the way was after Cohen left for Sig so I’m calling bullshit on them being “fixed”. Run away. You won’t be sorry.

Dealers saying they don’t see many warranty returns is another silly line as well. I’m 55 years old have owned scores and scores of guns, have returned easily a dozen or more for warranty work and never once went through a dealer. Why? Because every firearms company I know of will send you a label and you drop it off at UPS and it comes right back to your door. Nonsense answer above. Nothing personal but only people who can’t figure out which side of a stamp to lick go through the dealer when dealing with warranty issues. There is no reason, no advantage, and certainly some downside to doing so.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: pedropcola,

It appears some folks aren't to fond of Kimber and maybe that's the reason so many Kimber's are available because no one wants them. Perhaps I ought to wait until I can find a reasonably priced SA, Ruger or SW. My budget is unlikely to increase but I'm not in a hurry either so I'll just need to exercise a bit of patience and wait for the right deal to come along. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share your thoughts and offer advice.

One of my handgun regrets is selling the first 1911 I ever bought….a base model S&W 5” Brushed Stainless Government. It always was 100% for me right from the get go. Frankly, the internals were as smooth and polished as any other 1911 I have ever had. Probably the best actually, and that is stacking up against DW, STI, Les Baer, Colt, etc.

Sure, as a base model, it had a bunch of mass produced MIM parts attached to it … some of which I replaced myself but the darn thing was actually one of my favorites and it never failed me.

Why I got rid of it you ask? I became a dang 1911 snob and didn’t like some of the idiosyncratic features such as the external safety, Swartz style firing system, the fact that S&W wouldn’t perform any Performance Center upgrades for me, etc, etc.

Dadgumit, it is still one pistol I regret getting rid of.

If you don’t care about any of that snob stuff, I think S&W deserves a look.

At that price point, I’d also handle the Rock Island.

I’ve never been a big Springfield fan though I’ve owned them before.

Never owned a Kimber but I’ve shot them. I don’t have any feeling one way or the other. Now that they have relocated their headquarters out of NY to my home state here in Alabama I’ll probably pay more attention.

I don't think you'd regret a Colt New Agent or Colt Defender if you're set on a micro carry 1911. I've had no issues with mine. It's my favorite concealed carry for walking around in a crowded downtown Seattle which a rarely do anymore but that's a different topic. I cant speak to Kimber as I've never owned one.

Have a very early manufactured Kimber Tactial Pro II in 45acp that I purchased new and the only problem was with factory magazines..
After changing to the 8rd Wilson Combat mags no more feeding issues while EDC and also carried Glock G 30SF in 45acp EDC carry for several years till losing almost 1500 rds due to a mayor flood and the rounds not stored on a high shelf........ switched to a gen 4 Glock --G 19 for EDC because those 9mm rds were stored above the flood line.. Have heard stories about the Kimber quality going down hill some years ago but no real problems with mine.......did modify the grip by adding the rubber finger groves that cover the front strap and tuck under the factory side slabs....( Pearce-- the makers name) ..... Have not EDC the Kimber since August 2016 but still keep it cleaned and lubed. ....................................... drill sgt.

I think the S&W 1911s are often over looked, I’ve got a full size that is an incredible gun. That being said I’ve got a Ronin Commander size that for the money has been a very solid choice and a Colt Clapp LW Commander which is one of the best Colts I’ve ever owned but is just over your budget. I’ve not been a fan of any of the Kimbers I’ve owned.