Friend is wanting a Kimber because his brother likes Kimber. I asked what he wants it for and he wants a nice target model.

I personally own a first generation Sig GSR-1911, so I'm not up to speed on current Sig 1911's.

So, given a similar price range, what's a good reliable 1911 with good sights and a good trigger?

-Sig
-Colt
-Ruger
-S&W
-Dan Wesson
-Springfield Armory

Any other brand I should be looking at?

Tony.

The newish colt competition is getting great reviews. That’s what I would buy.

Dan Wesson is always a great choice.

I would runaway from kimber.

If this was my money it would be easy. Dan Wesson Pointman in caliber of choice.

quote:

Originally posted by benny6:
Friend is wanting a Kimber because his brother likes Kimber. I asked what he wants it for and he wants a nice target model.

If he wants a Kimber, their most accurate model is the Super Match II. I have one, and it is neck-and-neck for accuracy with my Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, and GGI-tweaked Colt Delta.

Les Baer offers a guaranteed 3 inch 10 shot hardball group accuracy at 50 yards, IIRC.

quote:

Originally posted by benny6:
Friend is wanting a Kimber because his brother likes Kimber. I asked what he wants it for and he wants a nice target model.

I personally own a first generation Sig GSR-1911, so I'm not up to speed on current Sig 1911's.

So, given a similar price range, what's a good reliable 1911 with good sights and a good trigger?

-Sig
-Colt
-Ruger
-S&W
-Dan Wesson
-Springfield Armory

Any other brand I should be looking at?

Tony.

Since he has Kimber on his mind, there is nothing wrong with that. Kimber puts out some very fin pistols

It is very hard to beat a Kimber Super Match. The Super Match has a removable Magazine funnel. I took my magazine funnel off because I was carrying it. The Super Match is beautifully fitted and has a Bomar style rear sight.



The Super Match only comes in this two tone finish. The Super Match is expensive

If your friend is looking for something that is one step down the Kimber pricing ladder, Kimber's Gold Match is very good as well. It was originally offered in blue or stainless as a single stack or as a double stack



Mine is an older one when they were still built on the very fine Israeli Bul polymer frames. I believe that today they are only offered as a single stack in blue or stainless

If you are going with Colt, the Gold Cup Trophy makes a very good choice. I have been shooting Gold Cups since the seventies. A Gold Cup is the first NEW firearm that I ever bought



This one is wearing optional African Ivory grips

quote:

Originally posted by ruger357:
The newish colt competition is getting great reviews. That’s what I would buy.

Dan Wesson is always a great choice.

I would runaway from kimber.

THIS. I have a newish Colt Competition 9mm in S/S. It's a very accurate gun, very well put together, reliable, has a good trigger (but 5-6lbs), great sites, REALLY tight slide to frame fit and barrel bushing fit. I have no experience with Dan Wessons, but they're always highly rated here and I wouldn't hesitate to buy one of those either. I'd run from Kimber. (I also own an Ed Brown and a Wilson Combat, so do have 2 high end 1911's to compare the Colt to).

Thanks. He says he'd like to keep it under $1,500.

So what would you buy for $1,500, and why?

I, personally always lusted over an Ed Brown Kobra, but that's over $2k and maybe there's better pistols out there.

Thanks in advance.
Tony.

I don't own one but when you talk about "target" 1911's, you should be looking at Springfield Range Officer's. Everything you want in a target gun with nothing you don't.

Springfield RO, or Sig 1911 MAX get my vote

What do you think of the Dan Wesson Pointman?

Tony.

quote:

Originally posted by benny6:
Thanks. He says he'd like to keep it under $1,500.

So what would you buy for $1,500, and why?

I, personally always lusted over an Ed Brown Kobra, but that's over $2k and maybe there's better pistols out there.

Thanks in advance.
Tony.

I have an Ed Brown Kobra 5" stainless and it IS my favorite 1911 and an awesome gun.

The Colt Competitions can be had for under $900. A solid choice, Dan Wessons are a little more, depending on model but also under $1500. Those two.

quote:

Originally posted by T.Webb:
I don't own one but when you talk about "target" 1911's, you should be looking at Springfield Range Officer's. Everything you want in a target gun with nothing you don't.

I just bought a SA Range Officer Elite Operator. Very nice pistol and very accurate. Also well within the desired budget. SA makes the same pistol in a target version without the rail and front cocking serrations but with an adjustable target sight. Trigger smoothed out quite a bit but is still a little on the heavy side. Fit is very tight for a production pistol & finish is top notch.

I was disappointed that the Springfield RO's have a plain front strap.
Kimber makes a very nice pistol for the money and I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

For a range gun, the Kimber Stainless Target II is a good choice. MSRP $1k.

After reading nothing but good reviews on it, I'm picking up my S/S Colt Competition 45 this weekend. Verdict to come after I shoot the piss out of it Sunday.

quote:

Originally posted by benny6:
What do you think of the Dan Wesson Pointman?

Tony.

Excellent pistol. One of the few I regret selling.
Lock up was tight but not ridiculously tight. After a few hundred rounds, it was smooth. Slide, trigger and all.
IIRC, the DW manual had instructions to fire 50 rounds, clean and lube and fire 50 more and do the same thing. Can't remember how rounds it said to go to.

What is he shooting?

target like Bullseye?, informal plinking?> Steel?


the Bullseye crowd seems to like the SA Range Officer models as a good starter gun,

lots of goodness out of the box, and once you get your scores up, easy to upgrade

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:
What is he shooting?

target like Bullseye?, informal plinking?> Steel?


the Bullseye crowd seems to like the SA Range Officer models as a good starter gun,

lots of goodness out of the box, and once you get your scores up, easy to upgrade

Informal plinking/steel. Probably something to keep up with, or 1-up his brother.

None of my suppliers carry Kimbers, but if its just a transfer, so be it, as long as he gets what he wants. I can the rest on the list, including Les Baers, but the cheapest Baer is out of his price range.

I can get Colts, Sigs, DW's, Ruger, S&W's and Springfields.

Dan wesson all day for that price. Better parts, better fit, better trigger.

IMO

Kimber has not been good for me. Lots of issues.