Are Kimber's really crap?

[Palmguy]

Originally Posted by aaron1984

I strongly disagree, I paid $709 NIB for my custom II and $720 for a used NIB condition Ultra Carry Stainless.

Can't find an SA for close to that price with comparable features.

The Springer loaded (PX9109LP for instance) is sure as heck in that price range and has "comparable features" to the base Kimber, to include night sights (which I don't believe the $709 Custom II has).

[aaron1984]

Originally Posted by Palmguy

The Springer loaded (PX9109LP for instance) is sure as heck in that price range and has "comparable features" to the base Kimber, to include night sights (which I don't believe the $709 Custom II has).

I have not seen a Loaded @ my local shops for less than $950, I see Mil-Specs for around $800ish.

Seems like 1911 prices are very location specific.


I think even if an SA with the same features was priced the same as a Kimber it would still be over priced because its a foreign gun. I'm sure not going to pay the same price for an imported 1911 as I would for one made in the usa. If the same featured SA 1911 was priced for @ least $150-200 less than the Kimber I'd see it as an equal value.

[Palmguy]

Originally Posted by aaron1984

I have not seen a Loaded @ my local shops for less than $950, I see Mil-Specs for around $800ish.

Seems like 1911 prices are very location specific.


I think even if an SA with the same features was priced the same as a Kimber it would still be over priced because its a foreign gun. I'm sure not going to pay the same price for an imported 1911 as I would for one made in the usa. If the same featured SA 1911 was priced for @ least $150-200 less than the Kimber I'd see it as an equal value.

Bud's has it for $744, I just paid less than that. Sounds like your local gun shops are like mine (except mine jack up the prices of Springfields AND Kimbers, not just Springers).

As far as foreign vs domestic, if there was some tangible difference in quality between the two, I'd see your point (and equal features, the Kimber doesn't have night sights unless I'm mistaken). And at that point the Brazil v US thing is irrelevant; a better gun is a better gun. But there is no significant difference either way between those two guns.

Whatever makes you happy though...

[zenfly]

I just bough my 5th 1911...Let me say 2 words here..Dan Wesson..And 3 more words...Kimbers aren't crap...I think DWs blow away everything in their price range...I've been shooting a long time and have never been so impressed with a gun...
Granted I don't own a Wilson or Brown but now I don't even have any desire...Listen to everyone else about these..Like me, they can't shut up...

Again..kimber makes good guns...what they're best at is marketing..

[mtcraigco]

DW makes/made a very nice 10mm 1911, much nicer than the Delta Elite IMO

[zenfly]

Originally Posted by mtcraigco

DW makes/made a very nice 10mm 1911, much nicer than the Delta Elite IMO

I bought 2 things this year I'm very happy with ...a CBOB, and a Horsehide Crossbreed Supertuck and belt..I feel like I'm doing anyone a favor telling them how good they are...

[operator331]

I know this thread is beat to death but I thought I might ad a few comments. I have a first generation 5" stainless target 45acp that I bought new some number of years ago. I remember a there was about a 500 round breakin period that most 1911's have, I just kept it oiled and kept running it. After I got past the breakin stage I have had zero failures of any kind, just a new recoil spring about every 1k or so, and this is with my reloads. Over the years I have beat the hell out of this gun i.e. full of dust from dirt roads, up to 600 rounds and several shooting events without cleaning at a time. I have loaded well over 15k rounds and pushed them through that kimber and it still goes in to battery lock up like a vault door, no rattles just reliability....period
Now the second Kimber I owned was a 4" tactical w/ an alloy lower, Which the barrel was not ramped so shooting hard ball and using steel mag followers would seriously batter the ramp onthe frame,but that was somthing I could work with. The major prob was that P.O.S. external extractor that kimber tried to copy from the high power design. A thousand rounds into it and I could not get it to run. 1 in 10 rounds would fte, you could count on it every time to do this. Oh ya it went back to Kimber more that once and they couldnot fix it. that gun got turned in to an XD. I hear kimber has dropped that particular design of extractor, browning had it right the first time. One of my 45acp paras has that new power extractor and it is 100% reliable

[aaron1984]

Originally Posted by Palmguy

Bud's has it for $744, I just paid less than that. Sounds like your local gun shops are like mine (except mine jack up the prices of Springfields AND Kimbers, not just Springers).

As far as foreign vs domestic, if there was some tangible difference in quality between the two, I'd see your point (and equal features, the Kimber doesn't have night sights unless I'm mistaken). And at that point the Brazil v US thing is irrelevant; a better gun is a better gun. But there is no significant difference either way between those two guns.

Whatever makes you happy though...

Yes one puts Americans to work and the other doesn't that is the only real reason I'd favor the Kimber with all other things equal. I can't stand foreign products especially the American classic 1911.

As quality goes I'd say there about the same except Kimber has a lighter trigger 4.0-5.0 lbs v. a loaded with a 6.0 lb trigger. (per mfr. specs.)

[yocan]

Originally Posted by aaron1984

I think its imprortant to note that all manufacturers guns can have issues everything from a glock to a $2000 Kimber Custom Shop gun or an SA custom shop gun, I think you've offered a lot of info in your post and I apprechate you taking the time to articulate your points, please don't take my arguments as anything but continuing the conversation. I trust my Kimbers with my life because in my trials of over 3000 rounds I've not had one issue, they feed everything from cheap lead to $2 a round SD hallow points.

see there was a legitimate review and series of arguments not from internet facts, I appreciated it, thank you.

[Hot Brass]

I bought a SA mil spec years ago. A few years later my cousin bought a Kimber. We went out and shot. The SA outshot the Kimber, and it did not matter which one of us shot the Kimber. The Kimber never missed a beat. Not really into Kimbers, but man that Warrior is tempting.