Are Kimber's really crap?

[The DRis]

I was in Bass Pro in Vegas last month buying some ammo. A guy came up and I don't remember how the convo started but we started talking about 1911's. I told him I'm looking into buying a SA TRP, but before that I wanted a Kimber, either the SIS model or the TLE/RL II model. He started going off on how Kimber's break, and the SIS model is a failure and breaks all the time, etc etc. This is the first I've heard of it. He said he picked up a basic SA 1911 and sent it off to Robar I think, some guy near or in Palm Springs. I want to get the TRP first because I fell in love with it, but I like the Kimber's too.

[MordeKyle]

I shot an ultra carry II a couple weeks ago, and it fed flawlessly and shot very nice. Also, the trigger pull was smooth and crisp. I liked it a lot. If they were just total crap I doubt the SIS would be carrying them. Most people who say a gun is a POS are prolly a fanboy of another brand, and what they have is the ultimate and nothing else will even shoot.

Try one out for yourself, see if you can rent one at a range. Make your own opinions about the gun. Consider what people say about guns, but make your own decision on them.

[Humorris]

I have a friend that is a fan of kimber but bitchs all the time that he spends so much on a pistol then has to spend more money to upgrade it lol.

[Joeywhat]

They're not bad, just not worth the price tag. From what I've been told they used to be fantastic pistols.

[Pogue Mahone]

i personally have never had a problem with my kimber. it's hands down my favorite gun. take what others say with a grain of salt.

[SixtyDashOne]

I have two Kimbers and like them just as much as my Springfield TRP. No issues, no complaints. Sometimes I wonder where the Kimber hate comes from, but as long as mine keep working right, I don't really care what others think about them.

[twkenny]

No. They are not crap. Kimbers, along with most (especially higher end) 1911's are "finniky."
My Raptor II needed a trip back to Yonkers where they (Kimber) fixed a few issues. It had not hiccuped since. As I learned more about 1911's, I figured out that at was a simple adjustment I could have made. My Kimber is my favorite weapon and I would trust my life to it.

[SixtyDashOne]

Originally Posted by twkenny

No. They are not crap. Kimbers, along with most (especially higher end) 1911's are "finniky."

That is something I was going to mention as well. I have read reports where people's Kimbers need for example an extractor adjustment, right out of the box. Seems this is the case with Kimbers more often than it is with say a Springfield.

[fredj338]

The more you "tweek" the 1911 design, the more apt you are to have problems. I have several, Om, COmm. full size, they all run fine w/ good mags & ammo, surprise! Some are pretty stock, some w/ a bit of tuning. My Barsto bbl. SPringer will shoot as well as most match guns & is 100% reliable w/ everything I feed it. I like the way the Kimber handles, but do not own one. Some guys rag on the S&W too, because of the ext. extractor, but my 1911PD runs flawlessly. I did replace the xtended thumbsafety w/ a std/ one though. Personal pref, but I don't like xtended safeties for my grip.

[bigun]

Originally Posted by Joeywhat

They're not bad, just not worth the price tag. From what I've been told they used to be fantastic pistols.

BS from what I have experienced. None of the 3 Kimbers I either own or have owned all series 2 guns by the way are or have ever been anything but reliable, accurate, and finely finished. Right out of the box I may add. My Springer loaded needed a lot of attention right out of the box to not only function properly but also get the trigger to the Kimber level and dehorn the gun so that clearing one of the numerous jams didnt make my hands look like they were fed through a quisenart.