Kimber ultra carry Vs. xd service

[daug85]

I have a xd service and I recently came across a really good deal on a slightly used kimber ultra carry. I'm wanting a CCW and trying to decide if i should get the kimber... both are 45 acp and the carry has a 3" barrel with night sights, xd is a stock service model... not trying to start a fight, just advice about this. Thanks

[ScottyT]

I carry an XD 45 compact, but with the full size mag on it = service. I have no trouble concealing it, but I am 6'5" 230lbs... results may vary.

[CharlieHo]

FWIW a full size 1911 hides easier (for me) than my compact XD45

The 1911 is so much thinner it's ridiculous.

That said, I'm not too fond of the ultra 1911's, but if it can be had for a good deal, and you can get it to run reliably, go for it

[XD45Compact_NY]

I've got an XD45 Compact as well as some 1911's. The 1911's are definitely much slimmer and conceal way better than the comparatively-blocky XD. But....the XD has all those additional rounds over a 1911. I'd even agree with the other poster in saying that a 5" 1911 would conceal better than the XD, but i guess it's debatable.

Another thing is that 3" barreled 1911's are kind of finicky and some custom-builders don't even offer them because of that reason. I'd wait for a 4" barreled 1911 to make itself available at a price you like....otherwise, I'd still carry the XD over the Ultra. If you're carrying it...you want it to be 100%, unquestionably reliable and I just don't find that the 3" 1911's fit that bill. That's just my opinion.

That being said...I can shoot way more accurately with my Kimber than with my XD...but that's for long distances. At close combat range....both are very awesome.

[charlie.45]

If it shoots fine then grab the kimber the xd is great my daily cc gun is an xd 9mm service and in a iwb holster at 3:30-4o'clock at 5'8'' and 160lbs I conceal it just fine. that being said it would be a bad bad thing to pass up a good deal on any 1911 I'm more partial to SA 1911's cause they feel better in my hand but kimbers are great shooters almost without exception. 1911's are also thinner and feel a little more comfortable to conceal IMO.

[rogerxd45]

the only problem with 1911 for CCW is with the beavertail grip safety since i carry at 12:30 and when i bend over it pokes me. its not the barrel length i have a problem with. so i usually carry my xds 45 and 40 service. i like the higher capacity of the xd and its more comfortable

[dogboy]

Wow, this is a thread disturbing to me!!! My .45 is usually a Combat Commander (for concealed carry), but I was considering picking up a XD45 Compact 4" for the slightly better concealment, and for a couple other reasons. Now I'm hearing that even a full-sized 1911 is easier to conceal than the XD45?! In what manner are you carrying?

Also, how does the 1911 compare with the XD40? Are the XD40 and XD45 the same thickness?

[XD45Compact_NY]

Originally Posted by dogboy

Wow, this is a thread disturbing to me!!! My .45 is usually a Combat Commander (for concealed carry), but I was considering picking up a XD45 Compact 4" for the slightly better concealment, and for a couple other reasons. Now I'm hearing that even a full-sized 1911 is easier to conceal than the XD45?! In what manner are you carrying?

Also, how does the 1911 compare with the XD40? Are the XD40 and XD45 the same thickness?

Yes...other opinions may vary, but I'm calling it as I see it. I too have a 4" barreled 1911 and because of its slimness, it fits in tighter to my side. Don't get me wrong...the XD45 Compact (especially with the shorty 10-round magazine) doesn't conceal BADLY...but the 1911, for me, is both more comfortable and less noticeable.

For the 1911, I use a Galco NSA II IWB holster and for the XD I have a KD Dakota Defender IWB holster. I wear them both at about 3:30. The KD was expensive....the Galco was not...and I tend to like the Galco better....call me crazy.

The butt of the grip on the XD sticks out just a little more than the 1911, but like I said...neither is bad as a CCW.

[CharlieHo]

Originally Posted by dogboy

Wow, this is a thread disturbing to me!!! My .45 is usually a Combat Commander (for concealed carry), but I was considering picking up a XD45 Compact 4" for the slightly better concealment, and for a couple other reasons. Now I'm hearing that even a full-sized 1911 is easier to conceal than the XD45?! In what manner are you carrying?

Also, how does the 1911 compare with the XD40? Are the XD40 and XD45 the same thickness?

I carry my fullsize 1911 at the 3:00-3:30 position in a M-TAC. I carried my XD45c in the same location in a C-TAC (I also have the extra XD shell for my M-TAC)

The XD40-45-9SC are all pretty much identical in size (thickness). Not sure on 9service or40SC, but I can't see them being much different either

The 1911 is a bit heavier, but conceals quite a bit easier than the XD, mainly due to thickness.

[zulu45]

The Kimber Ultra Carry is a great gun, but it requires a good break-in. Mine, unfortunately, didn't have the best extractor (wouldn't stay tuned), so I had it replaced with a Wilson Combat extractor. It hasn't had a FTF or a FTE on a single round of factory ammo. Some of the reloads that my gunsmith has were a different story, but that was because of dents in the casings, which we checked each time.

The 1911 is definitely more comfortable to carry, but if you can handle concealing the XD, go for it. I'd carry the XD until the break-in period is complete on the 1911, and confidence of it's reliability is set in stone.

I don't have an XD-45 (unfortunately) but until I'm confident in my Ultra Carry II, I'll be carrying either my Glock 19 or my CZ-75BD, depending on where I'm at.