1911's??

[Small Arms]

Originally Posted by ckuplent

Actually if you read the linked thread it deals with more than one model. And sorry but the guy's giving this info are some of the top names in the 1911 community. Is everything Kimber put's out junk? No- but they have set a recent trend. Is everything springfield puts out perfect? No- but they as well have set a trend and are one of the brands top smith's will work with.

I disagree about Kimber "setting a trend" for poor quality. They still sell more .45's than anybody, including Springfield, and they haven't been in business nearly as long.

I'm a member of one of the largest private ranges in a two state area, I've been on the gun show circuit for over twenty years, and I'm a member of numerous firearms forums.

So I've talked to a HELLUVA lot of Kimber owners, read the comments of MANY more, and fired numerous different Kimber models myself.

When I talk to actual Kimber owners who use them on a regular basis, the vast majority are VERY pleased with their Kimbers, so much so that many own more than one.

Not surprisingly, it's generally Springfield and Colt fanboys who badmouth Kimber. Most of them have never owned a Kimber, nor even shot one. They post one or two links that allegedly "prove" Kimbers have a lot of problems, when in fact they prove no such thing.

Oh sure, you'll find a few legitimate former Kimber owners that got stuck with a lemon, who decide that since the one they got sucked, they all must. They remind me of guys who decide all women are "bad", just because they were in a marriage that crashed and burned.

I've owned virtually every major brand of production 1911 in my over 40 years of shooting, including Springfield and Colt, and I consider my Kimbers to be the best of the lot. I've owned both a Springfield and a Colt that were outright lemons, and I'm far from the only one who ever had a problem with them. Whereas I've never had a problem with any of my Kimbers.

Of course, I'm certainly NOT saying that most Springers and Colts are lemons, nor do I think they "suck". I won't make generalizations about either brand, like a lot of people do about Kimber.

Virtually every major manufacturer has had quality control issues over the years. The Smith & Wesson M&P had some problems when it first came out. As of this date, the Ruger SR9 is being recalled by the factory due to a problem.

[ckuplent]

Read the link and come to your own conclusions. But- Tim Lau, Larry Vickers, Hilton Yam; all names I highly respect the opinion of.

[Loves2Shoot]

Kimber's management made some choices I dissagree with to cut cost (and compromise quality in doing so.) That is known in the industry. Now that some of those same folks have gone over to Sig, the same issues have popped up over there.

I'm not saying they are are junk, but they definitely changed some important business goals from when they started in the 1911 game.

[paintballwannab]

I say my Norinco 1911A1.....it shoots amazing, takes any standard 1911 parts and I only paid $200 for it unfired....well it was at the time


Whatever you can afford and is available to you will be the best. They're all great......given a unlimited budget I personally would have a Colt gold cup match.....but thats just me.