XD40 SC vs Kimber Eclipse Target ll (45)

1746 Views 12 Replies 9 Participants Last post by mike+p+, Aug 21, 2005

WyoBob

Discussion Starter · Aug 19, 2005

A few weeks ago, I shot a friend's 45 Kimber. I was really impressed with the trigger and the lack of "boom and buck" when compared to my XD. This experience has caused me to research 45 cal 1911 type handguns. If I bought one it would probably be a SA as opposed to Kimber. It seems that the Kimbers might have a few more problems than one would think and it only has a year warranty.

I shot the Kimber again yesterday. I was a little less impressed. At 7 yards, I was able to shoot a tighter group with my XD. At 50 feet, the groups were about the same size. I noticed a little "hitch" in the Kimber trigger that I hadn't noticed before. The more I shot the two pistols the more I thought that, with a trigger job, the XD might be just pretty darned "OK", especially when you think of the difference in cost.

The only thing that bothers me about my XD is that: the trigger guard hits my middle finger wrong but this problem is much less now that I have my 12 round mag with extension. The other thing is that, with full power loads, after awhile my trigger finger gets sore. There is too much curve in the trigger and it hurts the lower part of my trigger finger. I milled the center "safety" down flush with the trigger and this helped but the trigger has too much curve. Is this something that can be fixed?

If I had it to do over again, I'd probably buy the service for the full sized grip and a longer sight radius if I were just going to stay with one pistol. Oh, one thing that helped quite a bit the last two days of shooting was my new glasses. I've got lenses that focus the sights perfectly. Of course, the target is blurry but that doesn't seem to be a problem. I've been shooting a bit every day and practicing drawing and dry firing in order to get "tuned up" for this Saturday's steel target shoot.

WyoBob

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stunksinatl

· #2 · Aug 19, 2005

That surprises me. I have a friend whose new Kimber has 1200 rounds through it over the last 3 to 4 months with ZERO problems, ZERO! No function failures, and deadly accurate. It is surprisingly easy to shoot. There is no "hitch" in his trigger. In short, I WANT ONE!

Maybe your friend just has a lemon?

-stunks

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WyoBob

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 19, 2005

stunksinatl said:
That surprises me. I have a friend whose new Kimber has 1200 rounds through it over the last 3 to 4 months with ZERO problems, ZERO! No function failures, and deadly accurate. It is surprisingly easy to shoot. There is no "hitch" in his trigger. In short, I WANT ONE!
Maybe your friend just has a lemon?
-stunks

We haven't had any malfunctions and it is easy to shoot. I like everything about the gun. I doubt that he has more than 200 rounds through this gun and I'll bet the trigger will smooth out with use. It is a beautiful gun but I guess my point boils down to this: is a Kimber worth 3 times more than an XD40 SC? Probably not but that may not stop me from buying a 1911, probably SA. I have been looking into CZ's the last few nights, though :lol:

WyoBob

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XD_Dan

· #4 · Aug 19, 2005

I wonder if therooster is gonna chime in on this one.
I know he has a Kimber Eclipse Custom and an XD .40.

If I remember correctly, he shoots the XD better.

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poortrader

· #5 · Aug 19, 2005

My groupings with my Kimber Ultra Carry are consistantly tighter than my SC-40's. Both Kimber's and SA's .45 are great weapons. It's just a matter of personal opinion, but Bob have you shot a SA yet?

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WyoBob

Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 19, 2005

poortrader said:
My groupings with my Kimber Ultra Carry are consistantly tighter than my SC-40's. Both Kimber's and SA's .45 are great weapons. It's just a matter of personal opinion, but Bob have you shot a SA yet?

I have not shot the SA, yet. It's going to be hard to find one around here. Small town with no rental ranges anywhere close. But, I'm not in much of a hurry. I should just be happy with what I have. All this computer time involving guns is cutting into my fly fishing

And, I'm having fun casting bullets & loading 40 cal on my Hornady LNL.

WyoBob

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Bird_Dog0347

· #7 · Aug 19, 2005

I have the springfield black stainless 1911 loaded model, and a service XD40. I am more accurate with the 1911, but just had new truglo FO sights installed today. Can't wait to shoot it this weekend, next up a trigger job.
BTW, a kimber is going to be far more expensive than the springfield, and will both be excellent guns.

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therooster

· #8 · Aug 19, 2005

XD_Dan said:
I wonder if therooster is gonna chime in on this one.
I know he has a Kimber Eclipse Custom and an XD .40.

If I remember correctly, he shoots the XD better.

no i shoot the kimber better.... much better.

anyhow, you guys are comparing apples to oranges. a kimber is a gun that has had almost 100 years of fine tuning; it has the absolute best trigger system out of any gun made, and its $1,000.
the XD is very new, it still has a long road to perfection. the XD is a tool for self defense, the Kimber is not(meaning it was designed more for competition). o yeah... and the XD is $400.

they are 2 completely different animals. the XD will never catch up to the 1911 in our lifetime.

BTW: i can tell you from much experience that SA 1911s are more problematic than Kimbers.

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Rappy77

· #9 · Aug 19, 2005

If you are in the market for a 1911, take a look at the S&W. Very good and reliable 1911 out of the box. I love mine, and they can be picked up for less than 700.

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ichy_trigger

· #10 · Aug 20, 2005

I have a Springer loaded 1911 thats officer sized. Its a great gun, zero malfunctions with factory ammo and only a few with reloads (my fault) in the several years that I have owned it. Its VERY accurate but my XDsub will outshoot all of my other guns, to include my Sigs and my Ruger single action. Maybe I got an exceptional XD I dunno, the wifes XD is also extremely accurate close to the 1911 I guess, but not as much so as my sub9.
All of that being said, my next gun is going to be another 1911 and its primary use will be for competition, Im going to get an STI Trojan.

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mike+p+

· #11 · Aug 21, 2005

WyoBob, which CZs have you been looking into?

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WyoBob

Discussion Starter · #12 · Aug 21, 2005

mike+p+ said:
WyoBob, which CZs have you been looking into?

I've only been looking at the web site. I haven't seen any CZ in the flesh. The 97B in 45 caught my eye but I've also thought about one of the CZ75 series (SA/DA). I've considered a 9mm in the 75 for cheap shooting and to possibly get my wife interested in shooting (she likes shooting my Marlin 39A .22) I think the 9mm would work for the steel target shooting I do. Oh, I also have some interest in the upcoming Taurus 1911 clone.

I'm heading to Omaha the end of this month and will try & get to a real, live gun store to handle some different guns & try the triggers.

It's looking like my idea of just owning one centerfire pistol is not going to pan out :lol:

WyoBob

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mike+p+

· #13 · Aug 21, 2005

Those are nice pistols. I was curious because I've had a few of them, the 97b and 75b included.

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