Posted on 10/25/2019 4:03:12 AM PDT by Kaslin
Nice to know Mike and I agree completely on the Kimber for CCW.
JoMa
Firing these heavy loads is like hurling a cinder block in a bar fight.
The metaphors are killing me.
Current production Kimbers are pretty bad. Of the five bought by friends in the last three years, 100% required the intervention of a gunsmith to run properly.
70cal matchlock
12ga Ithaca ‘Super Single’
All Winchester 22cal pump action rifles made since 1995.
“Kimber 1911 Model .45 ACP. I previously recommended two carry weapons – one in each column – that could be comfortably shot by both a man and a woman. But this selection is a man’s weapon.”
With all due respect, Professor Adams married a girly girl. Mrs. L handles her Kimber 1911 AND her 12 gauge shotgun just fine. Her first handgun was, and still as, a Smith and Wesson Model 629 with a 4” barrel.
Not for everyone, I know. But for once I’ll quibble with the man.
If Mrs L were to read this she’d snort and say he married a wimp.
L
We have a set of Kimbers, both stainless variants, and neither one has given us a single issue. Sorry your friends had such trouble. Ours did require a few hundred rounds to smooth things out but other than that they run like sewing machines.
L
If you check around online, you’ll find that problems with Kimbers are becoming increasingly common - unfortunately. Looks like they’ve let QC slip in recent years. Lots and lots of Kimber horror stories and photos of crappy machining on recent production guns.
Kimber’s excuse in all five cases of my personal knowledge was that “it has to break in” - entirely aside from whether this should be the case, if it gets to 500 rounds and it’s still not ‘broken in’, it’s broken.
.36 caliber LeMat revolver, an StG 44 rifle and a Stoner 63, for when I’m just not sure what to wear to the dance.
I love non-essential firearms.
You show your enemies your Glock.
My wife carried a Charter Arms Bulldog Pug .44SPL before we had CCW in Texas. That 5th round is quite a wrestling match.
Not a very good rifle.
Not a very good hand gun.
Loads of fun.
Kimber started out with a reputation for exacting quality and precision. Sounds like they’ve been milking their original good graces while letting things slide. Years ago I bought a CZ75B in .40. It required no break in and will hold its own with any out of the box Sig on the range. My only issue with it was an aesthetic one as the factory black plastic grips (which were perfectly functional and ergonomic) just made it look cheap. I swapped them out with some stippled walnut from the CZ factory store and now it looks as good as it shoots. Never needed any break in, and the only malfunction I ever had with it was due to a faulty primer...which was cleared with a second hammer strike.
We’ve had ours for 4 years or so and shoot them pretty often so I’m saddened to hear this about Kimber. They’re beautiful guns. Ours our both the Raptor line, fairly high end.
I’ve replaced springs twice so that will give you some idea how much use they’ve gotten. But still very, very few failures of any kind. Even with reloaded ammunition. They haven’t been finicky about bullet variety either.
The only thing they won’t feed is wad cutters but that’s no matter to us as we don’t shoot those and the guns weren’t designed for them in the first place.
Maybe we got lucky.
L
I love my 1911. When I bought it I didn’t know the reputation of Kimber or the others, Colt was WAY expensive, but Remington I knew. So I bought the 1911R1, and have had no issues with it.
I found that the 1911 is a little large and heavy for me to conceal carry, so now I carry an M&P compact .45. One issue, cover the grips with heat shrink they are like having nonskid against your back.
“ My wife carried a Charter Arms Bulldog Pug .44SPL before we had CCW in Texas.“
Great little gun in a very under rated caliber. We’ve got one and it is a fine shooter. Picked it up used for about $100 or so. “Nobody shoots that caliber anymore.”
We do, LOL. A 210 grain JHP going about 850 fps is nothing to trifle with.
L
I’ve wanted a 1911 for as long as I can remember now (given my advancing age...) I’m going to have to check out the Kimber.
Can you recommend a well made 1911? I have some cash burning a hole in my pocket and am in the market. Likely looking to buy this weekend or next.
I'm not well versed on the different manufacturers and am an HnK bigot when it comes to sidearms. This will be my first non-HnK sidearm purchase.
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