"Hand fitted" kimber?

[threeperreaper]

As you go up the Springfield line from the milspec version to their TRP line (I've heard) more parts are handfitted

For example, with a TRP, the slide and frame are handfitted to each other which isn't the case with their milspec models (so I've heard)

Apparently this allows for a tighter fit and better accuracy and reliability (so I've heard)

My question is, does limber offer this sort of thing? Are their raptor or warrior lines of guns actually better than the other lines? Or do they just have more bells and whistles?

[Lonestargrizzly]

I spoke with a kimber rep today that told me that all of their pistols are hand fitted. I just nodded my head but i don't believe him.

[LowThudd]

Kimber's claim to fame from the beginning is that their CNC process required "minimal" hand fitting. Technically, any 1911 will need some fitting. But, Kimber has always maintained that their CNC process made most fitting unnecessary.

[CouchOperator]

No, but they sure do like to give you plastic mainspring housings and mag releases, MIM galore, tons of loose breech, godawful checkering, poor slide to frame fit, only one mag, write fake claims of a "custom shop" on some of their guns, and a long history of known barrel rust. If thats your thing, go for it

[jeffrice6]

Short answer, No ~ Kimber makes fine 1911's, but the more expensive the model doesn't equate to more "hand fitting" sorry to say......

To this day I still preach that the Custom II & TLE are the best bang for the buck 1911's out there.

[LowThudd]

Short answer, No ~ Kimber makes fine 1911's, but the more expensive the model doesn't equate to more "hand fitting" sorry to say......

To this day I still preach that the Custom II & TLE are the best bang for the buck 1911's out there.

Agreed. I like mine just fine.

[threeperreaper]

At the range the other day a guy saw me flirting with his stainless raptor, so he offered to let me shoot it..

I had never wanted a kimber before because I've heard about so many problems with them...but not gunna lie...I fell in love with that thing. Only shot one magazine through it but it was beautiful and it got me considering owning one

From what I hear, there's a high chance a kimber will need some tinkering right out of the box. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy tinkering and working on and upgrading guns, but I feel like every gun should be able to run good right out of the box. Of course a 1911 will have a break in period, but Kimbers seem to have a lot of issues that need fixing not related to breaking in. That to me is not worth paying money for. I have 3 Springfield TRPs and never a problem with any of them, I don't hear that very often from kimber owners and I'm not just talking about what I hear on the internet.

[GM4spd]

Hand fitting died a long time ago. The only handgun where you can really
feel that term stopped production a few years ago.

[skosh69]

Hand fitting died a long time ago. The only handgun where you can really
feel that term stopped production a few years ago.

I beg to differ, my Les Baer has quite a bit of hand fitting work done to it.

[LowThudd]

At the range the other day a guy saw me flirting with his stainless raptor, so he offered to let me shoot it..

I had never wanted a kimber before because I've heard about so many problems with them...but not gunna lie...I fell in love with that thing. Only shot one magazine through it but it was beautiful and it got me considering owning one

From what I hear, there's a high chance a kimber will need some tinkering right out of the box. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy tinkering and working on and upgrading guns, but I feel like every gun should be able to run good right out of the box. Of course a 1911 will have a break in period, but Kimbers seem to have a lot of issues that need fixing not related to breaking in. That to me is not worth paying money for. I have 3 Springfield TRPs and never a problem with any of them, I don't hear that very often from kimber owners and I'm not just talking about what I hear on the internet.

High chance? No, most don't have issues. The internet has a way of putting things under a magnifying glass. I have also found that most of the Kimber haters have never actually owned one.

The only issue I have with Kimber is I wish they didn't use the firing pin safety. It may be better than a Colt series 80, in that it doesn't affect the trigger, but I did have a problem changing the sight that I wouldn't have had otherwise. Mostly my fault in getting the sight pusher cocked, but still wouldn't have happened without a space right next to the dovetail. The Swartz Safety is removed now, so it is a 70s series.

[D1911]

I bought a stainless Gold Match for my wife a number of years ago. She's shot literally thousands of rounds through it without a bobble. The slide to frame has only a slight bit of play and is better that my WC CQB and NHC Talon. The fit rivals my EB SF. The barrel fit is perfect, no movement on either end, and it has the best trigger of any 1911 in the safe (about 3 3/4 lbs, no creep). I set it up for her with slim grips, short Harrison Design trigger, FO front sight and Heine fixed rear. I picked this one out of the few the shop had when we bought it as it was the best overall. But none were bad. Maybe we just got lucky, but this one's a keeper.

[machrono]

.......Maybe we just got lucky, but this one's a keeper.

Unless you build it yourself, I think that's really what it boils down to in the world of 1911's.

[heidad01]

Short answer, No ~ Kimber makes fine 1911's, but the more expensive the model doesn't equate to more "hand fitting" sorry to say......

To this day I still preach that the Custom II & TLE are the best bang for the buck 1911's out there.

I have a half dozon Kimbers and they all shoot and function perfectly. The Raptor is the prettiest of all of them.

Now for hand fittings, there is no need to hand fit the rails if your cnc machine cuts it to perfect size. Does it make you any happier if some one filed the rails to spec instead of the machine doing it with a Carbide or Diamond tip cutter?

[jdben92883]

Tighter tolerances enhance accuracy, not necessarily reliability. In fact one can come at the expense of the other.

[stormvet]

Tighter tolerances enhance accuracy, not necessarily reliability. In fact one can come at the expense of the other.

Agree, it is a trade off. I finished reamed both the barrels of my two Kimber Warriors, out of the box they worked great with factory new ammo. But had feeding problems with my handloads, the chambers were tighter then any other 1911 I owned. Including my Wilson and Browns, after a little work with my reamer they now feed my handloads perfect. Trade off, they may not be as accurate out past 25meters. I'm ok with that, I believe Kimbers insistence on accuracy at the expense of reliability is the reason for most issues people have with them. Then when you add in the number of firearms they make, wear to their finish reamers, you can get some very very tight chambers from the factory.
Another thing I have noticed that makes me believe they value accuracy above all else is that the five inch guns always seem to have much tighter chambers then the 4 or 3 inch guns.
Another train of thought on this and highly plausible is that they sharpen their finish reamers too often, instead of replacing. Leading to short tight chambers in some batches of barrels. Whatever the cause the effects are the same, very tight chambers that can be a problem with certain types of ammo.