Best Bare Bones Kimber 1911

[rorschach]

sounds nice but the LAPD SWAT guns have all been rebuilt several times and tuned and tweaked

I have it on good word that they are bone stock from the factory, save for the different slide release required for the Surefire weaponlight. They have been rebuilt because those guys do some SERIOUS shooting several times a week.

Also heard that each D-platoon officer gets not only one but TWO!! One a dedicated light gun for the thigh rig, the other with no light for regular carry. A friend of my fathers who recently retired from LAPD metro division says that before the Kimbers, SWAT guys were carrying confiscated 1911A1's tuned by the SWAT armorer, one that he had seen in the late 80's was built on a 1911 (not A1) frame, without the relief cuts behind the trigger. How's that for shoestringing!!

[vikingshelmut]

I have some around to consider the kimber again, but the prices on Kimbers in the Bay Area and Santa Cruz are just insane, and Reed's sale is always on a thursday and whenever I cna get there the Kimber is always not there.

550 would be nice...

I never find anything on sale at Reeds. When are their sales? Every time I'm there and ask if they have any sales coming up, one of the old gruff guys blows me off, and treats me like a jerk. $550 is a good price for Custom II though. So far the cheapest I've found it is $650 at Sportsman's Warehouse in Rocklin (just bought an XD Service .40 from there for a great price, $90 less than Reeds). I'd definitely get the Custom II from Reeds if I can find it for $550.

[Aluisious]

Well not that I was responding to you, but it sounds like you need to start doing some research.

Here's a little something I found for you, but since you've never had problems, I'm sure you know best.

This is from Hilton Yam a very respected gunsmith and SWAT team leader.

No, it sounds like you need to reconsider doing SO MUCH research. Damn near anything CAN break. That doesn't mean that something is poorly designed, or will break under typical usage.

I've found that internet pistoleeros are particularly vulnerable to the "I need perfection" disease even though most of them don't shoot often, don't shoot particularly well, and will never need to shoot defensively. I suffered from that disease until I realized that the Kimber is good enough for everything I want it to do...and honestly good enough for everything you want it to do, too.

Case in point your long, long quoted explanation of what "could" go wrong with a safety, when in fact nothing ever HAS gone wrong with my safety, and I've never heard of anything like that going wrong with ANYONE'S safety. Why worry about something that isn't a problem? If it suddenly breaks after thousands of rounds of flawless function on the very shot I need to save my life one day off in the future, then God hates me anyway, why worry?

[xrMike]

I never find anything on sale at Reeds. When are their sales?

I don't remember exactly WHEN they do it, but I think they have a sale at least once a year. They usually advertise it in the SJ Mercury News sports section (around here). My buddy got a stainless mil-spec from them a couple years ago during one of their sales. He got it for ~$100 less than the usual going price at that time.

[vikingshelmut]

I don't remember exactly WHEN they do it, but I think they have a sale at least once a year. They usually advertise it in the SJ Mercury News sports section (around here). My buddy got a stainless mil-spec from them a couple years ago during one of their sales. He got it for ~$100 less than the usual going price at that time.

Yeah, I remember they had a huge sale this last July. CalNRA had mentioned Thursdays, so I was hoping they were more frequent than once a year.

[kalibear]

A used series I Custom Classic

[Dump1567]

Damn near anything CAN break.

And that was the point of my original question. Why add an extra feature to a gun that's not needed when other manufactures offer a similar product without that feature.

Just one more thing to go wrong.

I've never heard of anything like that going wrong with ANYONE'S safety.

I have.

I have nothing against Kimbers and they make a fine gun. I just prefer guns without safety features that usually hinder the gun more than help it.

[Aluisious]

And that was the point of my original question. Why add an extra feature to a gun that's not needed when other manufactures offer a similar product without that feature.

Just one more thing to go wrong.



I have.

I have nothing against Kimbers and they make a fine gun. I just prefer guns without safety features that usually hinder the gun more than help it.

You ask a fair question. My answer is that Kimber makes a cheaper gun for similar features. I'll take a hundred bucks in the pocket and a firing pin safety over a hundred bucks out of the pocket and a vague sense of mechanical simplicity any day.

Just looked online at the 1911-A1 loaded. In parkerized finish it's 900 bucks MSRP. With the Kimber, at that price I can get frontstrap checkering and night sights included.

[voodoo]

A used series I Custom Classic

+1.

If you could find a used Series I to PPT, then that would be my recommendation, as well.

[rorschach]

Just looked online at the 1911-A1 loaded. In parkerized finish it's 900 bucks MSRP. With the Kimber, at that price I can get frontstrap checkering and night sights included.

I paid less than 700 for my Springer loaded at Turners. That's parked AND Novak night sights.

Sadly, I sold it cause I wanted a Les Baer Thunder Ranch, but never got around to buying.

My only beef with my TLE and Warrior, were the **** mags. I run Wilson 47's in all my 1911's now because of crappy mags from Kimber and Springfield. When new, I had lots of extraction and feeding problems. Both needed about 300-400 rounds to really break in good, and are 100% now.

[Cardinal Sin]

My only beef with my TLE and Warrior, were the **** mags. I run Wilson 47's in all my 1911's now because of crappy mags from Kimber and Springfield. When new, I had lots of extraction and feeding problems. .

I've heard of folks having problems but 3k plus rounds later my original kimber mag is working perfectly. I have other mags but in general, i make sure they are clean and unabused and they work just fine for me. The only thing i did to the kimber mag was get a wolff spring replacement because it was finally getting weak. I replaced all my mag springs at the same time.

[cho034442]

I like my Custom TLE II, although less than 500 rds fired. But it is accurate and no problem so far.
As for the Kimber mag, I haven't use it. I probably won't use it until I replace the spring and follower from Tripp Research
I got mine through this dealer

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=61183298

and there was no problem.

[NwG]

I have two Kimbers..

An early Clackamus classic custom and a newer Eclipse target II... I would trust both in a gun fight. I will not loose sleep over some safety breaking, sticking, or me "gripping the pistol wrong"... With ~15,000 rounds and no problems sometimes going 2,000-3,000 rounds in a weekend without cleaning... Just a few drops of oil.. I will pick up this gun if I need to...

If you can find an early Clackamus Kimber, BUY IT!! They are made VERY well!

My classic custom (SN 75xx) has ~70,000 rounds down the pipe with no problems.. I have only changed springs as needed.. Sure a ammo or mag related feed problem from time to time.. All weapons will have this.. It is now loose and fast.. It will still shoot better than I can..

[Cardinal Sin]

I have a TLE II and have had no problems at all with the mags or safety. I have worn out the recoil spring but that is normal for about 3-4k of rounds through it. The wilson mags seem to make the lockup tighter when you have a round in the chamber and 8 rounds in the mag, I have blued Wilsons and blued CMC Shooting Stars and one 7rnd blued mag form KINGs in Glendale. They all work well. The mags from King's seem to be quality and the follower is fantastic. It wont allow the ammo to nose down like some other mags. I like it. As for wolff springs, they speak for themselves. I like them alot and call them to order my replacement springs when needed.

I think that the Kimber TLE II offers a great value for the money. At the local range it is very popular and is used far more than the SA 1911 A1's. The customers are always asking to rent it. It also "feels" better than the SA 1911 A1's in fit, finish and overall quality. I must admit i love that fact that it is produced in the U.S. instead of Brazil like the SA's are.

In the end you just have to find the right 1911 that you feel is the best. Everyone has their own opinion so the "Best" is really up to you, good luck

[Cardinal Sin]

I have two Kimbers..

An early Clackamus classic custom

What's that?