Kimber vs. Springfield Loaded

[Timmm]

I'm a couple of weeks alway from starting the hunt for my first 1911. I now own a Glock 30- 17- 26, been doing allot of online research an thanks to some of the generous people who have let me try there's at the range, have narrow it down to a Kimber or Springfield loaded, I'm going to use it as a range- target gun and I like stainless,also would like adjustable sights.

Could use some feedback, read a review the other day that Kimber series ll had some problems? My budget is about 1000- 1200.

Any help would be appreciated Tim

[Ultimate]

Kimbers have great triggers. But here is where i have a major problem with them. They are pricey guns and they don't finish the barrel all the way. They get cheap and just do the top of the barrel hood and leave the bottom. From what i understand not all their barrels are stainless and a non polished piece of metal will take rust to it much easier than a polished piece. So it seems like to me that Kimber takes people's 800+ dollars and saves 3 dollars worth of time and polishing materials.

[Penguin4091]

never fired a kimber but I have fired a Springfield loaded in a parkerized finish and I think the only negative about that gun is you need a hex wrench to take it down. Of course the Springfield I fired had the feed ramp polished and all the internals tuned. Great shooter. I think the kimber has less MIM parts though (there is some debate as to if that actually matters).

[Cyc Wid It]

Kimber = Schwartz safety + terrible CS.

In before "Springfield isn't American".

[jak77]

Loaded.

Great gun for the money, has a lifetime warranty, and comes with Springfield's top-notch customer service and custom shop.

I have one

[S dot]

[kTC xDEICIDEx]

^^^^ This! 

[jimmykan]

I have come to realize that durability is a non-issue for most people, though they don't realize it themselves. The amount of ammo that you would have have to shoot through a 1911 to wear it out costs more than either a basic Kimber or Springfield Loaded.

You'd shoot something like $1500 worth of ammo before you have to change the recoil spring for the first time. I reload my own 45ACP and I have shot plenty of it and have plenty more left, but I'm still working on wearing out that first recoil spring.

[Sunday]

Kimber??? 1911s are one of the few guns that the more you spend the better you get..Cheap gun with a consumer name and range toy or study up and spend more and get a nice peice that will last and last.

[crazychinaman]

Depends on whether you prefer to be made in US (Kimber) all or them or in Brazil(Springfield)Except the Custom shop.Both are really good 1911's .I have three Kimbers and three Springfields.

[Peter.Steele]

Take a look at the SIG 1911's.

I've had a Kimber, and I absolutely loved it, and a couple years ago I was looking to buy a Springfield Loaded but there were none available anywhere at any price. I got a SIG GSR instead, because that was what was available. It was cheaper - slightly - than the Springfield, and quite frankly it had better options. Yeah, it had the external extractor, but ... jesus, I can't think of a nicer handgun that I've ever fired. If my budget ever gets to the point again where I can look at a nice 1911, I'm going straight back for another SIG.

(Sadly, the one that I bought is probably at a crime scene in Mexico right now. It was stolen in a burglary just a couple months after I bought it.)

[beetle]

From your requirements list I would recommend the Springfield Loaded Target in Stainless or the really nice looking Black Stainless:

Loaded Target Black Stainless:


Loaded Target Stainless:


All springfield 1911s have a significant amount of parts made in Brazil. Those with serial numbers beginning with "N" are 100% made and finished in Brazil and have a "Made in Brazil" stamped into the frame.

Those with serial numbers beginning with "NM" have a mix of Brazilian and US parts and are finished and fitted in the US. They have enough US value add that they can escape the "Made in Brazil" marking.

I have two 1911s made by Springfield. One is a "N" Made in Brazil and the other is a "NM" US finished. they are both excellent shooters and have held up for many many rounds.

without causing too much controversy, I'll just say that there has been a lot of discussion about the quality and customer service of Kimber.

[BHPFan]

I never owned Kimbers. If I pick a Kimber, I like a Series 1 as I am not keen on the Swartz safety of the Series 2.

Regarding Springfield, I posted on another thread that the issue with SA 1911s is that out of the box NIB, it has quirks and issues in my experiences: An extractor that needs finetuning and a gun that doesn't run back to form after firing a shot. To their credit, Springfield has a top notch Customer Service, one of the best if not the best, that fixed those issues for my pistols. After those fixes, my pistols ran like champs without any issues.

With current production, I'll take a Springfield over any Kimber.

If we're talking about used guns, I'll take the Kimber Series 1.

[corporateslave]

It took some work to make my TLE/RL II reliable, it had several parts out of tolerance. I am happy with it now but I will never buy Kimber again.

[rodeoflyer]

If it's not a Colt it's a clone!