Which 1911?

[opsgtr]

I'm looking at a Kimber Custom II and a SA PX9154L. This will be my first 1911 and I'm curious if anyone has experience, either good or bad, with these. Also, to the 1911 die-hards, what would make one better than the other as far as parts, customizing, etc. Thanks.

[xYourLocalAR15x]

My gf purchased a new kimber Custom II for my arse for christmas. I thought it was the TLE but it wasnt. The guys wording tricked me. oh well. Plus i paid A LOT more than anywhere else. Dont go to rettings or whatever the f*ck it's called in culver city. PM me and i'll let you know of a place that sells them much cheaper.

This was pretty much my first 1911 besides the remington RAnd that i have that i never ever shot before.

Anyways, I've got about 500 rounds through the pistol in less than a month. Only problem i had was the rounds not chambering in completley when sliding the top fwd. Problem? I wasnt pulling the slide back and letting go, I was guiding it in because i wanted to baby it =x After learning that i should sling shot it, i had no problems. It's pretty dang accurate and i love it to death. I'll be using it for competition shooting when ever i do start doing it.

Just buy the kimber custom II i say and instead of paying more for the TLE, use skateboard or grip tape on the front instead of getting the checkering... feels much better than checkering. and for the upper sights just get adjustable ones.

I'm looking at a Kimber Custom II and a SA PX9154L. This will be my first 1911 and I'm curious if anyone has experience, either good or bad, with these. Also, to the 1911 die-hards, what would make one better than the other as far as parts, customizing, etc. Thanks.

[45R]

I'm looking at a Kimber Custom II and a SA PX9154L. This will be my first 1911 and I'm curious if anyone has experience, either good or bad, with these. Also, to the 1911 die-hards, what would make one better than the other as far as parts, customizing, etc. Thanks.

Get the Kimber and send it to Bruce Gray @ Grayguns Inc. (Grayguns@aol.com) for some 1911 loving.

[czp01]

I have the PX9152L. Similar to the PX9154L except mine has a magwell, ambi safety, and adjustable sights. I love the pistol to death, its more accurate than I will ever be. I would suggest the Springfield because their customer service is so great. I bought mine used, sent it in because of extraction problems and a faint front night sight. Shipping was paid both ways on their part and the pistol was returned to me in 1 1/2 weeks!

The black stainless is beautiful. Get it.

[hrlrdr22]

just got my kimber eclipse last week and went shooting this weekend...all i have to say is wow...it is definatly worth the money and a beautiful gun too

[Black Majik]

If this is your first 1911, both the SA and Kimber will suit your needs well. They both have a lot of options, lots of bells and whistles.

What I would suggest you do is pick the one you like most, then SHOOT IT... Shoot a few hundred rounds through it, then decide what you want changed on it. Theres no use changing all the parts on it once you receive it. Find out what works for you, and what doesn't.

My first 1911 was a bone stock Colt Government, no bells or whistles. No ext. thumb safety, no beavertail, no super cool adj. or fixed ski ramp sights, or any frontstrap checkering. By that, then getting a Kimber next, I really got to understand what I need on a 1911 and what are just plain ol' fluff.

Now, between the two, both are fantastic 1911s. Both are on the top of the list for production 1911's pretty much. Its always either between the loaded or the custom II. Go handle both of them, they'll feel differently to most people. See which one handles better for you, which naturally points better, and which has most of the features you like. For the most part they're both the same in terms of options, except I believe the SA comes with real Novaks?

If you do find a Kimber you like, make sure you find the new internal extractor models.

For me personally, I like the Kimbers more, but the SA's are definitely no slouch.

[EBWhite]

You can get two types of 1911's. Series 70 or series 80.

Series 80's have been around for about 30 years now? (correct me if wrong) and all colt kimbers and some brand are based on that. Springfield is still based on a series 70 orginal type. Only difference is some say a 70 is more accurate.
But i don't like 80's based on the much more parts inside the gun. i love simplicity..

ebwhite

[chickenfried]

Kimbers don't have a series 80 firing pin safety, they use a Swartz(sp?) firing pin safety. I think the terms series 70 and 80 only apply to Colts. But people refer to any 1911 without a firing pin safety as a series 70. Since the springfield doesn't have any firing pin safety people call it a series 70.

You can get two types of 1911's. Series 70 or series 80.

Series 80's have been around for about 30 years now? (correct me if wrong) and all colt kimbers and some brand are based on that. Springfield is still based on a series 70 orginal type. Only difference is some say a 70 is more accurate.
But i don't like 80's based on the much more parts inside the gun. i love simplicity..

ebwhite

[triaged]

Both are good guns. I have a Kimber customII. Mine is the older one with the internal extractor. They tried using an external extractor and many people had problems with it. They have now ditched it and gone back to the internal. If you buy a Kimber make sure it is the internal!

If you get the Kimber and don't like the firing pin safety you can just remove the parts.

Springfield has a better warranty (lifetime) than Kimber (1 year) but I have heard some rumors that some Springfield parts are made in Brazil while Kimber is all USA made.

[Black Majik]

You can get two types of 1911's. Series 70 or series 80.

Series 80's have been around for about 30 years now? (correct me if wrong) and all colt kimbers and some brand are based on that. Springfield is still based on a series 70 orginal type. Only difference is some say a 70 is more accurate.
But i don't like 80's based on the much more parts inside the gun. i love simplicity..

ebwhite

How can the Series 70's be more accurate than the S80 Colts? If the S80 has a few more parts, other than that I dont think they're really made that much differently.

I do know current S70's command a higher price, but I just dont see how it can be more accurate?

Kimbers don't have a series 80 firing pin safety, they use a Swartz(sp?) firing pin safety. I think the terms series 70 and 80 only apply to Colts. But people refer to any 1911 without a firing pin safety as a series 70. Since the springfield doesn't have any firing pin safety people call it a series 70.

Yup, Colt uses the Series 70 / S80, while Kimber uses Series I (sometimes called preseries II)., Series II (Schwartz Safety)

[triaged]

How can the Series 70's be more accurate than the S80 Colts? If the S80 has a few more parts, other than that I dont think they're really made that much differently.

The series-80 guns don't have as crisp of a trigger on them because the trigger needs to also move the firing pin safety (FPS).


Kimber and S&W use the schwartz safety because it is connected to the grip safety. It does nothing to the trigger.

This is the Schwartz safety


This is done to get around the PRK drop test.

Springfield gets around it using a Titanium firing pin (less mass so it is less likely to go bang if you drop it muzzle down)

[Mute]

The idea that you can't get as crisp a trigger with 1911s that have FPS are a myth. Gunsmiths have more than enough years experience working on these things to give you as good a trigger as the non-FPS guns. I've tried enough of both types with great triggers to know this to be true.

I personally prefer the non-FPS guns but only because all the extra parts are a PIA when I do a detail strip. Just more parts to lose.

[-hanko]

My series-80 guns don't have as crisp of a trigger on them because the firing pin safety is not adjusted correctly...it needs go to to a smith since the link that moves the plunger comes in 3 different sizes...apparently, the wrong size is installed.

Corrected it.

-hanko

[taloft]

Kimber is my choice

I prefer my kimber custom II to the springfield that my friend owns. It seems much tighter to me, and I'm able to shoot tighter groups with it. However, my friend's springfield came with more free goodies, and a lifetime warranty.

This is usually a personal choice. I would recommend that you go to a gun range that will let you rent both and try them. Choose the one that best suits you. Either choice is a good one.

[bu-bye]

From my point of view the Kimber looks to be finished nicer. Everything fits tighter too. But thats not always a good thing depending how you look at it.

I went with the Springfield Loaded. It for some reason just felt better in my hand then the kimber, I can't expain it. I got some nice features with the SA that Kimber wanted so much more for plus you can't go wrong with a lifetime warranty.