SA, Kimber, Wilson Combat 1911 - which (brand) to get?

[dichter]

Folks,

I am "moving-on-up" to .45 / 1911 style. Don't want to start a flame war or anything, but want to find out your thoughts on those 3 brands. Or does the brand matter at all?

What I am looking for: full size 1911. Rail is not too important (but nice to have). Want full steel and not aluminum...

I know the obvious thing to do is to shoot all three, but sometimes it's hard to judge with range rental guns...

Also please no, "Brand X is for sissy only" blah blah....

I am looking for opinion like, "Brand Y is good because they have good after-market parts and support (or something like that)"....

I think Calguns is a good place for me to get some real world opinion on this subject matter.... Thanks!

[fireblast713]

Parts on 1911's are pretty much interchangable, so as far as parts support goes it probably doesn't matter that much, some people don't like the Kimbers because they have the Scwartz firing pin safety, where as the SA's have the ILS which can be removed by changing out the mainspring housing. Wilson is nice but pricy, in the end any brand would probably suit your needs (which sound like the general, want a 1911 for target/HD).

[hkfooey]

If money is not an issue, I would get the Wilson - since most of my 1911s have WC parts in it anyway... but keep in mind that 1 Wilson = 2 or 3 SA/Kimber (it depends which model you get again). So - bottom line - it depends how much $$ you want to spend - all 3 are good anyway.

Of course, IMHO.

[CSACANNONEER]

Personally, I'd go with a Kimber. I think it's the best gun for the money and their customer service is top notch. After 20K-30K rounds I had to send one of mine back for repair and I recieved it back in less than a week. There was no charge and they even replaced my Mepro night sites because they had started to dim. I never mentioned the sites but, I was happy to get new ones for FREE!

On more than one occassion, I've seen SA take over a month to service a FBI agents gun so, I'm not impressed by them at all.

Wilson Combat makes a great product. I can't speak for their customer service at all but, they are definately a higher priced gun and most new shooters probably won't benefit from the little things that make them cost so much more.

[bigchelis]

Kimber

I have a Kimber Ecipse and will make my next 1911 a Wilson or Nighthawk.

The Kimber shoots great, I'm new to 1911's yet I manage 1 hole out of 5 rounds at 10 yards.

But, I want more bells and whistles like serrated flat top, mainspring housing, serrations under trigger guard, and hand fitted barrels. I want a Nighthawk/Wilson knowing full well that It may not outshoot my current Kimber, but I want the craftsmanship and hand fitting and non MIM parts a high end 1911 will have.

You should also consider Les Baer and Ed Brown. Les Baer is one step above Kimbers and then its a coin toss with rest.

[dichter]

Good stuff so far.

Budget is somewhat of an issue, would love to spend under $1k but I know I'll probably ended up spending more.

BTW, I shot the Wilson Combat (range gun) at the range today. Really liked it...

I am willing to give SA a try, but if Kimber's customer service it so good I might have to give it another look! Decisions, decisions!!!

[Prowler]

If money is no object, get the Wilson Combat, second would be the Kimber...at least for me. I have (had) the Wilson Combat, have a Kimber, have a Springfield...they all work. It's the fit and finish, quality, shot grouping, options that you're paying for...

[Prowler]

I would take a Kimber before the SA, if that's your budget. Find a good used Kimber.

[///D]

If you would like to keep it under 1k then Wilson shouldn't even been in this running seeing you will be at least at 2k when u start looking at them. This question in general is basically personal preference as both Kimber and SA make very good 1911's. If you want my opinion, for about 1k you can get a somewhat fully optioned 1911 in a Kimber TLE. Night sights, nice trigger, front strap checkering, etc. And if you like rails, they offer one

[Casual Observer]

Having shot all of the above and then a couple (STI, Sig, S&W, Browns, Wesson) I finally settled on a Nighthawk. Working with Larry over at Nighthawk has been nothing but fantastic and I've never had a problem with them.

My only gripe is that things can take a while with them, but they're a small company that produces an amazing product. I'm willing to be patient.

Of course, my T3 retails at like $2800. If you have the time and money to burn....go with a Nighthawk or a Wilson (most of the guys at Nighthawk started out at Wilson).

If you're in the $1000-$1500 market, the Kimber TLE series is hard to beat for the money.

[donbok1]

I've owned a couple 1911's that I really wish I hadn't bought, one being a aluminum framed model of one of the listed manufactures. Wilson Combat, however, makes a real quality product that I doubt you could ever be disappointed in. The Les Baer is also a good suggestion if you are in the WC price range. If you want to stay in the $1000 range, it wouldn't hurt to check out Dan Wesson. I have a CBOB Classic that has been absolutely flawless in the first 500+ rounds so far.

[USN CHIEF]

Wilson combat. I have an SA and I have a Wilson (Thanks Prowler) and I have a Les Baer, so far I am most happy with the Wilson. Very smooth, well worth every single penny.

My next purchase will be a Nighthawk. I already started saving my pennies for it.

[aplinker]

I've owned a couple 1911's that I really wish I hadn't bought, one being a aluminum framed model of one of the listed manufactures. Wilson Combat, however, makes a real quality product that I doubt you could ever be disappointed in. The Les Baer is also a good suggestion if you are in the WC price range. If you want to stay in the $1000 range, it wouldn't hurt to check out Dan Wesson. I have a CBOB Classic that has been absolutely flawless in the first 500+ rounds so far.

I would agree with this advice. They're nowhere near as common as others, but the Dan Wesson PM7, IMHO, can't be beat in features/cost.

From there, either a loaded Springfield or the Kimber TLE (edge Kimber for me) is the way to go.

Semi-customs are where you want to look as you start to get a good feel for the exact things you like. Until then, I'd say go with something that has all the standard upgrades (good fixed combat sights, extended beavertail, extended thumb safety, skeletonized hammer, longer & lightened trigger, match barrel/bushing, etc. & checkered mainspring & frontstrap) for a nice package price.

[dichter]

Thanks for the feedback all.

I think I have narrowed down to the Kimber TLE/RL II vs Springfield MC Operator...

Operator is edging out a little since I have a thing of OD green gun...

Now I need to pony up the money.... lol....

[X-NewYawker]

My Kimber custom II is a fine entry level CA handgun, and the Warrior is a good "loaded" with ambis, rail, etc. My TRP Operator is a full house custom shop Springfield and shoots no better than the two Kimbers.

Custom II

Warrior II



Springfield (with GLOCK 21SF)



They actually have two different feels. The new SIS gun is Entirely stainless that's been "Kimpro finished"