Kimber Products Really That Good?

[Gunmeister]

I have an itch for a 1911 .45ACP Semi-auto. I have long admired the Kimber Ultra Carry II. These are available locally for around $695. To me, that's a lot of moola but I'm also aware that is not a lot for a 1911.
Several friends have advised against Kimber for several reasons, primarily rust, some have had feed probs and poor customer service.
As a long time Glock carrier, I must admit I'm not up to speed on short barreled .45ACP pistols. I just really like the look and feel of the Ultra Carry II.
Any advise pro or con will be much appreciated. JW

 

[Bobby Lee]

Kimber makes a good products but they are exactly like all modern factory 1911's.

It may not be as reliable out of the box as your Glock.

 

[dairycreek]

I have owned several Kimbers and still own a couple of them as I write these words. I purchased all of them NIB and had some trouble with some of them. Kimber was good in finally solving the problems so no complaint there. You mention rust as a Kimber problem. I have always regarded rust on a gun as an owner problem! Kimber makes a fine 1911 but, from time to time, some of them will have problems. Lately, I have had superior experiences with my Smith & Wesson 1911 pistols and favor them over my Kimbers. FWIW! Good luck

 

[spacemanspiff]

if you're not looking for a pistol that rules, don't get a kimber.

dontcha just love double negatives?

 

[glocker1911]

Re: Kimber products really that good?

IMHO, NO. For every good story you read, they are at least two people with bad experiences. I've personally owned two series II Kimbers that were a POS and cannot reccomend them to anyone without letting you know it will be a crap shoot. If it works new, it will be a good one. If it doesn't it never will. Forget the crap about 500 round break in.

 

[Father Knows Best]

I vote no. Kimber does a ton of marketing and has a lot of name recognition, so it commands a premium price. You can get better value in terms of quality and features for the price from Para Ordnance, Springfield Armory and Dan Wesson. Newer Colts would also rank up there.

And before I get labeled as a Kimber basher, I will disclose that I own one and it's very nice. It was too much money, though.

 

[Monkeyleg]

I own three: a 1998 vintage Gold Match, a 1999 vintage Pro Carry, and a 2003 vintage Eclipse Target.

Had some feeding issues with the Gold Match during the break-in period. I haven't shot it lately, but it has over 16,000 rounds through it, and I can't remember the last problem.

The Pro Carry had problems I wasn't even aware of until I took the LFI-1 course (lubricant wasn't heavy enough, MIM slide stop got bunged up, and some other problems I can't recall). Cost me about $125 or so to get it fixed after I dropped it, and to get it to be 100% (I hope) reliable.

The Eclipse doesn't even have 1,000 rounds through it, but it's never malfunctioned at all.

I'm neither a basher or a cheerleader. This is just my experience.

 

[waterhouse]

I've got a couple older Kimbers and like them just fine (I have no experience with any new ones). I've also got a Dan Wesson C-bob that I really like, and I had a Sprinfield Armory that was really nice too. I sold the Springfield because it was redundant size wise and I liked the aftermarket sights on the Kimber more.

Are they worth a premium price? I don't think so. I've bought all of mine used, mostly from High Road members. They show some finish wear, but I don't like to baby my handguns anyway so I might as well buy used, worn looking ones. I feel like I got good deals on them and like them a lot, but if I had bought them new and paid what some dealers are asking . . .well, I don't think they are worth that much.

To be honest, my favorite of the 4 I've had is the Dan Wesson, but I really like the bobtail so it's not an apples to apples comparison.

I think they are good guns, but if you are planing on buying a new gun the Springfields are a better value, methinks.

Also, I didn't get my first 1911 till about 6 months ago, so take everything I say on the subject with a grain of salt.

 

[Black Majik]

IMHO, NO. For every good story you read, they are at least two people with bad experiences.

I must say otherwise. I find that most people find forums the best place to complain. "A happy consumer will tell a friend of a good purchase, an unhappy consumer will tell 10 friends of a bad experience."

Simply put, there are many more complaints on these boards than a positive review. Now, if everyone posted their positive reviews, IMO it will overwhelm the negatives. This goes for most products/companies.

As for the Kimber, look for a series I Kimber. The Series II Kimbers are a crapshoot I agree.

But in the end, I'd rather have a working Kimber than a working Springfield.

 

[dmftoy1]

I've got 2, a Series 1 that I bought used off of this website and a Gold Match II. Both are exactly what I hoped for, accurate, well made with good triggers. I had one of the first SA GI's a long time ago and put alot of ammo and $ trying to get it to where I wanted it. Now, 20 some years later I was able to buy what I want and I haven't ever looked back. Just my experiences.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[Shear_stress]

You might want to get some cheese for this whine:

Scrimped, saved and scragged me a Kimber Gold Match II with the internal extractor. Gorgeous, gorgeous gun. Tight barrel/slide/frame fit. Awesome accuracy.

At first, I was pretty proud of myself for finding one of the last ones with the god-fearing-John-Moses-Browning-USDA-certified internal extractor. However, my particular extractor only liked to work part time. For a while I blamed myself and the several brands of ammo I tried. After a thousand rounds, I just had a smith swap the extractor for a Wilson Bulletproof (most of the cost was labor anyway). Problem solved.

So, is it a "good" gun? Yes, except for the extractor. Is it acceptable for a gun that cost that much to still need work? Depends on your perspective. I am inclined to say no. 1911 extractors do need to be tuned carefully, but, regardless, that's why you have QC at the factory. Plus, how much do you have to spend to get forged internals on a 1911? I like the 1911 as much as anyone, but I am not one of these apologists who considers a gun that cost north of a grand to be a "project".

Summary: one person's experience. Anecdotal evidence only. Still, I agree with the fellow who said that Kimbers do not represent the best value.

 

[Elmer]

Great armchair commando guns.

 

[birddog]

Great armchair commando guns.

Maybe so, but the Ultra CDP that my wife carrries every day is also 100% dependable with any ammo, and extremely accurate. It's only one of our CCW guns, but definitely a favorite.

I'd recommend it. And I'm not an armchair commando. Just your average guy, looking for his place in the universe.

 

[Shear_stress]

"Great armchair commando guns."

Let he who is not an armchair commando cast the first stone.

 

[.40-.45]

imho yes.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Dunno for sure. I have a Kimber Pro Carry II that I paid $550 for and the only problem I had was with the original magazine. Pitched it and got Wilson mags and have had zero problems since.

 

[DHart]

I have three Series 1 Kimbers and of them one I still won't rely on after two trips to Kimber and another to a master pistolsmith. I do like my 5" Kimber Stainless... just a basic, very simple full size 1911... no series II crap in it either.

I wouldn't have a Series II Kimber for free... just heard about waaay too many problems and the Schwartz system is something I wouldn't have in a 1911.

But I'd buy a new Colt 1911 without worry... with more than twenty purchased new in the last few years, they have proved to me to be exceptionally reliable right-out-of-the-box.

BTW... I've found that while many brands tend to need a "break-in" period before they will run well, Colts do not need a "break-in"... they tend to run flawlessly from the get go... something I think is associated with the fact that Colts in general (though as with all brands there does exist the occasional sample that needs some work) tend to be extremely reliable.

 

[Krag]

Buy a Para CCW LDA.

 

[hnm201]

The kimbers in our local club have been very problematic (non as problematic as the Sig GSR). Never a hitch with the G30 though. Have you considered a glock 30?

 

[TarpleyG]

I have two. A Pro Carry and a Custom TLE II. Both have been perfectly reliable. Have they had jams and misfeeds? Yes. All guns do at one point or another and anyone that says different is lying. I have probably 4000 rounds through the Pro Carry and 10,000 through the TLE. Keep 'em cleaned every 500 rounds and change the springs when they are supposed to be changed and you'll be just fine. As far as price--shop around and you can usually find one for cheaper than you think.

Greg

 

[Ala Dan]

As a proud new Kimber Raptor II owner, I must say that I am quite
pleased with this new firearm. I've only sent a couple hundred rounds
down range; but so far the only problem I have experienced is failure
to go into battery a couple of times. A slight tap on the rear or the
slide with the palm of the hand solved this problem; and all is well
as we speak. Extraction with the series II extractor HAS NOT been
a problem. After, the break-in period I'm quite sure the Raptor II
will live up too expectations. I most definitely would buy another
Kimber firearm!

 

[Lennyjoe]

Hey, if Dan the Sig man says the Kimber is good to go then you better believe it.

 

[Fatelvis]

I like Kimber 45s. They seem to be a happy medium between tightly fitted,accurized, custom pistols, (Les Baer, Wilson) and run-of-the-mill stock, production pistols (base model Springfields and Colts). They are of acceptable+ quality, at a fair price.

 

[Ala Dan]

Manny thanks Lennyjoe my friend!

Really, up until last year I had forgotten what great fun it was too shoot
a single-action 1911~ So with the basic Springer WW-II GI model
and the Kimber Raptor II, I am rediscovering what a great joy they can be.

BTW, however its TRUE that the SIG P220 will spoil you~

 

[Bobby Lee]

have two. A Pro Carry and a Custom TLE II. Both have been perfectly reliable. Have they had jams and misfeeds? Yes. All guns do at one point or another and anyone that says different is lying.

I don't consider any gun that has missfeeds and jams reliable. Either it is reliable or it jams. You can't have it both ways.

My carry gun has NEVER had a single malfunction of any kind in the 8 years I have carried it and the several thousand rounds shot through it. I have also had that kind of performance out of other modern guns.

If you want long term reliability with an out of the box gun you need to stay away from todays factory 1911's.