Kimber TLE .45 ACP Yes or No

[CharliesHammer]

Looking into a new 1911. A local shop has the Kimber TLE for $799.00. This saves $250-$300 here in Ca. so options are limited. I usually assume an action job on most guns.

I have zero experience with this Kimber. Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[JDR]

I also reside in Cali and share your grief over limited gun roster options. That’s a great price for my favorite Kimber 1911 model and I would tell you to pounce on it!

 

[Old Dog]

I've owned several Kimbers (blued TLE II, CDP Pro, Eclipse, Tactical Pro) since the late '90s, never had a problem with any one. My TLE II has a really, really sweet trigger. It's been 100% reliable since I purchased it new in '09, and it's been shot a lot. Only issue is that the finish inexplicably wore quickly off the slide stop and safety lever, which was never really a concern. The Meprolight sights still have life in them.

Kimber does a good job with the frontstrap checkering. Some complain about the plastic MSH, but it's easily replaced I think I paid $799 for mine when I bought it at the local Sportsman's Warehouse, so that price seems quite good today, for a quality full-size 1911 with FS checkering, nice grips, and great night-sight -- you're getting a bit more at the price point than you get with the comparable Springfield Armory ("Loaded") or Colt pistols.

Don't have a pic of the TLE, but below is my favorite Kimber:

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

I have a Kimber Stainless ii 45acp and I love it. It's way more accurate than I can shoot it. I'm still doing the Kimber 500 round break-in and I've yet to have a single malfunction attributed to the pistol. It has FtFeed twice and the issue is an aftermarket 10 round mag I use at the range. Use the 7 or 8 round Wilson mags and it just goes bang.

Buy it Shoot it and clean it.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Options are limited in California - as you know.

The price is quite good.

The gun is VERY good.

Kimber is a rockin' company to deal with should you ever need to.

I've been quite thrilled with every Kimber product that I've dealt with.

What was the question again?

Todd.

 

[Coyote3855]

I have several 1911s by Colt, Springfield Armory, and Caspian. Sportsman's Warehouse had Kimber Lightweight Stainless Government Model on sale for $599.99. I read some negative reviews of Kimber. Decided to buy one anyway. I have 120 rounds of ball and 130 rounds of my IPSC handloads LSWC. Not one single glitch so far. I'm very happy with the fit and finish. Trigger could use some work but I will wait until the round count is higher. It may smooth out on its own.

 

[reddog81]

I have an older TLE that’s about 20 years old and it’s a good accurate gun. I’ve only owned it for 6 years but I am always impressed when I take it to the range. Are you looking at a brand new gun?

 

[94045]

I have a Kimber Target (Pre-II), Kimber Compact CDP II (LW Officer's Frame and 4" Barrel) and a Kimber Custom II GFO Shot Show 2019 Special. My Kimber's have all been 100% with the S&B Ball, Golden Saber and Fed LE45T1 I generally feed them.

I live in a very gun friendly state and payed $800 for the Target (before Kimbers Ext Extractor Fiasco) and $680 for the CDP II and $600 for the GFO. I doubt I could buy a new TLE II for that here. So I suspect that's a good price (even used) for one in Cali. $700 used at a dealer is likely as cheap as I could get one here and I know Cali is higher.

I hesitate to recommend Kimber because some have had issues with them and Kimber isn't always successful in resolving the issue. However for me they have always returned a lot of value per dollar spent.

 

[Anchorite]

I just picked up a TLE II recently....I think it’s the “Pro” model, 4-inch barrel, rail and FLGR. It’s not listed anymore on the Kimber site. So far, so good. Got it for a great price, and hasn’t hiccuped on anything in about 600+/- various rounds.

 

[CharliesHammer]

Thank you everybody for the comments. I will go down tomorrow and check out the gun. I got sidetracked today at a gun show. Picked up a used Rock chucker cheap and got 16lb of powder at a nice price.
The gun show was disappointing as far as guns go. The small dealer have all but disappeared here in Ca. Corporations have taken over, ever thing is full retail or less than 2% discount.
All this to say after going to So.Ca. largest show I'm gonna have to go to local dealer for a better deal.

Thanks again for all the responses. I have 3 1911's but haver never bought a Kimber. My last two have taken a little fine tuning, but nothing pricey or extensive.

 

[CharliesHammer]

I've owned several Kimbers (blued TLE II, CDP Pro, Eclipse, Tactical Pro) since the late '90s, never had a problem with any one. My TLE II has a really, really sweet trigger. It's been 100% reliable since I purchased it new in '09, and it's been shot a lot. Only issue is that the finish inexplicably wore quickly off the slide stop and safety lever, which was never really a concern. The Meprolight sights still have life in them.

Kimber does a good job with the frontstrap checkering. Some complain about the plastic MSH, but it's easily replaced I think I paid $799 for mine when I bought it at the local Sportsman's Warehouse, so that price seems quite good today, for a quality full-size 1911 with FS checkering, nice grips, and great night-sight -- you're getting a bit more at the price point than you get with the comparable Springfield Armory ("Loaded") or Colt pistols.

Don't have a pic of the TLE, but below is my favorite Kimber:
View attachment 885342

Nice gun gotta love the front checkering!

 

[Spats McGee]

I don't have a Kimber. I'm just posting to make it easy for me to find the thread, 'cause now I want to see how this story turns out.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

I've shot Blazer Brass, S&B, Remington UMC, all 230gr Ball without a single gun related malfunction. I shot a few mags worth of Federal HST 230gr +p without a single issue either. I've already mentioned that the pistol is more accurate than I'll ever shoot it, and I forgot to post a pic. This is at 25 (range finder) yards shooting of a rest. It was withing the first 100 rounds of me owning the pistol. It's as factory as it can be, straight out of the box all I did was the initial cleaning. Kimber Stainless ii 45ACP 5" barrel. Group is 3 rounds of Federal HST 230gr +P at 25 yards with a front rest.

 

[gunlaw]

I have TLEII in 10mm. Great gun. Kimbers are tight when new. Break it in right and it will be a great pistol. Great price BTW.

 

[CharliesHammer]

Thanks guys for the feedback. My local store did not have a gun in stock. They plan on getting some next week. They were however cool enough to give me a rain check.

 

[d'zaster]

I have an Eclipse custom II in 10mm. It was way tight and I had to send back to Kimber. Service was /is first rate. They tuned it up good. Now it's a great shooter and consumes everything I run in it it eluding various hand loads. Yeah should have come the factory rnning like this to begin with I and not disappointed.

 

[CharliesHammer]

Well I went down to handle the new Kimber and sitting in the used shelf was a six inch pre lock 586 that looked flawless for $600.00. I forgot to take pictures. I will have to wait 40 days to pick it up. Gotta love Ca. Will have to save up to get another 1911.

 

[entropy]

When a used Kimber shows up in the LGS case, you have to wonder why. You chose well getting the 586, and I say that being a Colt revolver fan.

 

[94045]

Well I went down to handle the new Kimber and sitting in the used shelf was a six inch pre lock 586 that looked flawless for $600.00. I forgot to take pictures. I will have to wait 40 days to pick it up. Gotta love Ca. Will have to save up to get another 1911.

If you like revolvers that's an excellent handgun. The one handgun I shoot most accurately is a Dan Wesson M15-2 V 6".

Just something about a revolver with a good single action trigger that lets you plink empty shotgun hulls at 25 yards.

 

[CharliesHammer]

I have a four inch 586 and really like it I'm sure this one will be too much fun.

 

[psyopspec]

I had a TLE RL II, one of two Kimbers that I owned and could never get running reliably in the early- to mid-2000s. I'm personally done with the brand after my experiences. Never had the same reliability issues with 1911s from Springfield or Colt.