Springfield 1911A1 vs. Kimber Custom II

[Zackmeister]

I might have the chance to get either of the two above. The Springfield is priced 20 bucks cheaper at my local gunstore, so the price difference is not great. How are these for reliability? Whatever I get will be a range gun plus maybe a ccw when I get my permit. Your experiences with these guns would be helpful.

 

[psyopspec]

My Kimber is a Custom Eclipse, and it's darn close to being the perfect gun for me. However, you didn't have a button for "try/hold both and choose the one that feels better in the hand." I would pick that. Either one's a great pistol; I think the only true absolute advantage I could state is that the Kimber will have night sights. Other than that, Item A = Item B.

Do let us know what you get and how it goes though, will you?

 

[10-Ring]

For strictly subjective reasons, I prefer the SA.

 

[nonquixote]

When I was shopping for my first 1911, I reasoned that all the major brands would have decent quality on average, so I focused on the out of the box trigger as my main criteria. I dry fired several different pistols at various local shops and settled on a Kimber Stainless Custom II. Very sweet trigger, very accurate and reliable for me. No regrets.

Nonq

 

[rbernie]

I've got two Kimbers and two Springfields. Presuming that the Springer is a loaded model (beavertail safety and all the usual jazz), I'd get the Springer.

The Springer has the ILS stuf to get rid of if it bothers you, but a replacement mainspring housing and innards is relatively cheap. Other than that, it's a pretty faithful 1911A1 pattern pistol. OTOH, the Kimber has the firing pin safety block poo to deal with, and I've had enough failures to go into battery (especially when new) on both of the Kimbers to make me fairly wary of the implementation.

 

[cerberus]

My vote is for the Kimber

I was advised by local range expert to get a Springer and then have their gunsmith replace all the guts and re-work the slide and frame fit. After giving his advice some thought.. I bought a Kimber TLE II and it has never failed even when first fired and during the normal Kimber breakin. It does have the internal extractor.

 

[PCRCCW]

IMO.....both are great guns and they are so close......Id do this. Get the 2 examples you can buy and feel them......rack the slides, which is smoother? Which has tighter barrel lockup? Which has the better trigger? Check the barrel bores.....etc
Kimbers may have a slight advantage with a little closer tolerances from the factory....but Ive felt some very nicely put togethor SA's also.
Just get the one that you like the best..........

Shoot well............