i dont think they are bad guns, from the storys i hear though they are very "hit or miss" ive heards lots of storys about them being sent back cause of jamming problems and such, ive heard other storys where they work fine. me personally they push them selves to be so awsome even thought they have plenty of metal Injection Mold parts, all in all if i found a deal id buy one but i aint gona pay MSRP for a Mimber
What's up with Kimber??
- Thread starter S&WMP45
- Start date
- Status
rbernie
Contributing Member
Since I describe my experiences with my Kimbers with relatively even tones, I guess that I am now placed by some into the 'must have only shot it 100 rounds' camp.
<sigh>
My highest round count Kimber (a Custom II) probably had about 12K rounds thru it before I sold it to fund other interests. Not a super high round count unit, since I tend to rotate my pistols thru the range/carry rotation, but not exactly a safe queen. My notes on its issues are relatively sparse - the predominant malfs noted were traced to OAL issues with a batch of 200gr SWC handloads. Magazines used were Colt hybrids, updated with 11lb/in Wolff springs. Recoil spring was replaced at around 6K with a 18.5 Wolff unit. I did a detail strip on it only occasionally, and at least once I stripped the slide, cleaned out the goo, and retensioned the extractor.
Of the half dozen or so that I've had, my first Kimber was my only real problem child - the firing pin safety plunger was baulky and would cause failures to RTB. I did have a couple of ProCarry IIs with external extractors, but I sold them along the way and didn't really have any issues with them while I had them.
To keep things in perspective - yesterday I finished fitting an EGW oversize firing pin stop to a Springer Stainless Loaded that had extractor clocking issues as delivered from the factory. I didn't replace the extractor, but I likely will soon since Springfield extractors don't seem to hold tension for me very well.
<shrug>
Short of a full-up custom, I don't know of ANY brand of mass-produced 1911-pattern pistols that can't use SOME form of tune-up as delivered. But Kimber has done fine by me (layman hack that I may be), and that's all I can reasonably say....
<sigh>
My highest round count Kimber (a Custom II) probably had about 12K rounds thru it before I sold it to fund other interests. Not a super high round count unit, since I tend to rotate my pistols thru the range/carry rotation, but not exactly a safe queen. My notes on its issues are relatively sparse - the predominant malfs noted were traced to OAL issues with a batch of 200gr SWC handloads. Magazines used were Colt hybrids, updated with 11lb/in Wolff springs. Recoil spring was replaced at around 6K with a 18.5 Wolff unit. I did a detail strip on it only occasionally, and at least once I stripped the slide, cleaned out the goo, and retensioned the extractor.
Of the half dozen or so that I've had, my first Kimber was my only real problem child - the firing pin safety plunger was baulky and would cause failures to RTB. I did have a couple of ProCarry IIs with external extractors, but I sold them along the way and didn't really have any issues with them while I had them.
To keep things in perspective - yesterday I finished fitting an EGW oversize firing pin stop to a Springer Stainless Loaded that had extractor clocking issues as delivered from the factory. I didn't replace the extractor, but I likely will soon since Springfield extractors don't seem to hold tension for me very well.
<shrug>
Short of a full-up custom, I don't know of ANY brand of mass-produced 1911-pattern pistols that can't use SOME form of tune-up as delivered. But Kimber has done fine by me (layman hack that I may be), and that's all I can reasonably say....
well most people, from what i've read, have problems with their kimber well past 100 rounds. not saying they're all junk, but their quality control is bad enough to where a lot of people wouldn't considering purchasing them.
and yes, i know problems can occur with any 1911 brand-but it is considerably more prevalent with kimber.
glad to hear you like yours, though. that's what counts!
and yes, i know problems can occur with any 1911 brand-but it is considerably more prevalent with kimber.
glad to hear you like yours, though. that's what counts!
1. A lot of FFL don't sell Kimber, because Kimber is dealer direct.
Meaning distributors don't have them and you have to stock several of them and it is too much $$$ of an investment.
2. Kimber are over priced. Look at a Springfield or S&W and you get more for your money.
3. Quality is lacking. You can have a almost perfect gun and the 2nd same model you get in the same shipment sucks and has to be worked over.
This is nothing new and always has been a problem with Kimber.
4. I have not seen one Kimber which is 100%. With every new Kimber the magazine release will hold the magazine in if pressed all the way.
That is just sloppy fitting.
5. A Taurus is the same of better quality for half the money!
6. I had Kimber factory new with the night sites being blind, the finish being bad and even having scratches.
If I have a customer who insists on a Kimber, I tell him I will not sell him something like this!
In the price range of the Kimber, I would lead anyone to a S&W!
Meaning distributors don't have them and you have to stock several of them and it is too much $$$ of an investment.
2. Kimber are over priced. Look at a Springfield or S&W and you get more for your money.
3. Quality is lacking. You can have a almost perfect gun and the 2nd same model you get in the same shipment sucks and has to be worked over.
This is nothing new and always has been a problem with Kimber.
4. I have not seen one Kimber which is 100%. With every new Kimber the magazine release will hold the magazine in if pressed all the way.
That is just sloppy fitting.
5. A Taurus is the same of better quality for half the money!
6. I had Kimber factory new with the night sites being blind, the finish being bad and even having scratches.
If I have a customer who insists on a Kimber, I tell him I will not sell him something like this!
In the price range of the Kimber, I would lead anyone to a S&W!
The more I read your posts the more unfamiliar I think you are with the 1911 platform, I am no expert and am new to 1911s myself.(purchased my first 1911 in January 09) However I have owned 3 1911s since and KNOW 1911s generally require at least a 500 round break in period like I said earlier my Springfield required about 750 rounds before it started acting right. It seems your opinions are biased as to the guns you own are the greatest ever made. Have you shot a well broken in KImber? If you had and compared it to your precious Para GI Expert you will certainly know how budget your Para is.
kentucky_smith
Member
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2005
- Messages
- 1,686
:/
bdb benzino
Member
While I have experience with a few 1911's, I have only shot one Kimber and it was broken in and ran well and was really accurate. However I have to agree with The Real Mags #56 post, I have read a bunch of the OP's threads and posts and they are mostly proclaiming how what he has is superior to everybody else, and if you disagree you get taunted in some way. I am by no means an expert and the reason I am here is to learn from people who have more experience than me, Not to prove I have the best guns ever.
jimmyraythomason
Member
I have a Kimber Warrior (cost $1200 new)that my son-in-law has asked me to look at for a friend of his. It is about 2 years old and up until recently functioned flawlessly now it FTFeed with either magazine and all types of ammo. Anyone have this experience with the Warrior?
rbernie
Contributing Member
I've defended the Taurus 1911 here in the past, but there is no way that the Taurus bits are of equal quality, much less better. Taurus is having more warranty issues than did the early Kimber stuff, but when folk pay less it seems that they're willing to accept less. (Not that there's anything wrong with that - it makes sense.)
I just went and checked, and I have four Kimbers within reach that do NOT exhibit that behavior. Three of the four have the factory mag release; the Aegis has an Ed Brown tactical release that I fitted.
A lot of local shops like to steer their customers to Sigs and S&Ws. I won't have one, because I cannot see the point in having an external extractor that is specific to a single manufacturer. And frankly, for the money that I need to pay for a S&W, I'd rather buy a Colt.
A Custom II with a few upgrades is a heckova pistol, for less than the cost of a basic Sig or S&W. In fact, I still cannot see how anyone can tell me that the $650 (local price) Taurus or $800 (local price) Springfield Loaded is any better than a $750 (local price) Kimber Custom II.
Lest anyone think that I'm a shill for Kimber, I offer the following: I went to the range today and fired 400 rounds through two 1911-pattern pistols. One was a Stainless Springfield Loaded and one was a RIA Tactical (which has become my standard range beater). Neither were in as-shipped configuration, but neither required more than $100 worth of parts (plus my labor) to make then into my standard configuration.
IMTHDUKE
Member
I have one that is a shootin machine...zero problemo
Why not say well past 500 as 100 is not a suitable benchmark for a 1911. And have you personally shot a well broke in Kimber? I have shot a well broke in Kimber, Springer, Taurus and Para. But that makes me no expert I have simply tried some of the different 1911 platforms. DON'T KNOCK IT TILL YOU TRY IT!
lol you crack me up real mags, we're saying the same thing just wording differently
and of course, i'm certainly not proclaiming that my 1911's are only good one's out there, there's a lot of good ones out there!
and i'm not knocking kimber, just passing along what i've heard from others i know, and using that info to conclude that i wouldn't by one, which is a my right, right guys? lol
i have a springer champion operator and para gi expert, both are great 1911's, but, of course, i'm not saying they're the ONLY great 1911's out there-that just wouldn't make any sense, now would it?-durrr
real mags and benzino-you guys should really read my posts before making unsubstantiated allegations lol
and of course, i'm certainly not proclaiming that my 1911's are only good one's out there, there's a lot of good ones out there!
and i'm not knocking kimber, just passing along what i've heard from others i know, and using that info to conclude that i wouldn't by one, which is a my right, right guys? lol
i have a springer champion operator and para gi expert, both are great 1911's, but, of course, i'm not saying they're the ONLY great 1911's out there-that just wouldn't make any sense, now would it?-durrr
real mags and benzino-you guys should really read my posts before making unsubstantiated allegations lol
Last edited:
mljdeckard
Member
I'm 100% with Rbernie. Tauruses don't cost that much less than a comparable Kimber. I paid $620 NIb for my Custom II about 5 years ago. I have never had magazines not drop free, either factory Kimber mags or Chips.
My Kimber is so terrible that three of my friends dropped Glocks and Sigs as their carry guns and now carry Kimbers, just because they loved shooting mine so much. The only reason my dad went with a SA Mil Spec was because he specifically wanted a platform he can customize. At Impact, they have a Nighthawk and a Les Baer in the rental counter. I have rented and fired both of them, and while they feel a bit more refined, I can't shoot them any better than I can shoot my Kimber, which cost less than ONE THIRD as much. I can't remember the last time I had a failure to feed, eject, or fire. I still think that there is no evidence of any kind to say that they failure rate among Kimbers is any higher than ANY other 1911 manufacturer. They are just MUCH higher volume.
Remember that there used to not be any such thing as the 'semi-custom' market. There were Colts, a few odd imports, and high-end custom guns. Then Kimber entered the market and told the whole world that the emperor was naked. You can get a match-grade, hand-fitted 1911 for much less than $1000. I THINK, that ever since then, those who had previous been spending a lot more on custom guns were forced to ask themselves why their higher end guns were justified in the first place, and the answer was, "Kimbers are flawed. It's a lie. They break. There can't possibly be an alternative to what we have been paying for for so long."
That's just my opinion.
My Kimber is so terrible that three of my friends dropped Glocks and Sigs as their carry guns and now carry Kimbers, just because they loved shooting mine so much. The only reason my dad went with a SA Mil Spec was because he specifically wanted a platform he can customize. At Impact, they have a Nighthawk and a Les Baer in the rental counter. I have rented and fired both of them, and while they feel a bit more refined, I can't shoot them any better than I can shoot my Kimber, which cost less than ONE THIRD as much. I can't remember the last time I had a failure to feed, eject, or fire. I still think that there is no evidence of any kind to say that they failure rate among Kimbers is any higher than ANY other 1911 manufacturer. They are just MUCH higher volume.
Remember that there used to not be any such thing as the 'semi-custom' market. There were Colts, a few odd imports, and high-end custom guns. Then Kimber entered the market and told the whole world that the emperor was naked. You can get a match-grade, hand-fitted 1911 for much less than $1000. I THINK, that ever since then, those who had previous been spending a lot more on custom guns were forced to ask themselves why their higher end guns were justified in the first place, and the answer was, "Kimbers are flawed. It's a lie. They break. There can't possibly be an alternative to what we have been paying for for so long."
That's just my opinion.
TurboFC3S
Member
"Don't piss down my back and tell me it's rain" Classic Dennis Hopper quote, you started this thread for the sole reason of knocking Kimber, don't try and BS us into thinking otherwise.
david_the_greek
Member
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2005
- Messages
- 533
I've got a custom TLE II that I've had for 3 or 4 years now (I think closer to 4) and I've never had any problems with it. The gun has always run like a top and has never failed me. I'd never feel uncomfortable calling upon it to defend myself or for carry. I think the only "weak" point on mine might be the black finish has gone light in a few spots.
SCBradley
Member
I've put roughly 1200 rds through my Custom II in the 2 months I've had it. Over 500 of those without cleaning it.
I had exactly 4 FT-feed in that time, all with the same Wilson 47d. It runs fine with the 4 other brands of mags I've run in it: Chip, Kimber, Mec-Gar, Checkmate.
It's most certainly worth every penny of the $700 I paid for it.
It's no cast frame Para though.
I had exactly 4 FT-feed in that time, all with the same Wilson 47d. It runs fine with the 4 other brands of mags I've run in it: Chip, Kimber, Mec-Gar, Checkmate.
It's most certainly worth every penny of the $700 I paid for it.
It's no cast frame Para though.
Attachments
nice looking gunsite kimber, i didn't know they made a gunsite model.
i like the look of the raptor the best, but am hesitent to get one, for obvious reasons lol
cast paras are good too!
i have the para gi expert-great gun for the money!
a lot of people knock cast 1911's, but you ever seen a problem with the slide or frame on a cast para? i sure haven't.
i like the look of the raptor the best, but am hesitent to get one, for obvious reasons lol
cast paras are good too!
i have the para gi expert-great gun for the money!
a lot of people knock cast 1911's, but you ever seen a problem with the slide or frame on a cast para? i sure haven't.
TurboFC3S
Member
Clever ... you sure have a lot of replies like this in your 3 weeks here. Why not just enjoy what you've got instead of talking down the competitors to justify your purchase?
SCBradley
Member
I have a Metro Arms American Classic II which is amazingly tight and accurate, despite the dangerously light trigger it came with. I paid $385 for it, and it has a cast frame and forged (so they say) slide.
There's nothing "wrong" with cast 1911's, but I don't believe they have the longevity of a good forged weapon. Nor will I pay more than $450 for one.
There's nothing "wrong" with cast 1911's, but I don't believe they have the longevity of a good forged weapon. Nor will I pay more than $450 for one.
TurboFC3S
Member
Haha, I've seen multiple pictures of Para slides literally cracked in half ... some with very low round counts. Still, I have two Para's - a P10.45 that started off a jam-o-matic but was made reliable with nothing more than a Wolff mag spring, and a P16.40 Limited LDA that has run somewhere around 3000 rounds with only a handful of stovepipes when using my light reloads, otherwise stellar reliability and accuracy. But I don't BS myself into thinking that cast is as durable as forged, it simply isn't and will never be. I've been running numerous SCCA classes for years with a couple different prepped RX-7's. Over the years I've had stress failures in many cast wheels but ran them because they were cheap. For the last 3 years I've been running forged Fikse's and hit things that would have shattered a cast rim, worst that's happened was a slightly bent lip that was easily repaired.
- Status
