Which 1911?
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12,666 Posts
Two good choices there. I'm not sure there's a clear-cut favorite.
I had an excellent Springfield in .45, and replaced it with a very good .45 Kimber 1911. The Springfield's slide eventually cracked for the next owner, and the Kimber has now digested tens of thousands of rounds. I guess I've got a slight preference for the Kimber, but not by much.
I think Springfield would have replaced that cracked slide if the owner had asked, and at any rate it was 15+ years ago so likely has no bearing on what they're producing now. I remember it as a very good, accurate pistol. The Springfields I've shot since have also been good.
Not much help am I? I like them both!
Guy
I had an excellent Springfield in .45, and replaced it with a very good .45 Kimber 1911. The Springfield's slide eventually cracked for the next owner, and the Kimber has now digested tens of thousands of rounds. I guess I've got a slight preference for the Kimber, but not by much.
I think Springfield would have replaced that cracked slide if the owner had asked, and at any rate it was 15+ years ago so likely has no bearing on what they're producing now. I remember it as a very good, accurate pistol. The Springfields I've shot since have also been good.
Not much help am I? I like them both!
Guy
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5,303 Posts
Everyone's experiences differ a bit and while there are lots of Springfield fans among the members here, I can't count myself as one of them. I purchased a new Springfield Stainless TRP, their top of the line pistol at the time, for my wife quite a few years ago. I won't get into all the details, but this 1911 needed a fair amount of work before it would function properly, including but not limited to, a rough feed ramp, terrible trigger, issues with the sights, and rough edges and burrs in abundance.
It took just a bit longer to realize the beavertail grip safety on this stainless gun was actually carbon steel in the white, evident by how it would rust at the slightest provocation. When I called Springfield's customer service I was met with a brick wall and comments like "impossible...couldn't happen" and they refused to even inspect the pistol. (I subsequently proved the grip safety was indeed unblued carbon steel and replaced it myself) For good reason, it remains the only "Springer" I've ever owned.
Conversely, I now have three Kimbers and each and every one has been 100% reliable, with fine triggers right out of the box, and immaculate fit and finish. One was customized by the good folks at Clark Custom into a .460 Rowland, but the other two remain box-stock, needing nothing in the way of tuning or customizing to make them the fine pistols that they are.
Obviously, In a comparison between Springfield and Kimber, my preferences run towards the latter, but I'm sure there are others who's experience may be just the opposite. My best advice...handle an example of each with a critical eye and pay close attention to details as you do...both internally and externally.
Roe
It took just a bit longer to realize the beavertail grip safety on this stainless gun was actually carbon steel in the white, evident by how it would rust at the slightest provocation. When I called Springfield's customer service I was met with a brick wall and comments like "impossible...couldn't happen" and they refused to even inspect the pistol. (I subsequently proved the grip safety was indeed unblued carbon steel and replaced it myself) For good reason, it remains the only "Springer" I've ever owned.
Conversely, I now have three Kimbers and each and every one has been 100% reliable, with fine triggers right out of the box, and immaculate fit and finish. One was customized by the good folks at Clark Custom into a .460 Rowland, but the other two remain box-stock, needing nothing in the way of tuning or customizing to make them the fine pistols that they are.
Obviously, In a comparison between Springfield and Kimber, my preferences run towards the latter, but I'm sure there are others who's experience may be just the opposite. My best advice...handle an example of each with a critical eye and pay close attention to details as you do...both internally and externally.
Roe
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8,603 Posts
Kimber, nuff said! 
BloodGroove4570
BloodGroove4570
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26,094 Posts
I have a Kimber pro-Raptor 2.
It came with everything I wanted.
Nice trigger, night sights, and more
extras than you can imagine.
If I would have bought a Springfield and
had all this work done, it would have cost
me more than the Kimber did originally.
I was told by my BIL, who is a LE official, that
he had seen a Kimber prone to jamming at the
range once. Mine has only jammed once, and
that was when I tried to feed it ammo that
had a HUGE hollow point designed to stop dinosaurs
or something. I forget the brand. BIL gave them
to me...Typical of LE to load up like that.
Anyway, I stick with round bullets, like John
Browning intended, and since I have never had a
feeding issue.
The Kimber is all I ever wanted in a 1911. I had a
Colt Commander once, and my Kimber is what I wished
the Colt would have been.
Spend they money, and you won't regret it, man.
It came with everything I wanted.
Nice trigger, night sights, and more
extras than you can imagine.
If I would have bought a Springfield and
had all this work done, it would have cost
me more than the Kimber did originally.
I was told by my BIL, who is a LE official, that
he had seen a Kimber prone to jamming at the
range once. Mine has only jammed once, and
that was when I tried to feed it ammo that
had a HUGE hollow point designed to stop dinosaurs
or something. I forget the brand. BIL gave them
to me...Typical of LE to load up like that.
Anyway, I stick with round bullets, like John
Browning intended, and since I have never had a
feeding issue.
The Kimber is all I ever wanted in a 1911. I had a
Colt Commander once, and my Kimber is what I wished
the Colt would have been.
Spend they money, and you won't regret it, man.
Joined
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317 Posts
I have a Kimber Ultra Carry II and its been a terrific gun, even though its one of the 3" Officers models that some people like to call jam-o-matics. Either of your choices are great, but if you go with Kimber consider a Custom TLE II instead of the Custom II. The TLE adds night sights and front strap checkering for way less than what it would cost to add later.
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2,346 Posts
i have not owned ether but have shot a few of both .I own a metro arms and a charles daily and like them both .my pockets are not as deep as some on here but i do the best i can
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16,926 Posts
Both good choices, but I think the Kimber is the better of the two
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26,094 Posts
Ed-Brown...am I stuck in a time warp?....
In the circles I move in a Kimber requires deep pockets, man...
But seriously, if I was gonna step up from mine I'd have to
try a Wilson Combat, Man.
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1,688 Posts
9mm??? What's up with that?
I own 2 Kimbers and one Springfield all in .45 ACP. So I guess you could say I prefer Kimbers two to one. I don't own any 1911's in 9mm so I can't say how well the 9mm's work from Kimber or Springfield.
I own 2 Kimbers and one Springfield all in .45 ACP. So I guess you could say I prefer Kimbers two to one. I don't own any 1911's in 9mm so I can't say how well the 9mm's work from Kimber or Springfield.
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126 Posts
I have a Springfield 1911 9mm. Works every time, is gentle to shoot, and is an awesome piece of equipment.
Looks like this one.
![Firearm Gun Trigger Gun barrel Gun accessory]()
I also have mil-spec, tactical, and custom 1911s in 45ACP.
They renge from RIA, to Thompson, to Sig Sauer.
The Sig is pretty too.
![Firearm Gun Trigger Gun barrel Gun accessory]()
But there isn't a Kimber in the pile.
I understand Kimbers are good guns, and lots of folks like them, but I also understand there are proprietary parts in there.
Couldn't tell you which ones.
If someone knows, I'd be interested.
I like to stay away from as many proprietary parts as possible, but you can't always do that.
When it comes to 1911s, more mil-spec is better.
dp
Looks like this one.
I also have mil-spec, tactical, and custom 1911s in 45ACP.
They renge from RIA, to Thompson, to Sig Sauer.
The Sig is pretty too.
But there isn't a Kimber in the pile.
I understand Kimbers are good guns, and lots of folks like them, but I also understand there are proprietary parts in there.
Couldn't tell you which ones.
If someone knows, I'd be interested.
I like to stay away from as many proprietary parts as possible, but you can't always do that.
When it comes to 1911s, more mil-spec is better.
dp
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1,297 Posts
Only one thing for sure,, There has never been a better time for choosing a 1911! I trained on 70 series colts and damn If I didn't like the Datonics better! Point being, For under a grand you can buy a pistol that would have required a gunsmith and big money twenty years ago! Features? It's all there now! Semi auto is not my forte, But Kimber put's out about the best I've seen. Funny but years back I shot some Norinco Colt copies that were sweet at a fraction of the price! Model 19,,, yeah want another!
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1,276 Posts
Thanks for the input guys. I would love a .45, but my local club doesn't have a .45 auto event,and here in OZ you need a reason for any handgun ownership.(don't give up your rights). I did consider .38super but as its only for target shooting the 9mm is a cheaper way to go. Would love a Colt but the govt model 9mm is a bit too plain. I'm waiting to see the availability of the Springfield before I make a decision,but I'm leaning toward the kimber,if only because I don't know of any others in my area. Plenty of berreta's,CZ's & S&W.
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