Are you happy with your Kimber?

IM_Lugger

IM_Lugger

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I'm thinking of getting a Kimber stainless 1911 (likely in 10mm) and wanted to get some feedback from the Kimber owners.

I was browsing the 1911 forum and looks like the CQ is down compared to the earlier models. Resulting in poor reliability and quality issues...

Wouldn't want to get a lemon esp. with no Kimber warranty depot in Canada...
 
My experience (internet armchair commandoes notwithstanding) is that Kimber produces one of the best production 1911s out there. Their customer service is generally first class as well. Their management leaves something to be desired, but I don't think you need to loose sleep over the quality of your Kimber pistol.
FWIW I have seen many more Colt, Para Ordnance, S&W and Norinco 1911s with problems than Kimbers, and I have seen very many more Kimbers go through the store.
 
redleg said:
My experience (internet armchair commandoes notwithstanding) is that Kimber produces one of the best production 1911s out there. Their customer service is generally first class as well. Their management leaves something to be desired, but I don't think you need to loose sleep over the quality of your Kimber pistol.
FWIW I have seen many more Colt, Para Ordnance, S&W and Norinco 1911s with problems than Kimbers, and I have seen very many more Kimbers go through the store.
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Yeah I got to agree. I've had pretty much every brand of 1911 and just keep going back to Kimber. Currently I have a Kimber Tac Pro and very late last night after watching Hot Rod I snagged Gunnar's Kimber Pro TLE/RL!!! (Paid for already, so all you guys holding your breath, just keep holding it!) And I still miss my Eclipse and Super Match....

As a side note, at the same time as I had the Kimber Eclipse I had the Springfield Shadow (I think it was called???) with the blacked out accents on the slide. Essentially the same gun from different manufacturers. There was no comparison, the Springfield just felt cheap compared to the Kimber.
 
mopar guy said:
Yeah I got to agree. I've had pretty much every brand of 1911 and just keep going back to Kimber. Currently I have a Kimber Tac Pro and very late last night after watching Hot Rod I snagged Gunnar's Kimber Pro TLE/RL!!! (Paid for already, so all you guys holding your breath, just keep holding it!) And I still miss my Eclipse and Super Match....

As a side note, at the same time as I had the Kimber Eclipse I had the Springfield Shadow (I think it was called???) with the blacked out accents on the slide. Essentially the same gun from different manufacturers. There was no comparison, the Springfield just felt cheap compared to the Kimber.
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I agree with Redleg & Mopar Guy. I have no regrets with my Tactical Custom II and it was manufactured last December so I don't think there are any issues with newer Kimber pistols as opposed to older ones. I've put a couple thousand rounds through of various loads from full house to lighter without issue. I do stick with jacketed round nose but that's just my choice. Fit & finish are very good and I have never had any feed or ejection problem. I have been able to order any extras I wanted by phone from Kimber from T-shirts and extra spring kits (for the future - not needed yet) to the excellent ProTac 8 round magazines (bought 12 & they are great!). Lots of Kimbers are sold in Canada so I think service would not be an issue if needed.

Mike
 
I have owned this Kimber Custom Compact for years; friends and I always marvel at how accurate this pistol is. This little bugger will shoot with full sized 1911s to 25 yards. Regards, Richard:D

KimberCustomCompact.jpg
 
Kimbers!

mopar guy said:
Yeah I got to agree. I've had pretty much every brand of 1911 and just keep going back to Kimber. Currently I have a Kimber Tac Pro and very late last night after watching Hot Rod I snagged Gunnar's Kimber Pro TLE/RL!!! (Paid for already, so all you guys holding your breath, just keep holding it!) And I still miss my Eclipse and Super Match....

As a side note, at the same time as I had the Kimber Eclipse I had the Springfield Shadow (I think it was called???) with the blacked out accents on the slide. Essentially the same gun from different manufacturers. There was no comparison, the Springfield just felt cheap compared to the Kimber.
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So you were the lucky one who got the TLE, if I had seen it first,it would be mine. But aside from that I too have had many 1911's, Colt, Detonics, Imbel,Llama,Remington Rands, Ithaca's, STI and I have friends who have S&W 1911's,Springfields, Para's and none of them compare to my Kimber's, I have no problem feeding any kind of ammo so far, quite different with my STI's which are very finicky. The finish and accuracy are second to none that I have ever tried, the next best was the Detonics Scoremaster in both 45 and 451, I have a friend who has a S&W 1911 Gunsite Edition and the finish is very nice and shoots very well and so far has fed all he has put through it.

As soon as you pick up a Kimber you can feel the difference quality makes., I saw someone on here complain about slide to frame fit, I would very much like to see that gun. And everytime that I have called Kimber I have received an answer from them by day's end.

I would however like to try a Dlask 1911 Pro in 10mm with a Stainless frame,heavy bushing less barrel and adjustable sights.
 
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I have a Ultra CDPII (3in) and a Stainless fullsize TLE/RLII (5in) and I have had no problems with either one. I have close to 6000 rounds through my fullsize and no hickups or problems. I switched both guns to Wilson Combat mags because I read that most of the kimber feeding problems were mag related or extractor related.... my TLE has an external extractor and I haven't any problems with it. I should replace the recoil springs soon she feels a lil light compared to my CDP. I love kimbers so much im planning on buying a 4 inch (So I have all sizes) Pro Carry SIS.... the finish is sweet on the SIS guns but the cocking serrations arent that easy to grip but i dont care its a sweet looking pistol.
 
PUREVIL said:
I have a Ultra CDPII (3in) and a Stainless fullsize TLE/RLII (5in) and I have had no problems with either one. I have close to 6000 rounds through my fullsize and no hickups or problems. I switched both guns to Wilson Combat mags because I read that most of the kimber feeding problems were mag related or extractor related.... my TLE has an external extractor and I haven't any problems with it. I should replace the recoil springs soon she feels a lil light compared to my CDP. I love kimbers so much im planning on buying a 4 inch (So I have all sizes) Pro Carry SIS.... the finish is sweet on the SIS guns but the cocking serrations arent that easy to grip but i dont care its a sweet looking pistol.
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I should say that in all the ones I've used I haven't actually tried the factory Kimber mags. I use SS Wilson Combat with .35" bumper pads in all of my 1911's. The Kimber mags do feel kind of cheap compared to the Wilsom Combat ones, but so does every other factory 1911 mag when the same comparison is made. I've read online that the weakest part of the package is the mags, but I can't confirm or deny that from personal experience.
 
While I waited for my WC mags to show up my kimber ones worked fine, but i read alot of people had issues with the kimber mags so instead i just bought the WCs right away. The WCs feel like they are 100X better built that the Kimber factory mags.
 
My Kimber TLE runs great, some early feeding problems, which went away. Ordered the new mags. Its a great shooter and the feels very good, a nice natural pointer. Will shoot very tight groups at 15 / 20 yds..
 
i have a kimber TLE (with a rail?) in stainless never an issue
the OEM mags were good but the little holes to attach the bumpers to stripped (or weren't tapped) right out of the box
it's alll good though they work great in my loaner norinco
and the Kimber and Wilson mags i bought aftermarket go in the TLE

i've got to say that i wish it was black and maybe no rail? personal preference, and other than SHTF/TEOTWAWKI i'm never going to mount a flashlight/laser on it...
 
Keep in mind 1911's are not considered broken in or expected to run properly until you get 500 rounds of factory down range.

I have never had that problem, but a shooting buddy did. He called customer support in the staes and they told him to "shoot it until it works". His last jam was at round 73 (if I recall). He's over 10k now without any problems along the way.
 
Paperweight

Paulinski said:
I have one but I can't answer this question. I have a Eclipse Target II .45 caliber beautiful fit and finish, tight but I can't bring myself to fire it. :runaway:
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You may as well shoot it, you paid the extra cash for a quality piece, take it out and enjoy it, you won't be sorry. They work great.
 
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