Thinking 1911

[xjtwo]

I messed up and held a Kimber CCII the other day and now I can't get it off my mind. As a newb to 1911's, I was wondering what you guys would recommend as a first?


-J

[smchop]

My experience with them is limited but started just like yours. I had to have a Kimber ultra carry when they first came out. Ok carry piece, bit heavy and bulky in my opinion, but I did not enjoy shooting it. So after sometime I sold it and stayed away from 1911's. Then I picked up a Springfield Operator a few years later. Shooting a full size 1911 is no comparison. Now I cant find anything I like as much. My .02.

[Bailey Guns]

Here's the thing about Kimbers. As a Kimber Master Dealer for over 8 years (I was also on Kimber's Dealer Advisory Board...woo-hoo! Free trip to Vegas every year!) I can tell you from experience you need to be very careful when considering buying a Kimber.

Because nobody buys just one! Almost every customer who stepped up and bought one came back to buy another.

Hell...I just went and bought an SIS Custom at Green Mtn Guns a week or two ago.

Despite the trash talk you hear about them, they're solid pistols and you get a lot of gun for the money. Personally, I really like the Ultra-sized pistols and carry/shoot one frequently. For the person trained in carry of the 1911, I don't think you can find, for the money, a better choice than one of the 4" aluminum framed guns like the Tactical Pro or the Pro CDP. I think the Crimson Carry guns are a great idea but, personally, I'm not too big on lasers. But if you like them, I think the CCII would be a great gun to chose as your first. Because, other than features, a 1911 is pretty much a 1911. Some look prettier than others but underneath all the niceties like checkering, fancy grips, night sights, lasers...still a 1911. Whatever you chose I'm sure you'll love it.

Good luck with your decision.

[Colorado Osprey]

I had older Kimbers, in my opinion they new ones are just massed produced and over priced. (I know a bunch of people will disagree)

There are nicer guns for the money.
Check out here:
http://forum.m1911.org/
(You'll have to join to see pics but not to read posts)
You'll also notice that in each manufactuer's area there is no negative talk allowed, so you'll have to read between the lines there.

My personal prefrence when I still had 1911's is STI

... As a newb to 1911's, I was wondering what you guys would recommend as a first?

As a 1st 1911, I recommend a Springfield 5" Mil-Spec, with good mags like Wilson.
This won't be your last, but the original design in it's full size is also the most reliable. At $700 it won't break the bank either.
Heck, you could buy his and hers at that price.

A large number of Kimber owners after shooting an STI switch to an STI.

[BPTactical]

When Kimber was still a small custom builder they were just incredible pistols. When they went to mass production the quality suffered heavily. The Eclipse II line with the external extractors were a joke. And the worst thing is Kimber basically left the consumer out to dry.
Lately I have worked on some Kimbers that had machine work that looked like it had been done with a broken rock. And the reasons for the work are stupid quality control issues like extractors not being tuned correctly, barrels not fitted/lock up issues and rounds not feeding correctly. Barrel's are not supposed to overhang frame ramps!
Now if this crap was happening with a $500 Taurus or Rock Island ok-You would expect that once in a while. But certainly not from a $1000+ upper teir manufacturer.
One thing that really got to me- The "Custom" Kimbers are just assembly line guns that a technician (not even a 'Smith) assembles and puts goodie parts on.
With other manufactures in that "Upper Echelon" if you order a custom pistol that is exactly what you get. A custom pistol built by a 'Smith. 1 man-1 gun.
Kimber is sort of like Para Ordinance. Way over priced for what you get with about a 25% chance it will have issues.
You can do better than Kimber if you want to spend good cash.
Dan Wesson(CZ) builds a pistol that is far better for less. In a production 1911 you will have a hard time doing better than a Springy Loaded or a Smith and Wesson and they will leave you enough cash left over for a nice holster, beer and dinner.
They are good, solid pistols with a sensible amount of goodies(Full beavertail,Ambi safety, 1 piece guide rod,match bushings etc) and yet stay reliable.

[AR-Tracker]

First look for info on warranty and which manufacturer honers their warranty with no hassel. Some of the better ones like Nighthawk, Ed Brown are excellent but set you back some $. if you are looking for best value and every day shooter go Rock Island, Taurus but service is not going to be your friend. Match shooters deliver to the target reliably every time, Spring Field, Colt. I choose Colt, and you can find them in about any price range and flavor. If you have a problem Colt's Warranty is Excellent they tend to stand behind their product. refinishing free for first year on new guns and many other options. I have heard bad storys about many guns except the very best.

If you are a serious pistol shooter and go 1911 beware fever could set in.