Kimber or Springfield 1911?

[tmckay2]

this is a tough one. both are good, it just depends. there can be issues with either but both companies seem to have decent customer service. i have one of each

[275RLTW]

Look at S&W. Best custom features for the money. Kimber wouldn't warranty one of thier aluminum frames that bent while I was in Afghanistan. They say because it was used out of the USA and couldn't replace it. Crappy way to treat someone who was using their product to fight with. Their idea of "customer service" was passed around to everyone at USASOC for that disrespect. The S&W scandium frames are doing well, alot stronger than aluminum, the same weight, better gunsmiths (they can get an external extractor to work), and much better customer service. Springfields are well known (with a few exceptions, of course) but heavy for daily carry. You end up paying alot for little features.

[ColoWyo]

Don't forget STI. I've had a Kimber and an SA. I liked them both, but my new STI is hands down better.

[SA Friday]

If you are not listening to BP, then you are being led the wrong direction. He is spot on.

[ERNO]

I know this is probably a dead horse, but I gotta ask. I shot BlackFord76's Desert Warrior recently and now I'm doing my research on a new 1911, cause his was awesome! Everyone I know with a Kimber loves it and I've been looking at getting one from them. I'm looking at the Kimber Warrior/Desert Warrior or Eclipse Custom.

However, I love my Springfields and their customer service has been outstanding for me so far. Once I saw the Combat Blackened Stainless 1911 they have my new 1911 lust grew just a little bit- it's so sexy.

So, anyone have an opinion based on personal experience? Anybody have a nice used one?

I have a KIMBER ECLIPSE [ 45 ACP ] and a SA 1911 [9 MM] with a prefitted custom NOLAN barrel .
I like my Kimber better,because it is a shooter.I think it came with a better trigger pull,out of the box,than the SA 1911;which still needs a trigger job.Plus, I think Kimber has better quality barrels.But it might be because I cain't find accurate 9mm ammo.My Kimber's tritum rear sight came loose;I had to send steel slide back twice because the tritum looked depleted;the original was loose.I don't think Kimbers foce injection moulded parts are not as strong as they put them them up to be.The" MIM"disconnecter broke after approx. 15,000 rds. which Kimber replaced.I've never had any factory service with Springfield Armory. I'll take STI, hands down over both of them.

[the_man]

Look at S&W. Best custom features for the money. Kimber wouldn't warranty one of thier aluminum frames that bent while I was in Afghanistan. They say because it was used out of the USA and couldn't replace it. Crappy way to treat someone who was using their product to fight with. Their idea of "customer service" was passed around to everyone at USASOC for that disrespect. The S&W scandium frames are doing well, alot stronger than aluminum, the same weight, better gunsmiths (they can get an external extractor to work), and much better customer service. Springfields are well known (with a few exceptions, of course) but heavy for daily carry. You end up paying alot for little features.

Scandium frames are aluminum frames alloyed with scandium. Smith frames are remarkably strong but it does have issues if the material is correctly process. I have own or have owned all three. My daily carry is a kimber and I have had no problems. I shoot a SA TRP and Loaded Operator regularly and have no problems. I rarely shot the Smith and I had no problems. But I would agree that SA reputation and customer service is top notch

[Ah Pook]

Between the two choices, SA hands down. Always been happy with Colt too. I would/will take a hard look at the STIs next time around.

[CO-Exprs]

Kimber and Springfield have been selling on thier name for far too long. You have to get a custom shop Kimber to get a middle of the road barrel and thier customer service is good, but takes too long. My kimber problems were solved free of charge, but it took a year and 5 trips to NY. Springfield is the same deal, but with crabby customer service. My next competition single stack will be an STI. They are the best made "production" 1911s, with tool steel internals, good barrels and the very best customer service. Thery are reasonably priced and most of the cool aftermarket stuff out there was designed to fit either colts or STIs with minimal fitting, due to the extreme competition exposure STIs get. S&W makes thier pistols with high quality frames, slides and barrels, but the internals are even worse than Para. If you get a non performance center S&W, plan on dumping the internals for quality lock works and you will have a very nice pistol.

[spyder]

I had a stainless Raptor ll that was a great gun. I had time with my friends SA 1911 and they are both accurate out of the box, and like my colt, the recoil is not much different. From there, I would just go with what you want to pay for your gun. If you could, I would say to drop another $700 and go all out with a MK23. Best hand gun by far that I have. Well, well worth the money also. For either of the 1911's you are thinking, with the kimber, I would say you are just paying for the name when compared to the SA.

[c5fourj]

No mention of budget here but, for around 1300 you could have a Dan Wesson.
I have Springfields and Colts but the best one by far is the Dan Wesson, smooth action, perfect trigger and very accuate.