Kimber or Springfield 1911?

[CO-Exprs]

Dido on the Dan Wesson. Very well made, good parts and built 100% in the U.S. A friend of mine has one, and I found myself being surprisingly impressed. I'm not ashamed to say that I am a 1911 snob, and find the Dan Wessons, to be soid gats.

[jimboni]

Just another +1 for BP's advice.

I'm a long time 1911 fan and my choice is always a Springer over a Kimber. My Dan Wesson commander remains the finest 1911 I have ever owned. Better made and more accurate than my full size STI, and a bit less money. I've only had one Kimber I trusted completely, an older custom target. Why I ever traded it is beyond me.

If money is tight, an SA mil spec is the best bang for the buck.

[nogaroheli]

Well all the talk about Springfield from you guys and the customer service I've heard about, and received from them pushed me the Springfield route. Finding this exact model was like trying to find the two horned unicorn but I found it and got the same pistol as PanamaDave above. It's been to the range twice and only had a few missteps in 250 rounds (which were mag related, only on the first round of the same mag), the trigger was a little rough at first so groups were a little bigger than I hoped but after stoning the sear and some other stuff it's turning into a very accurate pistol.
Thanks for all the different suggestions and next time I'll look harder at Dan Wessons and STI's, for now I'm pretty satisfied with my new Springfield!

[Graves]

Dido on the Dan Wesson. Very well made, good parts and built 100% in the U.S. A friend of mine has one, and I found myself being surprisingly impressed. I'm not ashamed to say that I am a 1911 snob, and find the Dan Wessons, to be soid gats.

Agreed, look for a blem and you can have Ed Brown quality at a Kimber price.


This damn thing is tighter than my Baers. Still need the wrench to pull the bushing, but 600rds and not even the slightest hiccup.

ETA: I Seriously need to use my digi cam more, these crappy phone pics are just waaaaay to easy to post.

[thecatsfan]

Wow, you guys have given me a ton to think about. I am in the same boat. Currently shopping for a new 1911. My primary requirements are full size and tritium night sights. My budget is right at $1,000, plus or minus a little.

This SA Loaded in Black Stainless sure has me thinking. Except the one I keep seeing is the Target model which has adjustable rear sights. I want a gun that can handle carry and even SHTF scenarios and I don't know if I should go with fixed sights.

Looked at STI and everything they have that I would want is in the $1800 range. Just can't swing that.

[Mazin]

Ok I can't comment on anything other than Kimber because thats all that I have owned (earlier models) I have had no issues with any of mine except when i over oil and have a mis-feed. I have had the TLE/Rl 2, Ultra CDP2, Pro Carry, compact Raptor, Crimson tide. But it has been a long time since I have bought a new one and I'm currently looking as well, with all of what I hear about their QC I'm looking at a SA. Anyone else have ether a Les Baer, Wilson Combat, Ed Brown they want to go into further details about?

[hurley842002]

I only have experience with Springfield 1911's, my first one a GI Champion, and the rest Loaded Models. I have NOTHING but good things to say about the Fit,Finish, and Function of the Loaded Springfield 1911. It truly is IMO the best value for a 1911. I recently picked up a brand new Parkerized Loaded, with night sights and all, for $709 before taxes, at Green Mountain Guns. I wasn't even able to find the same pistol online for less than $750.

Edited to add: I just noticed you posted in the Wanted section, I didn't want to crap in that thread, so i'll post it here. I think you are really limiting your options by requiring night sights, they can always be added later, Just a thought.

[thecatsfan]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=212506415

Here is a Parkerized Loaded brand new with night sights for $715.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=213346893

Here is another for $700. And the shipping and FFL fees cost about the same or sometimes even less than sales tax. Jensen in Loveland sells them for as low as $695. Don't get me wrong, you got a great deal. But other dealers do sell them for that price. And I only know this because I have been shopping 1911s like crazy this week.

For me, night sights are a requirement. Yes I know I can send the gun in to the manufacturer, or an aftermarket company, and have them installed after I buy the gun - but for much more than the cost of pre-installed night sights. I simply would rather not go down that road. I started down that road recently and I ended up selling the gun rather than spend the outrageous cost to change the sights. I think you are so much better off stepping up and buying the gun you want with the options you need than paying even more in the long run to change the gun you bought into the gun you wanted. Just my $.02.

Just this weekend, I sold a Springfield 1911 because of the crappy factory sights and the outrageous price I was quoted by multiple sources to have the sights replaced. Nights sights are far cheaper if they are a factory option.

The 1911 I just sold was a stainless GI model. I called Springfield and talked to the custom shop. Because of the proprietary tenon front sight on that model (and some other SA 1911s), you cannot put dovetail sights on them without extensive professional millwork and refinishing. A staked on front night sight is not recomended and SA won't even do it. Neither will Novak. SA quoted me $260 to mill the slide and install night sights. Novak quoted me exactly the same. That price did not include any refinishing work or shipping costs either way. And if I didn't send them the entire gun, they would not guarantee bore and sight alignment. And to send the whole gun, shipping has to be overnight both ways. So, I was looking at a minimum of $300 to put night sights on a $600 gun. Not worth it! So I sold it. I realize the GI model is an extreme example for SA because those GI sights are the worst, and that is the most expensive model to convert, but even on other models it is at least $150 plus shipping both ways. I am not about to spend $200 to $300 for an $80 factory option if I can avoid it.

And just FYI in case anybody is interested. Today I called both Springfield and Kimber and talked to them about these Blackened Stainless models like the one pictured above because I really like the look of that gun and I thought stainless with the black slide would be a good combination between corrosion resistance and low visibility for carrying in a black holster. This particular model in this thread is the Loaded Full Size Blackened Stainles Combat model# PX9154LP. MSRP is $1,000 and it has standard 3 dot sights. The blackened model from Kimber is the Eclipse Custom II with an MSRP of $1,250 - tritium sights included.

Anyway, both Kimber and SA told me before I even asked, if you plan to carry that gun at all, you do NOT want the Blackened Stainless Steel finish. Before I even got to my questions. I just told them what model I was looking at and both companies told me straight up that this is their worst finish for wear. The black comes off easily and they do not recommend it to any customer who will be holstering the gun on a regular basis. Both companies told me this without being prompted, which makes me think they have had complaints. Either way, both companies convinced me not to buy that gun. When I mentioned that I was planning to carry the gun, they both suggested I would be happier with either full stainless or full black, such as an anodized or ArmoryKote finish. They even recommended a full black slide on a stainless body over the blackened model. And one of the sales reps actually referred to the Blackened SA as a "range" gun. And they both warned me that the blackened model was susceptible to surface rust.

I take all of this with a grain of salt. I am not knocking either gun and I would encourage anyone who likes these models to do their own research. I am simply passing on what they told me, and I probably wouldn't have paid as much attention if it wasn't that both sales reps' statements were so eerily similar. They both literally talked me out of these models.

As for SA, I have been researching every single model they have and am really pretty disappointed with the current offerings. I guess what I am looking for is just not what they are selling. I simply want a full-size frame with a 5" barrel, fixed night sights, a decent quality finish, and a decent looking weapon that has features that match its price. I have found 1 or 2 SA models I feel are worth considering.

I sincerely doubt I will find the gun I want here on the boards and will probably be at Jensen later this week to buy from them. I just posted for the heck of it. Never hurts to try.

It's weird. I spent far less time researching my first AR build and all the parts I bought than I have trying to find a decent 1911. And of course, up north in this area, the selection at most dealers is a joke, so I can't see most of them in person.

[twitchyfinger]

Springfield Armory PX9154LP SPH 1911 45 Combat BLK SS 5"

Match barrel. I.L.S. (Integral Locking System). Titanium firing pin. Forged frame & slide. Lightweight adjustable speed trigger. Trigger pull: 5 to 6 lbs. Carry bevel treatment. Torx head grip screws. Captive dual recoil spring assembly. High-Hand beavertail grip safety. Ambidextrous thumb safety. Includes 2 magazines.Product Model: 1911-A1 SERVICE CUSTOM LOADED"Barrel Length: ""5"""""""Capacity: 7Grips: Black

Trying to find out if the novak style sights are night sight or not but 5280 armory has one for $820
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=213526937

[Graves]

Twitchy, I'm afraid not. The PX9154LP and the PX9151LP are the only "Loaded" models in SA's line up that don't have NS.