Kimber 1911 Question
I don't have very much knowledge of the different manufactures of the 1911. I am considering buying a Kimber Ultra II ten for concealed carry. I just wanted to see if anyone has any experience with the Kimbers and what their impressions are. Also, I was wondering if anyone had any comments on the differences between the Colt Defender and the Kimber Ultra II.
Thanks for your comments.
Thanks for your comments.
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I'm surprised that you haven't been swamped with answers by now! Where's KIMBER KID when you need him? All in all they are a very good pistol and "out-of-the-box" usually shoot as well as some hand built custom pistols. The new production Colts are also excellent pistols, but I have never had the opportunity to have a "shoot-out" between the two models you have mentioned. I personally use a Colt Commander. 0 -
Dont tell Kimber Kid I said so,but I would go with the Springfield Loaded 1911.Its a great gun and comes with a speed trigger combat Hammer flared ejection port,an extended beavertailed grip safety and Hundreds of dollars in coupons for mags and other goodies.It also has front and rear cocking serrations and can be carryied safely with the hammer down on a loaded chamber per the owners manuel.The Kimber has really proved its self to be one of the best out of the box 1911s ever made.I dont own one but I have done some homework on them and they are top quality.The LAPD SWAT team adopted the very gun you mentioned,after a two year study.That says alot.But the FBI Hostage rescue team has adopted the Springfield TRP.Either way you go you should be happy.I own the Springfield,but a Kimber is now on my wish list.Maybe Kimber Kid will see this post and he can answer any of your questions about the Kimber.
Best!!!
Rugster
Toujours Pret0 -
Kimbers are excellant.
When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....
Edited by - 4GodandCountry on 10/04/2002 09:56:470 -
Geeez, you guys!
From what I know about the Defender, the factory mag only holds 7 rounds unless you go with an extended mag, which kind of defeats the short stock ... The Defender has the original Colt type firing pin disconnect (like the 1991 model) that results in a heavier trigger pull (compared to the 1911), while the Kimber firing pin disconnect is one of their own design which does not interfear with the trigger pull. The Defender has (what I consider) crude sights which they "call" snag-free but closely resemble the military blade's while the Kimber is a much smoother snag free style ... which to me would be important for concealed carry,also the Kimber has standard dovetails cut front and rear while the Defender does not and would require a gunsmith for up-graded sights while the Kimbers could be user installed. And finally, the Defender weighs in at 22oz while the Kimber is only 24oz and holds 3 more rounds in the standard mag.
Rugster, the Springfield that compares closest to the Kimber that kbobk is considering is the Springfield Armory 1911A1 Loaded Ultra Compact, it has a lot of the same features as the Kimber (light weight trigger, lower and flaired ejection port, beavertail safety, Speed Trigger, snag free - dovetail cut sights, 10+1 capacity) but the same firing pin disconnect as the Defender, doing a quick search on GB I find its $40 more than the Kimber and weighs 9oz (over 1/2 pound more) than the Kimber ... and the fact that Springfield took bankrupcy, bought their own equipment back at auction, then built a new plant just down the road and left thier creditors hanging out to dry ... and that Kimbers are made in the US while Springfield pistols are made in Brazil (read produced cheaper) ... I will never buy another Springfield ... but thats just me.
The only problem I have with the Kimber is the plain looking stocks ... they are starting to grow on me but I wish they would add some checkering like their full sized polymer models.
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Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com0 -
you will not find a better handgun on the market today than the Kimber. i have 3 a.45/a .4
buy the Kimber, i have both the Colt 1911a1 thompson, and a regular colt. the Kimber will outshoot either of them right from the box. i shoot everyday and always thought the colt was the very best, until i got the Kimbers. you won't be dissapointed.0 -
kimberkid
1.Sitting here and looking at my Defender, the front sight is dovetailed. I don't carry mine in my pocket, just a holster. I have yet to have it 'snag' on anything.
2.In my opinion the Schwartz-safety used in the gen II Kimbers is more prone to problems than the Series 80 style Colt. Now I am not saying that it will, but, the angles and general design seem like they would be more susceptable to problems further down the road. Only time will tell.
3.The 7+1 capacity is adequate for my needs. The single stack design makes for slimmer better feeling gun if you have short fat hands like I do.
4.The BUL designed frame is not compatible with anybody elses magazines.
5.The 22oz vs 24oz are both empty weights.
All that being said, Kimber assembles an excellent pistol with top quality components. You won't go wrong with a Kimber it just ain't a Colt. (stir, stir, stir)
AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY0 -
punchie!
I was hoping you'd drop in! Thanks for correcting me about the sights, I couldn't remember for sure and all the pics I could find on the auction listings it looked like just a blade to me ... sorry for my boo-boo!
Ditto on the firing pin disconnect ... I just don't like it on either the Kimber or the 1991, hence I have not bought a any of the Kimber II's (much less a Colt) ... to me it seems like a solution for a problem that doesn't really exist except in the minds of politicians.
As for the mags one nice thing is you can carry one 14 rounder as a back-up which also fits the standard size polymer ... you can't carry 14 extra rounds for a Defender (unless you want to carry TWO backup mags ... but really ... who cares?
About the empty weight ... how much harder is it to carry 3 more rounds?
Do I seam bias?
Anyway ... the Colt will, for the foreseeable future, probably hold its value better ... but you wont realize that unless you sell it.
The best advise (and I can't believe no one has said it yet)
Buy the one that fits you best
AND
is the most natural pointing for YOU!
Both are worthy firearms ... I can't believe I said that!
*Edit*
I almost forgot! ... You could buy a full size polymer and any of the Ultra or Pro-Carry models ... mix and match as yur mood dictates ... I like my 14-round Pro-Carry CDP
Pro-Carry CDP top end on a full size Polymer frame ... and it shoots great!
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Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
Edited by - kimberkid on 10/04/2002 18:53:340 -
Other than the fact that the Kimber is a copy of the Defender, the main difference is that the Defender is a superior product. No MIM extractors or slide stops to break. Better accuracy, dependability. If you need more than 8 shots of .45 ACP, you might ought to consider hiring a body guard who can hit what he aims at. 0 -
Rocklobster - how is the Kimber Ultra 10 is a copy of the Defender?
Have you ever seen a Ultra 10? They are nothing alike ... most notably, the Kimber Ultra 10 is a Polymer frame and the Defender is alloy framed ... the Kimber will accept a double stack and the Defender is a single stack only ... if you think a Defender is a superior weapon ... oh never mind ...
I'm just waiting for Colt to turn its back on the consumer again by discontinuing their most popular designs (read "cash cows") in hopes of landing government contracts or start neutering their products to make the gun grabbers happy like they did in 89 ... I'm sure Sam Colt is rolling over in his grave knowing that his company has become ... a politically correct government kiss a$$ ... but thats just my opinion
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Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com0
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