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226 vs. Kimber
- Thread starter Mike11b
- Start date
Mike in VA
New member
Tough choice, both are fine guns. What is the intended use(s)?
Both would be great for home defense, though the 226 gets a slight nod for capacity.
For carry, I'ds ask how comfortable are you with cocked & locked vs. traditiona DA/SA? Both are large for CCW, how are you built? The Kimber is flatter/thinner, so prolly more concealable as full sized pistols go.
For range fun, I'd lean towards the .45 - IMO, more accurate than the .40 and a better platform to customize, if that's an interest.
FWIW, I have a 226 in 9mm, and three Kimbers in three sizes, wouldn't part with any of them, but I don't carry the 226 (that's what the 239/225/228 are for), I do carry the Ultra and Compact (mostly the Ultra Carry). Good luck with your research.
Both would be great for home defense, though the 226 gets a slight nod for capacity.
For carry, I'ds ask how comfortable are you with cocked & locked vs. traditiona DA/SA? Both are large for CCW, how are you built? The Kimber is flatter/thinner, so prolly more concealable as full sized pistols go.
For range fun, I'd lean towards the .45 - IMO, more accurate than the .40 and a better platform to customize, if that's an interest.
FWIW, I have a 226 in 9mm, and three Kimbers in three sizes, wouldn't part with any of them, but I don't carry the 226 (that's what the 239/225/228 are for), I do carry the Ultra and Compact (mostly the Ultra Carry). Good luck with your research.
I have a 226 357/.40, had a Pro CDP; totally different animals. Are you a cocked & locked SA type, or do you prefer a decocker DA/SA? Different operation, different ergonomics. It an old refrain, but test them and see which fits you best.
Re my experience, I'll never buy a souped-up 1911 like a CDP again. If I had to do it over, I'd get a stock Pro and add some new sights. The CDP is not even close to being worth the extra $$ in my experience. Seriously crappy night sights that had to be replaced after 400 rds, an internal burr on the trigger that prevented it from being fully pressed (and hence firing) abt 1/4 the time, innacurate, very fussy on ammo, etc. Got it all fixed up at the factory so it worked fine, but I never got mentally comfortable with it. My full size Kimber is a different story - never a problem, exceptional accuracy.
The 226 has also been unfailingly reliable, and is very accurate (esp. in .357 SIG, the chambering I purchased it in). SIGs have a long trigger reset, which some people find tough to adjust to, but it's smooth both DA and SA. I like the 226 grip much better than a stock 1911, which is too small and esp. way too skinny for me. I have to oversize mine w/aftermarket grips. If you're thinking potential concealment, check out a 229. More similar in size to an Officer's 1911 like the Pro and more easily concealed.
Good luck.
Re my experience, I'll never buy a souped-up 1911 like a CDP again. If I had to do it over, I'd get a stock Pro and add some new sights. The CDP is not even close to being worth the extra $$ in my experience. Seriously crappy night sights that had to be replaced after 400 rds, an internal burr on the trigger that prevented it from being fully pressed (and hence firing) abt 1/4 the time, innacurate, very fussy on ammo, etc. Got it all fixed up at the factory so it worked fine, but I never got mentally comfortable with it. My full size Kimber is a different story - never a problem, exceptional accuracy.
The 226 has also been unfailingly reliable, and is very accurate (esp. in .357 SIG, the chambering I purchased it in). SIGs have a long trigger reset, which some people find tough to adjust to, but it's smooth both DA and SA. I like the 226 grip much better than a stock 1911, which is too small and esp. way too skinny for me. I have to oversize mine w/aftermarket grips. If you're thinking potential concealment, check out a 229. More similar in size to an Officer's 1911 like the Pro and more easily concealed.
Good luck.
I seem to be lucky with new guns I buy. The only gun I've had that hasn't worked perfectly is my Browning Buckmark, and I only have 100 rounds throught that.
The Kimber Pro CDP I have is great. I do agree with treeprof that I could get more for my money by getting a basic Pro model and adding what I want on it. Mine fires everything I throw at it, admittedly all factory ammo. The night sights have stayed in place and work fine after 1000 rounds. My complaint about the night sights is that I want the front sight to be brighter than the rear sights, and a different color. I actually bought thin, smooth grips to make it a better carry gun.
Part of it is luck of the draw. Handle any gun you are considering for purchase, and if they let you, field strip (and reassemble) it.
I think SIGs are great guns, well worth the price. The trigger feel is much different.
The only reason I could see you doing wrong is on the purely personal level. I don't know what you want this gun for and what you have experience with. If the grip and controls feel funny to you, you will not like the gun.
Rent them both, if you can, and see.
The Kimber Pro CDP I have is great. I do agree with treeprof that I could get more for my money by getting a basic Pro model and adding what I want on it. Mine fires everything I throw at it, admittedly all factory ammo. The night sights have stayed in place and work fine after 1000 rounds. My complaint about the night sights is that I want the front sight to be brighter than the rear sights, and a different color. I actually bought thin, smooth grips to make it a better carry gun.
Part of it is luck of the draw. Handle any gun you are considering for purchase, and if they let you, field strip (and reassemble) it.
I think SIGs are great guns, well worth the price. The trigger feel is much different.
The only reason I could see you doing wrong is on the purely personal level. I don't know what you want this gun for and what you have experience with. If the grip and controls feel funny to you, you will not like the gun.
Rent them both, if you can, and see.
Thanks for the input. My intended purpose is as a carry weapon, but I would like it to double as a home defense weapon...essentially a multi-purpose, everyday reliable gun. I'm very familiar with both, and they each have their own + and -'s. I'm leaning towards the Kimber, but what about the Springfield line? (Sorry to throw the additional "what about...." out there, but this decision is making me lose sleep). I want to stay under a grand, and know that every day, I have reliable protection.
I have 2 Kimbers and will be buying a third tonight. I have 1 lightly customized Springfield (a Gunsite GSP-2000). Based on my experience, I'll buy more Kimbers. I won't by more Springfields. Lots of tooling marks on the Springfield. The dustcover profile on the Springfield is wrong, preventing it from fitting in many Kydex holsters. The front strap profile is also overly square, making it less comfortable in the hand. I had other problems with the Springfield, but I'm not sure whether those should be blamed on Gunsite or the previous owner. At the moment, my Springfield is at a gunsmith, who's going to replace most everything except the frame (and he's going to mill the front strap of the frame into the correct profile). YMMV.
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