Help me decide my next pistol purchase - M92FS vs Kimber Classic

[Foxy]

Hi,

I am going to the Crossroads gunshow tomorrow in Pheonix, and keeping an eye out for either a M92FS or a Kimber Classic M1911. I know I will end up with both sometime in the future, but what should I aim for first?

My pros/cons

M92:
Pros:
-I'm doing AFROTC and in a year I'll be comissioning. If I do get a sidearm, it'll be an M9, and a M92 to practice with on my own free time would be nice (maybe I'll qualify expert with it!)
-9mm is much cheaper to buy (about half what I find plinking .45ACP for)
-15rd mags!
Cons:
-I already have a 15rd 9mm (TZ99)
-If I did need a pistol for home defense, a .45 would be a better choice than a 9mm, right?

Kimber:
Pros:
-It's a 1911!
-Full capacity mags are much cheaper to find/buy
-I love heavy recoilling guns (the only 1911 style pistol I've shot was a Springfield modified into .460 Rowland, and I loved how it felt)
-1911 feels better in the hand than the M92
-Factory night sights?
Cons:
-Expensive ammo (I'm living on a budget of $300/month.. and that includes for food, gas, girlfriend, etc) means I might not be able to shoot it as much
-Only 7 rounds in the mag
-Might be tempted to buy more 1911's
-Might have to sink money into the pistol for reliability/accuracy work...?

It's a toss up I lust over both pistols, but I can only afford one. What is your opinion?

 

[Blue Duck357]

I'd get the 9mm in your position. If your going to have to work with the M-9 anyway may as well cross train. It would be kind of bad to wake up in the middle of the night under attack and forget to take the safety off the 1911 because you spent all that time working at qualifying with the M-9

15 round mags are still relativly cheap for the Beretta also. Of course if you end up in the millitary maybe you will have a chance at some "good deals" on ammo and mags for the Beretta.. Bad! Blue Duck bad! can't believe I even thought such a thing! delete that last comment

 

[Rovert]

Foxy, I voted for the Kimber. I'm not going to touch the issues of lifestyle regarding whether to spend the money on a gun or a girlfriend, since it's not a gun question, it's a personal decision.

In my newbie opinion, I'd go with the Kimber for these reasons:

• It's a semi-custom gun, and not a regular 'plain Jane' 92, which means you'll have something a little out of the ordinary.
• Since the Kimber is a 'custom', much of the accessorizing and tuning has already been done at an affordable price, since they do it at the factory, in volume. You get more 'bang for your buck'.
• Training with a 1911 is TRUE cross-training. Training with a 92 is ADDITIONAL training. Cross training means learning something DIFFERENT. It never hurts to be competent in more than one weapon. Training MORE on the 92 gains you no new experiences, and you learn nothing new.
• Both guns have safeties in approximately the same area, so when things go bump in the night, you shouldn't have too many problems. I don't need the lights on to tell the difference between a 1911 and a 92.
• The Kimber will probably fetch a higher resale value down the road, or will be worth more, since they're not 'production run' like the 92.
• "Oooh's and Aaaah's at the range, because YOU have a custom 1911, and everyone else has the same 92.
• You can always have fun training on the 92 more on the base, and someone might actually think you're doing it to be a good reservist.
• 15 round mags? If you can't hit what you're shooting at with 7 rounds of .45, what makes you think you'll be any better with twice that in 9mm?

HTH.

 

[Andy J]

92FS or Kimber

Foxy,
As you indicated, you will end up with both a M92FS and a Kimber Classic and both are good choices. I went to the show today and did not see any outstanding deals a 92FS or a Kimber classic but if you found the deal for you, please post your results. I do own both pistols as well as other 9's and 45's and each has their own Pro's and Con's. I will tell you that my license plate reads 9mm so you can guess which caliber I am partial to. My two favorite pistols are the 92fs and Browning Hi Power Practical. As far as your Pro's and Con's go, it looks like you have done your homework. The one big factor to me is having the opportunity to shoot both pistols? This is a very important step before parting company with my hard earned cash. Before I buy any pistol, I find a way to shoot it (rent, borrow, go to the desert with other shooters etc.) and see how it feels. I will say one thing about your two choices, in the first 1000 rounds fired in each pistol, I did have to take the Kimber to my local gun smith for some tuning (polish feed ramp, adjust extractor tension, and put a white dot on the front sight), the Beretta did not have one fail to feed. Again, both of your choices are good ones and which ever comes first, just remember to practice, practice, and practice.

Andy

 

[Popsicle]

I think you'd LOVE the 92FS!

I currently own two of them, and am thinking of a third, possibly a 96 in.40 cal. I spent time in tanks in the service, and found qualifying "expert" with the M9 a breeze. We shot pop up targets to perhaps 30 yards and a hit anywhere on the body was scored as a hit. In all seriousness, though, both of my Berettas will group into 3" or so at 25 yards with me shooting them offhand. Don't know what a machine rest would yield. I have owned several 1911's and have not had 1 be 100% reliable. My Berettas have never jammed, although one of my magazines is bad and won't hold the slide back on the last round always. To me, my Berettas inspire a pride of ownership that I have never experienced with any other gun I have ever owned!

Best of luck!

Pat Brophy

 

[Kermit]

Boy, option (C) is taking a beating! I voted Beretta. I've been on a Beretta thing over the last month. Shot primarily 45's all year until then. You really can't go wrong with a 92fs...what's to knock? Reliable, very accurate, & great lines.

 

[Blue Duck357]

Training with a 1911 is TRUE cross-training.

My mistake Rovert, I meant that the training in he recived in the millitary would cross-over to his civillian gun, but you are correct Though I disagree that regular practice with the same weapon is a waste in that you learn nothing new. If that was the case I'd buy a gun fire one shot, buy another gun fire one shot etc.

Actually I'm thinking different now if you really want both of them eventually then that puts you in a better position. Buy whichever you come across the best deal on first.

 

[Uhave2]

It seems all year long I read posts about how they are going to:
- sneak this one by the wife
- convince the wife
- take another job to buy it
- sell something to buy this new one
I could go on and on, but you all know what I mean.
Lets not be selfish this time of year.
This is the time to concentrate on buying for your loved ones.
It also helps pave the way for all the other purchases made during the new year.

 

[Rovert]

ah-HAH!!! Chalk one up for option C.

BlueDuck, you're right. I agree that more training with any given gun will always get you better. But IMO, it's better to be better with 2 guns than one.

 

[Foxy]

Thanks for your input guys. At the show, I didn't see any outstanding deals, so I am still empty handed. I did get to handle a lot of both specimens, and am still undecided. I think it'll probably come down to whichever one I can get the best deal on first

As far as option C, I put it in because it's interesting to me to see how posting the same thing in different forums will yield different results. In another forum I posted, option C won by far (though instead of a girlfriend, they all voted for computers/X-boxes, etc)

Again though, thanks for all of your input!

 

[ZekeLuvs1911]

Hi,
Get the Kimber. I own a 92FS in SS, a Kimber SS Custom and a Kimber SS Match. I find that the .45 are much better fit in my hand. Ammo for the .45 can be had for cheap. S&B for 8.20 a box/50 from Natchezss.com. Hi cap mags for me is a non-issue. In NJ, it is illegal to have any mag higher than 10 rds so I used Wilsons 8 rd .45 mags. I have only 2 less shots but more powerful rds. Also, the Kimber gives you better customablility than the Beretta. Also, think of the history of the 1911!! Why do you think the FBI HRT now use the .45 along with the Special Forces? The 9mm is just too weak of a rd. The .40 is a solution to a problem that never existed. The .45 is a proven rd and has been around for almost 100 yrs. Now that is a true test! The test of time.

ZekeLuvs1911
Lifetime NRA Member
Annual GOA Member
"God created man and woman, Colonel Colt made them equal."

 

[AAChang]

I vote for the Kimber, despite the fact that when I get my commission I'll be issued a Beretta, I still choose the Kimber becuase of how great it felt in my hands. I just bought mine it's the best money i ever spent. I shoot great and fits like a glove. The 1911 is a classic and Kimber definately gives you your bang for the buck.

 

[denfoote]

The thing I did not like about the Kimber was that funky little allen wrench thingee that you have to stick in the works in order to put the thing together!! I was thinking about the Kimber myself, but when I watched the sales guy not be able to get the thing together (and he owns a Kimber) I said "not for me!!!"

 

[jason10mm]

Get the Kimber. Unless you are going to be some sort of Air Force Special Forces officer where you have to use the beretta all the time. I'm in the army and find the beretta very easy to qualify with and handle with minimal familiarity (one of the nice things about it). A 1911 is a living weapon, an extension of your soul. The beretta, as much as I like their looks (I have an Elite), is just a tool. I'll sell everything I have before a single one of my 1911s goes away. Don't worry about the beretta, get it when you have more money. Get the 1911 now, and if ammo is a serious concern, get a .22 upper to practice with. And if your GF really loves you, she won't mind eating Ramen for a month or 2!! Later.

 

[Rovert]

Zeke, I'm in Lakewood! Where do you practice? Wanna get together to shoot different guns sometime? Email me offline, so we can compare notes. Also, I disagree w/ you on the 9mm. The history of the 9 goes back FURTHER than the .45 if I'm not mistaken, and has proven itself to be an extremely effective round. That's why the US Armed Forces went with it. I've done a lot of reading on this issue, and I've concluded that both are effective, each in their own way. The .45 is a larger, heavier bullet that travels slower, the 9mm is a smaller lighter bullet that travels faster. Both are absolutely lethal when placed properly.

Denfoote, that 'key thingie' is how just about all 1911's come apart, no? The disassembly of the Kimber shouldn't be different than a Colt or Para, or any other faithful reproduction of a 1911. I think it's there only as a convenience for those who can't depress the button easily without it.

Jason is right. If your GF really digs you, she'll understand. Better get her used to it now. Ok, so you'll have to... uh... 'work' a little to get her buttered up, but I'm sure you can manage without OUR help.

 

[ZekeLuvs1911]

Rovert, yeah I'll go shooting with ya sometime....As to the history of the 9mm, it may be true that it has a longer history but the milltary went with it cause of political and logistical reasons not because of effectiveness. If it went by effectiveness, then the .45 would still be the service arm. That is why the FBI and Special Forces use it now. The .45 has a more colorful and glorious history and check out the 1911forum.com when it comes back up in a few days. I'm a member there. I own 5 M1911A1 pistols. 2 are Kimbers, 2 are Wilsons, and a Springfield Armory. I have the 92FS cause I felt sorry for the gun.