Kimber Custom II
- Thread starter Gunslick
- Start date
I had the similar Target II models with adjustable sights rather than fixed as on the Custom II. Mine were in 9MM and 38 Super, a total of 4 guns. All were reliable from day 1. I did not carry mine, but would have had no hesitation in doing so if I'd desired. I did shoot mine quite a bit with all kinds of factory and reloaded ammo. No issues. I bought a new Springfield Loaded Target in 9MM. It had all kinds of issues as received. My Kimbers were trouble free. I would not buy another Loaded but did recently purchase another Kimber......
Some of the high end Kimbers developed a reputation for sub par reliability. Especially considering the prices. But at the time Kimber experimented with an external extractor on the high end guns and never made it work. They have since gone back to internal extractors. The Custom II was their base model and kept the proven internal extractor all along. I had one for years before giving it to my son when he married. I never had an issue with it and I don't recall ever reading of any problems with that gun.
Done right an external extractor works just fine. S&W uses one and I'd rate them as one of the most under rated 1911's out there.
Done right an external extractor works just fine. S&W uses one and I'd rate them as one of the most under rated 1911's out there.
I'd rather carry my Ruger SR1911 Commander length, but "IMHO" there are other carry options that work better for meGunslick: said:
Again, "IMHO" I think that "just plain shooting the crap out of" a modern, tight toleranced 1911 is probably asking for a lot of reliability headaches. But I often shoot the crap out of my Gen4 Glock 21, and you might consider one like it for yourself
A Kimber or Springfield is a little more maintenance intensive than other modern service weapons. Keep either clean & well oiled, keep the round count to 100 or less when you take either out shooting at the range, use good quality aftermarket mags and decent quality ammo with either, and have a good 1911 gunsmith do a reliability tune to either after about the first 1,000 rounds. Or, go get the Glock 21 I mentioned earlier if this is too much bother
t4terrific
New member
I've got four Kimbers. Custom II, Custom Target II, Classic Gold Match, and Stainless Custom II 9mm.
All are excellent. The 9mm had to go back to Kimber with ejection problems (9mm 1911's are hit or miss across all brands), but Kimber got it working like a swiss watch, and back to me within two weeks.
I put a lot of rounds through several of them, and also have a Springfield Range Officer and a Colt Government Series 80.
The ejector fell out of the SPRINGFIELD, while I was cleaning it, after a few months. They are glued in. Springfield pinned it for me and had it back pretty quickly. It works flawlessly.
The Colt had ejection issues out of the box, and Colt got it running right, but they took over two months to get it back to me.
Overall, the Kimbers are fit much better and more consistently. (The fitment on five different Range Officers seemed to be different for each pistol, when I got mine.)
I like all three brands that I mentioned, and recommend all of them, but if I had to choose one, it would be Kimber, then Springfield, then Colt.
The Colts are a bigger name, but in terms of hands on performance, and value for the dollar, when it comes to the six 1911's I own, the Colt is the least of the lot.
It sure looks cool though. [emoji2]
All are excellent. The 9mm had to go back to Kimber with ejection problems (9mm 1911's are hit or miss across all brands), but Kimber got it working like a swiss watch, and back to me within two weeks.
I put a lot of rounds through several of them, and also have a Springfield Range Officer and a Colt Government Series 80.
The ejector fell out of the SPRINGFIELD, while I was cleaning it, after a few months. They are glued in. Springfield pinned it for me and had it back pretty quickly. It works flawlessly.
The Colt had ejection issues out of the box, and Colt got it running right, but they took over two months to get it back to me.
Overall, the Kimbers are fit much better and more consistently. (The fitment on five different Range Officers seemed to be different for each pistol, when I got mine.)
I like all three brands that I mentioned, and recommend all of them, but if I had to choose one, it would be Kimber, then Springfield, then Colt.
The Colts are a bigger name, but in terms of hands on performance, and value for the dollar, when it comes to the six 1911's I own, the Colt is the least of the lot.
It sure looks cool though. [emoji2]
Sorry but any pistol that needs to be cleaned every 100 rounds or less isn't worth the metal or plastic its made of.
I had a custom II for a few years and sold it for a different 1911. Nothing wrong with it just felt like trying something else. Anyways the Custom II is as good as any other $6-800 entry lever 1911 made.
t4terrific
New member
I picked one up about a year ago. The rear sight windage adjustment screw sheared off (or more likely was already sheared off) my first time out with it. Made for a short day. I called Kimber and they sent an entire rear sight assembly - free - no hastle. Still had to pay a Smith to install it though. That's fine.
Prior to break in, it kind of didn't like to eject. I've since put about a thousand rounds through it and it seems fine.
I didn't like the long "target" trigger it had (I have small hands/short fingers), so I had a Smith install a short "combat" trigger. In the process, he also gave it a trigger job (I guess there is no way to just replace the parts - they have to be fitted, or whatever. So it got a trigger job.) So to talk about the trigger isn't fair. It's actually more sensitive now than I'm used to - but that's for another post.
A couple months after I got the Kimber, I got a Springfield Mil-spec for home protection . So I have both guns you mention.
I have to tell you that I absolutely love my bottom-of-the-line Springfield 1911. Perfectly sighted in from the factory with its super-basic sights. Functioned flawlessly from the day I took it out of the box. I've since got 1000+ rounds through it (including a couple hundred Hornady 230 XTP +P's that are in it right now for home defense), and it runs like a scalded dog.
I love my Springfield.
If I had it to do all over again, I would have bought two Springfields.
Old Bill Dibble
New member
If you are just going to shoot the crap out of it get a Llama, Springfield or some other cheap gun. It will be cheaper and easier to fix when the parts start to break.
JDBerg: said:
I avoid shooting tight-chambered 1911's until they are hot & dry, that's just asking for reliability problems. My Dan Wesson Valor will certainly shoot more than 200 rounds very accurately and reliably during a range session, but I tend to avoid doing it regardless!
I have 7 Kimbers and enjoy each and every one of them. I have two Custom II's. One is a .45ACP and the other in a 9mm. The .45 is a couple of years old and probably has close to 50,000 rounds fired. I wore out a part last year and it was quickly fixed by my local gunsmith. I really enjoy it as a range gun. I bought the 9mm because my gun club has competitions by caliber and i didn't want to miss any of the fun. The only problem I had with the 9mm is the black sights against a black target are difficult for my old eyes. I just bought a pair of TruGlo sights and waiting for delivery. My local gunsmith will install them for me and I'm sure it will be a great range gun.
BTW, I have been carrying a Kimber Stainless ProCarry for years and years. I has a gazillion rounds fired from it and in about 25 or so years, has had only very minor work done to it other than changing the recoil and firing pin springs on a schedule.
Some people like to bad mouth Kimber but I have had nothing but the best of luck with them and I have had great service from Customer Service there.
BTW, I have been carrying a Kimber Stainless ProCarry for years and years. I has a gazillion rounds fired from it and in about 25 or so years, has had only very minor work done to it other than changing the recoil and firing pin springs on a schedule.
Some people like to bad mouth Kimber but I have had nothing but the best of luck with them and I have had great service from Customer Service there.
jackstrawIII
New member
I had one and sold it. It was fine, but not as smooth or accurate as I expected considering the reputation and all that. It was "blah" for me.
100 rounds? Wow..those are pretty low expectations of the 1911. Heck my old RIA (will never buy one again but ran fine) would go hundreds of rounds per range session no problem. This weekend alone in one range session I put 800 rounds of Federal FMJ and Winchester WB FMJ through my Springfield right after I installed the Wilson Combat BP extractor. It did get dry but still ran. Also installed a Wolff CS 16 lb spring the same time I installed the extractor. When I got home I pulled the entire gun apart to inspect everything such as the new drop in trigger from C&S. This is a really sweet perfectly running 1911. I gotta say after the Wolff spring installed, even though it is only a stock 16 lb weight, it was still a little stiffer than the stock Springfield spring. Less slide to frame contact and overall the gun feels and shoots much better.
Keep you glock If you think a1911 will only do a 100 rounds at a time You need a better 1911
My Colts and Dan Wesson pass that and not even slowing down . I have a Philippine made American Classic 1911 that 100 rounds just a snack. .
Not 1 of my 1911's has needed a gunsmith reliability tune as you call it.
I did 20 years ago replace the shot out barrel in a 1941 USGI Colt . Still going strong today.
Please stay with your glocks Don't think your reliable enough to own a 1911. You might need a tune up your self after a 100 rounds.