Kimber Custom II

[JDBerg]

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.

http://modernserviceweapons.com/ will tell you what you need to know about keeping your 1911 in tune and the fact that the 1911 is considerably more maintenance intensive than a Glock, M&P, HK, Walther, etc.,etc. The guys on that site really know what they're talking about when it comes to pistol modifications and tactical training, so read it real carefully then tell us all what you've learned

100 rounds is just getting started with my own Dan Wesson Valor but hey, we're talking about Kimber Custom II's on this thread, now aren't we Me & my guns are all tuned up & I can certainly hold my own to put groups on a target with my G-21 or my DW

 

[dakota1911]

I think Kimbers are generally overpriced for what you get. Probably to pay for the full page color adds that Kimber has in every gun rag out there.

The Series II pistols use a slight variation of the Swartz mechanical firing pin safety that Colt developed before WWII. Notice Colt developed the Series 80 system when they wanted a mechanical firing pin safety and several other companies like Para, Remington, Taurus, SIG and others use the Series 80 system.

When Smith & Wesson wanted a mechanical firing pin safety they developed one in house which is based off the grip safety but not related to the Swartz system otherwise. S&W dropped this in their E Series pistol.

For a visual of this below are the bottom of four slides. Know that your 1911 has a mechanical firing pin safety by locking back the slide and looking for a plunger. On the left a Colt pre Series 80 with no mechanical firing pin safety. Then a Colt with the Series 80 system. Next a Kimber with the Swartz like system. And on the right a S&W with their system.



And the tops of the frames in the same order. Note Kimber uses a pin to push up the plunger.



Understand the mechanics of the Kimber system. Keep your hand off the grip safety during field stripping or you may damage the pin that pushes the plunger up to let the firing pin go forward. Also understand to replace the spring that pushes the plunger back down you have to remove the rear sight on the pistol.

Saying that the last 1911 I bought was a Kimber. Bought a used Stainless Gold Match but it was made in 2001 and does NOT have the Series II crap. I also have a 2005 Grand Raptor. It cost about $1.2K back in 2005 and has the external extractor. It has worked O.K. Kimber went through four at least design changes on the external extractor. I think they finally got it right but by that time the damage was done.



Just recently on that pistol which is a range toy and only has a few thousand rounds through it the plastic mainspring housing cracked so I fit it will a steel housing although Midway had the plastic Kimber housings for about $20. I have been dealing with Colt composite MSHs since the 1980s and never had one crack. Plus a Colt composite MSH is about $11 to replace these days if you wanted one.

 

[Rinspeed]

Probably to pay for the full page color adds that Kimber has in every gun rag out there.

Kimber can afford these "full page color adds" because they have sold a boatload of 1911s over the years. Sure, a good portion of them are not all that but it's still a goofy statement.