OK Guy's now help me with Kimber vs. Springfield

F

Ford

New member
With more research and some suggestions from friends it sounds to me like Kimber and Springfield are the top two makers right now of 1911 style pistols. What are some of the pro's and con's of these two guns. I thought that Colt would be the best,but almost eveyone I talk to says that out of the box they are not a good gun, and that you need to have quite a bit of custom work done to them to make them good. Is a double action like the Para-Ordnance LDA better than the traditional 1911 type's . TOO MANY CHOICES
OVERLOAD OVERLOAD
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ford:
With more research and some suggestions from friends it sounds to me like Kimber and Springfield are the top two makers right now of 1911 style pistols. [/quote]

I'll have to disagree with that comment. My Wilsons will out perform any of the production Kimbers or Springfields. Now the Springfield Custom line look pretty damn good. I have no experience with them but from their specs, very tempting.

The Les Baer that will be here in two weeks will also out perform any of the production Kimbers and Springfields. Don't take me wrong, the Kimbers and Springfields are nice 1911's. However, if you want the best, it'll cost you a bit more $

If you want a high quality custom 1911 but at a lower cost, consider Rock River Arms Everybody I talked to say they are outstanding. For custom quality, you'll have to wait around 4 months. They run several hundred dollars less then Les Baer and quite a bit cheaper then Wilson Combats. Heine's are nice but you'll wait forever. So on and on with the custom line.

Anyways, back to your original question. Try out both the Kimbers and Springfields. You'll make a better decision that way. Both are good quality firearms. If you're leaning towards the Springfield, look at the TRP's.
You didn't really state the purpose of this 1911 purchase. Self-dense? Plinking? Match? More information would help.

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Svt
RKBA! NRA, GOA, VFW
Son's Place

"Rangers Lead the Way"

[This message has been edited by Svt (edited February 18, 2000).]
 
Both guns are good buys for the money, both are very reliable, but I give Kimber the edge for accuracy. I would go with the Classic Stainless or the stainless Gold Match if you have the funds.
 
SVT is absolutely right. No company can build a production gun that will compare to a custom piece hand fitted by a master craftsman.

If you are limited to production guns, get either a Kimber or a Springfield. I give the edge to Springfield.
 
As an owner of both, I will say this:

Both firearms are excellent choices. The Kimber costs more, but is also worth more. It is more accurate (one piece vs. the Springfield's two piece bbl), fit and finish are superior, fewer sharp edges, and has a better action from the factory.

The Springfield is nothing to scoff at, especially with the excellent Loaded deal. However, if you intend to use the Springfield as a carry/defensive piece, I would strongly recommend a good dehorning and refinishing. The blue on the Springfield has already shown signs of pitting. However, as a base gun and for a couple hundred dollars more (for dehorning and refinishing), it will serve you well for a long time. Mine has excellent slide to frame fit (still no rattle) and is accurate enough to do the job that I need it to.

Tim
 
Svt you are obviously a man of refined taste...I could'nt agree more...my Wilson's outperform every 1911 I've had...am looking hard at Rock River Arms myself for the next toy. Ford,as for the original question,I too would opt for Springfield.Regards.
 
I've been using the Springfield pistols as a base gun for custom work for 12 years. They have always displayed the consistent quality I demand for a base piece. I build pistols using components from various manufacturers today, including a few rare (to this country) hi-cap 1911's. The SPS, within its parameters, now corrected, is a great alternative to the STI platform.
Kurt V. Wala
Kurt's Kustom Firearms www.kurtkustom.qpg.com/
 
Wilson and Les Baer are good guns, but for the money Springfield Armory and Kimber are the ones. I have both Trophy Match Springfield and Gold Match Kimber. Very nice guns.
 
My two cents..........

After making ammo for both I've discovered that the Kimbers seem more accurate, maybe better finished, and just 'please' me more.

Both are decent, and both may (or may not) require some fine-tuning to work the way you would like.

I own a custom 1911 (Caspian)............

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
Ford,

First, I agree with the statements re Wilsons, etc., being superior 1911A1-type semiautomatics. However, it is probably fair to say that Springfields and Kimbers are the best non-custom 1911A1-types in the <$750 range.

During the last months, there has been considerable criticism of Kimbers in this forum. Nevertheless, I want to recommend a stainless, full-size, Kimber Custom/Classic to you. Here's why:

1. The quality, fit, finish, forgings, and stainless material of the Kimber I bought a year ago are truly outstanding. I base this judgment on 30+ years of in-depth fighter aircraft design and manufacturing experience and on comparison of the machining, materials, and fit-tolerances of the Kimber with tactical fighter systems.

2. This strongly suggests life-long reliability and durability. In addition, the all-stainless material/forgings are VERY easy to maintain.

3. The Kimber's out-of-the-box accuracy is the best I have ever enjoyed (and that includes my Sigs, Glocks, Colts, and Smiths).

4. During an approximate 500 round break-in period, I encountered a one to two percent jam/failure-to-feed rate; but during the last 2000+ rounds, not one misfire, jam, failure-to-feed, or any other type of problem or discrepancy.

In sum, my personal Kimber experience has been first-rate. I believe the pistol I bought last year will provide more than one lifetime of excellent performance. Moreover -- at about $625 -- it is a great value.

Hope this helps.
 
I at one time had both, Springfield and Kimber. I sold the Springfield, but that is another story.

I have a Stainless Target that I use in IDPA that is very hard to beat. I am having some work done on it, not because it needed it, but to make it more match friendly. I have a Classic Stainless for a carry gun. Both are extremely accurate.

Springfield Compact was also a carry gun. Reliable and accurate.

Kimbers are fit and finished a little better. Also the Kimbers will not cut you like a Springfield will. The sights I think are better on a Kimber.

The last I saw, Springfield Loaded Stainless, $575. Kimber Classic Stainless $650. If the fit and finish are worth the extra $75, then go with the Kimber, if not, get the Springfield. Obviously, I thought it was.

If I had $1500 to spend on a 1911 style pistol, it would not be on a Wilson or Les Baer. I would have a custom built one on Caspian frame and slide as a starting point. A lot more gun for the same price.


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John
(formerly johnboy)

[This message has been edited by John Forsyth (edited February 19, 2000).]
 
I agree with most of the posts in this thread...If price were no object, I would probably have Rock River build a 1911A1 for me. I fired and admired an old Marine buddy's brand new Rock River Limited Match, and it has to be as nice a 1911 as I have ever seen. We shot at Classic Pistol's beautiful indoor range and I couldn't have been more impressed with every aspect of this masterpiece.

On the Ford/Chevy thing...I own two Kimber Classic Customs and a new Springfield HiCap that I bought brand new over the internet. The Kimbers have given nothing but first class performance since new. One of them has over 4000 rounds and has been flawless. (except the time I "tweaked" the sear spring too much, and the Kimber showed me just how fast 4 rounds can move through a 1911A1 !)

The HiCap just returned from Springfield's Custom Shop were considerable warranty work was done and a trigger job to 3.5 lbs. To bring a Springfield to 3.5 lbs you must:

1. Give written permission
2. Buy a new hammer and sear
3. Get rid of that non-adjustable trigger
4. Pay $240. for the trigger job (including return shipping)

The gun returned to me after 3 months...The trigger is not quite a nice as either of my Kimbers, but probably measures in at 3.5 lbs. I suppose I'll have to live with the pretravel and creep that exists because I'm disgusted with SA, and have run way over budget for this gun. I could continue on about machine marks, swirls, file marks, and other anomolies, but suffice it to say, you will not find any of these in a Kimber.

A trip to the range yesterday also proved that at 25 yds, the old 4000+ round Kimber will still hold a 1 1/4 inch group (sandbag rest) while the new Springfield runs an additional 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Both guns (and a new Charles Daly) fired flawlessly using my handloaded 200gr LSWC Carrol's bullets pushed my 5.1 gr. W231 at an OAL of 1.255. About 300 rounds were divided among the three guns.

I still like the Springfield...but my advice to any potential owner would be to spend the extra bucks ($50-75) and buy the Kimber.

Would I buy another Springfield? Maybe...I would want to completely disassemble and examine it thoroughly before I paid for it. I have seen better workmanship on Springfields. One of the nation's leading gunsmiths who examined the Springfield after I bought it, commented that, "It must have hit QC at 1645 on Friday!

Hope this helps...
 
Regardless of which 1911 you buy, just make sure you clean it well before firing and after firing. If you have problems during the first 100 rounds, don't jump to conclusion. Put a couple hundred rounds through it and see how it fires after the "break-in" period.
 
Caspian Arms S/S frame with Series 70 slide, Wilson parts, its the way to go if you can. Keep your copys and clones give me an older Colt Series 70 or back. Like they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. For the past almost 90 years 1911 has meant Colt. Has anyone else noticed the problems that people are having with the Kimbers and other clones. I've got a shooting buddy who has a Kimber, he sent it back twice for repairs and it still will not play. He tried to trade it to me for my Para-Ordnace P-13 but after he told me the guns history, no deal.

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SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL POLICE, KEEP THEM INDEPENDENT.
 
LDAs? Some engineer got bored and decided to see if it could be done. It can be done. Good. Now that that's solved, lets get back to the greatest trigger format of the past 89 years- the 1911's single action. (The LDA is an answer in search of the question)

Erik
 
IMHO-

My observations on the guns being sold RIGHT NOW....

Kimber continues to lead in quality.
Springfield and Colt are tied for 2nd. I have not fired a recent Charles Daly.

This reflects my experience with guns being sold now, not guns I've shot before.
 
I`d go with the kimber i got a goldmatch that is a tackdriver ,my second choice is a colt i got a few of them and atleast with a colt i`ve never lost money course ive never sold them either .Icant say that about the other 1911 other than the kimber also .

Killer45auto
 
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