Springfield Loaded or Kimber Custom, or...?

M

Marko Kloos

Inactive
I'm about to order a new 1911 from my local GunHaus tomorrow for delivery on Thursday. I am leaning towards a Springfield Loaded Standard, since that package has everything I want out of my "starter kit" 1911 for a reasonable cash outlay.

The other 1911 I'm considering would be a Kimber Custom/Royal, which would run about $100 more for the same number of features. People do, however, seem to like their Kimbers, and it seems to be one of the better out-of-the-box 1911s on the market.

I do want a single-stack, SA trigger, full-sized 1911. I don't care for the LDA trigger or double-stack frames on 1911s. I also don't want to spend more than ~$600-800, so Les Baers and Caspians are out of the picture for now.

Any 1911 aficionados care to share their advice? Is there anything I am missing?
 
I've fired a base model SA and a Professional model. They are all right but don't feel as good in the hand as the Kimber, due to the frontstrap being squarer. I own a Kimber full size so let me know if you want to try it out.

Or, you could sell some of the S&W collection you've acquired and buy, I don't know, a Larry Vickers! ;)
 
Sell one of my *&* gems? Whaddaya, nuts? :)

I bet if I were to look for a buyer for my PC-13, I wouldn't have to look too far. (Someone already offered me $850 for it...) Throw in the M19 4" RB or the Model 25, and it's Les Baer City. But I think I'd rather get what I can pay for outright and keep my fine wheelguns.
 
lendringser,

I have never owned either; but I believe if the choice where mine,
I would lean toward the Springfield Loaded Standard also.
Or, if money were no object (which it is), I would opt for that
Springfield that the FBI HRT's are issued; at about $2300.00 a copy for us common folk's.


Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
I just ordered my SA Loaded standard parkerized, I should have it friday, will let you know what I think. Hell for $625 out the door Id say , I like it already.
 
personaly i prefere a basic 1911.i like the SA 1911a1 military type gun.450 bucks prety good deal.better yet get the colt 1991.around 550.i just do not care for extended beaver tails or extended safty etc....the only mod i made on my colt was i had a vadyiki(SPELLED WRONG I KNOW) trigger installed and the triger lighted just a bit.
 
Don't overlook the Colts either. I own 2 Kimbers and a Colt Commander. The Kimbers are fine, but the Colt is great. I can't comment on the SA since they havent punched my hot button yet.
 
Though Call!

A friend has a Kimber I love to shoot, I have a Springfield 1911A1 (loaded), and a customized Norinco 1911A1 by Marianne Carniak (MMame@aol.com). I like them all but if I could have but one it would be the Norinco by Marianne Carniak. There is very little difference in reliability or accuracy between these three pistols. All are great pistols and the only one I have a slight concern with is the sharp edge at the front of the grip on the Springfield. Regards, Richard
 
You can't go wrong with either choice.. Both offer excellent examples and are well made though both are subject to a few lemons eeking through QC. Go with what fits you best and meets your criteria in what you want out of the weapon and shoot the hell out of it. :D My personal preference is one from Springfield Armory.


Rick
 
Well, I just ordered a Springfield Loaded in Stainless, my second 1911 after my sweet "Gummint Issue" 1911A1 of 1945-vintage, which I sadly had to sell last Christmas to cover a plane ticket in a family emergency. I'll be picking up the new SA tomorrow.

Thanks for the input, everyone.
 
I was standing there, money in hand, trying to make this decision about 3 months ago. I found a table where the dealer sold both Springfield and Kimber. It was driving me nuts trying to make the right move. I finally asked the dealer what he would buy if he was getting one for his son. He said in his opinion (and we all know about opinions, right?) that he would go with the Kimber because it had a one piece barrel while the Springfield had a two piece barrel. I actually don't know what the heck that means except it must relate to part of the manufacturing process. So I bought the Kimber and have been really happy with it but I don't doubt I would have been just as happy if I'd bought a Springfield. I found out later about the MIM parts in the Kimber. I don't know if Springfield uses MIM in its manufacturing process. The Kimber is definitely smoother to the touch in the grip area. If I was you, I'd buy them both, put a couple hundred rounds through each, and sell the one I decided I could live without. Sounds easy, right? To have that option would be great.
 
lendringser,

I think you'll be pleased with the SA Loaded! I bought mine from my buddy, who had practically only broken it in! It has fed several different types of 185gr SWCs, several different hollow points and ball completely reliably. Not a single hitch with this peice yet! I'm totally happy. He took the money I gave him for it, plus a little and bought the target model.

I almost ended up getting a Kimber, but buying this SA from my buddy saved me almost $200. (I could have found the Kimber for a little less than the one place I looked had 'em for!)

I'm sure you'll be pleased, and I'm sure a Kimber would have made ya happy too! But, most importantly, it's a 1911!!!!

Happy shooting!

M@
 
SA two-piece barrel

Reference the two-piece barrels. I have had a Mil-Spec Springfield 1911A1 for about 14 years. It has one of the two piece barrels. I have read that this is very standard for cost reduction in older 1911 guns and "not" a safety liability. My SA has 15,000+ rounds through it, mostly hot reloads from 152gr/1200fps to 230gr/950fps. No problem with the barrel at all, and accuracy has been quite good. I know SA is now making one piece "match" barrels for their "loaded" guns. Check out their website in the shopping area. You can purchase these barrels for $76.50....not a bad price for a good duty gun. May not be comparable to the $150-$200 match barrels, but for my gun's use (IPSC/USPSA) should be plenty accurate. My stock two-piece barrel is more accurate than me and my trigger finger!
 
Springfield Armory

Thought I'd throw in my pitch for SA. The gun I referenced concerning the 2-piece barrel was a mil-spec model purchased originally for $289 NIB. It has been a great gun. I did a lot of tickering with it for competition. Hand cut(filed) front serrations, throated and polished feed ramp, rounded frames for high beavertail grip safety, lowered and flared the ejection port, etc. It has been fun to work on and is rock solid. Now the "loaded" models offer the same modifications from the factory at a very reasonable price.
 
Springfield Loaded

lendringser, I believe your going to like your Springfield, I have the V12 Loaded and love it. When I bought it I was looking for a good .45 and I didn't want to pay a lot of money. I believe the Springfield was a good buy for the money and I've found it to be a good shooter;)
Lots of luck with it and Happy Shooting:)
 
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