Suggestions for a new 1911

[jdcsail]

Looking for new 1911... Have it narrowed down to a kimber crimson/ultra carry... Or a Colt... What should I do???


Thanks!

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[azchevy]

Avoid the Kimber

[JohnLeVick]

How much gunsmithing do you want to do or pay for? In general, you'll get $200-$350 worth of gunsmithing on a Kimber for the same price as a Colt that needs the work that was already done on the Kimber. I own about a dozen Kimbers and several Colts. Despite all the internet horror stories of QC issues with Kimbers, most of them are great guns, and when there is a problem, it is usually a small one. Most Colt 1911-types need overall dehorning, a proper beavertail, mag well bevel, replacement of thumb safety and possibly other internals, spring rebalance, a trigger job and it may need new sights. A typical Kimber will need nothing but a trigger job and sight adjustment. The only 1911-ish type pistols I've ever had in for repairs that simply needed to be melted down into boat anchors were a Colt Defender, a Series 70 Government Model and a late-production (early 1990s) Commander. I got them all running and told their owners to do their best to trade them off at the first opportunity unless they planned to use them only on the range; all had serious dimensional defects. Have I seen Kimbers with problems? Yes, absolutely; but their problems have been pretty easily fixed. Excusable? Not really, but such is the world of firearm QC today.

If you get an Ultra Carry or another 3" gun, remember that you will need to replace recoil springs at intervals of no more than 1000 rounds, and 750 is better. Replacing the original mainspring with a 23 or 25 lb. spring will lengthen the life of recoil springs a little, and heavy-duty magazine springs are a good idea, too. Replacing the firing pin stop with a flat-bottom stop from EGW will give you even greater functional margin of error in these little guns, slowing unlocking so that the slide velocity is not quite so high.

[thinktwice]

I own a Kimber Ultra CDP 11 it's been 100% I assume if you are looking at the smaller 1911's so I guess the Colt would be the "Defender" I have heard a lot of positive comments on that one also. I think either would be a good choice. I realize that's not much help to you, but just my opinion.

[GM]

I like Colts and I like the Defender a lot, but the Ultra Carry is a very nice gun too. Your choice; both of them are very good firearms.

[Gunnutty]

Colt!!

[OldVet]

Get a Glock 21 and forget about having work done by the gunsmith, new springs every few hundred rounds, etc. It works fine as is holds more rounds also.

Now it's time to duck and cover.

[JohnLeVick]

Get a Glock 21 and forget about having work done by the gunsmith, new springs every few hundred rounds, etc. It works fine as is holds more rounds also.

Now it's time to duck and cover.

Well, other than the grip reduction you need to make it fit a human-size hand and point roughly in the direction of an intended target, the replacement of the plastic sights, and the trigger job...

[GM]

Well, other than the grip reduction you need to make it fit a human-size hand and point roughly in the direction of an intended target, the replacement of the plastic sights, and the trigger job...

That was good

[C hawk Glock]

Both are great, I would get the Kimber for the money.

[QKShooter]

Usually the moderators will delete any & all off topic "Buy A Glock" comments.

The OP question is: "Colt or Kimber?"

I don't see any possible choice option beginning with a "G" up in that poll...only a "C" & a "K."

Please stay on topic to the poll.

Oh...& Get the Colt...BTW.

[justherenow]

No experience with the Colt and little experience with the Kimber, but I will tell you that I have a Kimber, although it is a Pro Carry II, and I love it. I have had Glocks, Smith and Wessons and a few others, and this by far is the best firearm I have had, it has been 100% flawless except for two Fail to feeds which I contribute to user error. Oh, this also my first 1911.

[j21blackjack]

I have both a Kimber Compact and a Colt New Agent. I love them both, but I voted for the Kimber. Both guns have been flawless and were the same price, so I really have no reason to vote for either over the other.

[ksblazer]

I was deciding between the two as they are both nice pistols.

After lot's of debating, I purchased the Colt and have never regreted it.

[retsupt99]

I have two Kimbers (Ultra and a Compact...both CDP's) and have never had a problem. There are some who have had difficulties with a Kimber or any other make/model, but in my experiences, it is the complainers who bother to verbalize their problems. The satisfied customers seldom speak up.
I would not hesitate to recommend the Kimber line...great guns!