Hello everyone, forgive me if my first is a bit long-winded, but I'm searching for advice. I am currently saving for a new carry gun, and I would very much like to get a 1911-style .45, and the one I have my eye on specifically is the Kimber Ultra Carry II in stainless steel, 3" barrell. I've read some mixed reviews on the differences in safety mechanisms between first and second generation Kimbers, from what I read first gen Kimbers use Colt series 70 mechanisms and second gens use series 80. Is there one that is better than the other from a carry standpoint? I'd greatly appreciate any feedback and info that could guide me in my purchase.
jlis914
I think Kimbers are nice guns. But here comes the however, the Kahr TP45 in my opinion is s superior weapon.
The trigger travel is smooth as silk and safe for self defense. Single action trigger on a 1911 is very light one in my opinion one is less likely to have a inadvertent discharge with the Kahr. But do not think the Kahr is hard to shoot just the opposite it is consistent and smooth.
The Kimber is tight and not as tolerant as a Kahr of dirt and grit.
Kahr is more concealable.
Accuracy is about the same I have both guns.
Kimber is nicer looking and nicer looking than the Kahr. Probably more romantic if you will.
Cost Kahr is less.
Both are good companies with great customer service.
Both made in the USA.
Do what I did buy both. But you will carry the Kahr more.
The trigger travel is smooth as silk and safe for self defense. Single action trigger on a 1911 is very light one in my opinion one is less likely to have a inadvertent discharge with the Kahr. But do not think the Kahr is hard to shoot just the opposite it is consistent and smooth.
The Kimber is tight and not as tolerant as a Kahr of dirt and grit.
Kahr is more concealable.
Accuracy is about the same I have both guns.
Kimber is nicer looking and nicer looking than the Kahr. Probably more romantic if you will.
Cost Kahr is less.
Both are good companies with great customer service.
Both made in the USA.
Do what I did buy both. But you will carry the Kahr more.
I don't think it really matters what series of gun you get. Just get the gun that feels good in your hands. I don't think you could go wrong with any 1911…Well maybe Taurus.
Me either. I carry my 5" Kimber all the time. However......
Welcome to the forum! Be careful asking for advice here, for you will surely get it. Get what you want.
Welcome to the forum! Be careful asking for advice here, for you will surely get it. Get what you want.
kimber is more of a show gun then a everyday carry i have a sig 1911 it shoots well but id say out of the two for a edc id pick a colt
I have 3 1911 in 45acp,Springfield 1911-A1 5",Ria 1911 45 compact 3.5",Colt Combat Commander XSE 4.25",I carried the RIA for at least a year,had a great trigger right out of the box,accurate and dependable and only cost 369.00.The Springfield is mainly a range/Home defense gun.The Colt is my EDC and after adding big dot nite sights it cost 3 times what the RIA cost,plus the trigger sucked,sent it in for a 4# trigger job.A 4# trigger is not too light for SD ,not when people are dropping 3.5# disconnecters in their Glocks.It's called trigger discipline.
I spell my 45ACP's...C O L T ! I do Love the Les Baers and Ed Brown's, but I'm just a middle class working slob!(LOL)
For carry get a commander sized possibly alloy framed weapon. Go with steel if you can handle the weight, but if not the alloy will work - just last less time (fewer rounds). Best scenario, get a steel for shooting and an alloy for carry that are otherwise identical.
I have a Scandium S&W 1911 (Gunsite edition), 4.25" Commander and love it! The gun carries well due to the light weight and shoots like a dream. I also have a Colt Night Officer, 3.5" on a commander frame. Also a nice gun, but weighs a ton more due to steel. The S&W E-series has some nice selections in steel or scandium and they also have a commander model with bobbed mainspring housing (grip). Worth checking out the S&W lineup, as they have many 1911 variations to choose from......even a 3 inch, Pro Series 1911 if you so desire. Merry Christmas!
Kimber experience
I have quite a number of Colt 1911s and one Kimber, the Pro CDP model with 4 inch barrel. My experience with the Kimber has been fine, and the gun has worked reliably. I also have a 3 inch 1911, the Colt Defender model. In general, I find the 3 inch guns to be easier to conceal than the 4 inch, mainly from the shorter Officer-length grip which is less likely to print on your cover garment. But the Kimbers are very good looking guns and mine has some standard features for carry that Colts generally lack, such as melting of sharp edges, front strap checkering and night sights.
As for the Series 70 vs. Series 80 safeties, many feel that this influences the trigger pull, with the Series 70 being slightly smoother. Personally I can't tell the difference, and I have guns in both designs. Series 80 seems fine to me.
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I have quite a number of Colt 1911s and one Kimber, the Pro CDP model with 4 inch barrel. My experience with the Kimber has been fine, and the gun has worked reliably. I also have a 3 inch 1911, the Colt Defender model. In general, I find the 3 inch guns to be easier to conceal than the 4 inch, mainly from the shorter Officer-length grip which is less likely to print on your cover garment. But the Kimbers are very good looking guns and mine has some standard features for carry that Colts generally lack, such as melting of sharp edges, front strap checkering and night sights.
As for the Series 70 vs. Series 80 safeties, many feel that this influences the trigger pull, with the Series 70 being slightly smoother. Personally I can't tell the difference, and I have guns in both designs. Series 80 seems fine to me.
I've done a lot of reading and see more often than not it seems like most feel that 4" is the shortest you should go on a 1911. I just bought my first carry gun/gun and went with a Kimber Pro Raptor. Handle as many as you can and see what feels best to you. If you are set on a Kimber then go for it. As long as you have a good holster and a good belt weight should be no problem.
Actually, the later Kimbers employ a firing pin safety but it is not the "Series 80" type that Colt put out, but rather the Swartz safety (also used by S&W, I believe). It achieves the same result - blocking the firing pin until the shooter is ready to fire - but does so via the grip safety, rather than by the trigger. Thus it won't "interfere" with the trigger pull, but we've had 25+ years of Series 80 triggers and good pistolsmiths have long since figured out how to make 'em just as good as Series 70s.
I'll add my vote to those suggesting staying away from the 3-inch range barrel 1911 models - at least for your first one. A hybrid model of sorts exists; Colt pioneered it some years ago called the Concealed Carry Officer's Model, of CCO. It uses the Officer's Model frame with the shorter grip, mated to the 4" barrel and slide of the Commander. Not sure if Colt currently offers a current incarnation of that model, but STI, Sig and Dan Wesson either do or at least did fairly recently. If I wanted the stay with the 1911 in .45 and go more compact than the Kimber CDP Pro II I carry, that's the route I would take. If you're OK with 9mm or .40 in a 3-inch 1911 pattern, the Springfield EMP is a great way to go - designed from the ground up to accommodate the shorter 9/40 cartridge lengths.
I'll add my vote to those suggesting staying away from the 3-inch range barrel 1911 models - at least for your first one. A hybrid model of sorts exists; Colt pioneered it some years ago called the Concealed Carry Officer's Model, of CCO. It uses the Officer's Model frame with the shorter grip, mated to the 4" barrel and slide of the Commander. Not sure if Colt currently offers a current incarnation of that model, but STI, Sig and Dan Wesson either do or at least did fairly recently. If I wanted the stay with the 1911 in .45 and go more compact than the Kimber CDP Pro II I carry, that's the route I would take. If you're OK with 9mm or .40 in a 3-inch 1911 pattern, the Springfield EMP is a great way to go - designed from the ground up to accommodate the shorter 9/40 cartridge lengths.
My Kimber Ultra CDP II is my daily carry and is a great weapon (the most accurate 3inch pistol that I can shoot)... I have no complaints or issues with it.
Thanks
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Thanks
Thank you everyone for the advice and good info. I recently had an opportunity to shoot a friends Kimber Crimson Ultra Carry II, and I was impressed with the way it shot. After firing that I fired my Colt Combat Elite (5" 1911) and I was surprised at how smoothly the Kimber shot, and how comfortable it felt in my hand. As I said before I'm leaning towards the 3", but I'm glad I have a while to save before I buy, as the posts addressing the problems with 3" 1911's have aroused my curiosity. If not a 3", maybe a 4" would be a more ideal "middle of the road" size? More reading to be done! :danceban:
For us budget minded shooters I`ve found Rock Island weapons to be a great find. I have three, Tac,Gi & Compact all in ,45ACP. Good accurate and reasonable. Check them out.
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I carry my ultra covert II kimber everyday. Love this gun. No issues with the safety or performance of the weapon.
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Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk
jlis914,
I can also second the earlier recommendation for the Kahr. Although I like my 1911's, I think I need further practice on it's manuel of arms. I've since added a Kahr CW45 to my rotation. I find that I'm really liking it's light weight compared to the 1911 (20 ounces vs 32 ounces).
I don't have a Kimber, but I do have a 3.5" Citadel Compact model, made by RIA. I've been very pleased w/ the gun. I got it instead of the RIA version because the Citadel had a few upgrades the RIA lacked (Novak type sights, extended slide release/safety, beavertail grip safety and target hammer/trigger). You might want to consider this gun, as well.
I can also second the earlier recommendation for the Kahr. Although I like my 1911's, I think I need further practice on it's manuel of arms. I've since added a Kahr CW45 to my rotation. I find that I'm really liking it's light weight compared to the 1911 (20 ounces vs 32 ounces).
http://www.kahr.com/GetDynamicImage.aspx?dir=itemImages&path=CW451638.jpg&w=652&h=556
CW45
CW4543 (3.64" Barrel)
Black polymer frame, matte stainless slide
MSRP: $485.00
Ships with one magazine only
Register as an authorized dealer.
Caliber: .45 ACP
Capacity: 6+1
Operation: Trigger cocking DAO; lock breech; "Browning - type" recoil lug; passive striker block; no magazine disconnect
Barrel: 3.64", conventional rifling, 1 - 16.38 right-hand twist
Length O/A: 6.32"
Height: 4.8"
Slide Width: 1.01"
Weight: Pistol 19.7 oz., Magazine 2 oz.
Grips: Textured polymer
Sights: Drift adjustable white bar-dot combat rear sight, pinned in polymer front sight
Finish: Black polymer frame, matte stainless steel slide*
Magazines: 1 - 6 rd, Stainless
>> Guide to Kahr Magazines
With this said my TP45 out shoots every Kimber I have ever owned. Now I sound like I ain't-Kimber I am not I still own one but for CCW Kahr is the ticket. Kimber certainly are wonderful guns look great and they are good shooting guns to boot. The Kahr is designed specifically for CCW.
CW45
CW4543 (3.64" Barrel)
Black polymer frame, matte stainless slide
MSRP: $485.00
Ships with one magazine only
Register as an authorized dealer.
Caliber: .45 ACP
Capacity: 6+1
Operation: Trigger cocking DAO; lock breech; "Browning - type" recoil lug; passive striker block; no magazine disconnect
Barrel: 3.64", conventional rifling, 1 - 16.38 right-hand twist
Length O/A: 6.32"
Height: 4.8"
Slide Width: 1.01"
Weight: Pistol 19.7 oz., Magazine 2 oz.
Grips: Textured polymer
Sights: Drift adjustable white bar-dot combat rear sight, pinned in polymer front sight
Finish: Black polymer frame, matte stainless steel slide*
Magazines: 1 - 6 rd, Stainless
>> Guide to Kahr Magazines
With this said my TP45 out shoots every Kimber I have ever owned. Now I sound like I ain't-Kimber I am not I still own one but for CCW Kahr is the ticket. Kimber certainly are wonderful guns look great and they are good shooting guns to boot. The Kahr is designed specifically for CCW.
Once again, thanks to all the input received regarding my newest venture. After much thought and having handled several different compact and sub-compact .45's, I finally chose and put a deposit on a new Glock 30SF. Can't wait to bring it home!
for all that say about shorter being.....
everyone is entitled to an opinion(im purtty sure my spelchuck dun sewercided) but to
your question---ive had a defender and ultra ll; both were 1.5" at 25 yards and ate everything just fine.
but i've succume to arthritis and wented a heavier gun---Sig C3 made 10/2010 and had perhaps 2 boxes through it. in 5 days i've put 600 assorted shapes, jacketed and lead with only induced faliours. and its deadnuts acccurate and carries as easy as the 3" defender.
don't know about you but id rather have 8 rounds of Auto COLT Projectile than some
rama rama dum dum round:ticking:
everyone is entitled to an opinion(im purtty sure my spelchuck dun sewercided) but to
your question---ive had a defender and ultra ll; both were 1.5" at 25 yards and ate everything just fine.
but i've succume to arthritis and wented a heavier gun---Sig C3 made 10/2010 and had perhaps 2 boxes through it. in 5 days i've put 600 assorted shapes, jacketed and lead with only induced faliours. and its deadnuts acccurate and carries as easy as the 3" defender.
don't know about you but id rather have 8 rounds of Auto COLT Projectile than some
rama rama dum dum round:ticking:
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