Forums / Gun Discussion / Springfield, Colt, or Kimber 1911?

plus which one come with more goodies out of the box...
how is the coustomer and anything else you guys want to throw in...

I had the Kimber Ultra Carry II and loved it but within a month I had decided to trade it in and get a Taurus PT1911. I wanted the fullsize frame and steel vs aluminum. The customer service experience I had with Kimber was far from what I expected from a firearms company that charges that much for the guns. They really didn't even want to speak with me and acted like it didn't matter. Now for the Taurus I love it. From what I've seen the Kimber and Taurus come with about the same "goodies". Gun, one or two mags depending on where you buy the Kimber, a plastic pistol case with foam inside. that is pretty much standard for both. The taurus did come with a barrel brush, barrel bushing wrench (not needed on Kimber Ultra Carry II). They both came with a lock. Kimber's was a padlock style that went through the mag well and out the slide, vs the Taurus is a hex key built into the trigger. I'll never get a Kimber again, unless I can get it for the same price or cheaper than the Taurus, approx $600

http://www.gunslot.com/forum/considering-1911-take-look-pt1911-taurus This link has multiple pics of my Taurus and some of my thoughts about it. You didn't put Taurus down but figured I'd throw it in and let you at least think about it. All I wanted in a 1911 was a Kimber but for me it wasn't right.

My PT1911 is one of the finest firearms that I own, I can't say enough good things about it....

is what I have. I sure won't knock the Taurus. As you have read, some fine folks here have 'em and love 'em. I love my Springfield just as much I reckon. Put some lead downrange with it today, no issues at all. It's been about 300 rounds since I've cleaned or oiled it. Smooth as glass and the slide tension is still easing up little by little. I know people wqho love Kimber and just as many who hate 'em. It's a 1911. Kimber is just a name.

all of the above make models that are good. I would compare them and find the one that has all of the features that you're looking for while being in your price range. I have a springer myself and have no complaints. They make a really solid pistol.

Maybe we could help more if you told us your price range, Moe. I mean, are you looking to spend $500-$800, over $1000 , more? You can go all the way to the Les Baer custom 1911's if you really wanted to drop some coin. I think you're making the right choice if you go with the Springfield though, since Colt is now insanely expensive and no better than the Springfield.

American Classic...

If you can get a chance to hold on in your hands and/or shoot it you will be dumbfounded how they can build a hand fit pistol together and keep the costs down so low.

We've been playing around with two different ones. The Amigo and the Commander, each of them are dead nuts accurate, will eat anything you put in them and they are just now costing around $500.00 new.

There is no play what so ever in these pistols. they come with a crisp glass braking trigger digitally weighed at 3.5 lbs. Competition Hammer/Trigger the ones Billy has have Extended Safety, Slide Stop and mag release.

There all cost the same, from the 3 inch compact to the 5 inch full size. Finish doesn't make a difference either.

Seriously, this is a pistol which is only going to go up in cost. Three months ago you could pick them up for $400.00, now they are $500.00 and climbing as more people learn about them.

They are made in the Philippines by the people who make their Military and Police firearms. They build these pistol the old school way where one guy is building the pistol start to finish, hand fitting the slide to frame, triggers, everything...

I almost bought one of the American Classics. Couldn't decide between the Amigo or the Commander by the time I decided I wanted the Amigo they were both gone. That is when I went and got the Kimber. I'm still watching for the Amigo at my local store.

I actually shot the Amigo and the Pro Carry II between two boxes of factory federal 230 FMJ.

Everyone was shocked how the Amigo shot right with the Kimber out to 45 feet. Did the same with the Commander and it actually shot better than the Pro Carry.

That pretty much decided it for Billy, he sold both his Pro Carries. His Kimber would need new recoil springs between 650 and 700 rounds, after that you had to pop the slide on the ass to get it to seat all the way. I know the Amigo and the Commander have well over 800 rounds through them and it is a mixture of some seriously hot reloads / factory Defense and reloaded/factory target.

They are kind of hard to get right now because people are starting to understand what your getting for so little cash they keep them bought out.

The local store I go to originally had 5 American Classics. Well from what he told me and from what I read he had a total of 13 RIA (rock island armory for those that don't know) and claimed they are all manufactured by the same equipment. According to my research RIA, American Classic, and Citadel are all made in the same plant. Now I do know that my research is strictly internet based and most if not all of that information could be true or false and I'd never know but after feeling and looking at the Citadel, American Classic, and RIA it wouldn't suprise me. All three guns felt pretty good but I didn't have the option of shooting them and I didn't know of anyone who had them so when they had all been purchased I decided not to wait, but I am not. I will probably get one of the 9mm versions just to have.

I found this site and it might be something to look into. It always has links to current "gun Giveaways" there are a couple of 1911's for giveaways right now. Might be worth trying.

thought I had posted that. Sorry. http://www.weapon-blog.com/contests/

If you're willing to spend as much as $1200 get a good Springfield. They've got all sorts of accessories and the like and they're probably the best 1911 out there.

I've said this many times before, but not sure on any thread you might have seen.. I would strongly advocate looking at a used pistol.. I think it's a given that any of the 1911's are going to be fine weapons.. and going the RIA or Philippine route you can't get much lower in price, and the ones that i've seen (fired a LOT of 1911's but none of the the low priced ones) again the ones ive seen are tight well machined, and i have no doubt worth the money.. That being said you can buy a 70 series (not year, model) Colt for a LOT less money than buying new, and theirs some springfields out there as well.. Just a suggestion.. i've found that you can get some great buys going the used route.. and as a rule your dealing with independent mom and pop type operations rather than the big box stores.. which ever..good luck to you..

Greg is dead on, both of my 1911's were bought used: the full size was a Argentine Federal Police surplus, the Springfield was a gently used carry gun that had belonged to a cop. Both of them are excellent guns and I've never had a moment's trouble.

I have a Taurus PT1911... Love it, and would recommend it. I'm also one of those people who hate Kimber. I have been looking into the Sig 1911's, I have fired one, and loved it. However I don't own it and have no idea how it is going to break in..... but being a Sig, I think it will continue to fire great.

Love this group, and this fact is more amazing when you consider we can't agree on hardly anything..

Kimbers, Sons of gun suck..

Saying that laughing, sure theirs a lot of Kimber suportors out there.. and same with guys who like "sons of gun".. I've tried to watch it like three times, and never got all thru a full show..

The shows meaningless and perhaps better this year.. more interested in why we don't have more Kimber suportors out there.. Price maybe.. I know i seriously looked at them when they first came out.. One of the things that surprised me was the number of models that were available..

I use to watch it all the time when it started but now they add the drama with the 2 kids and the guy Vince so not so much any more. PREFERRED IS " SWAMP PEOPLE" TROY ALWAYS SAYS
"choooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot" hmmmm lol

Well, first thing is customer service. I tried to order 2 Kimbers a few years back, told the rep that price wasn't an issue. Wanted 2 that were loaded, and here is the kicker..... They had to be sisters. I was wanting to get 2 to make into heirloom pieces for me and my son and pass on down the line. Guess what? Kimber refused my one condition, so I went elsewhere. Secondly, I have fired 4 Kimbers... 1 ran like a watch, and 3 couldn't go through a single mag without jambing. All four belonged to a now EX-Kimber dealer. And costomer service wouldn't help him either. LOL!

I like Kimber's guns, just not as much as they seem to, lol.

I've got a Springfield loaded and it's great. I looked at Kimbers and Sigs, but the SA just felt right. So far the only issues have come from the mags that came with it. Picked up some Wilson combat mags and I'm good to go. I've heard that Springfield has great customer service, but I haven't needed it.

Yep,i'd say so.