Looking to get a decent 1911

DubC-Hicks · January 4, 2018, 11:17 PM

So far, I've narrowed it down to the SR1911, likely a nitrided TALO version, and the Kimber Custom II.

I've been seeing the Kimber on sale recently for $600 or so, but I'm not the biggest fan of the Swartz safety or the finish on the lower end Kimber's. I've heard the bluing doesn't hold up the greatest. It'd likely get sent to Robar or Club Custom Guns for a new finish.

The TALO and Night Watchmen SR1911s, rail or no rail matters not to me, go for $700-750. So more expensive, but I like the series 70 and finish better.

I know the Swartz stuff can be removed from the Kimber, effectively making it a series 70. But as far as quality and reliability, is one better than the other?

JMag1 · January 4, 2018, 11:54 PM

I’m not a Kimber 1911 fan, but I thought they had ditched the Swartz safety of late.

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DubC-Hicks · January 4, 2018, 11:55 PM

Any with the II at the end of the name still have the Swartz. From what I've gathered anyway.

Cirdan · January 5, 2018, 12:20 AM

Love my SR1911 Commander. Series 70 (no drop safety).

Viper225 · January 5, 2018, 01:29 AM

If I were looking at 1911's, I would look at Springfield Armory Models like the Range Officer. Also take a look at Smith & Wesson's and Sig's. I am not a Kimber fan either.
I own a Colt Stainless Full size XSE that has been tuned up with quite a bit of custom work.

Bob R

Chui · January 5, 2018, 07:28 AM

Springfield TRP or Dan Wesson Valor.

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weblance · January 5, 2018, 09:25 AM

My SR1911 has been great. I have close to 10,000 rounds through it, and it has been perfectly reliable.

For an entry level gun, the SR1911 is hard to beat. Plus it comes free of charge with Rugers excellent customer service.

rodfac · January 5, 2018, 09:26 AM

Friends have brought 4 Kimber 1911's out to our farm range over the years that just didn't perform well. Multiple malfunctions. In all 4 cases, Kimber told them to put more ammunition through the gun before they'd take a look at the problems. For a defensive gun, that's unacceptable in my view, but YMMV. There are responsible posters here, whose opinions I respect that like Kimbers, but the four that I had contact with were pretty, but certainly not shooters.

My sons and I have owned just under a dozen Colts between us, over the pasts 50 years. As well as a Remington-Rand WWll 1911A1, a really great Sig RCS, and both of the all steel Ruger offerings, (in 5" & CMD). Taken from that two-gun sample base and the posted remarks of others here on TFL, the Rugers are far and away the best value for the money. The following is a run-down on our experience with those two Rugers.

Accuracy has run right at 2" at 25 yds from a rest with FMJ's by WWB, PMC,as well as my 200 gr TWC target grade handloads. Triggers have been good at 45 to 6 lbs. out of the box.

Features fulfill what I desire in a carry gun: good combat sights (Novaks), flare mag well, two mags furnished, SS construction, beavertail humped safety for ease of hand placement in the holster, checkered steel back strap, all with a throatted bbl. and ported ejection port. About the only thing I add to them is checkering on the front strap and tritium night sights...and of course for the same price! LOL

But I'll opine that if you intend to carry the piece, as opposed to using it as a range gun, I'd opt for the alloy frame model...the weight difference is significant. I speak from experience in that regard. I'll offer that an even better gun for carry is Sigs C3 or RCS model. This latter is no longer in production but can be found on gunbroker. Either may be a bit more $ than the Rugers but are worth the price.

In a word, the Rugers are about as perfect as I could ask in an all steel production gun. And with them, you get first rate customer service from a company that stands behind its products from day one, not some bogus "break in" regimen that's really designed to see if you'll just go away!

RickB · January 5, 2018, 11:36 AM

Springfield RO.

bassJAM1 · January 5, 2018, 12:10 PM

Between the Kimber and a Ruger, I'd go for the Ruger. My SR1911 has been flawless since I bought it in 2014. Ruger is one of the few manufactures that consistently give you more for your money. Kimber seems to be overpriced for what you get.

spacemanspiff · January 5, 2018, 12:42 PM

My first 1911 was a Kimber TLE, loved that gun. Replaced it with a Colt only because it started to have ejection malfunctions. After a good 15,000 rounds down the pipe. So it wasnt a lemon, it just had wear/tear that was not able to get figured out. I took it to two different gunsmiths, and having been friends of both of those smiths, I think that made them not do their job with 100% effort. One of them simply replaced recoil springs and claimed to have taken it to the range for a function test, saying it didnt have any problems, but when I took it the next weekend, the problem had gotten worse.

So I traded it in for a Colt.

The finish on my Kimber was wearing, but I liked how it looked. If a gun could age gracefully, mine certainly was doing just that.

shootniron · January 5, 2018, 01:34 PM

Not hard to find a decent 1911...plenty of companies make them.

And, that includes Kimber...ours have been perfect for a lot of years...but then all of our 1911's from several manufacturer's have been.

Grant D · January 5, 2018, 01:52 PM

I have a Kimber ultra crimson carry II and it gets carried quite a bit.
That and my Colt xse lightweight comamder magnum, are my best two 45's
I have three others but these get carried the most.

pblanc · January 5, 2018, 02:10 PM

I have heard too many Kimber horror stories to take a chance on one. I am sure that many Kimbers are fine pistols and they certainly look nice.

But I would go with the Ruger, myself. If you ever need warranty service, Ruger is hard to beat.

crusader4x · January 5, 2018, 02:52 PM

A Sig 1911 Emperor Scorpion Carry has been my EDC for a couple years now. Other than holster wear (which gives my pistols "character"), I've had ZERO problems.

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otasan · January 5, 2018, 03:10 PM

I have two Springfield Armory M1911A1s. Love 'em.

DubC-Hicks · January 5, 2018, 04:41 PM

I think I've pretty much decided on a Ruger of some sort. Wanting to stay $750ish or under, along with traditional internal extractor setup.

BigJimP · January 5, 2018, 07:10 PM

The quality of the internal parts is what you need to worry about...Ruger isn't a quality gun.../ but neither is the Kimber....

I would recommend you take a serious look at Springfield and Colt offerings...in terms of triggers and fit and finish ...and internal parts ...they are a much better entry level 1911 - than the options you are looking at. Find the gun youy like the best with the features you want...and the best trigger you can find...( most of the entry level guns are not very good triggers and not quality components ).

Springfield TRP is one of the best guns out there for the money ...but its around $ 1,500 now.../ but it has most all of the features you would want in a solid 1911. It is not the quality of the higher end ...semi-custom guns like Wilson Combat...but the TRP is a very nice gun.

DubC-Hicks · January 5, 2018, 07:15 PM

I know Springfield makes good 1911s, but Springfield themselves put a bad taste in my mouth. As well as many other people's. I'm also not going to spend a grand or more on a 1911 that is going to be only a range gun.

The cheaper Colts might be an option, but I've heard QC horror stories with them lately too.

Eazyeach · January 5, 2018, 07:18 PM

A Ruger 1911 will serve you well. I used to have a stainless full size and it ran like a scalded dog. Not sure why I sold it, but I sure wish I hadn't.

Charlie98 · January 5, 2018, 11:18 PM

All the people piling on Kimber tend to forget the '80 era Colt pistols... I had a stainless Colt, it was beautiful, but it was a piece of junk, traded it off for a Springfield. The Springfield had a nasty habit of bouncing empties off my forehead, so I sold it to my brother.... and went out and got a Kimber. I'm not saying Kimber doesn't deserve some criticism, like Colt, for some of the pistols they sent out the door in the mid 2000's... there were issues, but I suspect they have them fixed and I wouldn't hesitate to get another one.

I also still have my '80's era Colt's Government .380... it too is a loosy-goosy mess, but I like the pistol and it's accurate enough at .380 ranges, but it's not what I would call a stellar example of Colt's workmanship.

Everyone seems to forget about Ruger's problems, too... mainly with revolvers. I've had about 8 Ruger single-actions and NONE of them would shoot worth anything. Ruger revolvers are notorious for having undersized cylinder throats and/or torque bulges in the barrels (like my Lipsey's .44 Flattop does.) I guess I feel about Ruger pistols like some of you feel about Kimber.

railroader · January 5, 2018, 11:42 PM

I purchased one of the kimber 2 tone fullsize guns in 9mm. It's a really nice gun that runs well. The only thing I did to it was change out the hammer spring for a 19lb one. The bluing on the slide looks great along with the nice stainless frame. It also came with 3 dot sights which are easier for my old eyes to see. I got it for $629 from Smoky mountain Guns and Ammo. They have the 45acp version on sale quite frequently for $599 shipped. This one isn't mine but it looks just like it.

BBarn · January 6, 2018, 12:29 AM

Don't have any first hand experience with Kimbers. Have owned an SR1911 for a couple of years. Have owned a few Colts from the '80s and '90s. Also own a SA Range Officer. IME the Rugers are a good choice in their price range, especially if you prefer Series 70 style lockwork.

Kreyzhorse · January 6, 2018, 08:23 AM

Hard to go wrong with a Springfield. I have a TRP and a Mil-Spec. Both are excellent guns.

mikejonestkd · January 6, 2018, 10:12 AM

IMO its hard to go wrong with a Springfield or a Colt. Both tend to be a step up from Ruger or Kimber in my experience.

January 4, 2018, 11:17 PM	#1
DubC-Hicks Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2009 Location: Backwoods, Northern MI Posts: 1,031	Looking to get a decent 1911 So far, I've narrowed it down to the SR1911, likely a nitrided TALO version, and the Kimber Custom II. I've been seeing the Kimber on sale recently for $600 or so, but I'm not the biggest fan of the Swartz safety or the finish on the lower end Kimber's. I've heard the bluing doesn't hold up the greatest. It'd likely get sent to Robar or Club Custom Guns for a new finish. The TALO and Night Watchmen SR1911s, rail or no rail matters not to me, go for $700-750. So more expensive, but I like the series 70 and finish better. I know the Swartz stuff can be removed from the Kimber, effectively making it a series 70. But as far as quality and reliability, is one better than the other? __________________ ”Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.” ~Unknown

January 4, 2018, 11:55 PM	#3
DubC-Hicks Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2009 Location: Backwoods, Northern MI Posts: 1,031	Any with the II at the end of the name still have the Swartz. From what I've gathered anyway. __________________ ”Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.” ~Unknown

January 5, 2018, 09:26 AM	#8
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	Friends have brought 4 Kimber 1911's out to our farm range over the years that just didn't perform well. Multiple malfunctions. In all 4 cases, Kimber told them to put more ammunition through the gun before they'd take a look at the problems. For a defensive gun, that's unacceptable in my view, but YMMV. There are responsible posters here, whose opinions I respect that like Kimbers, but the four that I had contact with were pretty, but certainly not shooters. My sons and I have owned just under a dozen Colts between us, over the pasts 50 years. As well as a Remington-Rand WWll 1911A1, a really great Sig RCS, and both of the all steel Ruger offerings, (in 5" & CMD). Taken from that two-gun sample base and the posted remarks of others here on TFL, the Rugers are far and away the best value for the money. The following is a run-down on our experience with those two Rugers. Accuracy has run right at 2" at 25 yds from a rest with FMJ's by WWB, PMC,as well as my 200 gr TWC target grade handloads. Triggers have been good at 45 to 6 lbs. out of the box. Features fulfill what I desire in a carry gun: good combat sights (Novaks), flare mag well, two mags furnished, SS construction, beavertail humped safety for ease of hand placement in the holster, checkered steel back strap, all with a throatted bbl. and ported ejection port. About the only thing I add to them is checkering on the front strap and tritium night sights...and of course for the same price! LOL But I'll opine that if you intend to carry the piece, as opposed to using it as a range gun, I'd opt for the alloy frame model...the weight difference is significant. I speak from experience in that regard. I'll offer that an even better gun for carry is Sigs C3 or RCS model. This latter is no longer in production but can be found on gunbroker. Either may be a bit more $ than the Rugers but are worth the price. In a word, the Rugers are about as perfect as I could ask in an all steel production gun. And with them, you get first rate customer service from a company that stands behind its products from day one, not some bogus "break in" regimen that's really designed to see if you'll just go away! __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

January 5, 2018, 11:36 AM	#9
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	Springfield RO. __________________ Runs off at the mouth about anything 1911 related on this site and half the time is flat out wrong.

January 5, 2018, 12:42 PM	#11
spacemanspiff Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2002 Location: alaska Posts: 3,498	My first 1911 was a Kimber TLE, loved that gun. Replaced it with a Colt only because it started to have ejection malfunctions. After a good 15,000 rounds down the pipe. So it wasnt a lemon, it just had wear/tear that was not able to get figured out. I took it to two different gunsmiths, and having been friends of both of those smiths, I think that made them not do their job with 100% effort. One of them simply replaced recoil springs and claimed to have taken it to the range for a function test, saying it didnt have any problems, but when I took it the next weekend, the problem had gotten worse. So I traded it in for a Colt. The finish on my Kimber was wearing, but I liked how it looked. If a gun could age gracefully, mine certainly was doing just that. __________________ "Every man alone is sincere; at the entrance of a second person hypocrisy begins." - Ralph Waldo Emerson "People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." - Soren Kierkegaard

January 4, 2018, 11:54 PM	#2
JMag1 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 2015 Posts: 173	I’m not a Kimber 1911 fan, but I thought they had ditched the Swartz safety of late. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

January 5, 2018, 12:20 AM	#4
Cirdan Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2013 Location: Tahoe Posts: 363	Love my SR1911 Commander. Series 70 (no drop safety).

January 5, 2018, 01:29 AM	#5
Viper225 Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 2009 Location: SC Missouri Posts: 663	If I were looking at 1911's, I would look at Springfield Armory Models like the Range Officer. Also take a look at Smith & Wesson's and Sig's. I am not a Kimber fan either. I own a Colt Stainless Full size XSE that has been tuned up with quite a bit of custom work. Bob R

January 5, 2018, 07:28 AM	#6
Chui Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2004 Posts: 1,784	Springfield TRP or Dan Wesson Valor. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

January 5, 2018, 09:25 AM	#7
weblance Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2012 Posts: 1,229	My SR1911 has been great. I have close to 10,000 rounds through it, and it has been perfectly reliable. For an entry level gun, the SR1911 is hard to beat. Plus it comes free of charge with Rugers excellent customer service.

January 5, 2018, 12:10 PM	#10
bassJAM1 Senior Member Join Date: March 31, 2017 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 147	Between the Kimber and a Ruger, I'd go for the Ruger. My SR1911 has been flawless since I bought it in 2014. Ruger is one of the few manufactures that consistently give you more for your money. Kimber seems to be overpriced for what you get.

January 5, 2018, 01:34 PM	#12
shootniron Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,599	Not hard to find a decent 1911...plenty of companies make them. And, that includes Kimber...ours have been perfect for a lot of years...but then all of our 1911's from several manufacturer's have been.

January 5, 2018, 01:52 PM	#13
Grant D Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2011 Location: Brazos County, Texas Posts: 1,038	I have a Kimber ultra crimson carry II and it gets carried quite a bit. That and my Colt xse lightweight comamder magnum, are my best two 45's I have three others but these get carried the most.

January 5, 2018, 02:10 PM	#14
pblanc Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 697	I have heard too many Kimber horror stories to take a chance on one. I am sure that many Kimbers are fine pistols and they certainly look nice. But I would go with the Ruger, myself. If you ever need warranty service, Ruger is hard to beat.

January 5, 2018, 02:52 PM	#15
crusader4x Member Join Date: April 30, 2011 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 17	A Sig 1911 Emperor Scorpion Carry has been my EDC for a couple years now. Other than holster wear (which gives my pistols "character"), I've had ZERO problems. Sent from my BTV-W09 using Tapatalk

January 5, 2018, 03:10 PM	#16
otasan Junior member Join Date: April 17, 2005 Location: Hartford, Vermont Posts: 519	I have two Springfield Armory M1911A1s. Love 'em.

January 5, 2018, 04:41 PM	#17
DubC-Hicks Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2009 Location: Backwoods, Northern MI Posts: 1,031	I think I've pretty much decided on a Ruger of some sort. Wanting to stay $750ish or under, along with traditional internal extractor setup. __________________ ”Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.” ~Unknown

January 5, 2018, 07:10 PM	#18
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	The quality of the internal parts is what you need to worry about...Ruger isn't a quality gun.../ but neither is the Kimber.... I would recommend you take a serious look at Springfield and Colt offerings...in terms of triggers and fit and finish ...and internal parts ...they are a much better entry level 1911 - than the options you are looking at. Find the gun youy like the best with the features you want...and the best trigger you can find...( most of the entry level guns are not very good triggers and not quality components ). Springfield TRP is one of the best guns out there for the money ...but its around $ 1,500 now.../ but it has most all of the features you would want in a solid 1911. It is not the quality of the higher end ...semi-custom guns like Wilson Combat...but the TRP is a very nice gun.

January 5, 2018, 07:15 PM	#19
DubC-Hicks Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2009 Location: Backwoods, Northern MI Posts: 1,031	I know Springfield makes good 1911s, but Springfield themselves put a bad taste in my mouth. As well as many other people's. I'm also not going to spend a grand or more on a 1911 that is going to be only a range gun. The cheaper Colts might be an option, but I've heard QC horror stories with them lately too. __________________ ”Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.” ~Unknown

January 5, 2018, 07:18 PM	#20
Eazyeach Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2014 Posts: 706	A Ruger 1911 will serve you well. I used to have a stainless full size and it ran like a scalded dog. Not sure why I sold it, but I sure wish I hadn't.

January 5, 2018, 11:18 PM	#21
Charlie98 Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2006 Location: Great state of Texas Posts: 1,077	All the people piling on Kimber tend to forget the '80 era Colt pistols... I had a stainless Colt, it was beautiful, but it was a piece of junk, traded it off for a Springfield. The Springfield had a nasty habit of bouncing empties off my forehead, so I sold it to my brother.... and went out and got a Kimber. I'm not saying Kimber doesn't deserve some criticism, like Colt, for some of the pistols they sent out the door in the mid 2000's... there were issues, but I suspect they have them fixed and I wouldn't hesitate to get another one. I also still have my '80's era Colt's Government .380... it too is a loosy-goosy mess, but I like the pistol and it's accurate enough at .380 ranges, but it's not what I would call a stellar example of Colt's workmanship. Everyone seems to forget about Ruger's problems, too... mainly with revolvers. I've had about 8 Ruger single-actions and NONE of them would shoot worth anything. Ruger revolvers are notorious for having undersized cylinder throats and/or torque bulges in the barrels (like my Lipsey's .44 Flattop does.) I guess I feel about Ruger pistols like some of you feel about Kimber. __________________ _______________ "I have this pistol pointed at your heart!" "That is my least vulnerable spot."

January 5, 2018, 11:42 PM	#22
railroader Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2000 Location: Tucson Arizona Posts: 1,756	I purchased one of the kimber 2 tone fullsize guns in 9mm. It's a really nice gun that runs well. The only thing I did to it was change out the hammer spring for a 19lb one. The bluing on the slide looks great along with the nice stainless frame. It also came with 3 dot sights which are easier for my old eyes to see. I got it for $629 from Smoky mountain Guns and Ammo. They have the 45acp version on sale quite frequently for $599 shipped. This one isn't mine but it looks just like it. Last edited by railroader; January 5, 2018 at 11:48 PM.

January 6, 2018, 12:29 AM	#23
BBarn Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2015 Posts: 887	Don't have any first hand experience with Kimbers. Have owned an SR1911 for a couple of years. Have owned a few Colts from the '80s and '90s. Also own a SA Range Officer. IME the Rugers are a good choice in their price range, especially if you prefer Series 70 style lockwork.

January 6, 2018, 08:23 AM	#24
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	Hard to go wrong with a Springfield. I have a TRP and a Mil-Spec. Both are excellent guns. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

January 6, 2018, 10:12 AM	#25
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,716	IMO its hard to go wrong with a Springfield or a Colt. Both tend to be a step up from Ruger or Kimber in my experience. __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.