Hi, Im back..havent been on in a while hows everyone doing? Im turning 21 soon and I want to by a .45 but am hung up on which maker. Kimber or Springfield. Kimbers makes theres out of a solid block, but i cant get any info on how springfield makes theirs, is it caste? Kimber offers 1 yr warranty while springfield offers lifetime, springfields triggers are factory set about a pound heavier but they offer higher grippability. Anyone have suggestions, comments, or experience with these two brands, I would be most appreciative to hear from you all thanks. Jon

-- Jonathan (Ghostman) (shadowspy_51@hotmail.com), October 07, 2002

Answers

Hay you should look at the Springfield real close I owm 2 and love them and they are as accurate and dependable as the kimber. But if your not shure what you want look at some of the lower end models. Charles Daly and Para.

-- Arnold Criss (arny999@comcast.net), April 14, 2004.

Hay you should look at the Springfield real close I owm 2 and love them and they are as accurate and dependable as the kimber. But if your not shure what you want look at some of the lower end models. Charles Daly and Para.

-- Arnold Criss (arny999@comcast.net), April 14, 2004.

Why not look into something other than a 1911? I had a chance to fire all kinds of pistols at the range not too long ago. I wasn't too impressed with the 1911's I fired (STi's and Colt's). I'm more of a fan of the USP45 or the P220. Just a thought, good luck in your decision.

-- Brad Kelsey (CF_18_Hornet_29@hotmail.com), February 15, 2004.

I have a colt gold cup. Love the gun. I've shot probaly 5000 rounds through it. I bought it used. Still accurate and never missfires. I'll support colt on this one. Its a good gun. Thats my view. I have a cheap llama I worked over and now its a great gun. It's my car gun. Really, just feel the gun and see what fits you. Even though they are all the same design, check em out individual. Don't buy unless you can physically play with it. Personally I'm looking into getting a heckler and Koch for my next gun. I'm really impressed not with the price however. Good luck

-- Paul Hamlett (freezero@turbonet.com), February 09, 2004.

I just purchased a kimber compact 11. Before I ever shot it I field spriped it to clean out the oil in the barrel. When I put it back together the recoil spring would not release.I took the recoil spring out and layed it on the floor with the recoil release tool out of theguide rod and it didn't release until I touched it.When I put it back together it did release in the slide this time.But I dod not trust it.I called Kimber to see if they would send me another spring assembly it might cost them 15.00 they told me to use a dremel tool on it.That would cost me more than the parts.They are going to send me a spring plug after 2 phone call that cost more than that 1 part.Kimber does not stand behind there product. They went bankrupt once if they keep this up they will be there again.

-- rick capel (wwiirick@aol.com), January 27, 2004.

I have owned several kimbers and have been very pleased with them. I did get one lemon once. The slide was not properly fitted to the frame. Check the function on the weapon before you buy . Also, With any 1911 style pistol USE WILSON COMBAT 8 ROUND MAGAZINES. They are the absolute best out there and Wilsons customer service is second to none. Chip McCormick Mags are probably second best. I have owned some 1911's that where finicky and the Wilson mags made them act right. Good Luck.

-- Mark (markzatzkin@msn.com), December 03, 2003.

I have a 1911 A-1 sprinfield .45 and It is the best gun I have ever owned. I have shot colts and wasnt to impressed with them. They werent as accurate as my springfield. P.S. I traded a glock 19 for my .45

-- Eric Palculict (Empalculict2000@yahoo.com), September 23, 2003.

I purchased a gold match on Feb 12 of 03. The gun shoots fantastic and never jams. The one problem I am currently having is that it exibits bulging to the slide stop notch, the dissasmbly notch and the safey notch areas. Like someone is pingining it. I am now sending it back to find out the what they can do. Total rounds since new ...1200

-- Ed P (ephillips@earthlink.net), April 28, 2003.

I just bought a kimber custom II and after i shot it for the first time just 3 days after i bought it i found out that it was machined wrong. The slide rails werent up to the required specs. there was excessive wear and the great deal of friction caused the slide rails to chip. Im in the process of dealing with kimber, but make sure that before you buy it that it functions properly. Also, if it stovepipes a lot, feeds unsmooth, or the slide doesnt slide off when field striping it to clean it take it back or call the store you bought it from. It cost 35 bucks to send a gun overnight (UPS), thats the only way they will ship it, which you shouldnt have to pay, argue for the store or the compay who makes your gun pays or throws in a clip.

-- john (johnsr71@aol.com), March 16, 2003.

I had a Springfield Mil-spec model 1911A1, but had to send it back to Springfield because it wasn't that reliable. About ten months later, when the damn thing finally came back to me, It still wasn't reliable. Needless to say I got rig of it in a hurry. I have a Springfield 1911A1 parkerized "loaded" pistol with eight round Wilson Combat mags, and it shoots like a wet dream. I had a Kahr made Auto-Ordnance 1911, and it was crap. The damn front sight flew off the first time I went out shooting with it. It's a good thing the front sight wasn't big enough to see anyway, or I might have cried. I also have a good old Colt 1991A1, and it is my favorite for any type of field use. That sucker is reliable. I'd go with the Colt, It would be cheaper and you could add on extras as you like, but mine works just wonderfully out of the box, and I can't think of anything that would make it any better for what it was originally designed to do.

-- Handout (fredjarvin@hotmail.com), December 15, 2002.

never had that many problems with any brand fireams,i have over 1000 rds through the kimber .45 with no problems,and twice that many rds through the kimber .38 super with only 1 malfunction and that was my fault(didnt lock mag all the way in), a lot of feed problems come from the ammo,or a bad mag,with out seeing it, wont even guess byond that,could be a extactor though, anyway still have a colt 9x23 that shoots great(has had $$$ spent getting it where i want it)nothing wrong with colts,or springfeilds or kimbers a bad one of anything turns out now and then just part of mass production,thats why gunsmiths are your best friend,bobby

-- bobby (bobbydickey@hotmail.com), December 09, 2002.

I have shot the Colt products for over 40 years and have not had much of anything to complain about. I had two Kimbers, one a Gold Match and the other a Stainless Gold Match. Both had feed and function problems. Yes they were accurate when they worked, I repeat "WHEN THEY WORKED". A small point to be sure however when I feel it necessary to take the first shot I do not like to wind up with a single shot pistol. Two of my friends encountered similar problems with the Kimbers as well. The customer service is very good. The guns were promptly worked on and returned. The blued model jammed far less often than it did previously. The stainless was another matter. the first round fired flawlessly. The second through eighth round fired flawlessly as well. Unfortunately they all fired consecutively with no further operator input. I was lucky that I was using a two hand hold at the time. I had two immediate offers to buy it on the spot and one other wanted me to modify his.

I have no opinion on Springfields as I have not owned one. I have fired one and it did not like PMC 230 hardball. I took all of the misfired rounds and put them in my Colt and they fired just fine.

I have not had a feed or fire problem with any of my Colts. You can get a standard model from $500. It will get you in the game. Get a couple of Chip McCormick 8 shot clips or some of the bigger ten shot units and have fun with it. A tune up which will tighten the slide should not cost more than a few bucks from a local gunsmith as they are hard to screw up. You can get a drop in Barstow barrel or the like for around $100 if you want to improve the accuracy. Or best of all get a new Gold Cup for around $800 on GunsAmerica and you will have all the accuracy you want as you get good with it. In my case I have had some of the $3,000 customs on a standard Colt and the box stock units. My preference is the box stock Gold Cup as it is an all around excellent performer. After all consider that they do hold the franchise on this guy. Even Smith and Wesson finally released their 945 which perhaps includes the sophistication that they should have come out with years ago. It may be the only gun that I would pick over the Colt someday. Just the rambling thoughts of an old guy with some experience. JP

-- John Paver (japaver@attbi.com), October 29, 2002.

you might try the springfeild mill-spec a good basic pistol,bobby

-- bobby(yote assassin) (bobbydickey@hotmail .com), October 16, 2002.

Just a high quality stock pistol that i might want to carry and also compete with, I probably wouldnt mind hefting around a full size which is what I want, just wanted a multipurpose gun in 1911 style .45 call..not a race gun or even really customized just a good shooter.

-- Jonathan (Ghostman) (shadowspy_51@hotmail.com), October 14, 2002.

i have a kimber and did have but traded a springfield,.45, the kimber is a better finished pistol and has a lot of the extra's i usaly add to a 1911 style pistol,they do cost more but i feel they are a better deal overall,springfeilds are not a bad pistol i still have a 11 style 9mm target, and it is a very fine pistol,it kinda depends on what you expect from it and what you can afford,i have had colt's and a cutom built 1911,and for the money i like the kimber custom eclipse 2,bobby

-- bobby (bobbydickey@hotmail.com), October 09, 2002.