awp101
.401 Bobcat
TANSTAAFL
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Post by awp101 on Jan 1, 2017 16:16:25 GMT -5
Spent some time at a show yesterday and being on a bit of a 1911 kick I found myself keeping an eye out for deals. I was surprised for find new Colt's in the $800-900 range, mainly Commander sized. Have they come down or is that the going rate? I thought Colt's started higher than that? I saw a bunch of Kimbers, new and used. The problem is, I've read so much over the years about "good Kimbers" and "bad Kimbers" relating to quality control (IIRC that was the issue) that I don't know which ones to look for, which ones to avoid and which ones to look at if the price is right knowing I'll have to put a bit of time and money into it. Thanks!  |
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cmh
.401 Bobcat
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Post by cmh on Jan 1, 2017 16:31:40 GMT -5
Ive handled the new Colts perhaps a dozen plus and the slide to frame fitup is a wallered out joke!!!!Ive owned four Kimbers and they were excellant out of the box. Not competition ready by any means but Ill buy a Kimber before Id take a free Colt...... although if I had the $$$ and could come across a nice original 70 series Colt.... Id snatch it up 😉
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paulg
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,420
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Post by paulg on Jan 1, 2017 17:13:41 GMT -5
Skip both and go with Springfield or Ruger in that price range. Colt has had to drop prices to stay competitive with all the other umpteen hundred 1911 producers.
Edited to add that Axe might be along at some point. He is a deep well of info on the 1911.
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Post by sixshot on Jan 1, 2017 19:23:16 GMT -5
I know that Kimber just about put Colt out of business several years ago. Don't know about anyone else's experience with Kimber's but I've owned 4 of them & all have ran perfect, one was a Match Target in 40 caliber when I first got into USPSA & I ran a lot of ammo down that barrel before switching over to revolvers. I gave a Kimber 45 to my youngest son & after my oldest son "tweaked" it a bit he shot it all over the country & beat many, many Grand Masters with it in limited 10 competition. He never had a chance to go to Nationals but several Grand Masters told him he would be top "16" if he ever decided to go, that gun ran perfect in every way. I did hear some people having trouble with them, we never did.
I have a special Ruger 1911 & it shoots great, haven't ran a lot of rounds down the barrel but it's never gave me a burp and it has sent a lot of ground squirrels to the ER.
Dick
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Post by contender on Jan 1, 2017 20:15:16 GMT -5
I own a couple of Springfields, a couple of Kimbers, and a couple of Rugers. I do not own a Colt & haven't in MANY years. Older Series 70 guns are nice & command higher prices.
I shoot USPSA like Dick & have used all 3 of mine for that.
My first Kimber,,, a lot of problems right out of the box. First range session, the hammer followed the slide. Back to them it went. They repaired it, and made notes on the paperwork that I should pay because the hammer & sear appeared to have been fooled with. Pizzed me off. Then, as it was working, I found the fixed sights shot 10" low, & 4" left. Another call to them, and they replaced the barrel & bushing. Same problem. I asked them to authorize & pay for a set of adjustables to be installed by my smith, & they refused. I paid for that myself & it started shooting top point of aim. After about 300 rounds,,, hammer followed the slide again. I installed a match set of Brazos Custom hammer & sear,, and I now have over 40,000 rounds fired w/o problems.
Several others who have bought Kimbers have never had a single issue. I heard that they had a bad batch of metal parts & mine just happened to be one of "those."
My second Kimber is a Ultra Compact II. I won it at a NRA event. No problems,, nary a hick-up in over 1000 rounds so far.
But if I were shopping for another one,, Ruger or Springfield would get my $$$.
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Post by zeus on Jan 1, 2017 22:21:29 GMT -5
I avoid all Kimbers personally. LOTS of issues years ago when we sold them and the guy that ran the "custom" shop always blamed it on customers. They were brand new guns some brought back same day as purchase. We quit carrying them back then and to this day I bet the guys that work there now don't know why. Hahaha. Just swore to him back then I would never own another one and for 20 years, I have kept my promise  |
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450ak
.30 Stingray
Posts: 458
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Post by 450ak on Jan 1, 2017 22:21:58 GMT -5
Was shooting my colt 38 super today. It's stock except for sights, just a plan government model. Ended with three shots just over an inch two handed at 25 yards. A 125 cast hollow point noe bullet at 1420.
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Post by nolongcolt on Jan 1, 2017 22:36:11 GMT -5
I too have a .38 Super Colt, an earlier so called Enhanced model but man its a shooter. Has never failed to perform. I also had but sold a very nicely made Colt SS Commander .45, nothing at all wrong with it but I got an STI Commander and the Colt helped pay for it.
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awp101
.401 Bobcat
TANSTAAFL
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Post by awp101 on Jan 1, 2017 23:00:12 GMT -5
Good info to have, thanks! cmh, I didn't handle any but I did wonder what was changing to bring the price down. I didn't know if it was in the fit and finish or dropping $50 off the premium for each letter (C-O-L-T). I guess the premium is still there... 450ak, how old is your Colt? A Super is on The List and I'd like for it to be an older Colt. I think a Commander Super would be pretty sweet as well but I don't know if they were ever produced by the factory or not. 2 Kimber issues to 1, that just doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling. I actually have a shiny, gently used Commander size Ruger on layawake as a treat to myself. 02JAN makes a full year that I've been off nicotine in any and all forms. Might pay it out this week and if it shoots as good as it looks, I might get with lscg for some pretty wood. BTW, I channeled my inner paulg at one of the tables. The boys went with me to the show and one asked which 1911 to look at for under $1000 and I gave him sort of the run down of the thread about that. Then the guy next to me asks, which one if money is no object? "Money is no object? Cabot or Republic Forge probably." I got the "Huh?" look and said "They start at $4K and you said money was no object." He kind of squirmed and asked how about real world money under $1500? LOL! |
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JM
.375 Atomic
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Post by JM on Jan 1, 2017 23:33:54 GMT -5
Which ones have MIM internals?
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paulg
.375 Atomic
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Post by paulg on Jan 2, 2017 6:40:24 GMT -5
Good info to have, thanks! cmh, I didn't handle any but I did wonder what was changing to bring the price down. I didn't know if it was in the fit and finish or dropping $50 off the premium for each letter (C-O-L-T). I guess the premium is still there... 450ak, how old is your Colt? A Super is on The List and I'd like for it to be an older Colt. I think a Commander Super would be pretty sweet as well but I don't know if they were ever produced by the factory or not. 2 Kimber issues to 1, that just doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling. I actually have a shiny, gently used Commander size Ruger on layawake as a treat to myself. 02JAN makes a full year that I've been off nicotine in any and all forms. Might pay it out this week and if it shoots as good as it looks, I might get with lscg for some pretty wood. BTW, I channeled my inner paulg at one of the tables. The boys went with me to the show and one asked which 1911 to look at for under $1000 and I gave him sort of the run down of the thread about that. Then the guy next to me asks, which one if money is no object? "Money is no object? Cabot or Republic Forge probably." I got the "Huh?" look and said "They start at $4K and you said money was no object." He kind of squirmed and asked how about real world money under $1500? LOL! Lol! $4,000.00 is real world money to me as the cost of that Cabot will come at a real world 8-9 month "layawake" as you so appropriately word it. Could put it on a credit card but I never use credit cards to meet my instant gratification urges. By the way, congratulations on the nicotine kick to the curb. That's a damn fine accomplishment and is certainly something worth rewarding! |
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paulg
.375 Atomic
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Post by paulg on Jan 2, 2017 6:44:09 GMT -5
Which ones have MIM internals? Just about all new production 1911's in this price range have mim parts. I was surprised to learn that my 2013 year production Browning Hi Power contained mim parts. Of course it doesn't now. I fixed that real quick like. |
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Post by mk70ss on Jan 2, 2017 13:25:58 GMT -5
I own three Kimber 1911's and the new K6s revolver. All have been stellar with zero issues.
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450ak
.30 Stingray
Posts: 458
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Post by 450ak on Jan 3, 2017 9:36:39 GMT -5
My colt super is recent production. Might want to wait until shot show and see what colt announces. 38 super with starline plus P brass is fantastic. I'm looking for a cco lightweight in super now, probably fusion freedom series or convert a Colt 9mm. We did shoot a few Russian 9mm from a super, worked just fine.
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hawg
.30 Stingray
Posts: 120 
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Post by hawg on Jan 5, 2017 13:53:42 GMT -5
I have a Kimber TLE2 and it has a nice trigger, but it can be finicky with certain magazines. I have a Colt XSE that has been 100% reliable out of the box - the trigger is not quite as nice (same with my Dad and his XSE). The Kimber probably has more features for the dollar, but the Colt is more reliable in my case. I love the 1911 platform, but I've never learned to shoot one with any competence. Having said that, I sure would like to have a used Les Baer.
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