Which would you choose in a 45?

Im not a fan of S&W semis. Go with a Kimber or a Sig

 

One in five Kimber are defective and have to be sent back for repairs! Excellent 45 if you don't get that one in five! I bought three Springfield 1911's for the price of the Desert Warrior Kimber and have never been disappointed! Just a little info for you...

 

I've had four Kimbers without a single defect. Guess I can't go buy a fifth.

 

I would try and find a gun shop with a range where you can rent or try before buying. One of the most important factors is that you are comfortable with your choice (otherwise you won't want to use or carry it) and the most important factor is reliability. Go to the gun forums and do your research and then try and actually shoot the weapons you're considering. I personally would rather pay more for a quality piece and know it will go bang when I really, really need it to. All the different models mentioned in this thread are probably good reliable units. You can’t go wrong with a Smith, Glock, Sig, XD or any number of quality 1911’s but look for good customer service, availability of parts, accessories and holsters etc…. And try and find some place where you can actually try them out before you buy… I have 1911’s from Colt, Para Ordinance and Kimber as well as a couple of XD’s. Though I know many love their Kimbers I probably won’t purchase another due to my experience with the one I currently own and their customer service. I love my very reliable 14 shot .45 Para as well as my XD’s. My brother loves his M&P’s… Find what fits for you and don’t go cheap as your life may depend on it.

 

Went and held a Kimber again today, it was much more comfortable than I remember, this one had rubberized grips which the first one I held did not. They also had a Kimber custom II tactical which I liked alot also. But $800-$1100 is a hell of alot of dough to drop on a pistol. But they sure are smooth/slick right out of the box. Very nice guns, very tight tolerances. I like them alot.

They must have sold the M&P 45 I was looking at before, but looked at a couple of other M&P's since they are are pretty comparable/similar. They're pretty nice...

Unfortunately we only really have 3 gun ranges within 50 miles of here, and to my knowledge none rent or loan guns. I wish. The one range I currently shoot at is working on getting a local ffl so they can sell etc here.

 

I own many Kimbers....never had a problem. Wheres the facts of the 1 outta 5 is defective?

 

Found out that my uncle owns a Colt 1911, it isn't quite the same and I doubt it's in the greatest of shape, but I'm borrowing it anyways tomorrow and going to the range to see if I like the way they shoot/feel. I'm also going to take my dad's M&P 40 out to compare the two. It won't be quite the same as shooting a kimber and the M&P 45, but it should help me start to decide.

I went to scheel's a 2nd time today, and looked at a few more guns that were mentioned by you guys,

Springfield XD- Good feelin gun, I like the safety features and the accessories that it comes with. However, I don't feel that a Croatian made gun should cost the same or more than a good ole American made gun, this is purely on principle. I did like that it was a double stack mag though, and that it overall felt pretty good. I was turned off though by the fact that when I looked in the pre-owned area of the guns, over 20% of the hand guns were Springfield XD"s.

HK USP Tactical- I was shown this gun by the sale's rep actually, he really liked it. But $1200 for a gun that I personally felt was ugly and cheapy is ridiculous. I really did not like the feel of the thumb safety, it felt like it was going to snap off, also I did not like the feature where if you pull the safety down further, it releases the hammer to a safe position, this action didn't feel normal and safe, and seemed like more stuff to break. Not a fan; it just didn't look or feel right, and is a monstrosity.

I think I'm still stuck on a either the Kimber Custom II, Kimber Custom TLE/RL II, or the S&W M&P 45. The Kimbers are nearly identical except for the front strap is checkered on the TLE, it has a Picatinny rail, and it has night sights. I don't like the sights on the straight Custom II.

Here's a fresh question...

The Kimber Custom II I'm looking at... ~$800
http://www.kimberamerica.com/products/pistols/custom/custom_II/

And the Kimber Custom TLE/RL II I'm looking at... ~1100
http://www.kimberamerica.com/products/pistols/custom/custom_tle_rl_II/

Like I said before, the main differences are a checkered front strap, a picatinny rail, and tritium night sights on the TLE. Is this worth an additional $300? I know the sights alone are about $90.

Thanks again for all the help guys...

 

I own a custme II and its very nice. Love the way itz shoots and sits in my hand. But the hk. 45 is a nice gun to.. Sometimes i like to shoot both but for defense i like the hk better.. Just my two cents

 

I may have missed your primary use for the weapon. I bought a Kimber Classic Custom Target and put a Hogue grips on it 10 years ago and it has become one of my favorite handguns.....at the range. But when I'm wanting something for protection I prefer a double action firearm with a decocking lever and more capacity. Just never felt comfortable with the whole cocked and locked routine.

 

Unless your Uncle's Colt is a Gold Cup there probably won't be any similarities between it and a Kimber other than the basic shape and caliber.
In my opinion, the checkered front strap makes all the difference in how a 1911 feels.

 

I actually carry a Hk P30 9mm (looks identical to the 45) and I absolutely love that gun! its very nice looking and feels amazing. I dont care what size your hand is...its gonna fit cause you can change the grips out to 3 sizes.

 

Consider a H&K .45 Tactical. It will set you back 1K but you will never be sorry. I love mine and it will NEVER fail you. HK's are like Glocks, if the government puts them in the hands of our special forces, then I promise you they are a sturdy and rugged gun. Hell, we even shot mine under water one time. I think HK has the most options as well right down to a very easily adjustable trigger.

 

I really like my Taurus 1911 stainless

 

Sounds like you've got a good plan for comparing things, they should be similar enough that you'll get a decent idea of how each feels. As for the checkering and rail, if you have a choice I'd definitely go with the rail. It's better to have the option of a light or laser and not use it than to one day decide you wanted one and not be able to mount it.

 

I have a Kimber stainless steel target II and a Springfield XD-9. The Kimber is about $400 more than the XD but once you take them apart and clean them you will know where your extra $400 went to. The Kimber is a piece of work, extremely well built and quite a bit heavier than the XD naturally because the XD is polymer. The reason I bought the XD is it is cheaper to shoot than the Kimber. My .02 is I would want a .45 that is light and easy to carry. The Kimber would not be my choice to carry (just too heavy). I would carry the XD hands down.

 

The question was raised of what I was getting the gun for.

It will be used as a carry side arm while hunting etc, Likely won't be used concealed, hip/belt holster likely. Will see most action as a target shooting gun.

Went and picked up my uncle's colt 1911, got to the range but they were closed for a private shooting class. I'll have to go Tuesday to compare my dad's M&P 40 against my uncles 1911. It won't be a 100% accurate comparison of the two I'm actually wanting to buy, but it may help.

I just loaded the two up and compared the feel of them, the weight is actually pretty similar, but I think this is more due to the 40 being a double stack mag, and the 1911 is not so not really a viable comparison. Both feel really good in my hand, and I really am digging the 1911.

 

Hate to throw another variable into the mix, but if there's ANY chance you'll try for a CCW (I think it's a bit tougher in Nebraska than most other places) I'd look at the Kimber Pro series with a 4.25" barrel. I think you can still get a rail on it, and if it doesn't have factory checkering, you can always use skateboard tape secured by the grip panels. Accuracy is still up there, but it's easier to conceal and a touch lighter as well.

 

HK or Kimber.

 

I've pretty much decided on a kimber, just waiting to shoot the two guns to settle the decision. Going to go to my private dealer with 3 kimbers to price out for me, The Custom II, Custom TLE/RL II, and Custom TLE. I'm probably going going to throw in a 5" barrel M&P 40, and a 4.5" M&P 45 just to get ideas on pricing.

Told the GF I was going to buy a gun, she asked how much it was going to be, and I refrained from answering, so she said, "what? how much, like $200?" Sure babe, $200

 

Be careful!!! Back when I was married, I bought a 28 gauge over/under on the down low. I could drag that thing all over the house since she couldn't tell one gun from another. To make a long story short, about 3 weeks later she calls me at work mad as hell about me buying a new gun. "What are you talking about? I haven't bought any new guns!", I respond. She says "I'm looking at a reciept for $1725!!!" My brain was going crazy trying to figure how she found out! It turns out that the dealer I bought it from had mailed to my house a thank you note along with a copy of the reciept.

I still have that nice letter from him. I don't have that wife anymore!