Springfield VS Kimber

[RAM4171]

I just might be purchasing a lightweight commander size 1911 this winter. I have a Colt Officer's in stailnless which gave me the 1911 bug. Is Kimber realy worht the money that they ask and is Springfield the same level of quality as Kimber. I'm just looking for opinions on what ya'll think is the most bang for the buck.

[KinnyLee]

Sub $1000 wise, you can't beat Kimber's quality. Fit and finish is better than Springfield. However, when it's $1000 and up the Springfield quality picks up and I believe is on par if not better than Kimber. Kimber also has the the Series II Schwartz safety which is a FPS, and I am not a big fan of them (SIS and Warrior does not have them). Springfield has the ILS on their MSH which does not bother me as much and they are easy to replace if you want to get rid of them entirely.

[The Annoyed Man]

I have one of each brand, but they are not comparable models, so it is a little difficult to quantify, but here goes...

My Kimber Ultra (stainless) is definitely better put together than my 5" Springfield Loaded. And beyond that, my Springfield is basically just a tarted up Government model with some upgrades.

The Springfield is full sized, with a parkerized finish. It has a steel frame and it weighs a lot (40 oz with an empty magazine). It is a 1911A1 - meaning no FPS - using a titanium firing pin and a heavier firing pin spring to prevent the mass of the pin from overcoming the inertia of the spring if the gun is dropped. It has night sights, a beveled magwell, ambidextrous thumb safety with extended levers, and an slightly extended slide release. Other upgrades include a skeletonized commander style hammer, beavertail grip safety with a prominent "memory bump," skeletonized adjustable lightweight trigger, deeply cut slide serrations front and rear, stainless barrel with a loaded chamber indicator cut into the barrel hood, lowered and flaired ejection port, and a 2 piece full-length guide rod. (There is some debate in the 1911 world about the use of full-length guide rods, and the merit of the Springfield 2-piece unit in particular. I have never personally experienced any difficulties with mine, other than that of requiring a tool to take the pistol down for cleaning; but there is no doubt that, unless you carry that size of allen wrench on your person, this pistol cannot be easily field-stripped and cleaned in the field.) Springfield claims a "carry bevel treatment" for this pistol, but I see no evidence of it. The corners and edges are no more bevelled than they are on my old 1943 GI issue Ithaca my dad carried in WW2. It is definitely a coarser example of the 1911 genre, compared to my Kimber.

My Kimber raises the bar, compared to my Springfield in most things. It has all the good stuff on it, but it also is better put together. It is tighter, and the quality of manufacture is more apparent. A word about FPS.... Personally, I am not someone who has a problem with 1911A1 style firing pin systems. I am comfortable with cocked and locked carry, and I know not to drop my pistol. My Kimber does have the Schwartz FPS, and I am happy to have an extra margine of safety, but it isn't something I worry about. That said, I confess that I cannot tell the difference in trigger feel between one that has such a device, and one that does not when I'm actually shooting the guns. The differences only become apparent to me during (careful) dry-firing. Both my Kimber and my Springfield have clean, crisp, and light trigger letoffs. Just going by my seat of the pants, the Springfield's trigger is a tad heavier, and it breaks like a glass rod; whereas the Kimber's trigger feels a little bit lighter, but just a tad more indistinct when it breaks. Measured on my RCBS Trigger Tension Scale, they both come in at 4.5-5.0 lbs. That difference in feel may be the difference between an "A1" trigger, and one with an FPS; but like I said, when you're actually shooting, I don't think most people can tell the difference.

If I were looking at a new $1,000+ priced 1911 I would give the Springfields a long hard look, but the gun I already had my eye on for a long time (but can't afford right now) is a Kimber Pro CDP.

[CC Italian]

Do not own either but I have shot both. Kimber is higher quality IMO. I personally liked the Rock Island Armory I shot better then my buddies Springfield but that’s just me.

[G.A. Heath]

I Own a few Kimbers have shot a number of Springfield 1911's, own a few other Springfield products, and a a little bit of 1911 experience. In my experience the fit and finish on the Kimbers is better, features per dollar I would give it to Springfield, accuracy wise they both shoot better than I do, in the end it comes down to how much you want to spend and if pretty is worth the extra $$$. I will also point out that regardless of what you choose there is a chance you can get a lemon, but both manufacturers will make it right if you do.

[gigag04]

I am on my second Kimber owned....

I would go SA due to the company's reputation of service. Kimbers are pretty....BUT...I don't think super tight, break in needed, pistols are the *best* answer for a self defense pistol. That's just my opinion and I know I'm in the minority here, but I just don't drink the Kimber Kool-Aid anymore....I used to.

When it comes down to needing a gun to bang, you won't care how snug the pieces fit, what color the slide is, or what name is etched on the side...only that it goes bang in the direction you need it to.

[RPBrown]

I am on my second Kimber owned....

I would go SA due to the company's reputation of service. Kimbers are pretty....BUT...I don't think super tight, break in needed, pistols are the *best* answer for a self defense pistol. That's just my opinion and I know I'm in the minority here, but I just don't drink the Kimber Kool-Aid anymore....I used to.

When it comes down to needing a gun to bang, you won't care how snug the pieces fit, what color the slide is, or what name is etched on the side...only that it goes bang in the direction you need it to.

I agree with Gig

I have had 2 Kimbers and had problems with both. Customer service was terrible. I traded both in, one for a SA and one for a Colt. I will not own another Kimber

[SpringerFan]

Mmmm.......Springfield TRP stainless model........daydream..........drool...........Huh? What was the question? Sorry, blacked out there for a minute.

[flechero]

You will find people who have had "lemons" in either brand. (and every other brand - note Colt's mixed reputation in 1911 quality lately) I've also seen many threads on the various forums both touting and blasting customer service for either company. It's the internet and you will hear the best and worst of things. I missed the study that showed springfield going "bang" more often than Kimber though- for those concerns, carry a revolver. ...lol

I have owned both, currently only have Kimbers (Ultra CPDII and SS TLE II) but actually thinking about trading the TLE for a springer. I think that they are pretty comparable in like price ranges... it comes down to more of a ford/chevy style debate than an actual quality difference, IMO. The Kimbers usually feel tighter but that doesn't make them better or worse. The flip side- Kimber got a bad rap for MIM parts, but that's about as relavent as the pinned vs. bolted on door hinges in the ford/chevy debate. Some like Kimber and some like Springer- try not to let others influence you too much... because you are the one buying and shooting it.

The bottom line is to find a pistol that has the features you like and is pleasing to your eye and commit to becoming proficient with it. If you experience an issue, fix it or replace it. Anything mechanical can malfunction.

Good luck!

[CompVest]

You could consider an STI. They are Texas made and an excellent 1911. They have the pretty and the performance.

[Oldgringo]

You could consider an STI. They are Texas made and an excellent 1911. They have the pretty and the performance.

Are Kimbers really made in New York City?

Isn't there some guy named Bloomberg, or something like that, the mayor of New York City?

[MoJo]

You could consider an STI. They are Texas made and an excellent 1911. They have the pretty and the performance.

STI builds a great gun.

[LarryH]

You could consider an STI. They are Texas made and an excellent 1911. They have the pretty and the performance.

Are Kimbers really made in New York City?

Isn't there some guy named Bloomberg, or something like that, the mayor of New York City?

Yonkers

[G.A. Heath]

And for a little perspective, isn't Springfield Armory based out of Illinois?

[JDRFL1]

I have been wanting to try the STI, however, from what I have seen the prices aren't that much less than a Kimber.