And for $1200, Colt, Springield or STI would be above Kimber for me. Dan Wesson as well, if you could find one with the options you want in that range.

Kimbers are good, but not $1200 good for me.

[This message has been edited by schmellba99 (edited 1/9/2012 4:11p).]

I have that model in the Ultra (or whatever the 3" version is called). I like it and have had no problems with it. It's a sharp looking pistol and is more accurate than I am. Some complain about the alloy frame but I have not experienced any problems with mine.

FWIW, my BIL just sold his STI because it was a bit finicky with ammo/magazines.

He now just carries his nighthawk full time.

There are alot of good 1911's under $700. Ruger, Remington, Springfield, they are all good guns. I think the Rock Island for the money is the best deal. They are pretty tight guns, but remember to get the one with the Novak sights so that you can upgrade to night sights later.

I personally carry a Kimber Covert II, but I really wish I had the Dan Wesson Bobtail. The Bobtail really does help if you want to carry it.

As for the 4" vs 5", if you are going to carry it get the 4". If you just want to shoot it get the 5". I have a Springfield TRP and a Nighthawk Talon both in 5" and I shoot them better than my 4", but I wouldn't want to carry one all day.

Man you gotta love how a good 1911 feels in you hand.

For entry levem/low cost, the American Classic II is a better overall firearm in my opinion. Much better finish and fit than the RIA for not much more in cost. Definitely worth the slight price increase for the huge quality increase.

I bought a Kimber back in 97 when they first came out. After breaking it in I found a quality pistolsmith (Ed Vandenberg) in Houston and had him add an ambi safety as well as replace some MIM parts. Over the years I have also had him do some checkering and a reliability job so it would have no problem digesting whatever I fed it. My last addition was a new back strap with a mag well. My point is that you might not know exactly what you wnat/need at this point in the game. I have already planned out what I am going to have Ed do to my dad's Springer when he no longer has an interest in shooting it and sends it my way. I can tell you from a carry perspective that there will be no mag well. From a maintenance perspective there will not be a full length guide rod.

Whatever you decide to get, practice with it if you are going to carry it as it's a whole lot different than carrying a XDM, M&P,glock, or any double action.

You used to be able to locate reputable pistolsmiths through the American Pistolsmith's Guild Website. I think Novak's is located in WV. Make sure that you buy a quality platform because some smiths are very picky about what platforms they will and won't work on.

DE CBOB and it is the tits

808 Ag - Vandenberg does fantastic work. You've probably taken your gun from a nice starter to a truely nice piece. Would love to see a picture!

I will have to take some pictures. Not a safe queen by any stretch. Many years of faithful service in the truck and on the lease. I am not much into aesthetics and look at a pistol as a tool. That said, Ed did a wonderful job on the fitting of the parts and the checkering. He took the time to show me the difference in feel between 20 and 30 LPI checkering. He stands behind his work and is all about customer satisfaction.

Schmellba,
Where do they sell the American Classic Ii. I haven't seen one yet, but they get rave reviews.

JWM02 - I bought mine at Academy of all places, but that was in Mission.

I know the consensus was that there were better bangs for the buck in the world of 1911s, but damn it... I fell in love.



I've wanted a 1911 for 20+ years and I decided I was damn well gonna get the one I wanted.

Yous guys did talk me into the 5" model, though.


[This message has been edited by AggieChemist (edited 1/12/2012 11:45a).]

Congrats, looking forward to the range report.

I love my CDP.....consensus of who? People who don't own Kimbers

I have two and they go click boom every time and look a damn sight better than most competitors in that price range. Great choice. You'll be very happy with it

The hardest part now will be parting with the current grips to put on some from our Texags supplier.

I haven't been able to do it myself yet, but have thought about letting him inlay some medallions into them.

Should have bought a set of the A&M ones when he had them.

A new set of grips from tx4guns is a must. It will make the pistol look completely new, and even more awesome.

quote:

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Another reason I personally prefer the sling shot method is that it is a gross motor skill as opposed to finding the slide stop with your finger, which is a fine motor skill. In the case of a gun fight, I'd prefer to not have to excitedly find the slide stop, and would opt instead for simply grasping the slide and sling shotting. It's just a personal preference but always remember, you'll end up doing what you practice if the shite ever hits the fan.

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So the fine motor skill that is acquiring a proper grip, deactivating the safeties, aligning the sights, pulling the trigger 7+ times, hitting the mag release, and inserting the non tapered single stack mag in the magwell was doable, but hitting that big old slide release with your thumb suddenly became too much?

I've jacked up trigger pulls, draws, fumbled reloads, but I have NEVER missed dropping the slide using the slide release, even with the tiny little stock glock release. Doesn't matter if I'm sweating, may hands are in gloves and so cold I can't feel them, or somewhere in between, I've never missed it.

Cdp question. Will yours cycle 230 grain speer gold dot hps?

How long should mags last before they get deformed preventing cycling? Bullets getting jambed into feed ramp instead of loading. Can't even drop the mag without pushing the bullet back into the mag some first.

Any easy fixes besides new mags? Or will that even cure it?

quote:

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So the fine motor skill that is acquiring a proper grip, deactivating the safeties, aligning the sights, pulling the trigger 7+ times, hitting the mag release, and inserting the non tapered single stack mag in the magwell was doable, but hitting that big old slide release with your thumb suddenly became too much?

I've jacked up trigger pulls, draws, fumbled reloads, but I have NEVER missed dropping the slide using the slide release, even with the tiny little stock glock release. Doesn't matter if I'm sweating, may hands are in gloves and so cold I can't feel them, or somewhere in between, I've never missed it.

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I'm really not trying to be an ass when I say this, but it's gonna sound that way...

Have you ever done those things in the middle of a gun fight?

I can hit my slide stop just fine on the range. That's not what I was referring to. If that wasn't apparent, I'm sorry for the miscommunication.

Grips, safeties, sighting mag drops and trigger pulls can all be muscle memory, an they can also be approximated. It's not always important that you have a perfect surprize trigger break or that you delicately place your finger on the thumb safety for disengagement. The trigger and thumb safeties can both be slapped, the mag well can have a mag funnel installed. The point is, releasing with the slide stop can cause galling and it is more difficult to do in a high stress situation.

No I haven't done it in a gun fight. Plenty of people who have recommend doing it this way, and it is a faster way to get back into the fight, so it's what I do.

In real fights/sparring/force on force training I've done exactly as trained. It's pressing down on something that's already under my thumb, not doing calculus in my head.