I had several Beretta M9's that I carried for my entire Naval service, including a dance in the desert and never failed me either. Never used it, but it never failed me!
Been carrying 1911’s for 30 years. My current is Dan Wesson Guardian and CBOB. The last two CCW classes my “Glock guy” instructor gave me a hard time at first until I was the only one who had zero malfunctions in 300-350 rounds during the class. For the money, you can’t beat DW 1911’s.
@@randalroe1929 Psst. It's called "fantasizing or bullshitting on the internet with people that can never confirm or disprove your statements". Gun video comment sections are packed with delusions of grandeur.
@@DrFrogglePhD Bullshitters i think ive seen those guys most of them wear a crown on their head with their Glock Perfection T shirt there was a guy who worked at Marksman Gun Range in Houston he told me ha has fired 20,000 rds thru his Glock an never cleaned it! And from his appearence he never showered in all that time either
I've never had an issue with my kimber custom and it's way easier to stay on target when on the move than my 9mm. The way it shoots is why my 1911 is my go to carry. I do not like having to carry 3 extra magazines though, but I will and do.
@the Graf No one cares that you know dudes who have "been there, done that". My dad owns a Kimber Micro 9 that is absolutely God awful to shoot and it shows since he's shot once and owned it for a few years now. He's never had a problem with it but he also hasn't shot it much. I've seen Kimbers die quite a bit at the range I frequent.
@@tbizzy3606 I used to own a kimber, key word is used to. If I treated it solely as a range gun with the right ammo, slow fire that sort of thing it ran fine. But under stress, high count classes I have seen way to many Kimbers go down, and go down hard!
@Oliver Pong My friend's Rock Island performs way better than his brother's high end Kimber. So I'm going off of that. Personally I'll stick with my Sig P226.
@Oliver Pong Is it worth 1000? 2000? Your hypothetical question is irrelevant. If it works, if it runs, if it is reliable...these are the only relevant questions.
I'm gonna have to agree with u. Trust me when I tell u I bashed ria for years cause they were made overseas n I just figured since they were so inexpensive they had to be junk. I bought one just for the hell of it n I gotta say I was very wrong. It's my carry gun now. I smile n shake my head Everytime I see or hear people bashing em like I used to. At this point I now see those people as rookies. U don't always get wat u pay for. The price tag or the name on the side of the slide or the "rep" has very little to do with a guns reliability. Want proof? Type in "Glock problems" here on RUclips.
@@toddbray8756 Compared to a Rock Island and you paid an excess of $1200+ yes they are. Not that we're talking, say, a Les Baer 1911. Which is way overpriced. Sig P226 all day for me.
Me too. Maybe I got lucky? I think there has to be truth behind Kimbers not running, I just haven’t experienced those problems with mine. I didn’t like the stock magazine, I use Wilson Combat and haven’t had any problems.
I carry a 1911 because that’s what I qualified with in the Marine Corps. I am more accurate with it than any other pistol I tried. I am completely comfortable with it’s action and safety protocol. However, I would never recommend it to a newcomer. They should train with newer and safer designs.
In the army, I first learn pistol firing with the 1911. The trigger was great. The balance was great and I could shoot the wings off mosquitoes. THEN.....they switch us to the 9mm Barrettas and my accuracy became mediocre...
I carried my S&W performance center 1911 for 8 years. Full size, 45, shot idpa with it. Great gun!! That and my Volkmann, awesome quality, great reliability
yeah over a thousand rounds through my S&W 1911 - every once and a while an issue with off brand ammo- but no consistent problems. never shot a kimber, have an old 70 series- had serious ramp issues with that one. everyone has opinions- but the single stack one is off the table with the glock single's out now.
Funny how my Kimbers run as good as my wilson. Now keep in my mind I tune all my 1911 pistols and use them in uspsa single stack to make sure they run in defensive situations. Kimber ll models yeah I'm not a fan of any 1911 with a series 80 ignition system. It's uneeded and defeats point of Brownings design. Also I was carrying 2011 before they became cool with that models inception going back to the uspsa competition world. Even some cheaper 1911 tisas,rock island can run out of the box. If you need to buy a cheaper one put a dew thousand through it and get intimate with tuning the 1911.
Hey John. The one thing I would add to your presentation is that a 1911, is a great defensive firearm, but using it, and maintaining it properly, is for someone that has trained with it for a long time. Drawing in condition one and training yourself in the use of the manual safety, for firing should become second nature if done so while training. Engaging the safety too. Professional training will produce professional results. You mentioned malfunctions with students, with Kimber 1911s. I agree with your assessment of Kimbers, but they can be very good. The 1911 is one of the most historical handgun in U.S. history. Many young, inexperienced student (or any age) buy a 1911 and don't know how to use them, or lube them properly. These folks sign up for the defensive classes you spoke of. If you put in the proper training for a long time, a 1911 can be a very efficient defensive side arm. If I were a novice, I would seek out 1911 training schools, like Clint Smith's Thunder ranch, or Tiger McKee's Shootrite school. I am sure there are many others. The top end custom 1911s you mentioned, I agree with you on. Personally, think a well made semi custom 1911 hand fitted, like a Dan Wesson Guardian is less expensive, and you have to pay extra for extra engraving. The unnecessary cosmetics, too.
Carrying a 1911 is like driving a 67 Camaro. Cool, maybe not as capable as you'd like to remember, and takes a lot of maintenance compared to modern models!
So you never addressed “you’re probably carrying the wrong one; for the wrong reason; and probably won’t do what you think it will.” Unless you meant if you’re carrying a Kimber you are carrying the wrong one. Ok but what is the wrong reason and what does it not do that I think it will?
Because 1911s kimbers included are giant piles of shit for a carry gun. Carrying it cocked and locked with safety on is not safe. And cocking the hammer as I draw? No thanks.
@@camerongover8459 not just kimber, any 1911 also is the same carry style, cock and lock.. what he means kimber is unreliable, feeding issue.. mine kimber custom also had that same issue, sold it to a 10mm dan wesson.. cock and lock is more safe than any glock.. uncock carry on any 1911 is more dangerous if accidentally drop the gun it will go off.
I think it worth mentioning, ammunition selection plays a large role in how well these guns run. The feed ramps, by original design, are for ball ammo. A well polished feed ramp can make a major difference with other types of projectiles, especially hollow points.
My Colts and Springfields run just fine. With the exception of the wear from several thousand rounds, each are as they came out of the box from the factory. I carry all of them with confidence. I am curious as to why every 1911 hater feels the need to express their hatred so vehemently. If you are happy with your choice of pistol, then be happy and enjoy your short time here. It will be over much sooner than you think.
OK, so several thousand rounds. But how many thousand round weekend courses you taken them through? I get why he doesn’t like some particular guns. You see enough of one thing puke and it’s hard to like it. I’ve heard similar sentiment from other trainers, as well, so it’s just just the “gospel according to John Correia”.
@@SkunkCreekRanch There is only one manufacturer of Glock pistols. One HK, one Smith & Wesson, one Ruger, etc. There are at least 10 manufacturers producing 1911 pattern pistols, excluding the Boutique makers. They all produce pistols of greatly divergent quality. So to find fault with a 1911 by one and claim that all 1911s are inferior is dishonest. And have you ever wondered why there are so many companies making a 100 + year old pistol? ETA: I have taken one pistol course with my Colts.
The reason people are vocal against 1911s is that they're answering people who are just starting their firearm journey and don't need the extra hassle of a 1911. It's like giving your wife an old car with points and a manual choke instead of something new with fuel injection. I've owned a few 1911s, from $1,100-$2,800, and they've all been picky and needed some sort of love. Either spring changes, extractor adjustment, slide catch modification for some hollow points, a break in period, and definitely more maintenance. My Glocks just run, no matter what. Point being, if you're asking for advice in the handgun world, a 1911 isn't for you.
John, I understand what you're saying. My own personal experience is with my RIA 1911A1 cost me $450 new in the box. Initially, I had feed problems. The problem was the mags. I bought Wilson Combat mags and never had another problem. I carry my 1911 because I trust it and it is the most comfortable pistol I have ever fired.
Everyone needs a 1911 if for no other reason, historical purposes. I’ve owned lots of 1911’s, never a bad one. Colt, Kimber, Springfield, even Auto Ordnance and Norinco. I currently own two, a Springfield TRP and an EMP4 in 9mm. They are by far my favorite guns on the range. The first 1911 I bought was an Auto Ordnance while I was in college (It’s all I could afford as a poor college kid - I’m 52 so that was a minute ago). I began customizing it myself (grips, beaver tail, hammer, trigger, mainspring). I learned everything I could about how it worked. Eventually I bought a Sig P220 and it was just as accurate as the Sig. If you love guns and don’t mind the maintenance, a quality 1911 in certain configurations can make a great carry gun. However, they are not my go to carry gun, but if I lived in a state that limited magazine capacity, I would go with the Springfield EMP4 in 9mm. Quality magazines are the key to running a 1911 regardless of the maker. Wilson Combat are my go to mags.
Active Self Protection Extra Sure, why not? Although the guns you mention certainly have historical significance and people should own them for historical reasons or any reason for that matter because of 2A, they don’t have the same history as the 1911...two world wars, Korea, Vietnam...standard issue from 1911 - 1986 and used in Desert Storm and even in service today. I don’t think there is any handgun that comes close to the historicity of the 1911. But it shouldn’t be everyone’s carry gun.
You kind of glossed over the Colts. You make it sound like the only ones out there are collector items. There are plenty of Model 70 Colt Commanders and full-size that make great carry guns and entirely reliable. They can be found from $800-$1200. I use one to hunt with and one to carry. Accuracy? You bet. Like I said I hunt with one of mine. Colt experience? I averaged 3000 rds a week for a few years. I'm not experienced with the later Kimbers, but the early one's after Chip McCormick got involved were pretty good.
@Dan Breejen probably had a stiff recoil spring to prevent battering aluminum frame to avoid warrenty issues. Maybe shitty feed ramp but i would guess that's why you had that issue
That was only the 45 ammo. I also shot a lot of 22. This was all for Bullseye competition. You had to be able to keep all 10 shots inside 3" or so at 50 yds. One-handed. I get a chuckle every time John makes a comment about someone shooting another at 25 yds and how rare and fantastic it was. We had to keep 5 shots inside 2" at 25 yds in under 10 sec. Usually, it was done in 6-7 sec. All one-handed. I've shot running rabbits, javelina, and warthog further than that.
1911's are an interesting breed. They require more care and attention than a polymer pistol, but typically offer superior ergonomics and triggers. As for the safety, that's a training issue. If a person wants to carry a 1911 they require a higher level of proficiency, which usually makes them a poor choice for many shooters.
Most shooters want to stay mediocre and carry a Glock. And that’s ok carry something for protection is better then nothing. But if you see someone carrying a 1911 just know they might know their shit and could probably out shoot you. Just because it requires a higher skill level to operate.
The key with training on a single action only, manual safety gun, like a 1911, is MUSCLE MEMORY. This is not true just in shooting, but in any physical skill. If you're going to carry a 1911 style handgun, you need to train tactically on 1911 only (this doesn't mean don't shoot or own other gun types, but don't train tactically on them). If you cross train on striker or double action pistols, you confuse your body's muscle memory. The single action manual safety draw stroke of flipping the safety off as the firearm is presented has to be second nature to the point of instinct. If you've ever seen someone who typically drives a manual transmission, instinctively try to depress the non-existent clutch in an automatic, then you understand muscle memory.
@@mattkase6644 For the reason you've stated all my semi autos have thumb safeties and can be carried cocked and locked, I have two 1911s in the mix which I have more time on than any handgun I own so the newcomers have to conform, even my solitary HK had its frame mounted control lever changed to a variant that works only as a safety. That said Sig makes a nice frame mounted safety single action only P220 these days and in my opinion it offers all of the advantages of a 1911 without the maintenance and ammo selection hassles using a 1911 can bring.
I honestly dont even believe its an issue or a training issue. Nobody fumbles with their AR safety after shooting their glock. If you cant remember you are shooting or carrying a firearm with a safety I would start to question whether mental adjudication should be a thought from a caregiver.
@@mattkase6644 bro this 8s the biggest piece of horse shit that I've heard lol makes no sense you can cross train on any play for and get everything down it just comes down to consistency and repation lol
I love my Springfield TRP, I trust my life to it. Like Denzel said in Training day, "what's your comfortability level" my response "I'm very comfortable".
I carry a Colt commander daily, have over 2K rounds in the year I have owned it. Have not had one....I mean not a single failure to feed all types and manufacture of ammunition, or ANY type of malfunction. Incredible weapon. It took about 500 rounds of training to get the muscle memory of disengaging the safety as I draw after 20+ years of Glock ownership, but I will never go back to glock. Even with the reduced capacity it is a better sidearm because I can put rounds on target quicker and most importantly MUCH more accurately with the 1911 platform. With Wilson 8 round mags I have 9 rounds of 230 grain .45 caliber defensive power in a platform that is far superior to any other handgun I have carried (and I have carried many) for ME. Not to dump on your video but advice from people dumping on the "ancient" 1911 is the reason why I waited 20+ years to finally try and fall in love with the absolutely best handgun for myself and my capabilities. I respect your opinion and I think it applies to your average concealed carrier who shoots maybe 50 rounds a year (if that). I was once that guy too and any polymer striker pistol would 100% be better for that individual. But if you take your self defense seriously and train regularly (you should) then the 1911 is an outstanding option.
@@DanTheWolfman I carry Federal HST 230 grain hollowpoints. OUTSTANDING round!!! Shot 100 rounds of it through the gun to make sure it ran (at almost a $1 a round I should add lol).....no issues whatsoever fed great shoots great as well. My colt is the Colt Combat Unit CCO...i have run it stock. Like I said I have had absolutely NO issues. Some naysayers may say that is because I clean and lube my Colt after every training day at the range but I do that with every gun I have owned since I began hunting at 14 years old (and I own and SHOOT more than a few regularly). I was taught and subscribe to the line of thought that when gun goes boom, boom, gun gets cleaned when we get back home. But seriously my Colt is outstanding and I carry it everyday and trust my life with it.
The theorical problem to me (theorical because I never actually tried) is the size and the weight. It limits me in terms of clothes that I can use while trying carry it concealed.
When I joined the Army in 1982 the first job you got stuck with was M-60 gunner. The secondary weapon was a 1911. When I joined a police dept my sidearm was a Para Ordnance (spelled right). I have been training on a 1911 for 30+ years. My daily carry is a Ruger SR1911 lightweight commander. I'm not going to bother to retrain on something else when a 1911 is second nature to me.
@@davidshechtman4746 I own several Kimbers, don't even consider carrying it until it has 500 rounds through it. You can feel teh gun loosen up and get smoother the more rounds you put through it. Also, grip is important, if you loose grip it, you will have problems.
Ive seen baers and nighthawks so tight new that you had to bump the slide to get it out of battery. Really though you should shoot any gun 500-1000 before you make any assumptions or trust it
I have a Kimber Custom II. I’ve never had any issues, ever. I’ve had people come over at the end of the day and ask what it is, and cringe when I answer Kimber. I’ve had smiths ask what I did. Zero, only weird thing is I have used nothing but Mobile 1 for lube and Ford Moly Lube on the rails.
I paid $125 new for my LW Colt Commander. It no longer has bluing on the front strap of the handle and other contact areas. There is pitting on the left side of the slide. Short factory sights that finally needed to be re steaked. It is no longer Light Weight I added 6oz of silver grips. It came from the factory with a 2 1/2 # trigger pull--- Lt. Leahy increased it to 4#. There is no movement or any sound when the gun is held and shaken. It's a SHOOTER, when I see a head and shoulders above the sights I fire-- It always hits in the black. I always get good results with 100 year old designs.
You me and thousands of others, rock island killed the over priced 1911's because they run just as good if not better. The only ammo I've ever had problems with is the aluminum case crap and I still only had about 3 ejection issues in 500 rounds.
@@MiccaThompson They are hard to beat. Taurus makes a pretty good one as well for along the same price range. I just can't justify spending hundreds of dollars more these days for brand name alone.
I was surprised the Colt didn't come up in your conversation with as many brands that did get mentioned. I own a gold cup trophy edition 1911 from Colt and feel like it has performed well. Not as an edc but in general never jammed or failed to cycle.
I have a Colt 01991 and the only malfunction in 1000’s of rounds is a grip screw came loose once. It’s not my EDC though...can’t do a manual safety on a carry gun.
I just grabbed one of their m1911 A1 xt 22 magnum for shits and grins for a fun cheap shooter , so far I love everything about it but it does fail to extract a ton so far . Still waiting for the 500 round break in but I am so far less than impressed with it's reliability . I didn't buy it for a carry gun obviously as it's 22 mag but I expected more . This damn thing fails about 40 percent of the time no shit. Hopefully it gets better if not I'm getting rid of it which is a shame because I love the looks and the feel but the damn thing fails to extract so then it's drop the mag and manually remove the casing then reload and get maybe two rounds off then fails again . I really want to keep it because I am in love with the looks and the overall comfort of this pistol but every other round is a problem that's just too much .
The best quality all forged aluminum and steel handfitted 1911, with nice traditional lines, for the money, without breaking the bank, for me John, is the Dan Wesson 1911 CCO in .45acp. Aluminum Commander size frame, ramped match grade barrel, steel slide, and she runs great.
A good stock 1911 that is tuned by a good Smith, and has the correct parts fit, running good magazines is a legitimate defense carry gun. It is not a good beginners gun, but it is a legit piece. If you have to clean and lube it after 1000 rounds, so be it. In a gun fight, you are not going to put 1000 rounds through your pistol anyway. I have a COLT that was customized by Wilson Combat, and by a very good local shop. I have never had a single stoppage. The key with 1911’s are: - Top Quality Magazines - Wilson Combat, Cobra Tripp - Correctly Polished Feed Ramp - Good Springs You have to put at least 500 rounds through it to ensure the gun runs without issue. Any Failures or stoppages need to be trouble shot and fixed. There are tons of great pistols out there, a good 1911 is a solid tool to have in the bag.
My RIA 1911 cost about $500. After about 1500~2000 rds I started having feed ramp issues. Not every time, but once in a while it would not quite go into battery. After I polished the feed ramp (took 20min) I haven't had a single issue. Have about 4000rds through it now and 0 problems.
Had a AMT Hardballer Longslide as the base and then built to the way I wanted back in 86'. Only the frame is original now. Carried it for decades and it still runs flawlessly.
"Only the frame is original, runs flawlessly", that is literally the entire problem lmao. You have to tune the gun, while some modern guns run perfect out the box for cheaper.
I've had a Ruger sr1911 for a year now and there was a significant break in period. There was regular double feeds for the first 700-1000 rounds. I spoke with a gunsmith about this and the way he described it was that there are a few key spots that rub too much that eventually smooth out after firing it a lot. Mainly the frame rails that the slide rides on. Most of it will be smooth but there might be a few spots where there's too much friction interrupting the smooth reciprocation of the slide. He told me that 1911s are supposed to be hand fitted together. And Ruger just manufacturers general parts and slaps them together on an assembly line. Edit: Still a really great gun though, I absolutely do love it and would definitely recommend it for a mid range 1911.
Why is it that every higher end 1911 I've used had malfunctions within 500rds? Kimbers, Paras, Colts, etc. Cheaper ones like Ruger, taurus, RIA, all of those have ran flawless.
Christopher Rodriguez I just commented about my old colt commander I had and it had constant feeding issues. Not sure why. My father in law bought a rock island 1911 and it runs great, even with the cheep ammo!
I've had the same experience myself. I think it's because of the looser, more "Glock like" tolerances in the cheaper ones. My Rock Island rattles but is perfectly reliable, 0 malfunctions in 1000 rounds. My Springfield EMP doesn't rattle, and is super accurate, but is not nearly as reliable.
@@papimaximus95 i had a para warthog that ran great for about 300rds. I sold it to a friend because i knew it was going to have issues and sure enough, within 200rds it started jamming. Good thing about it is that I'm a gunsmith so he gives me plenty of business. Just about every single part on it has been changed to get it to function.
Sadly he isn't wrong, Kimbers are way over priced pos, they need better quality control. Had two of their guns and they never run. Best thing I ever did was sell it.
I have an older Springfield 1911 MICRO built in their performance shop. Has ran flawlessly at over 1,000 rounds. The main reason I don't carry it is the trigger. 3lbs at most. Super accurate.
Completely agree John. Over a decade and a half action pistol shooting, have seen a lot of 1911's fail, mechanical malfunctions, as well as a lot of re-loaders improperly misloading their ammo.
Actually 1911s were purposely made with greater tolerances for improved reliability. Its the super tight boutique 1911s that generally have early issues and require break in periods
My local gun shop never recommended Kimber, but they finally quit carrying them after a customer carried one for 6 months and the finish looked like it had been buried in the ocean. Kimber wanted to charge the customer to refinish it... That piece now sits behind the glass in the front counter as the example of why they no longer carry Kimbers.
I received my 1911 from my grandpa after he passed. It wasn’t a fancy one, para ordinance. Cleaned it, fired it, lots of issues. Replaced the internals with Wilson combat parts and had the feed ramps polished and it seems ok. I need to put more rounds through it before I would consider carrying it over my m&p though.
CLureCo I was wrong, it’s an auto ordinance. Either way, I had a lot of fail to fires, hammer not falling all the way, fail to eject. You name it. I cleaned it before I shot it. But it just needs to be shot a bunch since I also inherited all his ammo with it. Once I put enough ammo through it without failures I’ll probably carry it when I’m in the woods. I’m sure it’s fine. But until I can verify it, I have other pistols I know are. Maybe I’ll just do a bunch of mag dumps at my next class when it’s done lol
I had a Rock Island 1911 (budget minded inexpensive weapon) that I had for EDC and I put around 1000 rounds through it during the time I owned it and it went bang every time I pulled the trigger with zero fails. I only got rid of it because I spend a lot of time in the back country (hiking is my hobby) and the firearm had a weird corrosion issue. I could take it out for a long day hike and when I got it home it looked like I had left it out in the elements for a month with the rust and corrosion. Was very hard to keep it in ship shape condition.
Dan Wesson or Fusion Firearms. Bob Serva owner of Fusion is the former owner of Dan Wesson (pre-fire) and if JMB were alive today Bob would be President of 1911 Operations. Exceptional weapons, exceptional service and most except for Bob's custom work are sub - $2k. After 4 decades of carrying the 1911 the weight got the better of my Sciatic nerve and after a regiment of steroids and some physical therapy I now carry a P365 in a Milt Sparks Summer Special II. PS...... it's all about marksmanship not capacity.
Try a yoga class for the sciatic nerve. Google some beginner stuff. Nothing to lose and much to gain... less pain, better muscle tone, better breath control... all good stuff. Run my basics in 5 minutes a day. Go easy... looks girly but will kick your butt so don't overdo.
Kimber has more issues than Time magazine. Many respectable 1911's out there - some are not the most expensive/custom either. The Ruger you held up has a reputation for running well right out of the box as do Remington R1's. Buy a reputable 1911, take it out and run 500 rounds through it to make sure it works and then drop it in your holster. Good 'nuf.
John. I shoot an average of 100 rounds a day out of my spring field 45 and my Kimber 1911 in 9 mil. (And I have No failures of any kind I do clean it about every 500 rounds.) You failed to mention 1911,s dominate USPSA and IFPA with outstanding reliability and there are many many manufacturers of this style of gun. With prices ranging from $400. To $4000 and perhaps even more. It’s a proven design still used today by special forces and law enforcement. I would say it’s not for the casual shooter it requires skilled hands to use it well. Last note: the gun any person chooses to carry is a personal one and should only be done by that person and hours of range time. Best wishes -Brian.
His major point is not using it for self defense purposes. Far superior guns out there now. I train regularly, not shoot, train, and there is a guy there’s a buddy there that runs a 1911. He’s a good shooter but due to the gun is slower than most out of the holster plus does hand malfunction issues where others do not
Those 1911s that USPSA shooters dominate with...which ones are they exactly? That's right, they're EXPENSIVE GUNS. And guns that those shooters maintain like it's a religion.
Rock Island Armory 1911. All hand fitted, no rattle, runs flawless, and budget pricing. Only problem I experienced was the firing pin spring was a little weak. Replaced with a Wilson Combat spring and I've got a reliable piece for under $600.
When I started shooting in the late '70's the 1911 in .45acp was the only viable carry gun. I learned to shoot with it and did IPSC in the early 80's. I still shoot a 1911 (Les Baer Custom Carry in .45acp) because I have the most experience with it. I live in CA. so the capacity is not as much of an issue. I do, however, carry a Glock 26 as a matter of course. The advance in cartridge construction and reliability of the weapon has won me over. I still think it's an ugly brick of plastic and as Ken Hackathorn said with a Glock there is no pride in ownership.
I have a Glock 48 and I'm very happy and proud to own it. I would not ever seek it. It's just a good gun, it's thin, it's light, and I can shoot it really well.
I'm not a Kimber Fanboy and I've seen one or two fail magnifiently. But. My Wife got a Kimber Evo and that gun runs like a champ out of the box. I would take a Kimber 1911 in a heartbeat. I'd definitely take one of the Kimber Revolvers.
Bought a Colt 1991a1 years ago, and carried it for about 15 years. Got the stock sights changed out for a set of tritium night sights, upgraded the barrel/bushing assembly, and bought some Wilson 8 and 10 round mags. Didn't touch the safety, trigger group, or anything else. Loaded the mags with Speer's "flying ashtray" hollow points first.....then later on...when they became available...with Federal HST's and never considered myself underarmed or my equipment inferior to anyone elses. Don't over think things folks. It's a pistol. Buy a decent one that suits you. Train with it. Carry it. And it's perfectly fine for what it was designed to do.
.45 AARP 👴🏼... as noted, many, many 🇺🇸 cadre-class trainers have shifted to 9mm +P since 2010 or so. The 1911 series & .45acp are no longer "tact-cool" or hip. I carry a .357sig or 9x19mm +P mostly. I might get a .45acp M&P sub compact or Walther PPQ m2 later but it's not a big deal.
I never realized how pricey my Great Grandfather's Colt was. It's an heirloom from him serving in WWII, so I never bothered to look at its sale value since I'd never sell it, but 3.5k is a lot. Gonna really keep it safe now.
No feeling hurt I edc a sig C3. I dont hang out in falusia or Chicago if I cant get my self safe in 8 rounds I shouldn't be cc ing. I'm not a cop but I do have to go to sketchy places every now and then. Church lows and I drive by Walmart some times
John, with respect, I would suggest that you've misidentfied the problem with Kimbers: In my experience (I've had three in 25 years), Kimbers almost always gag out-of-the-box with KIMBER factory mags. My Kimbers run flawlessly after a brief break-in and with WILSON mags. My Series 1 5-inch has never gagged in 25 years of bowling pin matches and thousands of rounds of range practice , both ball and HP, with WILSON mags. Similarly, I carry concealed a 4" Pro Carry II on the strength of regular range practice without incident for 1.5 years. My new10MM Kimber gagged- predictably- on the factory mags; it runs without problems on WILSON mags. I would willingly bet that 95% or more of your students presenting feed problems on the line were shooting new guns with factory mags.
Well, 100 is a significant number, so thanks for sharing that. Clearly, then, you're on to something. Just what exactly, I don't think either of us has yet clearly established. At this point, I still believe it's using too broad a brush to ascribe all of the feed failures to GENERAL, CONSISTENT poor quality: It doesn't seem unreasonable to say that were it such, I would likely have seen evidence of it in fit, finish and function (the aforementioned mag issue notwithstanding) in one of my purchases and range experience with other Kimbers over 25 years. That said, after consideration of your sample size, I'll humbly revise my previous 95% figure to say that I believe "some" of those feed failures would prove to be due to a lack of a break-in period and Kimber mags until I learned more.@@ASPextra
Further to our exchange above, I quizzed my gunsmith down here in Georgetown, TX, for his take on Kimber. He affirmed your view that I am lucky to have had good experience with Kimber. More specifically, Kimber's quality in Series 1 was top drawer, but declined precipitously thereafter in Series II when they moved from forgings to cast parts. I stand corrected. :)
I've carried a 45 for yrs. Imo just as good today as it was in 1911. I actually have a ruger and have never had any problems with it. My favorite is my fnx .45
@@ASPextra actually the model t isn't as good today as a new ford. Just like a 1911 manufactured today is better. What I ment was is it's a good design that I prefer over other firearms. Again just my opinion. I could care less what someone's carrying as long as their proficient with it.
I don't own a Rem R1 (yet and you ain't helpin'), but have never heard a single bad thing about them. Never. At the ranges I practice at and in the articles I've read.
My R1 stainless which I purchased in July has had ftf intermittent on the last round with factory mag, chip McCormick and sig mags. It is at Remington now for factory warranty repairs. It is a very nice pistol though and to go with my sig 1911 and m&p shield 45 it gives me some good options for quality range time with 9mm so hard to find. I would definitely carry a 1911 in colder weather when it can be concealed and trust my families life with it.
@@willwilliam217 I've been lucky with mine no ftf so far. I use both factory and wilson combat mags with flawless results . I recently sent my Rm380 to Remington for some trigger issues and they promptly repaired it and I had it back in a week. Good luck with yours.
I have yet to see any of the problems you mention with my SA RO Elite Champion. Ive put 4500 rounds through the gun and have not seen one bobble. Note the last 1600 rounds or so were fired off in Adam Winch's Defender classes. The gun did well just ask Adam. BTW I use 185 grain ammo exclusively in the gun. I am told this is a good load since the gun comes with an 18lb recoil spring.
Interesting. I've owned 7 or 8 over the last 10 years. Currently own 5 Springfields. They've all eaten 300+ rounds at a time without failure and no maintenance during session. I have an OCD desire to clean every gun after a session though so i couldn't say if they'd go thousands without lube or cleaning.
I'm not a big fan of "grip safety" pistols 🤷🏼♂️. Nor can I justify the size, wt for 8-9 rounds compared to 15-16 with a polymer frame compact .40, 9mm, 10mm. No one complains about .45acp but in 2020, there are more practical choices.
A few things about 1911 style pistols: one, the original design was for a battlefield pistol, one that would work in the mud and dirt and the water. So, the tolerances were designed to be loose. If you wanted to improve the accuracy, you tightened them up with a new barrel and bushing, pounded the slide tighter. They didn’t have the “old slap side “ nickname for nothing. They rattled. Newer models went for accuracy by tightening the tolerances, and as a result things started jamming. So, more polishing and fitting and now you have the Les Baer and the Wilson Combat. Kimbers are not either of those. With most run of the mill 1911s, or any pistol, you have to look at the heart of the pistol to find feeding problems. The magazine. If you use a Kimber magazine, you get issues. I use Wilson Combat and I don’t have feeding issues. You also look at the throat and if the feed ramp is smooth. Look at the mainspring housing on a Kimber. It’s plastic. It breaks. Replace it with a good metal one and that issue is addressed. Follow the break in period that any pistol should go through and use the right lube and things get better. Oh, and 1911s need lubricant. Always have and always will. While the newer polymer pistols don’t need near as much, a 1911 does. So, when you are deciding which carry pistol you want, consider the downside and the upside as well, and go forth with what you are confident in.
I don’t carry my 1911 but they are absolutely my favorite pistol!!! Sexiest gun ever made!!! And a Dan Wesson, Sig 1911, Springfield, Colt are all quality 1911s
your right john about the kimber.. my first 1911 is a kimber custom II that my wife gave on my birthday always bring me a shame at the range, more than 500round been put through but seem to not solve a feeding issue.. make a tough decission rather than sent it back to kimber for repair, im finally sold it and bought a 10mm Dan Wesson, never have any issue from day 1 of purchase or during breaking in period.. its also a tight fit but still runs fine.. never recommend any kimber again. worst nightmare for a $1500 gun that cant run.
One of the few things James Yeager is right about is 1911s. His experience training a ton of students is that a 1911 that gets through a class is as rare as a Glock that doesn't. Manufactured 1911s are crap. If memory serves, Dave Ramsey carries a Wilson Combat 1911 but he's a millionaire.
@@ASPextra WC is a semi-hand fit shop, too. Not as extensively as Ed Brown, or Nighthawk, but pretty close. One day I will have a Nighthawk, once I can justify spending $4k on a handgun. :D
I'd buy a Cabot Guns 1911 model .45acp or 10mm SAO left hand. 😉. His firearms are top notch. Les Baer made the FBI, HRT pistols but his custom shop could not meet DoJ's strict requirements. The FBI went to S-A.
I have to admit that I made the transition. I have a Kimber Pro Carry 2 in black and a Springfield XD 45. I'm retired military, combat arms guy and cut my teeth on a .45 ACP. When we transitioned to 9mm and I saw them used down range, I had some real problems with the stopping power (which is why the Army bought the .45 in 1911). I carried the same bias into retirement. I remember taking my well-maintained, gunsmithed Kimber to a tactical fire course and feeling like an idiot after about an hour. Neither gun would gun. I lubed them, used my Chip McCormack magazines, good ammo. They constantly had failure to feed or jammed. I ended up using a loaner gun to get through training. I bought a VP9 and the world changed. I realized I could hold more ammo, I had a reliable gun, and, now that I'm a civilian, I'm not limited to ball ammo. My EDC gun is a SIG 365XL. It runs all the time, everytime, it's accurate, and it's easy to carry. I still have my .45s and I love to shoot them. I just wouldn't stake my life on them.
Carried a Kimber ultra covert for years. Probably 12-15 thousand rounds down range. Changed the recoil spring twice, kept it reasonably clean, shot reloads as well as a bunch of factory ammo. Never had a breakage. Did have of couple of stovepipe stoppages usually when weak hand practicing. Now carrying a M&P due to getting older and not seeing quite as well. Figure... the more the merrier.
My gun experience is over 25 yrs now. (Vet, Instrctr, Competitor, regional sales). John has done reviews in the past that made me want to Jimmy Superfly Snooka off the top rope, but in this case he's right on the mark about Kimbers, BUT there's good news for all you Kimber guys. Your money is NOT entirely wasted. Kimbers can be made into reliable guns, you just have to break them in really really well. There's 2 ways to do that. No. 1 Shoot a lot. Shooting your gun opens up those tolerances he's talking about and in time creates better reliability. No. 2 involves 600-800 grit wet/dry sand paper, popsicle sticks, and lots of elbow grease. Consult your local gun smith for more on solution No. 2
In my enhanced concealed carry class we students had a mixed bag of what we qualified with. Me and another guy had Glocks, a married couple had S&W J-frames, and the rest were mostly Ruger or S&W semi-autos of various types. The instructor was an older gentleman, probably mid 60's, retired law enforcement. He went on an on for about 1/2 hour about how the only thing he will ever carry is a 1911 and pointed out all of the external safety mechanisms that are built into them, and about how guns like Glocks suck because they have no external safeties. I think most 1911 carriers think along those same lines.
For the older gun slingers I think you are right, but I am new to handguns and after trying various guns out I shot the best with the 1911. The grip angle, trigger and weight really help. I consider 1911's to be the classic cars of the gun world. I am basically running a resto-mod, an older design with modern enhancements. I like it.
I am a 1911 lover, but I also appreciate the more modern stuff. There are advantages to the external safeties and I do prefer the trigger pull of the single action 1911 over the striker fire or double action like a baretta. I think it's one of the things that makes a 1911 easy to shoot. I also own a Ruger SR 9E, which is more of a budget gun/glock knock off, but it shoots very very well fot that price range. I honestly very much like the SR 9. I think it is an underrated firearm.
So the argument comes down to production 1911's versus hand-built 1911's, which is what 1911 guys have known from the beginning. Jeff Cooper said it best: "The 1911 pistol remains the service pistol of choice in the eyes of those who understand the problem. Back when we audited the FBI academy in 1947, I was told that I ought not to use my pistol in their training program because it was not fair. Maybe the first thing one should demand of his sidearm is that it be unfair.” - Col. Jeff Cooper, GUNS & AMMO, January 2002
The Kimber you disparage exactly what weight bullets was it being fed. Im told the sweet spot is 165 grain to 185 grain rounds for those guns, not the 230 grain rounds.
Bought a Springfield Armory military spec 1911 new for $650. I range shoot all the time with it and shoot IDPAs with it and have never had it fail on me yet. SA mil spec 1911 has no frills. It is very much the same as the GI ones, but is very well built and has run flawlessly for me. Now I do maintain it well and give it a full cleaning and relubrication frequently. But I do that with all my firearms.
I love my Kimbers! Beautifully made. They are fantastic and of the finest craftsmanship but not my EDC.... I paid $1400 for mine. It was just something I had wanted. It's always run clean and never had any problems. But i carry a six shooter for EDC so Kimber is neither her not there when it comes to this. But I have never had any probs with it, so no reason not to use them. Every gun is different. Mine never malfunction so it's always interesting to hear this type of stuff. Just maintain your piece.
Gotta say that my TLE II runs like a champ, box after box. Then again, it's a 5" 1911 and I only shoot standard 230g Ball. Half the problems I see with pistols that don't work is that the owners have installed some tacticool aftermarket parts. Outside of grips and sights, many of the 1911 "upgrades" are the entire problem! Another problem is using bullets weighing only 165g and even less; you're bound to have issues when using 2/3's of what the gun was designed to shoot. John Browning designed the 1911 and it worked, others have modified it and their versions have been less than perfect. Run it like Browning designed it!
John, it took me running my handguns in Speed Steel and IDPA matches over a period of several years to understand what you are saying. Malfunctions never stick out in your mind when you are casually shooting at the range but they REALLY hurt your feelings when they happen in a match. I've run 1911's in matches and they required spring changes and other similar tuning to ever get to 95% reliability. And lube before every match. I finally gave up and now it's either a G19MOS or a P226 that I choose to rely on. If I can't reliably bet the competitive outcome of a match on it, why would I bet my life??
The problem with Kimber is you never know what you are going to get out of the box. One will run, the other will not, and tolerance stack is usually the main culprit. Because they all use MIM parts for the internals, they never last long under heavy duty use. All 1911s require regular maintenance, too, such as regular main spring/firing pin spring replacement intervals, and extractor tuning. They get ever more finnicky the further you get away from the original 7 round mag 5" full size gun, too.
I might be the lone voice in the wilderness, but I'm 66, a former Army SF light weapons NCO and retired LEO. My EDC is a well worn Kimber Tactical Pro with God only knows how many rounds through it...in excess of 30k. (I reload). All I've done is periodically change out the springs every 5k rounds or so. It feeds, chambers, fires, extracts and ejects everything I put in it. I do however run nothing but Wilson magazines though. It's over 15 years old, so I'm sticking with it.
I have a Kimber Pro Carry. I've taken several pistol classes, from basic to advanced. I did have one problem at one class. Replaced the ejector spring AFTER 1500 rounds No issues, thanks for the opinion. I'll keep my Kimbet
I love my 1911. Got a taurus 1911 and so far shot 1000s of rounds through it without a single issue. Its my carry gun until I get something a bit easier to carry. Just keep it clean and lubed up! Like any machine it responds best to maintenance not neglect.
I have a chep'O Rock Island armory 1911. It's the GI model, so no fancy sights, or forward slide serrations or anything. Only thing I've done to it is put some magpul grip scales on it. There's a blemish on the finish of the top of the slide which I'm not thrilled about, and I have no idea how it got there, but that being said, it has an EXCELLENT trigger, I've never tested it, but I'd be very surprised if it was over 3.7 pounds. The slide runs smoothly, and the grip safety works without any issues. It has a few low key upgrades from lesser models, like a slightly flared magwell, a vertically serrated trigger, and vertically serrated backstrap, but that's about it. Nothing on the front strap, no extended beaver tail or fancy hammer. It doesn't even have that safety feature that prevents the rare possibility of it firing when you drop the slide on a full mag. But it's run relatively well for me. I've had a few misfeeds, but that was because I used bargain bin range mags and shifty ammunition. When using decent ammo, and my Colt mag, it's never malf'd. It was bought for me by my dad as a gift, and we were both so impressed by this $399.00 pistol, that my mom had the idea of getting one for him on the next holiday. I was still pretty new to gun buying at the time, and I had never purchased a firearm myself at that point, so it didn't occur to me to actually go to the store and handle/test the guns, and to pick out an individual gun. I just thought that this model of 1911 is what you get, and it would be exactly like mine. So we just had my brother in law do the purchase since the store was on his way home from work, and I'm half crippled, so it just made sense to have him do it. Oh boy was I wrong to not go get it myself.... The one we regrettably got for my dad was like mine in name only. The finish wasn't as nice, even with the blemish on mine. The slide was not as smooth, the springs felt way too heavy, only Thor could press the mag release, the trigger was probably like a 14 pound break, and could only be described as ... "crunchy"... A few months later, when my dad asked "Hey, I know it was a gift, but do you mind if I trade it in?" He got a resounding "Go right ahead!" So the takeaway from all this, is: The RIA 1911's "can" be decent or even excellent budget blasters, but you should treat them like WASR's. Inspect and handle them yourself, and make sure that the one you looked at in the store, is the one you'll pick up later on.
I agree. I've had the pleasure of shooting one of their original offerings and it was stellar. Quality built and it just felt good. New ones, over priced and cheapy looking. I also have a 1917 colt and never considered it was worth that. Thanks for that one John.
I like the 1911. My ruger has served me well on the range for a year now. Out of 800 rnds 2 jams but i think it was my fault not the gun its self. 800 isnt that much but its more ammo id use in a self defence situation. If not im grabbing my ak 47 or ar 15 lol.
My rock island armoury 1911 GI is amazing. Spent 400 on it, after 2 years & a couple thousand rounds only 4 rounds jammed, this has been the best 1911 ever, good quality, good metal, a great first handgun
I wonder how many of the commenters bashing the 1911 have ACTUALLY owned, carried and fired 1911s?
None of them.
exactly. All i own are 1911's and the trick is keeping them well lubed , and they work flawless.
Everyone can carry a gun, a 1911 is a gunfighters pistol. Ask any operator
Need to have it loose to run? Bullocks. You need a hand tuned 1911, by someone who knows what they are doing.
Probably not one I think they love
Bb guns
Carried a Colt 1911 in a combat zone for 13 months and on the street two decades, never failed...yet.
Thanks for the vid, John.
My dad carried one 1944-45, wish I had one!
So you never had to use it lol.
I had several Beretta M9's that I carried for my entire Naval service, including a dance in the desert and never failed me either. Never used it, but it never failed me!
1911 put a lot of bad guys in the ground for more than a 100 years , but I digress .
@@johnneill5960 you missed the point of the whole video
Been carrying 1911’s for 30 years. My current is Dan Wesson Guardian and CBOB.
The last two CCW classes my “Glock guy” instructor gave me a hard time at first until I was the only one who had zero malfunctions in 300-350 rounds during the class.
For the money, you can’t beat DW 1911’s.
My DW Valor has worked flawlessly,. Zero malfunctions in 2K+ rounds!
C'mon the only guy with zero malfunctions? Were you at a clown college?
@@randalroe1929 Psst. It's called "fantasizing or bullshitting on the internet with people that can never confirm or disprove your statements". Gun video comment sections are packed with delusions of grandeur.
@@DrFrogglePhD Bullshitters i think ive seen those guys most of them wear a crown on their head with their Glock Perfection T shirt there was a guy who worked at Marksman Gun Range in Houston he told me ha has fired 20,000 rds thru his Glock an never cleaned it! And from his appearence he never showered in all that time either
I second the Dan Wesson, I have the c bob as well, zero issues whatsoever
I decided to take care of the capacity issue by carrying two 1911s instead of one.
I carry one extra, just to get me to my rifle.
Yes. very formidable. 10 and 15 round clips for car carry to escape the gangstas with their drum clips.
New York reload baby!
*Mustang & Sally*
greatBLT love that
"9mm kills the body. 45....45 kills the soul" colion noir
@@FilmFlam-8008 He didn't say embarrassed to death. ;
I am a 9mm guy (even in most 1911s) but this joke is fantastic ;-)
A .45 shot down a Zero and Tom Hanks took out a tank with his.
John’s keeping the whole family out of the sun with that Kimber shade 😂
Burn
I've never had an issue with my kimber custom and it's way easier to stay on target when on the move than my 9mm.
The way it shoots is why my 1911 is my go to carry. I do not like having to carry 3 extra magazines though, but I will and do.
@the Graf No one cares that you know dudes who have "been there, done that". My dad owns a Kimber Micro 9 that is absolutely God awful to shoot and it shows since he's shot once and owned it for a few years now. He's never had a problem with it but he also hasn't shot it much. I've seen Kimbers die quite a bit at the range I frequent.
@the Graf I came to comment, not get graded on my English Comp bud.
@@tbizzy3606 I used to own a kimber, key word is used to. If I treated it solely as a range gun with the right ammo, slow fire that sort of thing it ran fine. But under stress, high count classes I have seen way to many Kimbers go down, and go down hard!
You want to get a good 1911 on the cheap, with great customer service and a lifetime warranty? Go with a Rock Island.
@Oliver Pong My friend's Rock Island performs way better than his brother's high end Kimber. So I'm going off of that. Personally I'll stick with my Sig P226.
@Oliver Pong Is it worth 1000? 2000?
Your hypothetical question is irrelevant. If it works, if it runs, if it is reliable...these are the only relevant questions.
I'm gonna have to agree with u. Trust me when I tell u I bashed ria for years cause they were made overseas n I just figured since they were so inexpensive they had to be junk. I bought one just for the hell of it n I gotta say I was very wrong. It's my carry gun now. I smile n shake my head Everytime I see or hear people bashing em like I used to. At this point I now see those people as rookies. U don't always get wat u pay for. The price tag or the name on the side of the slide or the "rep" has very little to do with a guns reliability. Want proof? Type in "Glock problems" here on RUclips.
Kimbers are not high end.
@@toddbray8756 Compared to a Rock Island and you paid an excess of $1200+ yes they are. Not that we're talking, say, a Les Baer 1911. Which is way overpriced. Sig P226 all day for me.
Thousands of rounds through my Kimber, runs fine.
Mine too.😁
Your blessed.
Just curious, is it an early one?
Mine too
Me too. Maybe I got lucky?
I think there has to be truth behind Kimbers not running, I just haven’t experienced those problems with mine.
I didn’t like the stock magazine, I use Wilson Combat and haven’t had any problems.
John just lost his new job at the gun counter!
Haha!
Nah. He's selling the HKs, Glocks, Shields, and Springfields like crazy
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
And rightly so!
I carry a 1911 because that’s what I qualified with in the Marine Corps. I am more accurate with it than any other pistol I tried. I am completely comfortable with it’s action and safety protocol. However, I would never recommend it to a newcomer. They should train with newer and safer designs.
In the army, I first learn pistol firing with the 1911.
The trigger was great. The balance was great and I could shoot the wings off mosquitoes.
THEN.....they switch us to the 9mm Barrettas and my accuracy became mediocre...
I carried my S&W performance center 1911 for 8 years. Full size, 45, shot idpa with it.
Great gun!! That and my Volkmann, awesome quality, great reliability
I have a S&W PC also and really enjoy it. Great gun. Still find myself carrying it less than my sig or glock though.
yeah over a thousand rounds through my S&W 1911 - every once and a while an issue with off brand ammo- but no consistent problems. never shot a kimber, have an old 70 series- had serious ramp issues with that one. everyone has opinions- but the single stack one is off the table with the glock single's out now.
Funny how my Kimbers run as good as my wilson. Now keep in my mind I tune all my 1911 pistols and use them in uspsa single stack to make sure they run in defensive situations. Kimber ll models yeah I'm not a fan of any 1911 with a series 80 ignition system. It's uneeded and defeats point of Brownings design. Also I was carrying 2011 before they became cool with that models inception going back to the uspsa competition world. Even some cheaper 1911 tisas,rock island can run out of the box. If you need to buy a cheaper one put a dew thousand through it and get intimate with tuning the 1911.
Hey John. The one thing I would add to your presentation is that a 1911, is a great defensive firearm, but using it, and maintaining it properly, is for someone that has trained with it for a long time. Drawing in condition one and training yourself in the use of the manual safety, for firing should become second nature if done so while training. Engaging the safety too. Professional training will produce professional results. You mentioned malfunctions with students, with Kimber 1911s. I agree with your assessment of Kimbers, but they can be very good. The 1911 is one of the most historical handgun in U.S. history. Many young, inexperienced student (or any age) buy a 1911 and don't know how to use them, or lube them properly. These folks sign up for the defensive classes you spoke of. If you put in the proper training for a long time, a 1911 can be a very efficient defensive side arm. If I were a novice, I would seek out 1911 training schools, like Clint Smith's Thunder ranch, or Tiger McKee's Shootrite school. I am sure there are many others. The top end custom 1911s you mentioned, I agree with you on. Personally, think a well made semi custom 1911 hand fitted, like a Dan Wesson Guardian is less expensive, and you have to pay extra for extra engraving. The unnecessary cosmetics, too.
Carrying a 1911 is like driving a 67 Camaro. Cool, maybe not as capable as you'd like to remember, and takes a lot of maintenance compared to modern models!
So you never addressed “you’re probably carrying the wrong one; for the wrong reason; and probably won’t do what you think it will.” Unless you meant if you’re carrying a Kimber you are carrying the wrong one. Ok but what is the wrong reason and what does it not do that I think it will?
I was wondering the same.
Single action - manual safety. Said it at the end of the vid.
He means; "Go BANG" everytime.
Because 1911s kimbers included are giant piles of shit for a carry gun. Carrying it cocked and locked with safety on is not safe. And cocking the hammer as I draw? No thanks.
@@camerongover8459 not just kimber, any 1911 also is the same carry style, cock and lock.. what he means kimber is unreliable, feeding issue.. mine kimber custom also had that same issue, sold it to a 10mm dan wesson.. cock and lock is more safe than any glock.. uncock carry on any 1911 is more dangerous if accidentally drop the gun it will go off.
I think it worth mentioning, ammunition selection plays a large role in how well these guns run. The feed ramps, by original design, are for ball ammo. A well polished feed ramp can make a major difference with other types of projectiles, especially hollow points.
My Colts and Springfields run just fine. With the exception of the wear from several thousand rounds, each are as they came out of the box from the factory. I carry all of them with confidence. I am curious as to why every 1911 hater feels the need to express their hatred so vehemently. If you are happy with your choice of pistol, then be happy and enjoy your short time here. It will be over much sooner than you think.
I agree. I find it interesting that he mention he didn't care for single action yet isn't a striker fired pistol single action.
OK, so several thousand rounds. But how many thousand round weekend courses you taken them through? I get why he doesn’t like some particular guns. You see enough of one thing puke and it’s hard to like it. I’ve heard similar sentiment from other trainers, as well, so it’s just just the “gospel according to John Correia”.
@@SkunkCreekRanch There is only one manufacturer of Glock pistols. One HK, one Smith & Wesson, one Ruger, etc. There are at least 10 manufacturers producing 1911 pattern pistols, excluding the Boutique makers. They all produce pistols of greatly divergent quality. So to find fault with a 1911 by one and claim that all 1911s are inferior is dishonest. And have you ever wondered why there are so many companies making a 100 + year old pistol? ETA: I have taken one pistol course with my Colts.
The reason people are vocal against 1911s is that they're answering people who are just starting their firearm journey and don't need the extra hassle of a 1911. It's like giving your wife an old car with points and a manual choke instead of something new with fuel injection. I've owned a few 1911s, from $1,100-$2,800, and they've all been picky and needed some sort of love. Either spring changes, extractor adjustment, slide catch modification for some hollow points, a break in period, and definitely more maintenance. My Glocks just run, no matter what. Point being, if you're asking for advice in the handgun world, a 1911 isn't for you.
🙄 I knew there would be a glock fanboy here.
Short version: do not second guess John Browning's design intent.
Well john browning did. And shortly after designed the browning hi-power in 9mm...
Actually Mr Browning passed away before finishing the Hi Power
John, I understand what you're saying. My own personal experience is with my RIA 1911A1 cost me $450 new in the box. Initially, I had feed problems. The problem was the mags. I bought Wilson Combat mags and never had another problem. I carry my 1911 because I trust it and it is the most comfortable pistol I have ever fired.
Wilson mags have cured a lot of 1911 woes.
Everyone needs a 1911 if for no other reason, historical purposes. I’ve owned lots of 1911’s, never a bad one. Colt, Kimber, Springfield, even Auto Ordnance and Norinco. I currently own two, a Springfield TRP and an EMP4 in 9mm. They are by far my favorite guns on the range. The first 1911 I bought was an Auto Ordnance while I was in college (It’s all I could afford as a poor college kid - I’m 52 so that was a minute ago). I began customizing it myself (grips, beaver tail, hammer, trigger, mainspring). I learned everything I could about how it worked. Eventually I bought a Sig P220 and it was just as accurate as the Sig. If you love guns and don’t mind the maintenance, a quality 1911 in certain configurations can make a great carry gun. However, they are not my go to carry gun, but if I lived in a state that limited magazine capacity, I would go with the Springfield EMP4 in 9mm. Quality magazines are the key to running a 1911 regardless of the maker. Wilson Combat are my go to mags.
I kind of feel like that argument has limits about history. I mean, everyone should have a SAA for the same reason, right? And an 1873 rifle?
Active Self Protection Extra Sure, why not? Although the guns you mention certainly have historical significance and people should own them for historical reasons or any reason for that matter because of 2A, they don’t have the same history as the 1911...two world wars, Korea, Vietnam...standard issue from 1911 - 1986 and used in Desert Storm and even in service today. I don’t think there is any handgun that comes close to the historicity of the 1911. But it shouldn’t be everyone’s carry gun.
You kind of glossed over the Colts. You make it sound like the only ones out there are collector items. There are plenty of Model 70 Colt Commanders and full-size that make great carry guns and entirely reliable. They can be found from $800-$1200. I use one to hunt with and one to carry. Accuracy? You bet. Like I said I hunt with one of mine. Colt experience? I averaged 3000 rds a week for a few years.
I'm not experienced with the later Kimbers, but the early one's after Chip McCormick got involved were pretty good.
Colt Lightweight Commander Great Gun!
@Dan Breejen probably had a stiff recoil spring to prevent battering aluminum frame to avoid warrenty issues. Maybe shitty feed ramp but i would guess that's why you had that issue
That’d literally be $6,000 a month these days in ammo alone.
That was only the 45 ammo. I also shot a lot of 22. This was all for Bullseye competition. You had to be able to keep all 10 shots inside 3" or so at 50 yds. One-handed. I get a chuckle every time John makes a comment about someone shooting another at 25 yds and how rare and fantastic it was. We had to keep 5 shots inside 2" at 25 yds in under 10 sec. Usually, it was done in 6-7 sec. All one-handed. I've shot running rabbits, javelina, and warthog further than that.
1911's are an interesting breed. They require more care and attention than a polymer pistol, but typically offer superior ergonomics and triggers. As for the safety, that's a training issue. If a person wants to carry a 1911 they require a higher level of proficiency, which usually makes them a poor choice for many shooters.
Most shooters want to stay mediocre and carry a Glock. And that’s ok carry something for protection is better then nothing. But if you see someone carrying a 1911 just know they might know their shit and could probably out shoot you. Just because it requires a higher skill level to operate.
The key with training on a single action only, manual safety gun, like a 1911, is MUSCLE MEMORY. This is not true just in shooting, but in any physical skill. If you're going to carry a 1911 style handgun, you need to train tactically on 1911 only (this doesn't mean don't shoot or own other gun types, but don't train tactically on them). If you cross train on striker or double action pistols, you confuse your body's muscle memory. The single action manual safety draw stroke of flipping the safety off as the firearm is presented has to be second nature to the point of instinct. If you've ever seen someone who typically drives a manual transmission, instinctively try to depress the non-existent clutch in an automatic, then you understand muscle memory.
@@mattkase6644 For the reason you've stated all my semi autos have thumb safeties and can be carried cocked and locked, I have two 1911s in the mix which I have more time on than any handgun I own so the newcomers have to conform, even my solitary HK had its frame mounted control lever changed to a variant that works only as a safety.
That said Sig makes a nice frame mounted safety single action only P220 these days and in my opinion it offers all of the advantages of a 1911 without the maintenance and ammo selection hassles using a 1911 can bring.
I honestly dont even believe its an issue or a training issue. Nobody fumbles with their AR safety after shooting their glock. If you cant remember you are shooting or carrying a firearm with a safety I would start to question whether mental adjudication should be a thought from a caregiver.
@@mattkase6644 bro this 8s the biggest piece of horse shit that I've heard lol makes no sense you can cross train on any play for and get everything down it just comes down to consistency and repation lol
Wow! Thank you so much for the mention John! Very kind of you sir.
I love my Springfield TRP, I trust my life to it. Like Denzel said in Training day, "what's your comfortability level" my response "I'm very comfortable".
That’s what I carry as well. I love my TRP.
I carry a Colt commander daily, have over 2K rounds in the year I have owned it. Have not had one....I mean not a single failure to feed all types and manufacture of ammunition, or ANY type of malfunction. Incredible weapon.
It took about 500 rounds of training to get the muscle memory of disengaging the safety as I draw after 20+ years of Glock ownership, but I will never go back to glock.
Even with the reduced capacity it is a better sidearm because I can put rounds on target quicker and most importantly MUCH more accurately with the 1911 platform.
With Wilson 8 round mags I have 9 rounds of 230 grain .45 caliber defensive power in a platform that is far superior to any other handgun I have carried (and I have carried many) for ME.
Not to dump on your video but advice from people dumping on the "ancient" 1911 is the reason why I waited 20+ years to finally try and fall in love with the absolutely best handgun for myself and my capabilities.
I respect your opinion and I think it applies to your average concealed carrier who shoots maybe 50 rounds a year (if that). I was once that guy too and any polymer striker pistol would 100% be better for that individual.
But if you take your self defense seriously and train regularly (you should) then the 1911 is an outstanding option.
I heard Tripp Research Cobra Mags are pretty good too. Have you tried them?
Yeah, they really do shoot great. I shoot them the best out of other types of handguns.
@@Bruh23732 some of the best yes
@@DanTheWolfman
I carry Federal HST 230 grain hollowpoints. OUTSTANDING round!!!
Shot 100 rounds of it through the gun to make sure it ran (at almost a $1 a round I should add lol).....no issues whatsoever fed great shoots great as well.
My colt is the Colt Combat Unit CCO...i have run it stock. Like I said I have had absolutely NO issues.
Some naysayers may say that is because I clean and lube my Colt after every training day at the range but I do that with every gun I have owned since I began hunting at 14 years old (and I own and SHOOT more than a few regularly). I was taught and subscribe to the line of thought that when gun goes boom, boom, gun gets cleaned when we get back home.
But seriously my Colt is outstanding and I carry it everyday and trust my life with it.
The theorical problem to me (theorical because I never actually tried) is the size and the weight. It limits me in terms of clothes that I can use while trying carry it concealed.
When I joined the Army in 1982 the first job you got stuck with was M-60 gunner. The secondary weapon was a 1911. When I joined a police dept my sidearm was a Para Ordnance (spelled right). I have been training on a 1911 for 30+ years. My daily carry is a Ruger SR1911 lightweight commander. I'm not going to bother to retrain on something else when a 1911 is second nature to me.
Most Kimber’s require a 500 round break in period. I’d be willing to bet all those you’ve seen have issues weren’t broken in.
just what i was thinking
@@davidshechtman4746 I own several Kimbers, don't even consider carrying it until it has 500 rounds through it. You can feel teh gun loosen up and get smoother the more rounds you put through it. Also, grip is important, if you loose grip it, you will have problems.
Ive seen baers and nighthawks so tight new that you had to bump the slide to get it out of battery. Really though you should shoot any gun 500-1000 before you make any assumptions or trust it
I have a Kimber Custom II. I’ve never had any issues, ever. I’ve had people come over at the end of the day and ask what it is, and cringe when I answer Kimber. I’ve had smiths ask what I did. Zero, only weird thing is I have used nothing but Mobile 1 for lube and Ford Moly Lube on the rails.
Mine was the same way. They state the break in period in their manual. Been 100% ever since.
I paid $125 new for my LW Colt Commander. It no longer has bluing on the front strap of the handle and other contact areas. There is pitting on the left side of the slide. Short factory sights that finally needed to be re steaked. It is no longer Light Weight I added 6oz of silver grips. It came from the factory with a 2 1/2 # trigger pull--- Lt. Leahy increased it to 4#. There is no movement or any sound when the gun is held and shaken. It's a SHOOTER, when I see a head and shoulders above the sights I fire-- It always hits in the black. I always get good results with 100 year old designs.
I'll take my Rock Island 1911 and a buttload of ammo instead of all those high priced brand premium priced guns.
I have a double stack .40 and it just runs and runs and runs and runs and is super accurate with the bull barrel.
You me and thousands of others, rock island killed the over priced 1911's because they run just as good if not better. The only ammo I've ever had problems with is the aluminum case crap and I still only had about 3 ejection issues in 500 rounds.
@@MiccaThompson They are hard to beat. Taurus makes a pretty good one as well for along the same price range. I just can't justify spending hundreds of dollars more these days for brand name alone.
I was surprised the Colt didn't come up in your conversation with as many brands that did get mentioned. I own a gold cup trophy edition 1911 from Colt and feel like it has performed well. Not as an edc but in general never jammed or failed to cycle.
Got 2 of those beautiful guns for an anniversary present, sequential serial numbers. Just love them. Colt gold cups are very nice to shoot
I have a Colt 01991 and the only malfunction in 1000’s of rounds is a grip screw came loose once. It’s not my EDC though...can’t do a manual safety on a carry gun.
Cant beat a Beretta for rarely misfiring
Or even a Glock nowadays
Probably didnt mention Colt because the gunshop didnt have one in stock they needed to sell
I own a gold cup trophy TALO from colts custom shop. I’d put it against any other 1911 any day.
i'm surprised there was no mention of the RIA 1911 considering how cheap they are.
i love mine. great trigger, no problems ever.
I got mine 4 years ago, 400 bucks out the door, never had a problem with it.
Yeah, had a RIA 1911 for years. Great gun.
I just grabbed one of their m1911 A1 xt 22 magnum for shits and grins for a fun cheap shooter , so far I love everything about it but it does fail to extract a ton so far . Still waiting for the 500 round break in but I am so far less than impressed with it's reliability . I didn't buy it for a carry gun obviously as it's 22 mag but I expected more . This damn thing fails about 40 percent of the time no shit. Hopefully it gets better if not I'm getting rid of it which is a shame because I love the looks and the feel but the damn thing fails to extract so then it's drop the mag and manually remove the casing then reload and get maybe two rounds off then fails again . I really want to keep it because I am in love with the looks and the overall comfort of this pistol but every other round is a problem that's just too much .
I got nine an love it
The best quality all forged aluminum and steel handfitted 1911, with nice traditional lines, for the money, without breaking the bank, for me John, is the Dan Wesson 1911 CCO in .45acp. Aluminum Commander size frame, ramped match grade barrel, steel slide, and she runs great.
A good stock 1911 that is tuned by a good Smith, and has the correct parts fit, running good magazines is a legitimate defense carry gun.
It is not a good beginners gun, but it is a legit piece.
If you have to clean and lube it after 1000 rounds, so be it.
In a gun fight, you are not going to put 1000 rounds through your pistol anyway.
I have a COLT that was customized by Wilson Combat, and by a very good local shop. I have never had a single stoppage.
The key with 1911’s are:
- Top Quality Magazines - Wilson Combat, Cobra Tripp
- Correctly Polished Feed Ramp
- Good Springs
You have to put at least 500 rounds through it to ensure the gun runs without issue. Any Failures or stoppages need to be trouble shot and fixed.
There are tons of great pistols out there, a good 1911 is a solid tool to have in the bag.
My RIA 1911 cost about $500. After about 1500~2000 rds I started having feed ramp issues. Not every time, but once in a while it would not quite go into battery. After I polished the feed ramp (took 20min) I haven't had a single issue. Have about 4000rds through it now and 0 problems.
Had a AMT Hardballer Longslide as the base and then built to the way I wanted back in 86'. Only the frame is original now. Carried it for decades and it still runs flawlessly.
"Only the frame is original, runs flawlessly", that is literally the entire problem lmao. You have to tune the gun, while some modern guns run perfect out the box for cheaper.
Not just 'for cheaper" but for cheap. @@reitairue2073
Kimber Raptor runs flawlessly. Extremely accurate
I've had a Ruger sr1911 for a year now and there was a significant break in period. There was regular double feeds for the first 700-1000 rounds. I spoke with a gunsmith about this and the way he described it was that there are a few key spots that rub too much that eventually smooth out after firing it a lot.
Mainly the frame rails that the slide rides on. Most of it will be smooth but there might be a few spots where there's too much friction interrupting the smooth reciprocation of the slide. He told me that 1911s are supposed to be hand fitted together. And Ruger just manufacturers general parts and slaps them together on an assembly line.
Edit: Still a really great gun though, I absolutely do love it and would definitely recommend it for a mid range 1911.
That gun sound like a big steaming turd. Should've gotten a Glock 48 with 15+1 capacity instead.
@@d3734 definitely not a turd. Glocks for jocks.
Why is it that every higher end 1911 I've used had malfunctions within 500rds? Kimbers, Paras, Colts, etc. Cheaper ones like Ruger, taurus, RIA, all of those have ran flawless.
Christopher Rodriguez I just commented about my old colt commander I had and it had constant feeding issues. Not sure why. My father in law bought a rock island 1911 and it runs great, even with the cheep ammo!
I've had the same experience myself. I think it's because of the looser, more "Glock like" tolerances in the cheaper ones. My Rock Island rattles but is perfectly reliable, 0 malfunctions in 1000 rounds. My Springfield EMP doesn't rattle, and is super accurate, but is not nearly as reliable.
@Caden Cramer The original GI 1911's rattle as hell too.
@@papimaximus95 i had a para warthog that ran great for about 300rds. I sold it to a friend because i knew it was going to have issues and sure enough, within 200rds it started jamming. Good thing about it is that I'm a gunsmith so he gives me plenty of business. Just about every single part on it has been changed to get it to function.
Kimber, Para, Colt are not high end guns.
I’m not doubting johns experience, and I may be a kimber fan boy, however, my kimber ultra cdp 2 is a runner. I’ve never had a problem with it.
I changed out the standard factory mags for Wilson Combat Elite Tactical mags with the floor plate. Tactical reloads are much, much easier now.
Sadly he isn't wrong, Kimbers are way over priced pos, they need better quality control. Had two of their guns and they never run. Best thing I ever did was sell it.
I have an older Springfield 1911 MICRO built in their performance shop. Has ran flawlessly at over 1,000 rounds. The main reason I don't carry it is the trigger. 3lbs at most. Super accurate.
Completely agree John. Over a decade and a half action pistol shooting, have seen a lot of 1911's fail, mechanical malfunctions, as well as a lot of re-loaders improperly misloading their ammo.
There's another thing about 1911 the most people don't have the time in the range and the skill sets to carry one if you ain't got it don't carry it
My new colt 1911c has a ton of wiggle wiggle wiggle and runs like a champ.
Actually 1911s were purposely made with greater tolerances for improved reliability. Its the super tight boutique 1911s that generally have early issues and require break in periods
mine too. never had one issue.
@@stvstreett never say never
My local gun shop never recommended Kimber, but they finally quit carrying them after a customer carried one for 6 months and the finish looked like it had been buried in the ocean. Kimber wanted to charge the customer to refinish it... That piece now sits behind the glass in the front counter as the example of why they no longer carry Kimbers.
@the Graf does?
Ruger’s SR1911 is a very nice firearm. Solidly built, reliable all day.
Yeah, that's what I carry. I put the Tru-Glo TFX Pro sights on myself. The triggers are great.
Finally a you tube channel putting a company on blast for making garbage THAAAANNNNNKKKKK YOUUUUU
I received my 1911 from my grandpa after he passed. It wasn’t a fancy one, para ordinance. Cleaned it, fired it, lots of issues. Replaced the internals with Wilson combat parts and had the feed ramps polished and it seems ok. I need to put more rounds through it before I would consider carrying it over my m&p though.
I love my auto ordinance
CLureCo I was wrong, it’s an auto ordinance. Either way, I had a lot of fail to fires, hammer not falling all the way, fail to eject. You name it. I cleaned it before I shot it. But it just needs to be shot a bunch since I also inherited all his ammo with it. Once I put enough ammo through it without failures I’ll probably carry it when I’m in the woods. I’m sure it’s fine. But until I can verify it, I have other pistols I know are. Maybe I’ll just do a bunch of mag dumps at my next class when it’s done lol
I run a Ruger 1911 LW 9mm. Huge difference in weight for carry and I trust it.
I had a Rock Island 1911 (budget minded inexpensive weapon) that I had for EDC and I put around 1000 rounds through it during the time I owned it and it went bang every time I pulled the trigger with zero fails. I only got rid of it because I spend a lot of time in the back country (hiking is my hobby) and the firearm had a weird corrosion issue. I could take it out for a long day hike and when I got it home it looked like I had left it out in the elements for a month with the rust and corrosion. Was very hard to keep it in ship shape condition.
I love that you hammered the nails in the coffin of Kimber all throughout the video, then right at the very end, let's put one in the middle.
John, you have touch the Holy Ground, I mean, the holy cow, of so many 😆😆😆
Sacred cows make gourmet burgers!
!
I just got a Kimber 1911 ultra CDP / 3 inch barrel , it's a great gun _
Dan Wesson or Fusion Firearms. Bob Serva owner of Fusion is the former owner of Dan Wesson (pre-fire) and if JMB were alive today Bob would be President of 1911 Operations. Exceptional weapons, exceptional service and most except for Bob's custom work are sub - $2k.
After 4 decades of carrying the 1911 the weight got the better of my Sciatic nerve and after a regiment of steroids and some physical therapy I now carry a P365 in a Milt Sparks Summer Special II.
PS...... it's all about marksmanship not capacity.
Try a yoga class for the sciatic nerve. Google some beginner stuff. Nothing to lose and much to gain... less pain, better muscle tone, better breath control... all good stuff. Run my basics in 5 minutes a day. Go easy... looks girly but will kick your butt so don't overdo.
Kimber has more issues than Time magazine. Many respectable 1911's out there - some are not the most expensive/custom either. The Ruger you held up has a reputation for running well right out of the box as do Remington R1's. Buy a reputable 1911, take it out and run 500 rounds through it to make sure it works and then drop it in your holster. Good 'nuf.
John.
I shoot an average of 100 rounds a day out of my spring field 45 and my Kimber 1911 in 9 mil. (And I have No failures of any kind I do clean it about every 500 rounds.) You failed to mention 1911,s dominate USPSA and IFPA with outstanding reliability and there are many many manufacturers of this style of gun. With prices ranging from $400. To $4000 and perhaps even more. It’s a proven design still used today by special forces and law enforcement. I would say it’s not for the casual shooter it requires skilled hands to use it well.
Last note: the gun any person chooses to carry is a personal one and should only be done by that person and hours of range time.
Best wishes -Brian.
His major point is not using it for self defense purposes. Far superior guns out there now. I train regularly, not shoot, train, and there is a guy there’s a buddy there that runs a 1911. He’s a good shooter but due to the gun is slower than most out of the holster plus does hand malfunction issues where others do not
Those 1911s that USPSA shooters dominate with...which ones are they exactly? That's right, they're EXPENSIVE GUNS. And guns that those shooters maintain like it's a religion.
If you have a kimber that doesn't jam, you have found the holy grail. Keep it and cherish it forever.
Rock Island Armory 1911. All hand fitted, no rattle, runs flawless, and budget pricing. Only problem I experienced was the firing pin spring was a little weak. Replaced with a Wilson Combat spring and I've got a reliable piece for under $600.
When I started shooting in the late '70's the 1911 in .45acp was the only viable carry gun. I learned to shoot with it and did IPSC in the early 80's. I still shoot a 1911 (Les Baer Custom Carry in .45acp) because I have the most experience with it. I live in CA. so the capacity is not as much of an issue. I do, however, carry a Glock 26 as a matter of course. The advance in cartridge construction and reliability of the weapon has won me over. I still think it's an ugly brick of plastic and as Ken Hackathorn said with a Glock there is no pride in ownership.
As Ken Hackathorn said, the 1911 is the finest close quarters handgun, and king of the feedway stoppage.
I have a Glock 48 and I'm very happy and proud to own it. I would not ever seek it. It's just a good gun, it's thin, it's light, and I can shoot it really well.
@@jessegpresley I've taken classes with Mr. Hackathorn. Class act all the way.
My Kimber has been reliable for ten years. When I have problems, I'll switch it out.
I have too and I agree!
I'm not a Kimber Fanboy and I've seen one or two fail magnifiently. But. My Wife got a Kimber Evo and that gun runs like a champ out of the box. I would take a Kimber 1911 in a heartbeat. I'd definitely take one of the Kimber Revolvers.
Bought a Colt 1991a1 years ago, and carried it for about 15 years. Got the stock sights changed out for a set of tritium night sights, upgraded the barrel/bushing assembly, and bought some Wilson 8 and 10 round mags. Didn't touch the safety, trigger group, or anything else. Loaded the mags with Speer's "flying ashtray" hollow points first.....then later on...when they became available...with Federal HST's and never considered myself underarmed or my equipment inferior to anyone elses.
Don't over think things folks.
It's a pistol.
Buy a decent one that suits you.
Train with it.
Carry it.
And it's perfectly fine for what it was designed to do.
I alternate carrying my xds 4.0 45acp & my Sr1911. The difference is i can keyhole shots at 20 yards with the SR... 👌
This video is gonna hurt a whole lot of feelings
.45 AARP 👴🏼... as noted, many, many 🇺🇸 cadre-class trainers have shifted to 9mm +P since 2010 or so. The 1911 series & .45acp are no longer "tact-cool" or hip. I carry a .357sig or 9x19mm +P mostly. I might get a .45acp M&P sub compact or Walther PPQ m2 later but it's not a big deal.
I never realized how pricey my Great Grandfather's Colt was. It's an heirloom from him serving in WWII, so I never bothered to look at its sale value since I'd never sell it, but 3.5k is a lot. Gonna really keep it safe now.
No feeling hurt I edc a sig C3. I dont hang out in falusia or Chicago if I cant get my self safe in 8 rounds I shouldn't be cc ing. I'm not a cop but I do have to go to sketchy places every now and then. Church lows and I drive by Walmart some times
@@OnlyTwoShoes what year? Do you have holster and mags?
John, with respect, I would suggest that you've misidentfied the problem with Kimbers:
In my experience (I've had three in 25 years), Kimbers almost always gag out-of-the-box with KIMBER factory mags. My Kimbers run flawlessly after a brief break-in and with WILSON mags. My Series 1 5-inch has never gagged in 25 years of bowling pin matches and thousands of rounds of range practice , both ball and HP, with WILSON mags. Similarly, I carry concealed a 4" Pro Carry II on the strength of regular range practice without incident for 1.5 years. My new10MM Kimber gagged- predictably- on the factory mags; it runs without problems on WILSON mags. I would willingly bet that 95% or more of your students presenting feed problems on the line were shooting new guns with factory mags.
You got three heads on three coin flips. That’s good. :)
Possibly. Maybe you got 10. :)@@ASPextra
But my sample size is like 100. So to get that skewed is highly unlikely.
Well, 100 is a significant number, so thanks for sharing that. Clearly, then, you're on to something. Just what exactly, I don't think either of us has yet clearly established.
At this point, I still believe it's using too broad a brush to ascribe all of the feed failures to GENERAL, CONSISTENT poor quality: It doesn't seem unreasonable to say that were it such, I would likely have seen evidence of it in fit, finish and function (the aforementioned mag issue notwithstanding) in one of my purchases and range experience with other Kimbers over 25 years.
That said, after consideration of your sample size, I'll humbly revise my previous 95% figure to say that I believe "some" of those feed failures would prove to be due to a lack of a break-in period and Kimber mags until I learned more.@@ASPextra
Further to our exchange above, I quizzed my gunsmith down here in Georgetown, TX, for his take on Kimber. He affirmed your view that I am lucky to have had good experience with Kimber. More specifically, Kimber's quality in Series 1 was top drawer, but declined precipitously thereafter in Series II when they moved from forgings to cast parts. I stand corrected. :)
Nope, i do not want to carry a 1911 because it's heavy, low capacity and has too many safteys.
I've carried a 45 for yrs. Imo just as good today as it was in 1911. I actually have a ruger and have never had any problems with it. My favorite is my fnx .45
Ford Model T is just as good today as it was in 1908 when it came out. But that doesn't mean you would want to drive one today.
@@ASPextra actually the model t isn't as good today as a new ford. Just like a 1911 manufactured today is better. What I ment was is it's a good design that I prefer over other firearms. Again just my opinion. I could care less what someone's carrying as long as their proficient with it.
My Remington R1 1911 hasn't failed me since I purchased it.
I don't own a Rem R1 (yet and you ain't helpin'), but have never heard a single bad thing about them. Never. At the ranges I practice at and in the articles I've read.
My R1 stainless which I purchased in July has had ftf intermittent on the last round with factory mag, chip McCormick and sig mags. It is at Remington now for factory warranty repairs. It is a very nice pistol though and to go with my sig 1911 and m&p shield 45 it gives me some good options for quality range time with 9mm so hard to find. I would definitely carry a 1911 in colder weather when it can be concealed and trust my families life with it.
@@willwilliam217 I've been lucky with mine no ftf so far. I use both factory and wilson combat mags with flawless results . I recently sent my Rm380 to Remington for some trigger issues and they promptly repaired it and I had it back in a week. Good luck with yours.
My Kimber Custom II fits the bill perfectly as a 3lb paperweight that loves to fail.
So in other words, the 1911 is a great firearm. It's the manufacturers that need work.
JMB engineered it to function with FMJ ball 230gr loads. Not whiz bang frangible super shock 😱 ammunition.
It was a great firearm in 1911. The Hi Power kind of rendered it obsolescent less than 30 years later, though.
@@immikeurnot "less than 30 years later"
kind of like the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 rendered the Blériot XI obsolete huh...
@@DavidLLambertmobile Never had a problem in my 1911's with any hollow point ammunition.
@@immikeurnot Not only is the 1911 still a great firearm, it's just as relevant now as it's ever been. Carry one every day.
I have yet to see any of the problems you mention with my SA RO Elite Champion. Ive put 4500 rounds through the gun and have not seen one bobble. Note the last 1600 rounds or so were fired off in Adam Winch's Defender classes. The gun did well just ask Adam. BTW I use 185 grain ammo exclusively in the gun. I am told this is a good load since the gun comes with an 18lb recoil spring.
"Springfield" is "Kimber" spelled differently. I've never had a good one.
You said Springfield. I think you meant Colt.
@@it_is_finished Well, if it wasn't for Colt, I don't think the industry would be in as good of a place as it is now, for history's sake. 🤦♂️
I've had five, sold due to financial difficulties, never had one that wouldn't run with good quality mags.
Interesting. I've owned 7 or 8 over the last 10 years. Currently own 5 Springfields. They've all eaten 300+ rounds at a time without failure and no maintenance during session. I have an OCD desire to clean every gun after a session though so i couldn't say if they'd go thousands without lube or cleaning.
I'm not a big fan of "grip safety" pistols 🤷🏼♂️. Nor can I justify the size, wt for 8-9 rounds compared to 15-16 with a polymer frame compact .40, 9mm, 10mm. No one complains about .45acp but in 2020, there are more practical choices.
A few things about 1911 style pistols: one, the original design was for a battlefield pistol, one that would work in the mud and dirt and the water. So, the tolerances were designed to be loose. If you wanted to improve the accuracy, you tightened them up with a new barrel and bushing, pounded the slide tighter. They didn’t have the “old slap side “ nickname for nothing. They rattled.
Newer models went for accuracy by tightening the tolerances, and as a result things started jamming. So, more polishing and fitting and now you have the Les Baer and the Wilson Combat. Kimbers are not either of those. With most run of the mill 1911s, or any pistol, you have to look at the heart of the pistol to find feeding problems. The magazine. If you use a Kimber magazine, you get issues. I use Wilson Combat and I don’t have feeding issues. You also look at the throat and if the feed ramp is smooth.
Look at the mainspring housing on a Kimber. It’s plastic. It breaks. Replace it with a good metal one and that issue is addressed. Follow the break in period that any pistol should go through and use the right lube and things get better.
Oh, and 1911s need lubricant. Always have and always will. While the newer polymer pistols don’t need near as much, a 1911 does. So, when you are deciding which carry pistol you want, consider the downside and the upside as well, and go forth with what you are confident in.
I don’t carry my 1911 but they are absolutely my favorite pistol!!! Sexiest gun ever made!!! And a Dan Wesson, Sig 1911, Springfield, Colt are all quality 1911s
your right john about the kimber.. my first 1911 is a kimber custom II that my wife gave on my birthday always bring me a shame at the range, more than 500round been put through but seem to not solve a feeding issue.. make a tough decission rather than sent it back to kimber for repair, im finally sold it and bought a 10mm Dan Wesson, never have any issue from day 1 of purchase or during breaking in period.. its also a tight fit but still runs fine.. never recommend any kimber again. worst nightmare for a $1500 gun that cant run.
One of the few things James Yeager is right about is 1911s. His experience training a ton of students is that a 1911 that gets through a class is as rare as a Glock that doesn't. Manufactured 1911s are crap.
If memory serves, Dave Ramsey carries a Wilson Combat 1911 but he's a millionaire.
WC makes a fine 1911.
@@ASPextra WC is a semi-hand fit shop, too. Not as extensively as Ed Brown, or Nighthawk, but pretty close. One day I will have a Nighthawk, once I can justify spending $4k on a handgun. :D
I'd buy a Cabot Guns 1911 model .45acp or 10mm SAO left hand. 😉. His firearms are top notch. Les Baer made the FBI, HRT pistols but his custom shop could not meet DoJ's strict requirements. The FBI went to S-A.
He was also right about using grease instead of oil to lubricate AR15s.
Have yet to see him be right on any other count, though.
I have to admit that I made the transition. I have a Kimber Pro Carry 2 in black and a Springfield XD 45. I'm retired military, combat arms guy and cut my teeth on a .45 ACP. When we transitioned to 9mm and I saw them used down range, I had some real problems with the stopping power (which is why the Army bought the .45 in 1911). I carried the same bias into retirement. I remember taking my well-maintained, gunsmithed Kimber to a tactical fire course and feeling like an idiot after about an hour. Neither gun would gun. I lubed them, used my Chip McCormack magazines, good ammo. They constantly had failure to feed or jammed. I ended up using a loaner gun to get through training. I bought a VP9 and the world changed. I realized I could hold more ammo, I had a reliable gun, and, now that I'm a civilian, I'm not limited to ball ammo. My EDC gun is a SIG 365XL. It runs all the time, everytime, it's accurate, and it's easy to carry. I still have my .45s and I love to shoot them. I just wouldn't stake my life on them.
Yeah I cant imagine buying a 1911 for a edc. Too nice. I'd much rather go with a glock.
Carried a Kimber ultra covert for years. Probably 12-15 thousand rounds down range. Changed the recoil spring twice, kept it reasonably clean, shot reloads as well as a bunch of factory ammo. Never had a breakage. Did have of couple of stovepipe stoppages usually when weak hand practicing. Now carrying a M&P due to getting older and not seeing quite as well. Figure... the more the merrier.
Love my Kimber Custom TLE 2: TFS in 45. Carry 10+1 never let me down.
How many rounds? Any issues?
That's rare
@@zachb2070 It’s been run over 2k rounds. No issues
My gun experience is over 25 yrs now. (Vet, Instrctr, Competitor, regional sales). John has done reviews in the past that made me want to Jimmy Superfly Snooka off the top rope, but in this case he's right on the mark about Kimbers, BUT there's good news for all you Kimber guys. Your money is NOT entirely wasted. Kimbers can be made into reliable guns, you just have to break them in really really well. There's 2 ways to do that. No. 1 Shoot a lot. Shooting your gun opens up those tolerances he's talking about and in time creates better reliability. No. 2 involves 600-800 grit wet/dry sand paper, popsicle sticks, and lots of elbow grease. Consult your local gun smith for more on solution No. 2
In my enhanced concealed carry class we students had a mixed bag of what we qualified with. Me and another guy had Glocks, a married couple had S&W J-frames, and the rest were mostly Ruger or S&W semi-autos of various types. The instructor was an older gentleman, probably mid 60's, retired law enforcement. He went on an on for about 1/2 hour about how the only thing he will ever carry is a 1911 and pointed out all of the external safety mechanisms that are built into them, and about how guns like Glocks suck because they have no external safeties. I think most 1911 carriers think along those same lines.
For the older gun slingers I think you are right, but I am new to handguns and after trying various guns out I shot the best with the 1911. The grip angle, trigger and weight really help. I consider 1911's to be the classic cars of the gun world. I am basically running a resto-mod, an older design with modern enhancements. I like it.
I am a 1911 lover, but I also appreciate the more modern stuff. There are advantages to the external safeties and I do prefer the trigger pull of the single action 1911 over the striker fire or double action like a baretta. I think it's one of the things that makes a 1911 easy to shoot. I also own a Ruger SR 9E, which is more of a budget gun/glock knock off, but it shoots very very well fot that price range. I honestly very much like the SR 9. I think it is an underrated firearm.
So the argument comes down to production 1911's versus hand-built 1911's, which is what 1911 guys have known from the beginning. Jeff Cooper said it best: "The 1911 pistol remains the service pistol of choice in the eyes of those who understand the problem. Back when we audited the FBI academy in 1947, I was told that I ought not to use my pistol in their training program because it was not fair. Maybe the first thing one should demand of his sidearm is that it be unfair.” - Col. Jeff Cooper, GUNS & AMMO, January 2002
I love my 1911 but I wouldn't trust it as an everyday carry. For that I'll stick with my Smith & Wesson Shield
S&W makes a reliable, high quality 1911 that doesn't break the bank.
My Ruger 1911 runs flawlessly, after I threw out the factory magazines and replaced them with Wilson Combat magazines
I did the same. Wilson Combat all the way.
I have seen and heard a lot of issues with Kimber. I will stick with my Rugers which always run like a top.
The Kimber you disparage exactly what weight bullets was it being fed. Im told the sweet spot is 165 grain to 185 grain rounds for those guns, not the 230 grain rounds.
Me: sees the SBR's
*cries in commiefornian*
I shed a tear for you too man. Good luck out there.
Bought a Springfield Armory military spec 1911 new for $650. I range shoot all the time with it and shoot IDPAs with it and have never had it fail on me yet. SA mil spec 1911 has no frills. It is very much the same as the GI ones, but is very well built and has run flawlessly for me. Now I do maintain it well and give it a full cleaning and relubrication frequently. But I do that with all my firearms.
I love my Kimbers! Beautifully made. They are fantastic and of the finest craftsmanship but not my EDC.... I paid $1400 for mine. It was just something I had wanted. It's always run clean and never had any problems. But i carry a six shooter for EDC so Kimber is neither her not there when it comes to this. But I have never had any probs with it, so no reason not to use them. Every gun is different. Mine never malfunction so it's always interesting to hear this type of stuff. Just maintain your piece.
Agreed, I own a kimber custom lw as long as you keep it clean and lubed like you should be with any gun it has no problems at almost 1000 rounds now.
Gotta say that my TLE II runs like a champ, box after box.
Then again, it's a 5" 1911 and I only shoot standard 230g Ball. Half the problems I see with pistols that don't work is that the owners have installed some tacticool aftermarket parts. Outside of grips and sights, many of the 1911 "upgrades" are the entire problem!
Another problem is using bullets weighing only 165g and even less; you're bound to have issues when using 2/3's of what the gun was designed to shoot.
John Browning designed the 1911 and it worked, others have modified it and their versions have been less than perfect. Run it like Browning designed it!
Have a Sig Nightmare 1911 and I love it. Qualified for my CCW with it, out of the ten shots I keyholed three. Fucker is stupid accurate.
Sig makes a great 1911
"Stay away from Kimber", is probably the most important life-saving advice that you've ever given on this channel. They are hot garbage.
John, it took me running my handguns in Speed Steel and IDPA matches over a period of several years to understand what you are saying. Malfunctions never stick out in your mind when you are casually shooting at the range but they REALLY hurt your feelings when they happen in a match. I've run 1911's in matches and they required spring changes and other similar tuning to ever get to 95% reliability. And lube before every match. I finally gave up and now it's either a G19MOS or a P226 that I choose to rely on. If I can't reliably bet the competitive outcome of a match on it, why would I bet my life??
This is a great point. The malfunctions at the range are easy to dimiss.
What about Colts ?
Old Colt 1911s run generally okay. Very seldom do we actually see someone train with them, though.
@@ASPextra ok
@@ASPextra Old? Series 70, Series 80, or older than that?
@@ASPextra I cared an 80 series on duty for 10 years This was back when colt made guns for civilians, I wouldn't carry any thing they make today.
I have a Kimber AEGIS ELITE PRO 45 acp....I've never had any issues or problems! It runs great!
Put 500 rounds through my brand new Kimber a few weeks ago with zero issues.
Glad to hear that. I would guess 50% of Kimber owners have zero problems for a couple thousand rounds with the gun.
The problem with Kimber is you never know what you are going to get out of the box. One will run, the other will not, and tolerance stack is usually the main culprit. Because they all use MIM parts for the internals, they never last long under heavy duty use. All 1911s require regular maintenance, too, such as regular main spring/firing pin spring replacement intervals, and extractor tuning. They get ever more finnicky the further you get away from the original 7 round mag 5" full size gun, too.
I might be the lone voice in the wilderness, but I'm 66, a former Army SF light weapons NCO and retired LEO. My EDC is a well worn Kimber Tactical Pro with God only knows how many rounds through it...in excess of 30k. (I reload). All I've done is periodically change out the springs every 5k rounds or so. It feeds, chambers, fires, extracts and ejects everything I put in it. I do however run nothing but Wilson magazines though. It's over 15 years old, so I'm sticking with it.
Just try a CZ P 10 C second Generation
Just the trigger makes the world of a difference! Love it!
@MVia Jericho 941, best of both worlds lol
I have a Kimber Pro Carry.
I've taken several pistol classes, from basic to advanced.
I did have one problem at one class. Replaced the ejector spring AFTER 1500 rounds
No issues, thanks for the opinion. I'll keep my Kimbet
I love my 1911. Got a taurus 1911 and so far shot 1000s of rounds through it without a single issue. Its my carry gun until I get something a bit easier to carry. Just keep it clean and lubed up! Like any machine it responds best to maintenance not neglect.
I have a chep'O Rock Island armory 1911. It's the GI model, so no fancy sights, or forward slide serrations or anything. Only thing I've done to it is put some magpul grip scales on it. There's a blemish on the finish of the top of the slide which I'm not thrilled about, and I have no idea how it got there, but that being said, it has an EXCELLENT trigger, I've never tested it, but I'd be very surprised if it was over 3.7 pounds. The slide runs smoothly, and the grip safety works without any issues. It has a few low key upgrades from lesser models, like a slightly flared magwell, a vertically serrated trigger, and vertically serrated backstrap, but that's about it. Nothing on the front strap, no extended beaver tail or fancy hammer. It doesn't even have that safety feature that prevents the rare possibility of it firing when you drop the slide on a full mag. But it's run relatively well for me. I've had a few misfeeds, but that was because I used bargain bin range mags and shifty ammunition. When using decent ammo, and my Colt mag, it's never malf'd.
It was bought for me by my dad as a gift, and we were both so impressed by this $399.00 pistol, that my mom had the idea of getting one for him on the next holiday. I was still pretty new to gun buying at the time, and I had never purchased a firearm myself at that point, so it didn't occur to me to actually go to the store and handle/test the guns, and to pick out an individual gun. I just thought that this model of 1911 is what you get, and it would be exactly like mine. So we just had my brother in law do the purchase since the store was on his way home from work, and I'm half crippled, so it just made sense to have him do it.
Oh boy was I wrong to not go get it myself.... The one we regrettably got for my dad was like mine in name only. The finish wasn't as nice, even with the blemish on mine. The slide was not as smooth, the springs felt way too heavy, only Thor could press the mag release, the trigger was probably like a 14 pound break, and could only be described as ... "crunchy"...
A few months later, when my dad asked "Hey, I know it was a gift, but do you mind if I trade it in?" He got a resounding "Go right ahead!"
So the takeaway from all this, is: The RIA 1911's "can" be decent or even excellent budget blasters, but you should treat them like WASR's. Inspect and handle them yourself, and make sure that the one you looked at in the store, is the one you'll pick up later on.
I agree. I've had the pleasure of shooting one of their original offerings and it was stellar. Quality built and it just felt good. New ones, over priced and cheapy looking. I also have a 1917 colt and never considered it was worth that. Thanks for that one John.
I like the 1911. My ruger has served me well on the range for a year now. Out of 800 rnds 2 jams but i think it was my fault not the gun its self. 800 isnt that much but its more ammo id use in a self defence situation. If not im grabbing my ak 47 or ar 15 lol.
Everybody is trying to be ta tactical.
Me:Shows up with a 1911 A1 and a m1 Garand in my 101st airborne uniform with a leg tie.
My rock island armoury 1911 GI is amazing. Spent 400 on it, after 2 years & a couple thousand rounds only 4 rounds jammed, this has been the best 1911 ever, good quality, good metal, a great first handgun