I know this is a loaded question and Kimber is going to come up over and over again. I shot both a Springfield and Kimber today and I had some problems with the Springfield version. Keeping in mind that range guns are not very well taken care of and they have a ton of rounds through them.

What are eveyone thoughts on the Springfield 1911 A1 gun. have you herd of any problems with that gun?

Thanks,
Bunkhunt

I carry a Loaded Springfield every day. Of all the 45's I've owned, it's my favorite. It has all the bells and whistles and was tested to shot 2 inch groups at 50 yards from a Ransom rest. When the FBI was looking for a new weapon, this is what Springfield submitted. No way, I'd let this gun get away from me.

I've owned Springfield and Colt. Prefer the all-steel, no BS Springfield to the series 80+ firing pin block plastic main spring housing Colt. Series 70 and older are better and the ones made in the 50s and 60s are regarded as the best, when the WWII machinists and metalurgy were at their height. I wouldn't hesitate to have an older Colt over, under, next to, or instead of a Springfield.

My series 80 Colt had a stovepipe problem that never was completely resolved despite having some work done on it. The Springfield had a stiff trigger which resolved nicely with a little work.

Thousands of rounds each type and a few mags through a few other varieties.

If what you need to feel good about your side arm is tight groups at long range, you can pick the fly poop from the pepper over race horse .45s and you would find some notable differences among the various manufacturers. If you are looking at a duty sidearm without all the bells and whistles, series 70 or earlier Colt, Springfield, or any other reputable 1911 .45 manufacturer will do. Be aware that some people will tell you it's a 1911 when, in fact, it's not really quite the same. The series 80 with the firing pin block is not a 1911 (which did not specify the firing pin block). Some brands use the Colt model or other silly add ons, so be aware that not all 1911s are actually 1911s.

Good stuff there. Thank you.

Have the GI model A1. Excellent cycling and very accurate. Highest recomendations!

If you go Kimber, be sure it has a steel or stainless steel frame, not a lite weight alloy.

What's wrong with the alloy? I have a CDP as my duty weapon for the last six years with no problems. Is that your opinion or is there a valid reason? The only problem Ive ever heard with the Kimber is the exterior extractor..

Only 1 instance of a LEO shot a lot of ammo out of his Kimber......Frame cracked and after calling Kimber they told him the frame had lived out its life expectancey, No Customer Service. Is this the entire story...? IDK...
Story may be in the light most favorable to...UKW
Factory/Reloads uncertain....probably reloads shot from gun...Maybe Kimbers out on this...IJDK

You scared me for a second. My life depends on that gun and if there is some defects or recalls, I need to know about them..Thanks

Alloy is for carrying, not shooting. If you want to buy a steel one to shoot and an alloy one to carry, it works out well for you. You still have to shoot the alloy one from time to time because it will be different but you can stretch out its life shooting the heavier one. What a wise old friend of mine said about alloy pistols is that they're for when you are more concerned about carrying than shooting.

Had a springfield GI, loved it.... and sold it

Another GI Springer here. The one thing I thought about, is starting low and adding things to the gun that I want and not what someone else says I need. I havent done anything yet, but I have around 400 rounds through it with failures of any kind.
But then again, its all in what your comfortable with, only you can make the final decision.

I've got a Springfield Champion and really love it. However, I must say that until I had my Son the gunsmith work on it and replace the recoil spring and rod, I had a few FTF's. (probably 4 or 5 in the first 250 rounds.) Since he fine tuned it for me, I've had no other problems in at least 500 rounds.

Guy's thanks for all the feed back the reason I asked the question is I was at the Bullet Trap this last weekend and I started off with the Springfield GI version.
After messing with the backstrap saftey for a while I finally got it to shoot. With the first clip of rounds I had three rounds jam on me.

I told them about the problems I was having and they gave me the Kimber 1911. Two boxes of rounds through it and it jammed twice.

I'm thinking the jammed rounds might have been the cheap rounds they sold me. However the saftey not working right concerned me. The guy at the counter told me that he has a Springfield 1911 A1 with the same safety problem.

My next gun is a 1911 of some sort I just wanted a little advise before I drop a hand full of Benjamin's on it.

Thanks for the advise,
Bunkhunt

I've never had any problems with the safety on my Springfield, and I also know at least 25 other guys who regularly shoot theirs. I'd estimate that we average at least 250 rounds/mo. thru each of these guns and not a single person has ever told me that they had experienced any sort of problem with the safeties. From what you said about having problems with both the "loaner" Springfield and the "loner" Kimber, don't know, but I'd be willing to bet that the gun range where you were shooting has a "Shade Tree Gunsmith" working on their guns. Both Kimber and Springfield make good quality 1911 type firearms.

Regards, & Good Shootin',
LlindeX

Ammo, grip and dirty gun can all cause a jam. I clean mine everytime and have shot magtech and winchester, with the later being my main choice.

Good luck and take your time and you cant go wrong with either Kimber or Springfield, I would have bought the Kimber but was almost twice what I paid for my Springfield.