I recently picked up a Kimber Custom II. Only other 1911 I’ve owned is a Dan Wesson so I know expecting a $700 Kimber to be on par isn’t fair. However what are some 1911 upgrades I can make myself that will show a noticeable improvement? Trigger, springs, etc. ? Please be specific about manufacturer. I enjoy handguns but I’m more of a rifle guy.

Trigger job is always welcome, other than that maybe nothing. Really depends on usage

not familiar with your Kimber but maybe sights, trigger for sure but I recommend a good gunsmith for this

I won't say anything bad about your Kimber, but before you spend a lot of money upgrading it, make sure it will first shoot If it does, Colt's sometimes have sloppy thumb safeties so I fix that if it's an issue. I often put VZ grips on my 1911s. If they don't have night sights, I sometimes add Novak night sights. Sometimes I put lightweight adjustable triggers in them depending on what trigger is in the gun already. Earl

Unless you’re very happy with the grips Earl nailed it. VZ is an excellent upgrade. Classic to wild, they make all kinds in all patterns.

I have a Kimber LW in the safe but I’ve never shot it so I can’t recommend any direct upgrades for it. I always like a big beavertail unless I’m trying to conceal it.

I shot 3 mags through it yesterday. It shoots pretty good. Trigger doesn’t feel on par with my Dan Wesson but I get that. Nothing about it feels as smooth either. I’m not getting rid of it either so I want it to be a gun I want to shoot.

I’ve been looking at the VZ grips already. The sights are green fiber optic in front. I’m sure running a couple hundred rounds through it will change things too.

^^^This is pretty vague, best thing is to just shoot the gun and when you figure out what you don't like and change it. Or when you figure out what you want the purpose of the gun to be, set it up for that. Range gun, carry gun, house gun, hunting gun, competition gun, all would be set differently if it were mine. Sure there would be some overlap, but no sense throwing money at it until you figure out what YOU want the gun for

I always put full length guide rods in my 1911’s. Beyond that just depends on what it feels like. I know Wilson combat offers a package with guide rod and a few other things for about $40 it’s money well spent.

Skip the FLGR and other flashy crap. Stick to the important stuff. Good lockwork (Barstock etc), good magazines and a reliability job because its a Kimber it will need all of those items.

Ok well I Googled Kimber reliability job and came up empty. What is it?

Reliability is #1. Period.

You don't need to do anything to it, just get a feel for it and practice.

shoot it wet and grip it tight. Get her broke in. Be careful. You can dump $1500 in custom upgrades in a heartbeat.

Are you really talking me out of spending gun money? Is this like when I tell my kids not to do stuff because I speak from experience?

1911 Reliability work in general.

Solid chance a "reliability job" ain't needed. Kimbers are fine guns, but ALL gun companies make a dud occasionally. Go shoot your gun. If it works then change what you would like. Asking on a forum what to do to your gun will get you no where. Once you find out if your blaster works or not (it probably will), and you have shot it a bit to figure out what you are going to do with the gun and what you like and don't like, then ask about suggestions on how/what to change to make the gun preform to your wants.

On an open ended question like this, the only answers you are gong to get are the "do what i do/buy what i buy" type, which may or may not be what YOU actually want/need to do

YES !!!! Inherited a Mint Colt LW Commander, had a Gunsmith do a total Package on it . The 30 line per inch checkered front grip strap was $375, plus a new national match barrel and bushing, slide and frame fitted, feed ramp polished, New trigger, new hammer, plus Cerakote.

plus it too this guy 6 months

I have a Dan Wesson Specialist now, had to find a better 1911 for the money (as you know)

Break your Kimber in, If I remember they suggest 600 round breakin or was it 300? This was on a Kimber Desert Warrior I had a long time ago.

kept all the wear places WELL lubed during break in.

I have one like yours in 10mm. I had the guys at 1911 academy put a 3lb. trigger in it and it has been a very nice upgrade and all I have done except get better WC mags for it....

+1 for 1911 Academy. They have done several things for me. Great to work with. They are near Frisco/Prosper Texas. You might have to drive a bit or ship it (hassel)

you need to shoot the crap out of that Kimber first

put 2000 rds through it then you'll see if it needs upgrade

hone the trigger
extended slide release
Wilson mags

are probably all you need

Dude I have owned enough Kimber rifles and handguns to know that Reliability and Kimber do not go in the same sentence together. If you try to run that gun hard it will [censored] the bed. Don't even get me started on their rifles.

I have never messed with their rifles, so no comment there. That said i see a stock kimber 1911 get run hard all the time in uspsa and it works fine. Actually see a few of them that do,only know of one that didn't, but the guy who had it always has gun issues, so who knows on that one. So my answer stays the same, shoot the gun and see how it works.

Also, why would you keep buying kimbers if they don't work for you?

^^ THIS! ^^

I no longer buy them at all..

Examples, all purchased while I was overseas.

Kimber Longmaster Classic- 223 Chamber was rough cut but not finished. Sent back and they installed a new barrel.

Kimber Advanced Tactical 300WM- Bedding was trashed and had the barrel off another rifle with similar serial number on it. Waited 18 months for that rifle.

Kimber Classic 7mm-08, Ordered and recieved, had a huge chunk of rifling missing in the barrel.

I have had at least 4 of their 1911's that were bags of crap. Most needed extractor work or Ejector work or internals that crapped the bed.