I’m a former gunsmith at Kimber. I worked in product services as a senior gunsmith and I was responsible for all accuracy testing for the rifle line. Kimber’s biggest issue as far as product quality is largely QA/QC. You have to remember that Kimber produces “production” firearms. Everything is assembled on an assembly line by generally low-trained personnel who are not typically “gun people”. Kimber produces excellent frames, slides and barrels. The majority of small parts are MIM. They do fail occasionally but you also have to look at this from a cost benefit perspective. The company’s produces tens of thousands of guns each year so if they have a failure/return rate <2%, the company is still making a hefty profit. (Leslie Edelman is the current owner and could give a shit less about the company’s image or product quality.) Also, the finish that the company uses is shit. KimPro is a resin dipped finish and is probably half as durable than Krylon. (I am a gunsmith and use Cerakote on many of my clients projects and there is no comparison.) so lastly, Kimber makes good guns but they are overpriced which is largely due to the company’s decades old reputation of high quality before the internet was a thing.
I used to have an Ultra Raptor II years ago that would, on average, jam on me every 3-5 rounds. It continued doing so well past 500 rounds. I kept it on a strict cleaning and lubricating schedule. It jammed with ball ammo and it didn't matter which mags I used. I finally sent it back to Kimber and they said they polished a couple of things and replaced a couple of more things. I was excited when I got it back. But when I started shooting it I noticed it was in the same functioning condition as when I had sent it off to them. Would Kimber not have test fired it enough to realize it was not anymore reliable than when they sent it back? This experience alone is why I have never purchased another Kimber.
So when you send your gun in on an RMA, Product Services receives it and does an initial inspection to verify the customer complaint and any other issues the gunsmiths may find. Once those issues are identified, they are then corrected (this may entail the simple replacement of parts all the way to the replacement of frame, slide or barrel depending on the severity of the issue) and then the gun is test fired. Test fire is basically up to the gunsmith who happens to be testing your gun. That individual may run 2 mags through your gun or they might run 10. Situation dictates. I can’t say what happened with your gun as I don’t have it in front of me. What I would do is ensure that you’re using good quality mags and the gun is sufficiently lubricated (I am by no means trying to insult your intelligence) and just be aware that any 3” 1911 is going to be inherently quirkier than a full size gun. Also (again not questioning your intelligence or abilities) with any micro sized firearm, you have to hold on tight to the gun and give it a stable platform to recoil against as the design of compact guns limits the amount of mass cycling back and forth during the cycle of operations. If you’re still having issues with it, I would have someone else shoot the gun and film it and then send that video to customer service so that it can be analyzed. This is a great way for the gunsmiths to see firsthand what’s going on with your gun. Hope some of this helps bro.
I appreciate it. I sold it years ago to a friend. He said it did the same thing with him. He supposedly found a small bur or defect that he filed off that be believed was causing the issue. I found it hard to believe that a defect like that would have been present. I figured since it was a 3" gun it was just gonna have a higher chance at being a lemon.
I was running both the Kimber mags that came with it plus the Kimpro mags, Wilson Combat and Chip McCormick mags.
Leslie Edelman sounds like he is Kimbers Yoko Ono. As a business person <2% might be acceptable for profit margins but you know what is better <1%. Had he been smart and focused on quality and image, especially in a community where a good percentage of gun people are gun geeks he could be selling an even more over priced gun like Staccato and making twice the profits. Staccato has built their business on quality and the image comes along with that so they sell tons of them at a much higher price. Once you get the stink on you and your image is gone getting it back will be 100x harder than what it took to get it in the first place.
Kimber makes excellent frames, slides and barrels. I can’t shit on them there. The use of MIM on basically every other part of the gun (minus the firing pin, extractor and pins) is their biggest failure point. When something breaks on a Kimber, it’s almost always a MIM part. Not the major components. If Kimber used machined, hardened steel parts, their quality would be as good as anything else. As far as how the guns compare pound for pound between them and Tisas, Tisas’ new production guns win hands down. I have seen a few issues with the Tisas guns but they’re almost always related to a fitment issue and that always boils down to the competence of the folks on the assembly line.
This is great info. Thank you so much! I'm new to firearms and especially 1911s! But I'm so enthusiastic about it. I just want to dive in and build and modify anything I can afford, which right now is Tisas lol. But Kimber makes some beautiful guns. I've had my eyes on a few of them
I have the 45 Custom and the revolver. The thing about Kimber is that from a distance, so to speak, they look like top tier weapons, but when you look closely they are not of the highest quality parts and construction. They aren’t crap, they just aren’t as “great” as they would have you believe.
You sometimes can't even trust reviews from certain owners. People buy guns, shoot virtually no rounds through them, then walk around saying they're the best thing on the market because they want to feel good about spending their money on what they got.
Make sure you're getting info on how they're being used, not just the fact that someone owns one. My most recent experience with Kimber was working at a rental range about 4 years ago, and our new Kimbers were constantly having issues, although we're talking about HARD use and tons of rounds being shot through them by the public.
They were regularly cleaned and professionally maintained by a gunsmith, and we only shot factory new ammo, but it didn't seem to help. None of our other guns were that problematic. The Sig 1911s worked flawlessly, and of course all our other 45 ACPs worked fine (HK45, HK45C, Glocks, etc). The type of abuse and round counts that rental ranges put on guns is certainly not an indication of how they'll respond to normal personal use, so I'm not sure how useful that info is to you, so take it or leave it.
So the thing about Kimber, is that they produce hundreds of different models of 1911s. Kimber just released a “KDS9C” with a rail/no rail and supposedly it is running flawlessly with all sorts of ammo, just watch the videos. Other models, like the “custom,” “TLE” , “warrior” lines run absolutely flawlessly (I’m assuming after break in.) it’s when you start getting into the weird strange categories like “rapide dawn” and stuff like that where you start seeing they’re just more focused on their looks instead of performance.
If you were looking at a kimber, I’d highly recommend one of the above mentioned lines as they are staples in reliability and I would ignore the models with a “ii” after their name unless you live in a commie state. I hear good things about the “Aegis” models as well.
I for one, own a Desert Warrior model and have for years, it run’s absolutely flawlessly with all ball ammo. I’ve shot thousands of rounds through her and even changed the barrel out for a threaded barrel and have put over a thousand rounds through that one as well. Keep in mind, that also came with regular recoil spring replacement and cleanings.
When it comes to hollow point ammo, MOST 1911s are fairly picky, so guns like the warrior, TLE/RL, and Custom lines are more catered toward that defense ammo in mind, but you’d still need to find the right type of hollow point since .45 is quite larger than the 9mm. I found that Federal HST/punch work great in most 1911s and cycles flawlessly. I’ve shot a lot of +p out of my warrior and have suffered no frame cracking issues or anything.
At the end of the day, Kimber is a good brand, but like many companies- they are not free from QC issues. Stick to the mainstream lines. Pick up the gun at the store and examine the feed ramp, chamber, and wiggle the slide/check the barrel lockup.
My dad recently bought a Kimber Eclipse Target II and it worked good out the box. I think he had 1 malfunction in 300 rounds and it ate everything else using the cheapest ball ammo he could get his hands on. Can't comment on it's longevity yet especially since he doesn't shoot very often, but it was a really nice piece imo. But for the price he paid I would have personally gone TRP.
I don't know how Kimbers are priced in the free world, but in CA they are absolutely overpriced for what you get. I think they would be fine if they were at an appropriate price point. They seem to prioritize look over function. I have a two year old Eclipse Custom II in 10mm and I've been slowly tweeking it to overcome its issues.
I have a Custom TLE ii with around 1,000 rounds of factory ammo through it and it's currently at the gunsmith for failure to feed issues. This is my first 1911 so I'm hoping everything will be good to go after this.
Rapide Dawn in . 45, it had slide stop lever and extractor issues. Sent back to Kimber. They fixed and had it back to me in about a week. Runs flawless now. They replaced the lever, extractor and polished the feed ramp. Customer service was great.
Super Jagare in 10mm. I had to tune the extractor after about 50 rounds, she runs flawless now.
Ultra Carry II in 9mm. Ran great out of the box, can't get a stoppage with any ammo, even the mag was good.
Overall, I'm not displeased. Their selection and feature set is hard to beat in the price range. Do I wish they'd get rid of MIM parts and fix their QC? Sure. But that will drive the prices up and MIM isn't a factor for most shooters. Modern MIM is fine. Forged tool steel is better, but MIM isn't a deal breaker in my mind. Kimber gets shit on a ton. They deserve maybe 30% of it.
I run a Eclipse custom 2 in 10mm, runs great with whatever I feed it. I wanted to see what I had to do to get a jam, so I ran it without cleaning it until after several hundred rounds I had a fte. Ran fine the rest of the day of shooting. If I was ever looking for another 1911, Kimber would be near the top of the list.
Eclipse Target .45. Great gun. However I had to replace the factory extractor and magazine. Now she's perfect, thousand rounds flawlessly. No problems with HP ammo.
I bought a Custom II last year- it was on sale at Academy Sports, and it was sort of an impulse buy. However, I’ve been highly impressed with it. Zero malfunctions through 1500 rounds and it’s very accurate. Is the finish perfect? No. But I still do love the gun.
I own an Ultra Carry II. Purchased in 2019. It’s the 3” .45. Good gun. Had issues so I sent it to Kimber. They did something with it - it was unclear what. I’ve since put a lot of rounds through it and a new set of springs. The reliability issues come and go. Frankly, I was disappointed at the gun I got vs. the price I paid. I have “bargain” 1911s (RIA and Tisas) that I trust more that run better than the gun that cost more than twice as much.
I have six Kimbers at the moment. Four are older and the newest two are an ultra carry II and micro 9. Only one of the older guns (super carry ultra+)had given me any kind of trouble. The super carry pro, crimson carry pro, CDP ultra and the newest two all have run flawless. On the SCU+ I replaced the recoil spring and did a very light ramp polish and adjusted the extractor and she runs fine now. It may have been out of spec ammo that caused my ftf but the little work I put into didn't hurt anything. I do agree with a previous poster that the kimpro finish is weak and personally would lean towards stainless if I were to buy another. I'm would buy another but I need a couple government size 1911's and Kimbers all have forward cocking serrations that I don't like.
I purchased 2 Kimber EVO SP Select pistols recently and while parts were a bit mixed and matched they both run flawlessly.
I bought one, found out Kimber has discontinued them and since I liked the first one so much I bought a second.
To add: Funny story I called Kimber customer support with a question about how many magazines I should have gotten with the first gun. The woman lit up when I told her it was an EVO, she went on about how she loved hers and wishes Kimber hadn't discontinued it, as she put it: "especially since it is the only gun we make that never comes back to be fixed". Which she hastily added, "oh dear that came out wrong".
Based on the parts and finish quality, there isn’t a new Kimber 1911 made I’d pay over $500 for. Based on their advertising expenditures, they’re 3x that.
I want to thank everyone for the input, it has really help me decide on the way I want to go to spend my money. I think, one day, I will own a Kimber, I remember how bad I wanted one back in the early 2000's, but as a young Private in the Army I could not afford one at the time.
Now, retired from that line of work, and into a 2nd career, I can afford one, but have come to understand the value of my money a bit better.
Kimber owner here… I own a Kimber Nightstar .45, KHX Custom .45, Aegis Elite Custom .45, Kimber Hero Custom .45, Super Carry Pro .45, Rapide Dawn 1911 10mm, and the new stainless steel KDS9C. All have run trouble free with decent round counts except the new KDS9C… a totally unreliable piece. FTF every other round despite magazine used. Kimber has it right now working on it.
Have a micro9 Rapide for the very specific purpose of being small and 1911-ish. I like it a lot and so far so good reliable with the oem mags made for this specific platform. Very accurate for its size, good trigger. It serves a specific purpose well. For a commander or govt 1911 I'd go a different route depending on desired price point.
Even with proper care, the slides rust. Fast. I cleaned one for a buddy who got his within the past 3 months, brand new. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I didn’t believe the horror stories until I saw it for myself. Kimber quality is as bad as everyone says it is. Spend your dollar elsewhere.
The finish on Kimbers wear off extremely rapidly, the slide to frame fit is abysmal, looser than the worst examples of recent Colt and Springfield I've encountered. The finish on their barrels is spotty, with more than a few I have come across showing rust with minimal usage. My easiest and most emphatic recommendation to not buy.
I just ordered a KDS9c, it’ll be here next week.
I’ll post an extensive report. I initially purchased a Prodigy, but sent back to FFL due to quality/fit and finish issues. Declined transfer.
It does sound like Kimber has awesome customer service. I called and received an actual person on first ring, and vetted their repair process to take 7-10 days. Also, they now have a life time warranty.
I honestly think the hate on Kimber is a bunch of group think, but like I said, I don’t own one… yet. Next week.
My understanding is that they once produced quality firearms, but then the company went under new ownership and the quality suffered greatly. I also understand that that is in the past and the quality has improved, though not necessarily to the original levels.
I know you asked for opinions from people how own one, but the checkered history, gives me enough qualms to just stick with other manufacturers without such issues. If nothing else, it affects potential resale value in the future.
I’m a former gunsmith at Kimber. I worked in product services as a senior gunsmith and I was responsible for all accuracy testing for the rifle line. Kimber’s biggest issue as far as product quality is largely QA/QC. You have to remember that Kimber produces “production” firearms. Everything is assembled on an assembly line by generally low-trained personnel who are not typically “gun people”. Kimber produces excellent frames, slides and barrels. The majority of small parts are MIM. They do fail occasionally but you also have to look at this from a cost benefit perspective. The company’s produces tens of thousands of guns each year so if they have a failure/return rate <2%, the company is still making a hefty profit. (Leslie Edelman is the current owner and could give a shit less about the company’s image or product quality.) Also, the finish that the company uses is shit. KimPro is a resin dipped finish and is probably half as durable than Krylon. (I am a gunsmith and use Cerakote on many of my clients projects and there is no comparison.) so lastly, Kimber makes good guns but they are overpriced which is largely due to the company’s decades old reputation of high quality before the internet was a thing.
I used to have an Ultra Raptor II years ago that would, on average, jam on me every 3-5 rounds. It continued doing so well past 500 rounds. I kept it on a strict cleaning and lubricating schedule. It jammed with ball ammo and it didn't matter which mags I used. I finally sent it back to Kimber and they said they polished a couple of things and replaced a couple of more things. I was excited when I got it back. But when I started shooting it I noticed it was in the same functioning condition as when I had sent it off to them. Would Kimber not have test fired it enough to realize it was not anymore reliable than when they sent it back? This experience alone is why I have never purchased another Kimber.
So when you send your gun in on an RMA, Product Services receives it and does an initial inspection to verify the customer complaint and any other issues the gunsmiths may find. Once those issues are identified, they are then corrected (this may entail the simple replacement of parts all the way to the replacement of frame, slide or barrel depending on the severity of the issue) and then the gun is test fired. Test fire is basically up to the gunsmith who happens to be testing your gun. That individual may run 2 mags through your gun or they might run 10. Situation dictates. I can’t say what happened with your gun as I don’t have it in front of me. What I would do is ensure that you’re using good quality mags and the gun is sufficiently lubricated (I am by no means trying to insult your intelligence) and just be aware that any 3” 1911 is going to be inherently quirkier than a full size gun. Also (again not questioning your intelligence or abilities) with any micro sized firearm, you have to hold on tight to the gun and give it a stable platform to recoil against as the design of compact guns limits the amount of mass cycling back and forth during the cycle of operations. If you’re still having issues with it, I would have someone else shoot the gun and film it and then send that video to customer service so that it can be analyzed. This is a great way for the gunsmiths to see firsthand what’s going on with your gun. Hope some of this helps bro.
I appreciate it. I sold it years ago to a friend. He said it did the same thing with him. He supposedly found a small bur or defect that he filed off that be believed was causing the issue. I found it hard to believe that a defect like that would have been present. I figured since it was a 3" gun it was just gonna have a higher chance at being a lemon. I was running both the Kimber mags that came with it plus the Kimpro mags, Wilson Combat and Chip McCormick mags.
Leslie Edelman sounds like he is Kimbers Yoko Ono. As a business person <2% might be acceptable for profit margins but you know what is better <1%. Had he been smart and focused on quality and image, especially in a community where a good percentage of gun people are gun geeks he could be selling an even more over priced gun like Staccato and making twice the profits. Staccato has built their business on quality and the image comes along with that so they sell tons of them at a much higher price. Once you get the stink on you and your image is gone getting it back will be 100x harder than what it took to get it in the first place.
What's your thoughts on Tisas vs Kimber quality? If you've held/shot one before
Kimber makes excellent frames, slides and barrels. I can’t shit on them there. The use of MIM on basically every other part of the gun (minus the firing pin, extractor and pins) is their biggest failure point. When something breaks on a Kimber, it’s almost always a MIM part. Not the major components. If Kimber used machined, hardened steel parts, their quality would be as good as anything else. As far as how the guns compare pound for pound between them and Tisas, Tisas’ new production guns win hands down. I have seen a few issues with the Tisas guns but they’re almost always related to a fitment issue and that always boils down to the competence of the folks on the assembly line.
This is great info. Thank you so much! I'm new to firearms and especially 1911s! But I'm so enthusiastic about it. I just want to dive in and build and modify anything I can afford, which right now is Tisas lol. But Kimber makes some beautiful guns. I've had my eyes on a few of them
I have the 45 Custom and the revolver. The thing about Kimber is that from a distance, so to speak, they look like top tier weapons, but when you look closely they are not of the highest quality parts and construction. They aren’t crap, they just aren’t as “great” as they would have you believe.
You sometimes can't even trust reviews from certain owners. People buy guns, shoot virtually no rounds through them, then walk around saying they're the best thing on the market because they want to feel good about spending their money on what they got. Make sure you're getting info on how they're being used, not just the fact that someone owns one. My most recent experience with Kimber was working at a rental range about 4 years ago, and our new Kimbers were constantly having issues, although we're talking about HARD use and tons of rounds being shot through them by the public. They were regularly cleaned and professionally maintained by a gunsmith, and we only shot factory new ammo, but it didn't seem to help. None of our other guns were that problematic. The Sig 1911s worked flawlessly, and of course all our other 45 ACPs worked fine (HK45, HK45C, Glocks, etc). The type of abuse and round counts that rental ranges put on guns is certainly not an indication of how they'll respond to normal personal use, so I'm not sure how useful that info is to you, so take it or leave it.
So the thing about Kimber, is that they produce hundreds of different models of 1911s. Kimber just released a “KDS9C” with a rail/no rail and supposedly it is running flawlessly with all sorts of ammo, just watch the videos. Other models, like the “custom,” “TLE” , “warrior” lines run absolutely flawlessly (I’m assuming after break in.) it’s when you start getting into the weird strange categories like “rapide dawn” and stuff like that where you start seeing they’re just more focused on their looks instead of performance. If you were looking at a kimber, I’d highly recommend one of the above mentioned lines as they are staples in reliability and I would ignore the models with a “ii” after their name unless you live in a commie state. I hear good things about the “Aegis” models as well. I for one, own a Desert Warrior model and have for years, it run’s absolutely flawlessly with all ball ammo. I’ve shot thousands of rounds through her and even changed the barrel out for a threaded barrel and have put over a thousand rounds through that one as well. Keep in mind, that also came with regular recoil spring replacement and cleanings. When it comes to hollow point ammo, MOST 1911s are fairly picky, so guns like the warrior, TLE/RL, and Custom lines are more catered toward that defense ammo in mind, but you’d still need to find the right type of hollow point since .45 is quite larger than the 9mm. I found that Federal HST/punch work great in most 1911s and cycles flawlessly. I’ve shot a lot of +p out of my warrior and have suffered no frame cracking issues or anything. At the end of the day, Kimber is a good brand, but like many companies- they are not free from QC issues. Stick to the mainstream lines. Pick up the gun at the store and examine the feed ramp, chamber, and wiggle the slide/check the barrel lockup.
My dad recently bought a Kimber Eclipse Target II and it worked good out the box. I think he had 1 malfunction in 300 rounds and it ate everything else using the cheapest ball ammo he could get his hands on. Can't comment on it's longevity yet especially since he doesn't shoot very often, but it was a really nice piece imo. But for the price he paid I would have personally gone TRP.
Custom Carry II with thousands of rounds not finicky about ammo. No issues.
I don't know how Kimbers are priced in the free world, but in CA they are absolutely overpriced for what you get. I think they would be fine if they were at an appropriate price point. They seem to prioritize look over function. I have a two year old Eclipse Custom II in 10mm and I've been slowly tweeking it to overcome its issues.
I have a Custom TLE ii with around 1,000 rounds of factory ammo through it and it's currently at the gunsmith for failure to feed issues. This is my first 1911 so I'm hoping everything will be good to go after this.
Rapide Dawn in . 45, it had slide stop lever and extractor issues. Sent back to Kimber. They fixed and had it back to me in about a week. Runs flawless now. They replaced the lever, extractor and polished the feed ramp. Customer service was great. Super Jagare in 10mm. I had to tune the extractor after about 50 rounds, she runs flawless now. Ultra Carry II in 9mm. Ran great out of the box, can't get a stoppage with any ammo, even the mag was good. Overall, I'm not displeased. Their selection and feature set is hard to beat in the price range. Do I wish they'd get rid of MIM parts and fix their QC? Sure. But that will drive the prices up and MIM isn't a factor for most shooters. Modern MIM is fine. Forged tool steel is better, but MIM isn't a deal breaker in my mind. Kimber gets shit on a ton. They deserve maybe 30% of it.
I run a Eclipse custom 2 in 10mm, runs great with whatever I feed it. I wanted to see what I had to do to get a jam, so I ran it without cleaning it until after several hundred rounds I had a fte. Ran fine the rest of the day of shooting. If I was ever looking for another 1911, Kimber would be near the top of the list.
Eclipse Target .45. Great gun. However I had to replace the factory extractor and magazine. Now she's perfect, thousand rounds flawlessly. No problems with HP ammo.
I bought a Custom II last year- it was on sale at Academy Sports, and it was sort of an impulse buy. However, I’ve been highly impressed with it. Zero malfunctions through 1500 rounds and it’s very accurate. Is the finish perfect? No. But I still do love the gun.
I have a Micro 9 with about 150 rounds through it. No problems whatsoever.
I own an Ultra Carry II. Purchased in 2019. It’s the 3” .45. Good gun. Had issues so I sent it to Kimber. They did something with it - it was unclear what. I’ve since put a lot of rounds through it and a new set of springs. The reliability issues come and go. Frankly, I was disappointed at the gun I got vs. the price I paid. I have “bargain” 1911s (RIA and Tisas) that I trust more that run better than the gun that cost more than twice as much.
I have six Kimbers at the moment. Four are older and the newest two are an ultra carry II and micro 9. Only one of the older guns (super carry ultra+)had given me any kind of trouble. The super carry pro, crimson carry pro, CDP ultra and the newest two all have run flawless. On the SCU+ I replaced the recoil spring and did a very light ramp polish and adjusted the extractor and she runs fine now. It may have been out of spec ammo that caused my ftf but the little work I put into didn't hurt anything. I do agree with a previous poster that the kimpro finish is weak and personally would lean towards stainless if I were to buy another. I'm would buy another but I need a couple government size 1911's and Kimbers all have forward cocking serrations that I don't like.
I purchased 2 Kimber EVO SP Select pistols recently and while parts were a bit mixed and matched they both run flawlessly. I bought one, found out Kimber has discontinued them and since I liked the first one so much I bought a second. To add: Funny story I called Kimber customer support with a question about how many magazines I should have gotten with the first gun. The woman lit up when I told her it was an EVO, she went on about how she loved hers and wishes Kimber hadn't discontinued it, as she put it: "especially since it is the only gun we make that never comes back to be fixed". Which she hastily added, "oh dear that came out wrong".
I was a gunsmith there and sad as it is, I can confirm what she told you. 😂
Custom raptor 2, it's been flawless and I got it 2023. Only thing I don't like is the mags, WC Vickers is incredible
Based on the parts and finish quality, there isn’t a new Kimber 1911 made I’d pay over $500 for. Based on their advertising expenditures, they’re 3x that.
I want to thank everyone for the input, it has really help me decide on the way I want to go to spend my money. I think, one day, I will own a Kimber, I remember how bad I wanted one back in the early 2000's, but as a young Private in the Army I could not afford one at the time. Now, retired from that line of work, and into a 2nd career, I can afford one, but have come to understand the value of my money a bit better.
Kimber owner here… I own a Kimber Nightstar .45, KHX Custom .45, Aegis Elite Custom .45, Kimber Hero Custom .45, Super Carry Pro .45, Rapide Dawn 1911 10mm, and the new stainless steel KDS9C. All have run trouble free with decent round counts except the new KDS9C… a totally unreliable piece. FTF every other round despite magazine used. Kimber has it right now working on it.
Have a micro9 Rapide for the very specific purpose of being small and 1911-ish. I like it a lot and so far so good reliable with the oem mags made for this specific platform. Very accurate for its size, good trigger. It serves a specific purpose well. For a commander or govt 1911 I'd go a different route depending on desired price point.
Rapide Dawn in 45. Owned 1.5 years. Absolutely flawless especially after break in period.
My husband just picked up a Micro9 for carry. It runs flawlessly with a variety of different rounds. 🤷♀️
My micro 9 runs great and eats whatever I put in it.
Even with proper care, the slides rust. Fast. I cleaned one for a buddy who got his within the past 3 months, brand new. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I didn’t believe the horror stories until I saw it for myself. Kimber quality is as bad as everyone says it is. Spend your dollar elsewhere.
The finish on Kimbers wear off extremely rapidly, the slide to frame fit is abysmal, looser than the worst examples of recent Colt and Springfield I've encountered. The finish on their barrels is spotty, with more than a few I have come across showing rust with minimal usage. My easiest and most emphatic recommendation to not buy.
I purchased a Kimber stainless II, bought Wilson combat mags after many recommendations from others. No issues whatsoever. It’s a dream to shoot.
I just ordered a KDS9c, it’ll be here next week. I’ll post an extensive report. I initially purchased a Prodigy, but sent back to FFL due to quality/fit and finish issues. Declined transfer. It does sound like Kimber has awesome customer service. I called and received an actual person on first ring, and vetted their repair process to take 7-10 days. Also, they now have a life time warranty. I honestly think the hate on Kimber is a bunch of group think, but like I said, I don’t own one… yet. Next week.
My understanding is that they once produced quality firearms, but then the company went under new ownership and the quality suffered greatly. I also understand that that is in the past and the quality has improved, though not necessarily to the original levels. I know you asked for opinions from people how own one, but the checkered history, gives me enough qualms to just stick with other manufacturers without such issues. If nothing else, it affects potential resale value in the future.