Kimber choices

[rstorey]

Wanting a kimber 45 without having to drop 1,200 bucks on one. Out of all there product line which one is the least expensive?. So far the cheapest I have seen at the gun shows is about 780.00 for new in box, is that about the best I can do?.

[Savage]

I think the Kimber "Classic" is the least expensive model. It's a well built gun, and the price sounds about right. I have been well pleased with my Kimbers.
Savage

[Mike in Virginia]

I owned one.  A 4" model.  I'll never buy another.  Beautiful to behold, but a useless item, or at least mine was.  It wouldn't feed any 230 grain ammo.  Even hardball would jam it up.  185's worked fairly well, but not consistent enough for a carry gun.  And yes, I did the 500 round breakin.  I tried different magazines.  The Kimber magazine that came with the gun was crap.  I don't know how Kimber got the good name and high price tag. 
That said, when it did work, the accuracy from a bench at 25 yards was amazing. 

[Spirithawk]

I owned one.  A 4" model.  I'll never buy another.  Beautiful to behold, but a useless item, or at least mine was.  It wouldn't feed any 230 grain ammo.  Even hardball would jam it up.  185's worked fairly well, but not consistent enough for a carry gun.  And yes, I did the 500 round breakin.  I tried different magazines.  The Kimber magazine that came with the gun was crap.  I don't know how Kimber got the good name and high price tag. 
That said, when it did work, the accuracy from a bench at 25 yards was amazing.

Mike thanks for being honest, money doesn't always buy the kind of quallity that's truly meaningful.

[longwinters]

Well I've got 2. A 4" CDP Pro and a 3" Crimson Ultra.  Both have been flawless.  The factory mags have worked fine as have my Chip McCormicks.  I have shot 230 self defense and hard ball with no problems what so ever.  If they didn't work I'd have gotten rid of them pronto and would not have waited for 500 rounds let alone kept on shooting them. 
 
I don't claim they are better or worse than any other brand as the only other semi I have had was a Glock and that too was a great pistol (that my son has now).
 
But I think if you can find one at that price you won't do much better.
 
Long

[Spirithawk]

Well I've got 2. A 4" CDP Pro and a 3" Crimson Ultra.  Both have been flawless.  The factory mags have worked fine as have my Chip McCormicks.  I have shot 230 self defense and hard ball with no problems what so ever.  If they didn't work I'd have gotten rid of them pronto and would not have waited for 500 rounds let alone kept on shooting them. 
 
I don't claim they are better or worse than any other brand as the only other semi I have had was a Glock and that too was a great pistol (that my son has now).
 
But I think if you can find one at that price you won't do much better.
 
Long

Exactly, proving just because a gun's expensive and has a great rep it don't mean ya can't get stuck with a bad one. It can and does happen with every brand made. Equally, just because a gun is inexspensive it don't mean you can't get a good one. One needs to keep in mind though what a gun is designed to do. Volkswagons have been known to be excellent cars but they're no Mercedes. Nor do they cost as much. Still people have been mighty happy with them. Guns are no differant. If we all needed and liked the same exact thing then what's the point in variety?

[Three Bears]

Just bought a second Kimber this week... Custom II Stainless .45 ACP from Champion Firearms for $810.00 on line and sent to my FFL dealer.  First 45 ACP Stainless has over 2,800 rounds throught it to include 600 Wolf steel case rounds.....it is very accurate and still keeps going.  Will run 500 rounds throught it this weekend... reloads cast 230grs.

[Lloyd Smale]

I had a kimber classic target that a buddy talked me out of. It was a very reliable and accurate gun.

[Savage]

I had a kimber classic target that a buddy talked me out of. It was a very reliable and accurate gun.

Had a Kimber Series l Classic Stainless Target. It was the most accurate non custom 1911 platform pistol I've ever seen. Let a friend talk me out of it. Still kickin my a$$.
Savage

[williamlayton]

Kimber's are a very good choice.
Let's look at what I hear you saying. I think you are buying on reputation and depending on that reputation to flow thru all of the models. That is a very subjective decision---IMO.
What do you want in a pistol ? What are your desires ?
I like well made guns. I don't own a Baer or Wilson or Nighthawk (many other semi-custom folks could be named) because i want some things that they don't put in a build---same for kimber.
I tend to buy good bodies and have them built to my specs. It works for me and it can be a flawed piece of work--but I know who to take it back too.
Same can really be said about revolvers also.
Blessings