Topic: Opinion needed

[Firecracker]

I don't have a .45 pistol and I've got a about $1000 saved up for my purchase. I'm considering the FNP .45 tactical and Kimber Super Carry Custom (used about 400 rounds through it) guy at work is selling it for $1000. Any suggestions which one I should go with?

[Jaggy13]

2 completely different guns there...
For a thousand bucks, there are a few options in 1911's out there.
If it were me, I would make a list of wants/needs in the pistol first.
series 80 vs 70 for example.

The Super Carry is a pretty sweet rig though!
Probably a fair price for used in good condition, if he will let you, I would suggest having a competent smith take a look at it just to make sure the sear engagement is solid for example. (I have purchased some abused pistols in the past)

Planning on any competition? I dropped a few bucks on a kimber that I never shoot...
Not planning on selling it, just always shooting 9mm in competition these days.

What's your intended purpose? Dead set on .45?
A little more info will help with recommendations.

[tgibson]

Take It for what it's worth...I'm not impressed with the Kimbers. I think you can get a better gun for the same money from STI. don't discount the doublestack. FN. I am really impressed with their triggers. Let me know if you want to take a 9mm for a testdrive.
Adios
TG

[ekuo]

I own a couple of Kimbers, and while I've had good luck with them I don't think I'll ever buy another one.  Kimber made a really good gun in the late 90's and even the first few years of the 2000's, but I fear their QC and CS suffered somewhat when they got big.  Both of mine are of the earlier vintage.  

I second TG's suggestion about STI.  I have 2 1/2 STIs myself.  Junkie just got a STI Spartan (their base 1911 model) and despite the parkerized finish it impressed me with the slide/frame fit and i know they use quality parts.  Plus the Spartan costs way less than $1k.  

[luvmy45]

All right, someone's talking about getting a .45!!!! 

I love my Kimber, however, as Ekuo noted the later version's aren't what they once were... Mine is a Series I and other than wearing out parts has been a great gun. If you can find a series I Kimber go for it.

Otherwise, I would suggest going to see Dan at Hawktech and see about getting an STI, good gun for the money.

[Nomad]

 Would go to a couple of different matches and see what people are shooting and ask to shoot them...
 Many good 9's 40's and 45 for comp shooting
 If you are just wanting to buy the Kimber take it to a gunsmith like pop's on the site or someone else and get it checked out....
 you might take TG up on his offer they are nice guns...........
 just a thought you can get a couple of good Glocks for a 1000.......

[Nealio]

You need to decide what you want to do with this .45, and what your main "needs" are:

Do you want to have something cool to show your buddies, or do you care more about it running all the time?
Do you want something that runs for thousands of rounds without cleaning or will you strip it down every time you shoot it?
Do you want to shoot competition or just plink with it every few months?
Do you want to just get what everyone else says, or try some stuff out and see what's best for you?

FYI , I paid only $860 for my longslide EAA (Tanfoglio) .45 and it is a lot of gun for the money.  You can get a EAA (Tanfoglio) Witness Match in .45 for like $550.  Its a double stack (10 round) single action pistol that is hard to beat for the $ also.  They shoot amazing out of the box.  Or if you want to build something up you can get a single stack STI Spartan for pretty cheap also.  Jaggy has ran a $400 Rock Island for the last 2 years and won C class in Single Stack at the Idaho State USPSA.  These are all options if you want to build a shooter and still have money to actually SHOOT it...

There are probably a lot of guns that would fit your need, you just need to tell us what you are looking for.

[tgibson]

I think firecracker is experiencing "information overload"!!   
Adios,
TG

[Jrhoney]

I bought an FNP-45 for my 21st birthday and was very impressed with it. But since polymer isn't my thing on handguns I sold It. Really nice to shoot and the double stack 14 round mags were really nice. Also it threw the spent brass in a neat pile 2 feet to my 5 o clock which made it nice picking them up to reload. Also functioned reliably with everything I fed it and like my reloads. The bone stock gun was nice so I can only imagine what the tactical version performs like.

[redmist]

Springfield Range Officer...

[broncovan]

HK45.

Love mine.  I've had an XD, Para and a Glock 21.  Picked up the HK45 and had to have it.

[Kcboats]

+1 for the Glock 21

[dutch1911]

Stay away from Kimber... completely unreliable in my experience.
Since becoming a Colt Armorer, I've purchased Colt's and haven't looked back.
The Combat Elite is COMPLETELY reliable without question.
Roughly 3000 rounds through it now, not a single... NOT ONE malfunction.
I also picked up a new series 70 which I had a custom build completed on (Extreme Combat... you'll find pics of here do a search.)
It's also completely and without question completely reliable.

I, admittedly, am now officially a Colt snob... however... I also know there are several very reliable weapons out there.
For the money, new... I would push you to a Colt combat elite... OR... Springfield A1 Loaded.

Good Luck Friend...

Cheers.

[birddog1989]

I would push you to a Colt combat elite... OR... Springfield A1 Loaded.

+1 

[jordonhurd]

I don't understand all the Kimber hate. I have series I Kimber Classic Custom that I bought previously enjoyed. I have never had an issue with it. Several thousand rounds a year and never a problem.

[luvmy45]

I haven't shot any of the newer Kimbers, but my Series 1 has done well enough to put my name toward the top of a few competitions over that last few years.

The time I wasn't at the top, couldn't be blamed on the Kimber, unfortunately they were all just brain issues.  

In my opinion, 1911 in 45 is good all the way around, find the right mag for your gun and that fixes 90% of the problem right  there.

[Idaho_Gun_Nut]

Stay away from Kimber... completely unreliable in my experience.
Since becoming a Colt Armorer, I've purchased Colt's and haven't looked back.
The Combat Elite is COMPLETELY reliable without question.
Roughly 3000 rounds through it now, not a single... NOT ONE malfunction.
I also picked up a new series 70 which I had a custom build completed on (Extreme Combat... you'll find pics of here do a search.)
It's also completely and without question completely reliable.

I, admittedly, am now officially a Colt snob... however... I also know there are several very reliable weapons out there.
For the money, new... I would push you to a Colt combat elite... OR... Springfield A1 Loaded.

Good Luck Friend...

Cheers.

+1
I don't care for Kimber's.  I don't like that extra safety they installed in a perfectly good platform!

'70 series Colts are definitely a good way to go... Springfield's are also good.  My brother has a Springfield GI that he had a good trigger job, beaver tail safety and good aftermarket sights installed and it will shoot rings around most other high dollar 1911's out there.