Taurus over Kimber any day!

[CoyoteG]

I know many shooters have owned and loved kimbers, so this is purely my experience. Several years ago I bought a Taurus 1911 for $539.99 and have loved it ever since. I am drilling head shots at 50 ft, have fired over 5000 rounds through it and it has never jammed on me. Easy to take apart and reassemble for cleaning. I loved my ability with it so much that I decided to get a fancier model to carry in place of my S&W. I went to my range and tried out a Kimber. The feel, grouping, and size were just what i wanted. It did jam on my second mag, but this looked like a typical range rental, hadn't been cleaned in I would guess 2000 rounds. I disregarded it (big mistake). So I went all out and spent $1500 on a Kimber Tactical Carry Pro with integrated crimson trace. Before I shot it I took it apart, lubed and oiled it, and it reassembled fine. I went to the range the next day and a different round jammed in the mag every single time. Needless to say, I was furious! So I got it home for some inspection. After I got it apart, same as before, it wouldn't go back together! I'm no gunsmith, but I am no novice either. I tried everything and finally decided to send it in to Kimber for repair. They told me to expect five weeks, it took nine weeks. When I finally got it back, nothing had changed. I ended up selling it, after having fired less than 100 rounds through it, for about half what I paid. I won't tell other shooters what they should and should not shoot, to each their own, but no kimber will grace my gun safe ever again.

[Snurd]

My brother owned a Kimber a while back. He had some major issues with it, even after sending it back as well. He sold it and bought a Nighthawk Custom.

[tapehoser]

The only Kimber I have shot was not real great either.

[CoyoteG]

I would still love to get another 1911. I have looked at S&W, Springfield, Colt, Sig, but I just keep coming back to Taurus. Any thoughts or experiences on these other brands?

[dewittdj]

Perhaps a Colt or Springfield Armory would be a better choice. I like the look of the SA RO, I'm just not thrilled at the price. I have shot a number of Taurus pistols and haven't had any problems with them. Perhaps I'll give one a "test drive."

[gravedancer]

I would still love to get another 1911. I have looked at S&W, Springfield, Colt, Sig, but I just keep coming back to Taurus. Any thoughts or experiences on these other brands?

I know there is something of a negative impression out there of Taurus, but I honestly swear by them. Ive never fired the 1911, but I have owned and/or fired multiple other taurus weapons going back 15+ years and I cant honestly remember ever having a jam on them other than one that was a FTF caused by a bad primer on a reload. And you really cant beat the combination of features and price. You can find cheaper guns, but they wont have as many features, and you can find guns with the same or maybe more features, but they will cost a lot more.

[dewittdj]

I know there is something of a negative impression out there of Taurus, but I honestly swear by them. Ive never fired the 1911, but I have owned and/or fired multiple other taurus weapons going back 15+ years and I cant honestly remember ever having a jam on them other than one that was a FTF caused by a bad primer on a reload. And you really cant beat the combination of features and price. You can find cheaper guns, but they wont have as many features, and you can find guns with the same or maybe more features, but they will cost a lot more.

Excellent points! Then, for you, Taurus is the "middle-class" gun?

[gravedancer]

I know there is something of a negative impression out there of Taurus, but I honestly swear by them. Ive never fired the 1911, but I have owned and/or fired multiple other taurus weapons going back 15+ years and I cant honestly remember ever having a jam on them other than one that was a FTF caused by a bad primer on a reload. And you really cant beat the combination of features and price. You can find cheaper guns, but they wont have as many features, and you can find guns with the same or maybe more features, but they will cost a lot more.

Excellent points! Then, for you, Taurus is the "middle-class" gun?

Yes, they are generally priced only slightly higher than the "cheap" guns like Kel Tec or Hi-point, but with standard features youd normally only find on much more expensive guns. Every one ive ever tried is very smooth firing, and I get good groupings with them. The only real "issues" ive ever had with any taurus weapon was that sometimes they tend to fire a bit low when brand new out of the box, and for some unknown reason they decided not to make an extended mag for the 709 slim, after originally saying they would release one. I bought one, with its crappy 7 round mags, in anticipation of the extended mags coming out, only to find out 2 months later they decided not to manufacture an extended mag. The gun itself was awesome, I just hate going to the range with nothing but a couple 7 round mags.

[Snurd]

I would still love to get another 1911. I have looked at S&W, Springfield, Colt, Sig, but I just keep coming back to Taurus. Any thoughts or experiences on these other brands?

The gun in my signature is a Smith & Wesson. It is a fantastic gun. I would buy another in a heartbeat. If I had the money of course.

[dewittdj]

I would still love to get another 1911. I have looked at S&W, Springfield, Colt, Sig, but I just keep coming back to Taurus. Any thoughts or experiences on these other brands?

The gun in my signature is a Smith & Wesson. It is a fantastic gun. I would buy another in a heartbeat. If I had the money of course.

Did it come with the snake or did you have to shoot it and skin it yourself?
Do you have a matching pair of cowboy boots?

Oops! Sorry... sometimes I just crack myself up!!!

[Snurd]

I would still love to get another 1911. I have looked at S&W, Springfield, Colt, Sig, but I just keep coming back to Taurus. Any thoughts or experiences on these other brands?

The gun in my signature is a Smith & Wesson. It is a fantastic gun. I would buy another in a heartbeat. If I had the money of course.

Did it come with the snake or did you have to shoot it and skin it yourself?
Do you have a matching pair of cowboy boots?

Oops! Sorry... sometimes I just crack myself up!!!

I have killed a rattler, but this isn't him. The guy that made these for me did an amazing job.

[dewittdj]

I have killed a rattler, but this isn't him. The guy that made these for me did an amazing job.

They are well done and look sharp!!!

[MarshallDodge]

I won't stick up for Taurus or Kimber because I think both companies have quality control issues. Kimber's 1911's are overpriced for what you are getting as well.

[Electric Amish]

Interesting...

I have both a Kimber Tactical Custom II (.45) and a Kimber Eclipse Custom II (10mm).

I haven't had a jam yet in the .45 and I use those cheap-[auto-filtered] Herter's metal cased rounds. The 10mm I have only put 50rounds through, but it has been smooth as well.

I also have a S&W 1911 with the Crimson Trace and a Springfield 1911 Compact Operator. They have both been spectacular as well.

[My Trigger Guard]

I guess I will throw in my couple cents here.

Taurus deserves a better repuatation then what it has been given. Yes there is going to be some issues from time to time but send it in and they will fix your problems. They provide qualitify firearms with more bells and whistles at lower prices then there competitors. Are they the highest quality gun, no, is the quality more then adequate and worth carrying to protect yourself, yes. Do they come fully customized out like a custom 1911, yes. Are they fully garunteed and serviced for any problems, yes. Do they cost as much as firearm of equal craftsmanship in another name brand or equally customized, no.

Taurus should be considered a common mans firearm. They appear to me to be a middle ground on almost all areas if you did an overall rating per say after you averaged it. The kicker is the cost, making them more accessible at a reasonable price to the everyday gun owner. Do they beat a glock or a kimber, hmm thats a tough call imho. I would say maybe not entirely however a glock is going to be 500 to 600, the taurus version 400. A 1911 fully custimized 1500 to 2000, taurus 1911 500-600. So does it beat them, again perhaps not entirely but enough to make the average gun owner say hmm I can save some money and still get the same thing, or close to the same thing, or enough of the same thing to warrant the price reduction and ooh my wife will let me get it now becuase see im saving money.

It really comes down to a how much bang for your buck your getting. For many people this is important, for others not so much and chances are for those others that want a kimber or a colt or a glock there going to do whatever they have to, to get the exact firearm they want.

I currently own the Taurus rendition of a glock, I will be purchasing and hopefully soon too the Taurus 1911 and a Taurus revolver. I am really sold on the taurus 1911's a gunsmith did this to me. After I have the basic pistols and cailbers I want and or need at a reasonable price, am I going to stop buying firearms, no. I am sure I will eventually land a ruger lcp, a sig, a glock etc but this all comes in time when I have the excess cash to do so. Again to me the common firearm purchases come first.

The only negative I must say that stands out on the Taurus is accessories, depending on what you buy finding the accessories for them can be difficult. Stick to the most common styles and this wont be a problem though.