[23glock32]

Need help on deciding between a springfield champion loaded 4" or a kimber pro TLE II. Both are stainless. any thoughts on the two.

[majette]

if you must go with a 1911 less than 5" i say Springfield or Colt. i have no experience with anything less than 5" though.

[camelotkid]

Originally Posted by majette

i have no experience with anything less than 5" though.

sorry that just sounded funny

[Wild Gene]

I have the springfield in .45 and the kimber in 9mm (both 4" guns), they have both been great so far. I don't care for shiny carry guns, so prefer the Kimber for that reason (Tac Pro II, 9mm), plus I am loving the 9, it's just fun to shot, and at 10+1 it is easier for me to carry than a g26.

[Roy D. Mercer]

Springer all day long. I'd prefer a parked Springer over the stainless.

[bac1023]

Originally Posted by majette

if you must go with a 1911 less than 5" i say Springfield or Colt. i have no experience with anything less than 5" though.

Originally Posted by camelotkid

sorry that just sounded funny

[bac1023]

Unless its for carry, go with a full size model.

there are many better options in the same price range if you're dealing with 5" barrels.

[craig19]

For me it would be Springer.

[never enough]

springer. I heard horror stories on kimbers

[jrs93accord]

My vote is for the Kimber. If you plan on carrying it, the stainless is perfect for that. I carry a stainless Pro carry II.

[faawrenchbndr]

I'd get the Springfield.
However, the Kimber is a fine weapon, just be sure to throw the recoil spring
in the trash and replace with a Wolff Springs ext spring.

[crazymoose]

I'd never trust my life to anything with a Swartz safety. There's a reason Colt and the army never bothered with it.

Then again, I replace the ILS mainspring housings in my Springfields, too. I had one on a TRP that would lock up every few times the gun cycled. I know it's a rare experience, but I'll never trust one of those again.

[clancy]

Originally Posted by never enough

springer. I heard horror stories on kimbers

Springfield. My experience with Kimber was a horror story.

[knedrgr]

Originally Posted by craig19

For me it would be Springer.

Colt.

[knedrgr]

Kimber = 1 year warranty
Springfield = Lifetime warranty.

Heck, used, second-hand Springfield even have the lifetime warranty...

[glock2740]

Originally Posted by 23glock32

Need help on deciding between a springfield champion loaded 4" or a kimber pro TLE II. Both are stainless. any thoughts on the two.

Between those two, I'd pick the Kimber TLE Pro. Checkered fronstrap, night sights and a single side safety come standard. All it needs is a trip to Mr. Rogers' neighborhood for a flush crown job. Here's a pic of my Stainless Pro Raptor with a crown job. Haven't changed the safety to a single side yet, but that's on the "to do" list.

[OUSooner]

Springfield = no firing pin safety. Also has an internal extractor.

[itstime]

I have Springers and Kimbers. In 4 in. only Kimber. Actually two Kimbers in 4. A CDP and HD. both are 100% and shoot great.

But so do the Springers. Although they are 3 in. and 5 in.

I have never used either customer service but what I have read over the years have to give the nod to Springfield.

[jaklcrow]

Kimber all day.

I just cant warm up to Springfield for some reason. They have much better triggers out of the box than Kimber's in my experience, and every one I have shot was great... But for some reason I dont even consider a Springfield 1911 a real 1911. No clue why. They just seam like wannabes to me.

So ya, nothing much to contribute except for my unexplainable bias lol

[SpringerTGO]

Read the thread about the Springfield that blew up. I doubt you would get better service from any company, regardless of price.
Springfield's service is stellar, and their 1911's work great.
I've only had one Kimber, and it was garbage. I sent it back to Kimber for repairs (which took close to 2 months), and it jammed the very first round I put through it.

[SigFTW]

My Kimber is a great gun. I have the Stainless II in 5" and it will shoot everything I feed it. I did call Kimber once about an issue, not caused by the gun and they were a little short with me, all I was looking for was some information for a replacement barrel.

If Springfiled has a great warranty, then I would really consider them for my next buy.

[brickboy240]

Do you know how easy it is to disable or remove Kimber's Swartz Safety?

Don't let that keep you from getting a Kimber. They're fantastic shooters.

With Springfield, there is the mainspring safety....equally as easy to remove and many don't raise a stink about that safety device. Don't let the Swartz safety issue keep you from a Kimber if you like them.

My TLE II is 100% reliable and accurate as can be.

- brickboy240

[ca survivor]

Originally Posted by glock2740

Between those two, I'd pick the Kimber TLE Pro. Checkered fronstrap, night sights and a single side safety come standard. All it needs is a trip to Mr. Rogers' neighborhood for a flush crown job. Here's a pic of my Stainless Pro Raptor with a crown job. Haven't changed the safety to a single side yet, but that's on the "to do" list.

Nice looking Kimber, how does it run?

[Spiffums]

I have a Kimber TLE and I love it. It's one of the older ones with the internal extractor. If I get another 1911 pattern gun Im getting a stainless TRP.

[brickboy240]

Kimber went back to the external extractor quite some time ago.

I have a TLE II bought new, in 2008 and it has the internal extractor.

Very accurate and a well made pistol.

Buy one, remove the Swartz Safety, ditch the full length guide rod and you are totally GTG.

- brickboy240