Kimber or Rock Island?

Michael Ramsey

Michael Ramsey

New member
Went to a gun show a couple of weeks ago and I picked up and felt so many 1911's to see if I could find one I liked the feeling of. So I found this small Rock Island that was an absolute dream of a grip but it was a 45 which is a drawback to me. I've nothing against .45 but I'm looking for a 10mm which both Rock Island and Kimber have and both get great reviews.

Couldn't find any videos comparing the two so has anyone had any experience with both a RI and Kimber? And if so does one beat out the other and if so how?

45's are great... I just like 40 and 10's
 
Go kimber! Pro 4" is excellent. Perfect carry size and no accuracy difference from full size 5" barrel. Shot the two side by side of the stainless and me and my group determined do with the 4" pro. 3" you lose a lot of accuracy
 
I carry a Kimber. I wouldn't turn my nose up at a Rock Island though.
If you take that RI to a gunsmith, have the trigger worked on, and install a matched barrel/bushing it'll shoot every bit as good as the most expensive 1911 out there.
You'd probably spend about what it costs for a Kimber before you are done.
 
Have had a Kimber Custom Classic for 10 years and have many thousands of rounds through it. Nothing wrong with a 45, and in +P, it is even better! No experience with an RI, but I'd be hesitant to buy from an asian maker as so many asian steel producers cheat on their steel. I've not researched them, but if there are long term owners of RI products that are satisfied, well, perhaps... Again, nothing against RI, I don't know anything about them but have read some good reviews.

Heard a few bad reviews on Kimber lately, can't say if its representative or not though. Kimber made my favorite pistol and hunting rifle, so I'm a two time satisfied customer.
 
I have a Kimber full size, Custom Target II in 45 and love it!
I haven;t had any problems with it whatsoever! It has been flawless through over 2 years of hard running!
I can't speak on the RI one way or the other, not familiar with them.
 
From what I hear the new Rock Island Tactical 10mm is a very good buy, half the price of the Kimber and twice as likely to work right out of the box. The Kimber is American made and a bit more refined, and the Rock Island could use a few modifications, but for a moderately priced 10mm 1911, it is a great choice. Besides, its not like the Phillipinos haven't been building 1911's for a long long time...
 
You should also take a look at two other 10mm pistols - the Colt Delta Elite and the EAA/Tanfoglio 10mm. Both have been made available recently after being a rare sight for quite some time. They're in the $1000-1100 price range. I'd take either of those before I bought a Kimber.
 
10mm is a nice round, but, it seems to me, if the SHTF finding ammo on the fly might prove difficult. This is one of my reasons for generally sticking with .45, 9mm, and .22
 
Kramer1113 said:
10mm is a nice round, but, it seems to me, if the SHTF finding ammo on the fly might prove difficult. This is one of my reasons for generally sticking with .45, 9mm, and .22
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It does not have to be a SHTF situation for having trouble finding ammo... Other than big box sporting good store or gun stores... You're not going to easily find them any time. I've yet to see a single round in your typical Walmart type store.

If I'm out and something happens and I'm unable to return home to retrieve anything else, I'm stuck with the 31 or 41 rounds I have on my person. If I'm able to return home, I'd change out with an XD-40 that I've got a good amount on hand for...
 
Have had and shot RI, Para, S&W. I now only have and carry either the CDP II, Ultra or Custom all Kimbers. Are Kimbers easy to buy now? Hope. Good groups with mine.
 
Michael Ramsey said:
It does not have to be a SHTF situation for having trouble finding ammo... Other than big box sporting good store or gun stores... You're not going to easily find them any time. I've yet to see a single round in your typical Walmart type store.

If I'm out and something happens and I'm unable to return home to retrieve anything else, I'm stuck with the 31 or 41 rounds I have on my person. If I'm able to return home, I'd change out with an XD-40 that I've got a good amount on hand for...
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I keep a couple of boxes in my truck, just in case.
 
I don't keep a gun in my car ever. I just hate the idea of it being "Out there" without me. I know several of my co-workers do keep their firearms in their cars. I just couldn't stand for my gun to be stolen. I drive a very small car.
 
Kramer1113 said:
I don't keep a gun in my car ever. I just hate the idea of it being "Out there" without me. I know several of my co-workers do keep their firearms in their cars. I just couldn't stand for my gun to be stolen. I drive a very small car.
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If I know I'm going to be in the vehicle all day doing a lot of point A to point B stopping for fuel or bathroom, I'll carry a second firearm in a vehicle mounted holster. But like you, I won't just leave a firearm in my vehicle all the time, only when I have to.

I did put a 50 round box of 10MM and two loaded mags in the gun safe which gives me an extra 80 rounds or rather a total of 111 with the 31 on my person.
 
You might want to look at a Springfield EMP, they come in .40 S&W. It is a small 1911 with a 3 inch barrel, also has a smaller grip dimension than a compact .45 1911.
 
NotTwoShure said:
What are the ideas on heat issues on ammo? In Arizona we are talking 110 outside not in a hot truck, SUV or car. I have had a lott of ideas conserning this but no real hard data.
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Mythbusters did a segment with ammo in the oven. If I remember correctly it needs to be a couple of hundred degrees to cook it off, and even then it wasn't doing any damage - nowhere for the pressure to build. Even a .50 BMG only managed to crack the glass on the oven door.
 
B2Tall said:
Mythbusters did a segment with ammo in the oven. If I remember correctly it needs to be a couple of hundred degrees to cook it off, and even then it wasn't doing any damage - nowhere for the pressure to build. Even a .50 BMG only managed to crack the glass on the oven door.
Click to expand...

I was thinking more on the order of primer/powder degradation/decay. A number of years ago, while living way out in the middle of nowhere I had about a decade of mistakes, or reloads I was not happy with. I had a fire pit that I dumped a coffee can into. Backing a safe distance, I lit the fire and it was a good show. I want to emphasize the fact I was literally miles from a road, path or occupied structure, no children or animals were within fragging range. No lead in the water issues, no groundwater or red squirrels were in danger. (I want to be eco-friendly [Politically correct] and most defiantly tongue in cheek)
 
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