Gonna do it!

4840 Views 22 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Gila Jorge, Apr 1, 2008

Flat Primer

Discussion Starter · Dec 9, 2007

Handled a Kimber TLE this Friday and I've decided to just do it! I've kicked around the idea of buying a Les Baer or Wilson or some other very reputable gun guru gun but have come to the conclusion the TLE is about what I want without the very high price. No ambi safety, no bells and whistles, just a good solid gun that will go bang every time. The guy behind the counter owns two Les Baers and three Kimbers. He says the LBs cost twice as much but are not twice the guns. SOLD! I can always get the LB later on. And I can work the Kimber over if needed. I just gotta get my first (not really) serious 1911. Should have the money put together by Feb..:nuts:

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Bud White

· #2 · Dec 9, 2007 (Edited)

Flat Primer said:
Handled a Kimber TLE this Friday and I've decided to just do it! I've kicked around the idea of buying a Les Baer or Wilson or some other very reputable gun guru gun but have come to the conclusion the TLE is about what I want without the very high price. No ambi safety, no bells and whistles, just a good solid gun that will go bang every time. The guy behind the counter owns two Les Baers and three Kimbers. He says the LBs cost twice as much but are not twice the guns. SOLD! I can always get the LB later on. And I can work the Kimber over if needed. I just gotta get my first (not really) serious 1911. Should have the money put together by Feb..:nuts:

The guy who was behind the Counter is a idiot .. I have 3 baers got 6 colts 3 DW''s 3 Springers and a host of other 1911's had a custom shop kimber from the early custom shop when they were doing their best work .. while Kimbers colts springfield and all productions guns are nice they dont even comeb close to a semi custom like a bear wilson or ed brown

I always thought the Semi custom were to over priced but after getting my first one i see why everyone raves about them..Always ask them this question it usually stammers them how can a 1k production gun that is mass produced and packed full of MIM parts every surpass a 1800$ handfit with barstock parts gun ...?

Sorry if i sound harsh i hate salesman espically the ones who will tell you anything to get you to buy

Long story short dont believe the guy behind the counter he is usually trying to sell you whats in stock ..

LEADPOISON

· #3 · Dec 9, 2007

Hey F.P.,
I own a stainless TLE II and a Les Baer Monolith Comanche. The Monolith is one fine feeling/shooting gun. The TLE doesn't have quite the exquisite (sp?) craftsmanship of the Monolith, but is does have everything you need and nothing you don't. I think the Kimber TLE is probably the most cost-effective choices out there right now.
My $.02,
L.P.

ZeroTA

· #4 · Dec 9, 2007

That's true,Leadpoison. For a $800-ish factory 1911,the TLE is probably the best buy with the options it has. My TLE has had no changes done to it except grips and a steel MSH(just cuz I felt like it) and is currently the HD pistol at my house. No,it's not up to par with the $2000 models. But it does what I ask of it,and it does it well.

Mr. Flat Primer...do not believe everything a salesman tells you. If you walked in and announced that you had $2000 to spend,I bet you'd hear a different tune. That said,the TLE is your best bet right now. Go for it,you won't regret it. New 1911 shooters,myself included at one point,will not see much of a difference between a good "off-the-shelf" 1911 and a semi-custom. When you know what you want and become more familiar with the 1911,you can get your EB/LB/WC,or get the TLE redone to your specs.

In fact,if night sights aren't a must-have,I would recommend the Taurus PT1911...save even more money.

Sorry Bud,I know I'm probably giving you some killer heartburn right now...:flame:

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Ridgerunner665

· #5 · Dec 9, 2007

FP...good luck. I would have held out and waited for the Baer, but its your $$$ and your gun.

Bud White

· #6 · Dec 9, 2007

ZeroTA said:
That's true,Leadpoison. For a $800-ish factory 1911,the TLE is probably the best buy with the options it has. My TLE has had no changes done to it except grips and a steel MSH(just cuz I felt like it) and is currently the HD pistol at my house. No,it's not up to par with the $2000 models. But it does what I ask of it,and it does it well.

Mr. Flat Primer...do not believe everything a salesman tells you. If you walked in and announced that you had $2000 to spend,I bet you'd hear a different tune. That said,the TLE is your best bet right now. Go for it,you won't regret it. New 1911 shooters,myself included at one point,will not see much of a difference between a good "off-the-shelf" 1911 and a semi-custom. When you know what you want and become more familiar with the 1911,you can get your EB/LB/WC,or get the TLE redone to your specs.

In fact,if night sights aren't a must-have,I would recommend the Taurus PT1911...save even more money.

Sorry Bud,I know I'm probably giving you some killer heartburn right now...:flame:

Naw its cool i would have bought the Taurus before the kimber .. i think the Dan Wessons are the Best but in the Higher end production guns right now but the Taurus have a lot to offer .. Since both have the series 80 just certainly the Taurus

lugears:

LEADPOISON

· #7 · Dec 10, 2007

ZeroTA said:
My TLE has had no changes done to it except grips and a steel MSH(just cuz I felt like it) :flame:

ZeroTA,
I also have tweaked my TLE a little. I added an Ed Brown beavertail safety w/ memory bump, VZ grips, and Ed Brown snakeskin flat mainspring housing. I really like the snakeskin MSH, not only, for its look, but also the good traction it gives on the palm of the hand.
L.P.

Bud White

· #8 · Dec 10, 2007

LP I agree the Snakskin gives Great Traction I have a Snakskin MSH on one of my Springers

bac1023

· #9 · Mar 15, 2008

Flat Primer said:
The guy behind the counter owns two Les Baers and three Kimbers. He says the LBs cost twice as much but are not twice the guns. SOLD!

He's wrong, they're more than twice the gun of a production Kimber like the TLE. The custom shop Kimbers come closer. In fact, my Kimber Super Match II holds its own with my Les Baer, but it was just as expensive.

OD*

· #10 · Mar 15, 2008

The guy who was behind the Counter is a idiot

BINGO!

capnjim01

· #11 · Mar 15, 2008

I have a Kimber stainless II and I don't shoot it very well but others who tried it have no trouble hitting the X ring, especially my wife who pissed me off yesterday with a few shots touching each. So right now it's not the gun it's me. So when I become "worthy" of a high end pistol what do I gain for another $1,000.

ZeroTA

· #12 · Mar 15, 2008

Superior fit and finish,more consistent timing,way better parts and consistent outstanding accuracy (if you do your part).

For the most part,a basic Kimber or any sub-$1000 1911 is "good enough",but when you've shot for a while you will be able to tell the difference between a semi-custom and one that came off a production line.

capnjim01

· #13 · Mar 15, 2008

Ok could you explain consistent timing? At the range I shoot at 3 of the 4 people who work there carry Kimbers the other carries a Glock. One of them ask me what I was shooting when I told him he laughed and said we let the blind shooters use Kimbers so the can hit the bulls eye. When I go back he said I could try his custom Kimber, seems like my biggest problem is my old eyes. My Kimber came factory equipped with fuzzy sights.

tsp45acp

· #14 · Mar 15, 2008

The reason they carry Kimbers, is that Kimber saturates the market and your range prob is a "Master" Kimber dealer. They get better pricing for selling more guns. They push Kimbers over every other manufacturer. JMO. Tracy

Ridgerunner665

· #15 · Mar 15, 2008

tsp45acp said:
The reason they carry Kimbers, is that Kimber saturates the market and your range prob is a "Master" Kimber dealer. They get better pricing for selling more guns. They push Kimbers over every other manufacturer. JMO. Tracy

Sad but true...

If I was getting a "fuzzy" sight picture...I'd look into prescription shooting glasses before going up to a $2000 pistol.

capnjim01

· #16 · Mar 15, 2008

The custom pistol is a long way off it will just be a toy when I can afford it. I have considered glasses and they are probably a good idea. The range I shoot at doesn't sell guns just ammo so i don't think they have an agenda as far as what you use.

Ridgerunner665

· #17 · Mar 15, 2008

Many people swear by Kimber pistols...and, in years past, they were the best of the affordable 1911's. They still make nice guns...but not nice enough to make a blind man shoot better

MarshallDodge

· #18 · Mar 16, 2008

This one got regurgitated!

While I love my Kimber Custom Target it can not hold a candle to a Les Baer in the parts quality department. The gun is very accurate, probably more accurate than myself or most people could ever push it's limits and that's why it's enough gun for me.

Gila Jorge

· #19 · Mar 27, 2008

How does one measure marginal utility or desireability of one handgun over another..?
I have a Les Baer Premier 2 and really like it. I also have a NightHawk Talon 2 BobTail and love it...also a Sig Platinum Carry and love it....and a Wilson Sentinel and like it...
and a Kimber Ultra CDP 2 and love it...if I had to narrow it down to only one...it would be either the Baer or the Sig I would keep...Are either twice the gun of the others...
again...impossible to measure marginal utility differentials...I paid more for some than for the others...BUT...I get the same utility out of each...each has different aspects that are desireable so each fills a niche of pleasure....

mrjoshua

· #20 · Mar 31, 2008

I bought a Kimber Custom II TLE and I must say it was worth every penny. It seems to get better every time I shoot it.

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