Kimber Stainless Target II .38Super

[Mad Mucus]

G'day
New to the semi-auto scene. I am looking at buying a new 1911 style pistol. Any experienced advice or comments on the Stainless Target II .38Super ?
Everyone else at my local range use 9mm Barettas,Glocks & Tanfoglios or .22LRs (law restricted to .38cal 10 round mags here,target clubs only) and I want to be different, personally & empty case recognition.
The only other pistol I like is the Para P18.38S Limited, which I'm currently leaning towards.
Much appreciated..................Mad Mucus, Australia

[stans]

First, welcome to the forum.

Second, why 38 Super?
It is a great round, especially for the handloader, but finding cheap 38 Super ammo at the local store is nearly impossible. It's almost like finding cheap 10mm ammo these days.

You will see a lot of 9mm and 40 S&W pistols on the range because these are the most popular law enforcement calibers at the moment and there is a plentiful supply of cheap ammo. I would say the order of cheap ammo goes 9mm as the cheapest, then 40 S&W, followed by 45 ACP.

[Mad Mucus]

G'day Stans

Thanks for your reply & welcome.

First, I do reload my own ammo, 357 Magnum, so 38 Super should be a sinch. Buying factory ammo is too expensive. We predominently use coated pills, equivilent to jacketed; cheaper, cleaner and usable indoor & outdoor. I use about 100 rounds a week.

Second, 9mm is common so retreiving my empty cases from the pile on the floor would be difficult at a comp. Also 38 Super is the biggest handgun cal legal in Australia as I mentioned.

Third, you don't see a lot of 40 S&W or 45 ACP here. There are only 2 comps we can shoot bigger than 38 cal and only with special endorsements. Those being Single Action Cowboy, up to 45 cal, and Metallic Silouette, up to big rifle cals/wildcats.

Australian law enforcement cals vary from state to state, 7 only. My state, Queensland, use 40 cal.

We can only shoot handguns at a registered club range, can't hunt with them.

[adam184]

G'day
New to the semi-auto scene. I am looking at buying a new 1911 style pistol. Any experienced advice or comments on the Stainless Target II .38Super ?
Everyone else at my local range use 9mm Barettas,Glocks & Tanfoglios or .22LRs (law restricted to .38cal 10 round mags here,target clubs only) and I want to be different, personally & empty case recognition.
The only other pistol I like is the Para P18.38S Limited, which I'm currently leaning towards.
Much appreciated..................Mad Mucus, Australia
G'day
i'm from Melbourne and work part time in a local gun shop. i've had a fair amount of experience with the stainless target II, in both 9mm & .38super. they are very well made and very accurate. there is no point in going for the wide frame of the Para unless you really like the wider grip. i shoot a Springfield 1911 in 9mm that has had the works done on it and wouldn't shoot anything else than a skinny frame 1911.
good shooting, Lids

P.S. .38 super cases are more expensive, and are only an advantage if you shoot IPSC. I just mark the back of my cases with a bright red texta.

[Mad Mucus]

G'day
i'm from Melbourne and work part time in a local gun shop. i've had a fair amount of experience with the stainless target II, in both 9mm & .38super. they are very well made and very accurate. there is no point in going for the wide frame of the Para unless you really like the wider grip. i shoot a Springfield 1911 in 9mm that has had the works done on it and wouldn't shoot anything else than a skinny frame 1911.
good shooting, Lids

P.S. .38 super cases are more expensive, and are only an advantage if you shoot IPSC. I just mark the back of my cases with a bright red texta.
G'day Lids

Great to get some local feedback.
What turned me off the stainless Kimber? I saw a new one at a Brisbane gun shop, obviously handled by many customers, on which the whole top-slide looked like it had freckles; rust spots all over it. Quality finish?
I own a stainless Ruger Blackhawk with never a sign of rust.

[adam184]

Mad Mucus.
My Springfield is polished stainless steel like much of the Para. It too will rust if I don't oil it after use. The trigger on the Kimber is also consistantly better out of the box than some of the other 1911's available in Australia.
Good luck, Lids