Kimber SS II in a 40 or 45?

[quest4air]

I've decided to purchase a Kimber Stainless II, but I can't decide if I want another 40 S&W or if I should try the 45 cal. I've noticed that very little is discussed about the 40 S&W and can't figure out why, maybe because its a 1911 forum. Also, Kimber is primarily in 45 cal having only a couple of 40 cal models. I intend to shoot IDPA with it, and it will also double as my alternate CCW. I reload the 40 cal already for a Ruger 944 and had originally thought, why switch to another cal and setup costs. Lazy answers most of that thought. :eek: So, knowing all this and money is not the point. Is it more practical to get a new Kimber in a 45 cal vs. a 40 cal, and is there any real difference in stepping up into a 45? (i.e. recoil & accuracy) Any help and sarcasm is welcome.

Oh and I'm new to the forum, I'm Mike and I like guns. :D

[Compusmurf]

Mike,

Welcome.

I'm new to the Kimber world, but not new to firearms.
I regularly shoot 9mm, .40 and .45, plus .22 and .32.

Each has a different feel. I like my .40 (HK), my .45 is a Kimber, my 9mm is a Beretta and a HK.

The 9mm and .22 is the cheapest to shoot, my .40 is my carry piece (usually), the 9's are just plain fun and my latest, .45, well, I like it.

Other than the extreme accuracy of the .22, I find the .45 more accurate than my .40.

But for you, if you do alot of reloading and are comfortable with .40 then stick with what you are happy with. If you haven't tried the .45 in a while, rent one or borrow one and give it a shot. If you don't like the feel, then by all means stick with the .40.

[Recon]

quest4air:

Obviously, you should get what you want.

If you don't already have a 45 ACP maybe this is a good opportunity to diversify, especially since you already have a 40.

In my area the 40S&W just isn't popular and those that have them, including law enforcement, have changed to the 45ACP. There seems to be a variety of reasons.

I guess it comes back to what you prefer. Do you have any fellow shooter who would let you shoot one of their 1911s in 45? That would probably answer several of your questions.

Good luck with your decision.

[quest4air]

Recon,

I do have a buddy who has a 45 and I'll give it a try. I really thought that I would hear all the reasons on why I should move up to a 45 and solidify my curiosity to try it. As I tried to say in the beginning, my only real reason at this point is that I didn't want to reload another caliber. It's just a cop-out excuse and the only real reason I have to not try it. Having nothing to do with money, I think I want to move up but for me it's just curiosity at that motivates me. I'm looking for some one who shoots both to tell me there are definite advantages to the 45 and here's why... Basically a kick in the *** to tell be to stop missing out on a caliber that performs a little better and has about the same kick to it.
:)

[Chuck S]

.40 Short & Weak? Why bother? :p

Seriously, what's the benefit of .40 S&W. A "compromise"? Between the unsatisfactory 9mm and the good .45ACP? Where does that place it.

-- Chuck

[Sifu]

This is a 1911 forum. You're not going to find many .40s&w fans here.

[quest4air]

Well, I opted for the 45 and I'll order one up sometime next week. I do agree that the 9mm is a poor excuse for a round, but its selling point was high capacity. Either way I never liked the round because... I really don't have a valid reason other then I just never thought is was something I'd pick to defend myself with. I'd only shoot it if my alternative was to throw rocks. I'll reply back to this thread in a couple of three weeks and tell you how it goes with the new Kimber. :)

[sac7000]

I've decided to purchase a Kimber Stainless II, but I can't decide if I want another 40 S&W or if I should try the 45 cal. I've noticed that very little is discussed about the 40 S&W and can't figure out why, maybe because its a 1911 forum. Also, Kimber is primarily in 45 cal having only a couple of 40 cal models. I intend to shoot IDPA with it, and it will also double as my alternate CCW. I reload the 40 cal already for a Ruger 944 and had originally thought, why switch to another cal and setup costs. Lazy answers most of that thought. :eek: So, knowing all this and money is not the point. Is it more practical to get a new Kimber in a 45 cal vs. a 40 cal, and is there any real difference in stepping up into a 45? (i.e. recoil & accuracy) Any help and sarcasm is welcome.

Oh and I'm new to the forum, I'm Mike and I like guns. :D

Mike, go with 45, you can't lose. Why look how much better my 45ACP Stainless II shoots. It's just amazing! Besides, you'll sleep better at night just knowing you've chosen the right bullet! :D

http://www.tehamashooters.net/kim.jpg

[VMFA 314]

All being said, as far as the 9mm being a poor excuse for a round is lame. Just about any caliber can be deadly. I was ALMOST killed with a 22 rimfire. Long story short, no it didn't kill me but it sure took me out of the fight. Another 1/2" difference and I wouldn't be typing this

[Compusmurf]

Absolutely. For the 9mm and the .40 Short and Weak comments, my opinion is twofold.

1. How much power does one need when poking holes in targets at the range?
2. Anyone who thinks its puny or "girly" feel free to absorb a few at 15 meters and let's see if they retain that opinion. OK, please don't try this at home....

VMFA314 (hoo rah!) I took a backside full of rocksalt when I was younger and I was wishing it was a .22 then! (only for there would be 1 pellet to remove)

[cybricon]

Enjoy the 1911, I agree with the earlier post that diversification is a plus. Now you'll have a .45 too, instead of just another .40.

I'm new to handguns but I got a 1911 (Kimber TLE II Stainless) because of it's great tradition, stopping power, and its mystique in general. Just think, this is the same gun used in WWI and so on, and is still today a great gun. How can you not want to experience it like so many others have? I just wanted to add myself to the list of people who know the gun. Speaking of stopping power, a .22 that just misses the vital organs doesn't stop someone from attacking you as well as a .45 in about the same spot.

[adam184]

G'day
I wouldn't worry about the extra calibre. I've got 9 different calibres in my ammo locker.
The biggest difference, for competition, is the type of recoil. With a .45 you get a powerful shove, with 9mm the recoil is very 'snappy'. The .40 in my limited experience (I don't own one but my club does) is a little closer to the 'snappy' feel than it is to the .45.
That being said if your going to use it for a carry gun .45 all the way. I just made the change and I'm not going back.
just my 0.02 Aussie cents worth.
Adam

[Stainless Chili]

I traded my favorite gun, a Commander Double Eagle in .40S&W, for a Para. Took the $$$, about $200 more than I paid.

Not regrets, but the .40 has benefits, especially follow-up shots. Put enough mass in a gun, and the recoil starts dropping really quickly.

I'm looking at a Kimber Pro Carry in .40, but I'd prefer the Compact in that caliber. It does not, apparently, come that way.

There is an Ultra in .40, but I'm leery of 3" BBL guns. My Kahrs are 3" 9mm carry pieces, and 100% reliable. Putting more power through the short barrel seems to promote feeding and ejection problems.

[quest4air]

I went with the .45 blued instead of the stainless, and I sent the slide in to Novak to have Tritium Night Bar sights installed. I asked to have the rear sight notch opened up to .145 instead of the .125 for faster target acquisition. I thought hard about the XS systems Big Dot but my stipulation was that I want to consistently hit head shots at 15 yards. With the Big Dot system the occulation of the target by such a big front sight meant I would have to give up a considerable amount of accuracy at distances past roughly 12-15 yards. Since it's going to be a carry gun I didn't go with the stainless. I'm looking so forward to the day that I get to hit the range with it. I'll post pics once I get it back from Novak, and I'll let you guys know how it does at the range after I take it out. :)

BTW Thanks for your help in making me see the light with "real" fire-power.

[nicky]

I have heard that both 9mm and .40 cal. have inherent reliability problems in a 1911 design. That this gun was designed for a bullet with a large round nose.This would explain why so few are seen in either IDPA orIPSC. If you want either of these cal. in a single action look at a Hi Power.

[PalmClease]

Out of everything Ive shot I have to say that the 9mm is the best side arm. I'd go with a Sig Sauer or HK.

I own: Sig Sauer P228 9mm, Kimber TLE/RL II .45 ACP, Walther P99 .40S&W, Desert Eagle .50AE.


Now, I love my.45 don't get me wrong and I love my .40 S&W. But the 9mm is the easiest to control, and Ive found that with proper practice is just as accurate as any round out there for a Hand Gun.

I think the .45ACP, 9mm, .40 S&W, .50AE all have about the same accuacy at 25 yards with proper practice.

As far as ease of use and hitting the target everytime, exactly where you want it...I would have to say .45ACP is the easiest handgun load to shoot. Sometimes I don't even aim and drill the bullseye.

Oh and my Walther P99 .40S&W has more kick than my .45ACP.
For what thats worth.

A 9mm is not a wimpy round at all. You put 2 rounds in someones heart and 1 in their head....they wont know what they got killed with anyways. And you will still have 13rds left to shoot the rest of the enemy! Not to mention the extra 15rd mag you have in your pocket.