KIMBER PRO CARRY .45s: 1911 Carry Perfection, Part 1

PART 1 OF 3: The Kimber Pro TLE II (LG) and the Pro Carry II will give you authoritative big bore capability in a smaller package. Yes the many designations and varieties offered by Kimber are confusing it takes some dedicated study of the Kimber catalog to clear it up. But isnt great to have such cool an d well-executed choices. These two versions have a 4 barrels (best compromise I say) and frames of steel and aluminum, respectively. Nutnfancy says no one will beat the quality, attention to detail, durability, and reliability of the Kimber 1911 designs and its my top PREMIUM choice of for the 1911 designcost be darned. My LE and civilian colleagues have only good reports of these pistols: extremely accurate, reliable, fast shooting, great sights, and (for a 1911) comfortable to carry. It wasnt too long ago that getting a 1911 with all the features of the Pro Carry Kimbers would cost you around $1500+ and probably a few trips to a competent, 1911-qualified gunsmith and even then it probably still had issues. Most of those mods were necessary to ensure reliability of the design with hollowpoint ammo. Now these options are the 1911 standard and most quality guns will include themjust like these Kimbers. Upsides are many and include: fine and precise front and backstrap checkering, excellent grips, beautiful matte finishes, lowered and flared ejection port, smooth feed ramp and chamber, bushing-less heavy match-grade barrel, light crisp trigger (skeletonized), beveled magazine well, single recoil spring, skeletonized target hammer (faster lock time), extended beavertail grip safety, extended slide release and mag button, and low profile high-vis sights. And with a Kimber, each of these details is executed with precision and quality. The aluminum frame of the Pro Carry II is my preferred choice: lighter, quicker, easier on the hip. However the blackened stainless steel frame of the TLE will allow quicker follow-up shots and easier shooting of the .45 ACP round. Downsides are inherent in the dated 1911 design, which honestly many newer designs flat out surpass: heavier carry weight (28 oz Pro Carry II, 35 oz for Pro TLE II LG), limited 8 round firepower, less simplicity in use (Condition One carry needed for readiness), and high cost. But no one can refute the speed, shot-to-shot consistency, pointability, and accuracy of an outstanding 1911 design like the Kimber Pro Carry pistol. Bottom line: they rank among the best .45 ACP bullet launchers in the world. Expensive? You bet. Worth it? Definitely. Nutnfancy Likeability Scale: 9 out of 10 (compared against other 1911s; against other more modern designs 6 out of 10).